Since the earliest cave paintings, human beings have used art to recreate the world around us. But while the painter’s limit is imagination, the photographer can only capture what actually exists. They can use their tools to increase exposure, change framing, or apply filters, but they cannot create something entirely new; only preserve a moment in time. It’s telling that Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly is getting its moment now. A game about twin sisters haunted by the past with a camera as their only salvation, Crimson Butterfly Remake is similarly bound to its predecessor while also being charged with modernizing it. In many ways, it succeeds. I cannot deny that I enjoyed revisiting Minakami Village, but I also fear that constantly bending a knee to the modern and adding more complex mechanics has added an artificiality that is at odds with the captivating story it tells. By the time I reached the end of my 20-hour journey, I was deeply satisfied with and impressed by this remake, as well as incredibly conflicted about that feeling.
Before I continue, let me say this: I consider the original Crimson Butterfly – not Silent Hill 2, not Eternal Darkness, not pick-your-Resident-Evil, not any modern horror game – to be both the greatest and most terrifying horror game ever made. But any artist, no matter how skilled, risks tarnishing a great work by revisiting it. This is especially true in video games, where remakes seek to supplant and replace the original, trading increased visual fidelity and “modern” (read: Better. Always better. No one has ever used this term when speaking about a game and meant “worse”) design tropes for a piece of the original’s soul. We’ve seen this story countless times, from a Mass Effect remaster that dilutes the impact of Sovereign’s arrival on Eden Prime to a remake of Demon’s Souls that is visually remarkable but butchers the atmosphere of the original. I would like to tell you that Crimson Butterfly Remake does not fall prey to these traps, that it skirts them effortlessly. But I can’t – though that doesn’t mean what’s here isn’t an admirable attempt.
Crimson Butterfly Remake follows the same setup as the original. Twin sisters Mio and Mayu are visiting a stream where they used to play as children because the entire area will soon be flooded by the construction of a dam. As they reminisce, Mayu catches sight of a crimson butterfly that draws her deeper into the forest. Mio pursues, quickly gets lost, and the two eventually reunite on a hill overlooking a lost village said to have disappeared during a festival. The path they took is gone. There is no way back. With no other options, they descend into a village where the ghosts of the past still linger. Mio and Mayu’s only defense is a strange camera – the Camera Obscura – that seems to be able to exorcise them. Their goal is simple: escape. But that will mean learning Minakami Village’s secrets, and why they were called here to begin with.
I don’t want to say more because Crimson Butterfly’s story is remarkable, and developer Team Ninja has done an excellent job of expanding it. As you venture deeper into the village, you learn about the dark nature of the festival and the unique role twins, often twin girls, played in it. Crimson Butterfly is, to its credit, a quiet game. Cutscenes are fairly rare and Mio does not incessantly chatter about what’s happening to her or about the items she picks up. Instead, you’ll learn about the story through diaries, watching ghosts follow the paths they traveled in life, and by listening to their voices, preserved in the stones their spirits left behind. You’ll learn about the people who lived here, what happened during that festival, and the fates that befell those who, like Mio and Mayu, were called to Minakami Village. Most of the expansion comes in the form of new locations and side stories that trace the paths of supporting characters, and it’s all integrated seamlessly. If I didn’t know these things weren't in the original, I would not have guessed, and they add a great deal to Crimson Butterfly’s story.
Minakami Village is a marvel of design, dripping with atmosphere
Minakami Village itself is a marvel of design, dripping with atmosphere. It’s a small place with few roads and fewer houses. But it’s dense, and it changes. You’ll revisit these roads, these houses, and each time, the experience will be different. When I first entered Osaka House, I was afraid and wary; later, it was like seeing an old friend. I became intimately familiar with those rooms, but I could never let my guard down while walking them. Kurosawa House, on the other hand, was terrifying no matter how many times I walked its sprawling halls. Whenever I passed through its doors, I felt myself tense up.
What I admire most about Crimson Butterfly Remake is how little it holds your hand. While there are objective markers to guide you around the village between story beats and crimson butterflies sometimes light the way forward, once you enter a house, all bets are off. If you need to go to a room with an altar, for instance, it is up to you to find that room. If you’re following a specter, you must use the camera to trace their path. If you are completing a side story, it is up to you to read the diary left behind and figure out where to go next. Crimson Butterfly Remake will give you the clues you need, but you’ll still have to make the journey yourself.
The Fatal Frame series is terrifying, but its horror is subtle – less an exercise in jump scares, and more one in unrelenting tension. When you pick up an item, Mio will crouch and extend her hand slowly. Oftentimes, nothing will happen. But sometimes, a ghost will appear and grab you. Each time she slides open a door, an angry spirit might be on the other side. Walk down a road, and you might stumble across a ghost or run into a roving patrol searching for twins who escaped on the night of the ritual. Sometimes, the spirits will be there, visible. Sometimes, they will simply appear.
Combat in Crimson Butterfly Remake isn’t rare, per se, but it’s also not frequent. You’ll spend much of your time exploring the village, navigating houses, snapping photos of lingering spirits and twin dolls scattered throughout the village, and solving puzzles. But every time you open a door or reach for an item, you are vulnerable. You may pull your hand away or slam a door shut in time, but they will still be there, and it won’t ease how you feel the next time. Often, those spirits are specters, condemned to retrace the paths they walked in life, only visible long enough to snap a picture if you’re quick and ready. (Change film, and you might miss them.) But sometimes, they are hostile. In the village, you can often avoid ghosts by crouching, hiding, or simply running away, which is useful against groups or when you’re not looking for a fight. But when you’re locked in a house and the doors are sealed shut, you’ll have to defend yourself with the Camera Obscura.
Your camera can exorcise ghosts. The better the picture, the more damage the shot will do. A shot that is in focus and captures a spirit’s face will be far more effective than one that captures its back. But the most effective shots are Fatal Frames, which require you to wait until a spirit attacks and the light atop the Camera Obscure flashes red. Time it right, and you’ll stagger the wraith, deal heavy damage, and replenish Mio’s Willpower, a new addition that allows her to use Special Shots (some stun, some slow, and so on) and is lost when Mio runs or a ghost strikes her. Lose all of it and Mio will be knocked to the ground and vulnerable. If a ghost attacks you while you’re down, you’ll have to use the camera to get it off. Miss your shot, and you’ll take a large amount of damage. I’m mixed on Willpower as a concept – I didn’t use Special Shots often, instead saving Willpower for when I needed to sprint – but I did appreciate it as an additional obstacle to navigate during combat.
Then there are Shutter Chances, which occur when a wraith’s health is depleted past a certain point. Snap a picture during one, and a ghost will be left defenseless for a single, high damage shot. Time a Fatal Frame with a Shutter Chance, and you’ll enter Fatal Time, allowing you to take multiple shots at once. Better pictures also reward you with points that can be spent on items and charms at save points, so there’s an additional reason to aim well.
When it clicks, Crimson Butterfly’s combat is compelling.
It’s a lot to remember, but when it clicks, Crimson Butterfly’s combat is compelling. Often, you’ll only fight one wraith at a time, but even that is challenging. Success is a matter of sidestepping attacks, managing your health and Willpower, and waiting for a ghost to attack so Mio can capture that elusive Fatal Frame. Choosing the right film matters, too. Will you stick with the infinite but weak and slow-to-reload Type-07 or upgrade to the slightly stronger but still slow and limited Type-14? The Type-61 is powerful, but reloading film still takes a while and you can’t carry much of it, while the rarer Type-90 is fast, powerful, and can be carried in bulk. And then there is the incredibly slow, but powerful, Type-00, which deals massive damage even to the most frightening wraiths. There just isn’t much of it. Crimson Butterfly Remake’s combat is about timing and choice, and unlike most horror games, requires you to leave yourself open and literally face your fears to succeed. You are always vulnerable; Mio always has reason to be afraid.
Each ghost presents its own challenges. You might be tempted to use Type-07 film for more standard spirits, but others will quickly push you into loading more precious film into your camera, and each time you miss a shot with a more valuable film, it hurts. You will never forget the first time you encounter the woman in the box, nor the first time you’re locked in a room fighting two ghosts at once. My favorite encounter was against a drowned woman on a bridge who moved through the air like she was floating in water, and who seemed to transport Mio underwater as the fight progressed. Even though you’ll fight most ghosts multiple times, they never get old. Even protecting Mayu from ghosts, something you’ll have to do off and on as the sisters are separated and reunited over the course of the story, is less frustrating and simply an additional challenge.
It’s here that I must talk about Crimson Butterfly Remake’s status as a remake. In many ways, it is an unqualified success. It is visually stunning while capturing and thoughtfully updating the character designs, environments, art, and sound of the 2003 original, and there are images here that will stay with me forever. The change from fixed camera angles to the over-the-shoulder view popularized by Resident Evil 4 is admittedly mixed; it dilutes some of the horror and unease, but it means Crimson Butterfly plays better and is more responsive than any other Fatal Frame. The additions Team Ninja made to the village and the new side stories are wonderful. Even smaller choices, like the ability to hold Mayu’s hand and guide her through the village, which restores both Willpower and both sisters’ health at the expense of slower movement, is a thoughtful change that emphasizes their bond through gameplay. I also appreciate that Crimson Butterfly Remake doesn’t force you to fight everything. Sometimes, sneaking past or running away is the best (or only) option.
What bothers me are the additions to the Camera Obscura. You can equip charms to boost your damage, reduce the health or Willpower you lose when a wraith hits you, and so on. That’s fine. Finding prayer beads in the village enables you to increase how quickly the camera focuses, to focus it or zoom in and out manually, and so on, which were not options before or were unlocked after completing the original game. These are good changes. I largely relied on the automatic focus so I could concentrate on keeping wraiths in frame as I moved around, but made liberal use of the zoom feature.
Where Crimson Butterfly Remake fails is in the addition of filters that you can switch between, each of which comes with its own Special Shot ability, many of which recall the original’s various lenses. The Standard filter is an all-arounder that recovers more willpower with each snap and a Special Shot that can stun; the Paraceptual Filter allows you to see ghosts through walls, has additional range, and it’s Special Shot blinds; the Exposure filter is great for dealing with aggravated wraiths, and the Radiant filter is short ranged but deals absolutely massive damage. Each has additional uses outside of combat: the Paraceptual filter allows you to track traces of spirits, the Exposure filter can reveal hidden areas and ghosts, and the Radiant filter can open doors and objects sealed by blood. In combat, however, they become one note.
It is visually stunning while capturing and thoughtfully updating the original.
Part of this is because of the aggravated wraiths. Each time you snap a picture of a wraith, you risk aggravating it. Basically, they turn red, recover health, take much less damage, attack more frequently, and hit harder. Initially, this is incredibly frustrating, especially if you’ve been using higher quality film or if you’re fighting multiple ghosts at once in a small room. The Exposure filter is great for dealing with aggravated wraiths, though you only get it after you’ve started seeing wraiths get real mad, and you’ll have to spend high quality film to return them to normal via a Shutter Chance (which also automatically triggers Fatal Time). The issue isn’t that there isn’t an answer, it’s that there’s only one answer, at least for a while: Exposure filter and good film. It becomes a grating game of Simon Says, and I often used better film against weaker ghosts to try to end their afterlife before they became aggravated, which works great until it doesn't.
This problem carries over to the other filters, with options like the Paraceptual filter becoming my go-to for all far away ghosts. But the Radiant filter is what really breaks Crimson Butterfly Remake, especially if you upgrade the charms that boost it. Yes, the shorter range means it’s harder to hit things, but if you upgrade it, you’ll do so much damage (especially if you’re using anything other than Type-07 film) that it trivializes everything, even aggravated wraiths and boss fights. By the end, I wasn’t locked in rooms with the ghosts of Minakami Village: They were locked in rooms with me. Well, me, my fully upgraded Radiant filter, and my fully upgraded Radiant filter charm. Combine that with any decent film and they had no chance.
Yes, blasting through ghosts that I previously feared was a thrill, even if I wasn’t taking Pulitzer-worthy shots to do it (though I was still rewarded for quality), and I was never truly unafraid because Mio was still vulnerable. But as I traipsed around the village gathering prayer beads, upgrading my camera, photographing twin dolls, and checking off side stories, I realized how “gamey” some of these new additions were. I was supposed to be figuring out how to escape a haunted village, and while I could argue that completing the side stories gave me a better understanding of what happened here, what I was hoping to accomplish, and what I was up against, the rest felt… artificial. Pick up this film so I always have enough. Photograph those dolls because they're there and doing so unlocks more things at the save point. Grab that prayer bead to get a step closer to another upgrade. Pieces of candy scattered along the ground, and I acquired them because this is a video game and that’s what you do, whether they are out of place or not. Does the removal of the fixed camera angles really help, or does it just ease a little friction? Is it a good design choice, or simply the modern one that will make me more comfortable? Removing film grain makes an image clearer, but it removes detail, too.
Once you start seeing these things, you can’t stop. Case in point: the filters. An inventor making a camera that exorcises ghosts is cool and makes sense in the context of Crimson Butterfly’s story. Filters that do more damage to ghosts, or let you see through walls, or open doors sealed by bloody handprints, on the other hand, only exist to solve gameplay problems. They feel less appropriate for Crimson Butterfly’s world and undermine its otherwise very effective horrors. I went from saying things like “man, I hope there’s not a ghost in that well” to “Get out here, lady. I dare you. I double-dog dare you. I have a Radiant filter and enough Type-90 film to make you wish you’d stayed down there.”
That’s fun as a video game power fantasy, as a way to make my dopamine-seeking lizard brain go brrrr. It’s stuff that would make a lot of sense in Resident Evil, but it goes against what Fatal Frame is. The strength of Crimson Butterfly is that Mio and Mayu are ordinary girls thrust into a terrifying, supernatural situation. As powerful as the Camera Obscura is, Mio is always vulnerable while using it. She always has to look the things that haunt her in the eye, to open herself to harm and not blink. It makes sense that she is afraid when she enters the Kurosawa House and her flashlight fails, or for her to hide from large numbers of ghosts, and Crimson Butterfly is most effective when you share her fear.
Some of the new stuff would make sense in Resident Evil, but goes against what Fatal Frame is.
Mio’s not a grizzled combat veteran or a superhero masquerading as a civilian the way most video game characters are. She’s a young woman trapped in a haunted village; she’s trying to survive and protect her sister, and she’s scared out of her mind. Her weapon is a camera, not a gun. She cannot physically overpower what threatens her. These are things she can barely comprehend, much less fight. But she continues in spite of that. She keeps raising that camera, facing her fears, and that’s what makes her brave. In creating a more seamless version of Crimson Butterfly that offers plentiful combat options, and allows you to be more powerful as a result, Team Ninja has unintentionally diluted it thematically.
It’s one of my only significant complaints about a remake that otherwise both respects and enhances the art it’s attempting to recreate, a smudge on an otherwise immaculately restored photograph, and something that I have been grappling with the impact of as I’ve thought about this review. I don’t think that this disharmony between thematic intent and modern convenience ruins Crimson Butterfly Remake, or even deeply damages it, and I doubt most people will even care. But it does make Crimson Butterfly feel more like an action game that you can optimize much of the horror out of if you wish to, and I think that does diminish it somewhat as a result.
Here's a rare chance to pick up a massive, current generation, higher-end OLED TV at a bargain price. Amazon is currently offering the 2025 77" Panasonic Z85BA 4K OLED Smart TV with Amazon Fire TV for just $1,399.99 with free delivery. This is the lowest price I've seen for this particular model and ties the lowest price for any 77" OLED TV across all brands (the 77" LG B5 TV also dropped to this price in early 2025, but the Z85BA is a superior TV). The Amazon marketplace seller Beach Camera is an authorized Panasonic reseller with a physical retail storefront.
2025 77" Panasonic Z85BA 4K OLED Fire TV for $1399.99
The Panasonic Z85BA is a 2025 TV that uses Panny's updated Master OLED PRO panel, which is an LG-sourced W-OLED panel (possibly LG's newer OLED EX panel similar to the ones found in the LG Evo C-series TVs) paired with Panasonic's own processor. Because this is a true OLED TV, the Z85BA boasts near instantaneous response time, near infinite contrast ratio, and true blacks. It's superior to any other panel type (LED, Mini-LED, etc) in nearly every scenario.
Thanks to its native 144Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 ports, the Z85BA is a perfect match for consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X that can run games in 4K at 120fps or higher. It's a great TV for the Switch 2 as well, since the console is locked at 60fps when running games in 4K. The Z85BA also has other convenient gaming features that are present in most modern day TVs such as variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Apple recently unveiled its newest budget smartphone - the Apple iPhone 17e - on March 2, with a release date set for March 11. Per the norm, the best way to score a deal on a preorder is through your preferred service provider. Total Wireless, a prepaid no-contract carrier owned by Verizon, has already listed the new iPhone 17e for preorder on its site. Better yet, there's a promotion going on right now that gets you this phone "on us" with no port-in or trade-in required.
Preorder the New Apple iPhone 17e On Us
No trade-in or port-in required
Preorder the Apple iPhone 17e smartphone through Total Wireless by Verizon and save the entire retail price of the phone ($599.99). You'll save $300 instantly and an extra $299.99 off in bill credits over 12 months when you sign up for a new line on the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan. Trade-in and port-in are not required and there are zero activation fees.
Total 5G+ Unlimited plan is Total Wireless' best plan. It costs $60 per month for a single line with AutoPay (plus taxes and fees). The plan gives you unlimited talk, text, and data including access to Verizon's highest tier 5G Ultra Wideband network. Other perks include Disney+ Premium (ad-free) subscription and unlimited mobile hotspot. International travelers can benefit from unlimited roaming to 30+ countries including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, China, Japan, and more.
This is a solid deal once you calculate all the fees
A standalone unlocked iPhone 17e costs $599 at the Apple Store. With this deal you're getting the iPhone 17e and one year of Total Wireless' best talk, text, and data plan for $720. In other words, you're only paying $120 ($10 per month) for one year of service, with Disney+ Premium thrown in for good measure. That's a great price no matter how you look at it.
Not only that, Total Wireless unlocks your smartphone after 12 months of active service, which means after this plan is up, the iPhone 17e is yours to keep and you can switch plans and even networks. As long as you are happy with Verizon's reception in your location (very important), you'll save money in the long run with this plan.
Apple iPhone 17e: Release Date on March 11
The iPhone 17e is Apple's newest budget iPhone improves upon its 16e predecessor with a more powerful A19 chip, a new C1X model that offers better cellular performance, MagSafe support (finally), and double the starting storage capacity (256GB vs 128GB). Other more incremental features include a more scratch resistant Ceramic Shield 2 display and improvements to the camera's Portrait mode. The 17e carries over the rest of the 16e specs like the 6.1" 2532x1170 (460ppi) Super Retina XDR OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate, 48MP main camera, and support for Apple Intelligence.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
If you're in the market for the biggest and baddest mobile desktop replacement at a not-so-otherworldy price, then check out this week's Best Buy deal. Right now you can pick up the Acer Predator Helios 18 gaming laptop equipped with an 18" display and RTX 5090 GPU for $3,499.99 with free shipping after a $1,000 instant discount.
There aren't very many 18" gaming laptops around, and even fewer that are equipped with the RTX 5090 mobile GPU. Of the ones that are available for purchase at the moment, this is currently the least expensive deal. In fact, this is the only model I've found with a price tag under $4,000. Take a look at its competition (and note some of these are sale prices):
Acer Predator Helios 18 RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop for $3,500
The Predator Helios is Acer's highest end 18" gaming laptop and you'd be hard pressed to find anything (portable) that can beat it in gaming performance. The 18" Mini-LED display boasts a 3840x2400 (252ppi) resolution with 240Hz refresh rate, G-Sync support, and 1,000 nits of max brightness. The system is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, GeForce RTX 5090 24GB mobile GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Since this is a newer 2025 model, it also supports the Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards and has Thunderbolt 5 ports.
The GeForce RTX 5090 is without doubt the fastest mobile GPU you can get
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is the most powerful mobile graphics card on the market, performing about 15% better than the RTX 5080. It also has more VRAM (24GB vs 16GB), which can come in handy when playing games at higher resolutions (like on an attached 4K monitor) or if you're planning to use this as a mobile creator or AI workstation. This is the only mobile GPU currently available that can run most games at 60+fps on the laptop's greater-than-4K resolution display.
It's important to note that, in most cases, a laptop GPU is not a direct 1:1 performance comparison to its desktop variant. For example, a mobile RTX 5090 is not as powerful as a desktop RTX 5090. Instead, a mobile RTX 5090 is more comparable in performance to a desktop RTX 5070 Ti. If you think about it, that makes sense because the mobile RTX 5090 has a TGP of 150W compared to a whopping 575W for the desktop RTX 5090.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Today’s movie-focused Nintendo Direct has delivered the final trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie while revealing new members of its cast – including Donald Glover (Community, Solo, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Lion King) as Yoshi.
The trailer itself is relatively straightforward, putting the spotlight on Bowser Jr. as he begins his plot to save his papa from the Mario brothers. We see Princess Peach’s castle ripped from the Mushroom Kingdom as Bowser reclaims his spot as the ruler of the Koopa army before getting a first look at Super Mario Bros. 2 villain Wart, but the biggest surprises actually revolved around its cast.
Illumination’s Chris Meledandri made an appearance during the Nintendo Direct to put theories concerning Yoshi’s actor to rest by announcing that Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) will play Mario’s green dinosaur companion in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. It’s a twist not many expected, even after the internet did its best to figure out the name behind the familiar voice featured in previous trailers.
Other new cast additions are Luis Guzmán as Wart, who gets just a few seconds of screentime in today’s trailer, as well as Issa Rae as Honey Hive Galaxy’s Honey Queen.
“Since September of last year, we’ve been taking various initiatives for the Super Mario Brothers 40th anniversary,” Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said during the Nintendo Direct. “This movie will be the centerpiece of the anniversary. We hope you enjoy Mario and friends’ new adventure on the big screen.”
Today’s Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer expands its already large cast with a classic Super Mario Bros. 2 boss ahead of its April 1, 2026, release date. Previous have unveiled first looks at returning characters like Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, while also teasing appearances from newcomers, such as Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), Rosalina (Brie Larson), and Yoshi. Now that Wart has entered orbit, there’s still no explanation for one mysterious figure that many believe could be Star Fox leader Fox McCloud.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie comes to theaters in just a few weeks. In the meantime, you can read about a leak that has fans expecting to see another one of the biggest names from the Super Mario Bros. universe. You can also check out another leak that suggests the movie may include a cameo from a classic NES icon.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Full spoilers follow for Primal Season 3, Episode 9, “The Hollow Crown,” which is available on Adult Swim and HBO Max now.
As we enter the final stretch of Primal Season 3, the one thing that many fans have been hoping and praying for ever since the end of Season 2 seems to be maybe, just maybe, finally happening: Zombie Spear is now more or less resurrected as good old living Spear. When we got an episode literally called “The River of Life” last week, I guess I should’ve realized that Spear would in fact return to his human form. But of course, this being the world of Primal, the question still remains: Will Spear be allowed to have the happy ending that he so dearly deserves?
This week's episode, “The Hollow Crown,” continues to show what has become the almost mechanical combat that Spear has mastered in the volcanic pit. With each victory over some hulking, bizarre combatant, our hero is crowned once again by the increasingly disapproving elder who oversees the matches, and allowed to slurp down another cup of the mysterious fluid from the previously mentioned life-giving river. The thing is, zombie Spear was endowed with an immortality – or whatever you call a zombie that can't be hurt – that living Spear does not have (as made clear when he was injured during one of this episode's fights). If Spear is fully returned to life, can he really continue to keep defeating foe after foe if he is no longer just a hunk of dead flesh?
As for that disapproving elder (or priest or whatever he is), he doesn't like that Spear has become more and more fixated on his former life and family. The elder tries to introduce a volcanic woman to Spear as a way to satiate some base need, but that's not what it's about for Spear at all and he makes his displeasure at the mere suggestion of this known, roaring in the elder's face and then hopping on his pterosaur to fly off and surreptitiously visit those who he misses.
But Mira, Fang, Fang's pups, and Spear’s child with Mira are nowhere to be found when he gets to Mira's village. That's because they’ve gone looking for him, with Mira having realized at the end of last week's episode that Spear wasn't as lost as she thought he had been. This leads to some minor adventures for the group, including a rough bout against a black panther type creature, as they follow Mira's map in search of Spear.
Mira and Spear's baby is already a character unto herself, and she brings a lot of levity to the episode, just as Fang's offspring have been doing all season. We also see here the natural bond that’s forming among the three young ones, even if Blue and Red Jr. are jealous amongst themselves for the affections of the child. But clearly, this group makes for a great traveling party – a fierce warrior, an equally fierce T. rex, and their hilarious, but not to be trifled with babies. Sure, we haven't seen Spear and Mira's daughter actually fight yet, and she is still in diapers after all, but I'm sure that she's going to be as prodigious with a blade as dear old dad ever was.
This is Primal and if nothing else, Genndy Tartakovsky has shown us time and again how harsh this world can be.
I've said it before, but we have to wonder if we're headed for a happy ending or not this season. One can’t help but look back at that final shot from Season 2, when we thought Spear was dead and gone for good. There was Mira, Fang, Mira and Spear's daughter, and Fang's two pups (all grown up)... and not a sign of Spear anywhere.
Of course, that was happening at least a few years in the future from this episode, since Spear's daughter and the two dinosaur pups are older in that scene. So perhaps we will get a happy ending next week, and Spear will stick with the family for more adventures for the time being… but I don't know. This is Primal and if nothing else, Genndy Tartakovsky has shown us time and again how harsh this world can be.
Questions and Notes From Anachronistic History
Let’s not forget, Fang and Spear still need to reconcile too. Perhaps now that Spear has returned to his human form, Fang will finally recognize her old friend for who he is, but it’s kind of surprising that we never did get that big face-off between the two that the trailers seemed to be teasing this season.
Spear just really getting down and dirty to work on his art is something to behold. Gotta love it.
How great is it that Spear now has a second dinosaur companion in the pterosaur? I wonder if they’ll become friends the way he did with Fang?
Spear’s arm’s growing back too, right? That’s the final piece of the “he’s human again” puzzle?
How badass is Spear that he can be daydreaming about his daughter during gladiatorial combat and still win?
USB Type-C has become the standard for charging and data cables alike, so it's good to have extra on hand. Amazon is offering a two-pack of Lisen 6.6ft 240W USB Type-C cables for just $5.60 after you apply coupon code "LISEN240W". That averages out to $2.80 per cable. USB-C cables typically go for about $10 each at your local big box store. Use these to charge or sync any device with a USB-C port, including your Nintendo Switch 2, iPhone 16, or even a laptop.
2-Pack of Lisen 6.6ft 240W USB Type-C Cables for $5.60
Keep your cable collection simple. These cables measure 6.6 feet in length, which is a great general purpose length: long enough to still be able to use your device while the cable is plugged in, but not so long as to be an unnecessary nuisance. These cables are also rated for up to 240W of power delivery, which means they can be used to charge even high powered electronics like your laptop. They're encased in a braided nylon sheath for extra durability and aeshetics. Lisen claims that they've been lab tested for up to 40,000+ bends and 175lb tensile pulls, "equivalent to a decade of daily extreme use". These cables have 5,000 ratings on Amazon with an average 4.6 star rating.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
With today's rising demand for memory chips in general, even universally used memory products like MicroSD Express cards are difficult to find at decent prices. Fortunately, Walmart has got you covered, at least for the time being. Currently, you can pick up a 512GB Samsung ImageMate Micro SDXC Card for a very reasonable price of $39.98 with free shipping. An SD card adapter is also included. Note that this can be used as a memory card for most gaming handhelds including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and ROG Ally, but not the Switch 2.
Note: Availability is based on region. Some zip codes might have more in stock than others.
512GB SanDisk ImageMate Micro SDXC Card for $39.98
If you've started compiling a collection of digital games, you probably already know just how limited the Switch's base storage capacity is. The Switch and Switch OLED have 32GB and 64GB of internal storage, respectively, some of it reserved for the OS. Some games require a huge portion of that space. Examples include Tears of the Kingdom which takes up 16GB of space, Monster Hunter Rise 20GB, Breath of the Wild 13.5GB, and Persona 5 Royal 14GB. There's only one memory card expansion slot in the Switch so you'll want to make sure you get the biggest card you can afford, although most people won't need more than 1TB of additional storage.
The SanDisk ImageMate is compatible with virtually any device that accepts the Micro SDXC card standard, including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and the ASUS ROG Ally. It has typical U1 A1 transfer speeds (up to 150MBps), which is totally fine for the Switch console, but may be a bit limited when used with devices that require huge on-the fly file transfers such as in 4K action cameras and 4K HDR streaming devices.
This card won't be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2
This card will not be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 console, which requires the newer Micro SD Express card format. If you're looking for a deal, there's one on sale right now.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Woot, which is owned by Amazon, is offering a big discount on one of Anker's biggest and most powerful TSA-friendly travel-sized power banks. The Anker Prime A110A 26,250mAh 300W USB Power Bank is available for just $124.99 if you select the "bulk packaging" option (the retail packaging one is $139.99). Shipping costs an extra $5, but it's free for Amazon Prime members. This is for a brand new, not used item which normally retails for $230.
Anker Prime 26,250mAh 300W Power Bank for $125
The Anker Prime is a hefty power bank, measuring 6.3"x1.5"x2.5" and weighing in at 1.3lbs. It has two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. The maximum total output is 300W: 140W for each USB-C port and 20W for the USB-A port. That's powerful enough to charge even the current Apple MacBook Pro 16" laptop, which accepts up to 140W of charging. It will also easily charge all gaming handheld PCs at their maximum rate, including power hungry ones like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go S which can accept up to 100W of charging.
A 26,250mAh battery equates to a 99.75Whr capacity. An 80% power efficiency rating (which is about standard for power banks) gives you about 80Whr of available charge. That's enough juice to charge the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, which has an 80Whr battery, from completely empty to completely full. Other handhelds can be charged more than once.
The Anker Prime is TSA-approved, but just barely.
TSA states that power banks must be under 100Whr in capacity for carry-on (check-in is not allowed under any circumstances). This Anker Prime is just barely under that at 99.75Whr, but that is the nominal rating and in real-world testing, it will always be below that. You might get checked simply because the Prime 26,250mAh is a hefty-looking power bank, but you shouldn't have any problems getting it cleared.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
LG direct is clearing out one its most popular portable speakers. The LG xboom Grab Core waterproof Bluetooth wireless speaker is currently on sale for just $79.99 (normally $140) with free shipping when you apply a $60 off coupon code "Grab60". This speaker still sells for well over $100 at retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart.
LG xboom Grab Core Waterproof Portable Speaker for $79.99
The xboom Grab Core is a relatively compact speaker, measuring 8"x3"x3", so it can be easily stowed away in a bag. Enclosed is a dual powered speaker setup consisting of a racetrack woofer and dome tweeter paired with passive radiators for punchy, distortion-free audio "tuned by multi-platinum artist and tech pioneer, will.i.am". The internal battery allows you to run the speaker without being plugged in for up to 19 hours on a single charge. Its IP67 rated resistance means it is dustproof and waterproof up to 3 feet. It also floats, making it the perfect speaker to use by the swimming pool without worrying about the electronics getting drenched.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Humble has launched a new bundle packed full of great games in honor of the ESA Foundation’s Nite to Unite event. All the games are fav favorites, and have a $259 value, but Humble is giving you the chance to get all for just $10.
The games included are:
Pentiment
Mafia: Trilogy
Horizon Chase 2
Tetris Forever
Far Cry Primal
Dishonored 2
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
IGN Entertainment is the exclusive media partner for this year's Nite to Unite fundraiser, which aims to support diversity and inclusion across the games industry.
"IGN Entertainment is thrilled to once again partner with the ESA Foundation for Nite to Unite," said Ziff Davis Gaming & Entertainment president Yael Prough. "This event is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when the entire gaming community comes together."
"Our partnership extends across our family of brands, including Humble Bundle, which, through its gaming ecommerce platform, has raised more than $272 million for over 34,000 charities worldwide."
Prough continued: "The ESA Foundation's impact on future generations of game makers is vital, and we're honoured to continue standing alongside them in that mission."
Humble is owned by IGN Entertainment, a subsidiary of Ziff Davis.
Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.
Hard as it may be to believe, it's been 20 years since Marvel Comics kicked off the Civil War crossover. That series is easily one of the biggest Marvel storylines ever, featuring such bombshell developments as Spider-Man revealing his secret identity to the world and Iron Man becoming the victorious face of the Superhuman Registration Act. Now, two decades later, Marvel is celebrating that milestone by releasing a new Civil War series and a wave of stunning variant covers showcasing those epic hero vs. hero battles.
Starting in May, Marvel will debut a new five-issue series called Civil War: Unmasked. Written by Christos Gage (Battleworld), drawn by Edgar Salazar (The Last Wolverine), and colored by original Civil War colorist Morry Hollowell, Unmasked is set during the events of the original crossover and explores previously unseen conflicts from the battle over registration.
Check out the slideshow gallery below to see cover art for Civil War: Unmasked #1, along with the many variant covers Marvel will be releasing to celebrate the 20th anniversary:
The Civil War 20th Celebration variant covers will include:
The Amazing Spider-Man #28 by Rod Reis (May 6)
Iron Man #5 by Mike McKone (May 6)
Storm: Earth's Mightiest Mutant by Lucas Werneck (May 6)
Captain America #11 by Leinil Yu (May 13)
The Mortal Thor #10 by Ryan Stegman (May 13)
Wolverine #20 by Aaron Kuder (May 13)
The Amazing Spider-Man #29 by Greg Land (May 20)
The Fantastic Four #11 by Ema Lupacchino (May 20)
The Punisher #4 by Geoff Shaw (May 20)
“In 2006, I was a rookie comic book writer when a short delay in the production of the epic Civil War event limited series led to me being offered the one-shot Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War," gage said in a statement. "It was my first really high-profile project at Marvel, a big hit, and 20 years later, they still haven't managed to get rid of me! So it's a thrill and an honor to revisit that troubled time with Civil War: Unmasked, in which I have the privilege of joining with brilliant artist Edgar Salazar and trend-setting original Civil War colorist Morry Hollowell to reveal never-before-told stories from that milestone event!”
Civil War: Unmasked #1 will be released on May 6. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.
If you’re a fan of multiplayer games that require you to observe the behavior of other players and figure out who is pretending to be something they’re not, then there’s an upcoming game for you to keep an eye on.
It’s called OCTOPinbs (the logo stylizes it as Octo P!nbs, that second word being “squid” reversed and flipped upside down), an action-focused social deduction game from developers Tri-Ace and Lasengle. It takes place in an alternate world where organisms evolved differently. Creatures that in our reality would be purely aquatic or terrestrial can live side-by-side in the same areas in this world. They’re capable of taking control of human-like husks and using them to walk around and live their lives.
Those lives were once peaceful. Each species was assigned a job, they worked said jobs without complaint, and had no conflict with each other. Then came the “artists,” beings capable of altering their form and blending in with other organisms. They became frustrated by the fact that everyone’s jobs were assigned based on their species and that nobody questioned it. In response, they decided to start setting fires as a form of protest.
That’s the backdrop of the game, where 3–10 players are placed in a multi-story building that’s on fire. At first glance, all players seem to be firefighters there to put out the blaze, but there’s a catch: Some players are actually artists, whose primary goal is to continue setting more fires. The firefighters are octopi, while the artists are secretly squids (hence the game’s name).
Player roles are decided at random when a new game begins, and the general gameplay loop is fairly simple: The artists set things on fire while trying to avoid detection by other players. The firefighters work to put out fires while also keeping their eyes open for any suspicious behavior.
While the general idea is pretty straightforward, artists have some tricks up their sleeves that complicate things a bit. For one, they can take on the appearance of any other player. That means they can make themselves look like a specific firefighter, then intentionally set a fire in front of other firefighters to create distrust and confusion.
Artists also have the ability to stick to walls and become transparent. So after pretending to be someone else, they can run away, stick to a wall, and evade the pursuit coming after them. They can’t stay that way permanently, though. The artists win by either filling the map’s fire gauge to 100% or eliminating all the firefighters. So they need to remain active and find a balance between setting fires, eliminating firefighters, and evading detection.
The firefighters win by either reducing the map’s fire gauge to 0% or eliminating all the artists. At this point, you’re probably wondering how “eliminating” players works. There are no timed rounds or meetings called to discuss what each player has seen; everything happens in real time.
Each player has HP, and you can attack other players with your fire hose or hatchet to reduce theirs. When someone’s HP hits zero, their body will weaken and they’ll be reduced to a slow-moving little octopus or squid covered by a helmet (pictured below). When in this form, they can be picked up and taken to a judgment box, which will eliminate them and also reveal whether they were a firefighter or an artist.
That means it’s possible for firefighters to mistakenly eliminate each other, making it more difficult to keep the fire at bay and making the artists’ job easier. It also means that even if someone has correctly identified an artist, they can fight back to eliminate the other player and keep themselves in the game.
Players who have had their HP reduced but didn’t get eliminated can replenish their health by destroying certain pieces of furniture that are marked on the map. However, if the fire spreads to the point that it consumes that furniture, it will create a flame monster that will impede the work of the firefighters. So you’ll need to be strategic about when you make use of that furniture. You don’t want to break it all too early and have no way to heal later in the game, but you also don’t want to leave it unbroken for too long and let it become a monster.
The furniture isn’t the only thing on the map you’ll need to worry about. As each game goes on, sections of the map will decay. Staircases and parts of the floor can give out, forcing you to find ways to jump between each floor to reach new fires. The number and size of floors can be adjusted depending on the number of players in each game.
That’s one of several customization options available to players. In addition to being able to change the floors, you can customize the look of your individual character, and you can choose how many artists are in each game. The developers recommend that a game with five players have two artists and a game with 10 players have four artists, but you can change the rules to increase or decrease that number, as long as there’s at least one artist.
OCTOPinbs is scheduled to launch in Spring 2026 and will be available on Steam, with the price to be announced at a later date. It will be available in several languages, including English, Spanish, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, German, and French. If you want to keep up with the latest news and updates, check out the game's official website, Steam page, or follow it on X / Twitter, TikTok, or Discord.
Happy 40th to Super Mario Bros., and in celebration of the big anniversary, the official 256GB microSD Express Card for Switch 2, along with a bunch of Mario games for Switch and Switch 2, have been discounted. Those aren’t the only deals worth checking out today. An awesome Corsair MMO gaming mouse has hit a new low price, score a Disney+ and Hulu for $4.99 a month, and big savings on a 26K mAh, 300W Anker power bank. Check out all the top deals below:
TL; DR - The Best Deals for March 9
$20.99 Off a 256GB Samsung MicroSD Express Card for Switch 2
If you’ve been waiting to grab the best microSD Express card for Switch 2, in celebration of Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary, the official 256GB memory card from Samsung has been discounted. It’s down to $39 from $59.99, a $20.99 savings. While you might think the current 256GB that comes stock on the gaming handheld will suffice, since many games are digital or use key cards, that space fills up fast. This microSD Express card doubles the current storage capacity of the gaming handheld and provides speedy loads, quick downloads, and smooth performance, making it one of the top Switch 2 accessories.
MMO and MOBA players in search of a new mouse should check out this deal on the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless MMO. Normally priced at $129.99, it’s half off at Amazon and Best Buy, dropping to the lowest price ever. Now, this mouse offers some serious customizability, thanks to its 16 programmable buttons. It’s also lightweight, delivers a consistently smooth performance, and comes with a solid 150-hour battery life, as we discovered in our review of the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless MMO. It’s a top gaming mouse, but it works just as well for everyday use, especially at its current price.
Disney+ and Hulu for $4.99/Month
Disney+ just dropped the best deal this year on its Hulu bundle. With this new discount, you can enjoy subscriptions to both Disney+ and Hulu Basic for $4.99 per month for the first 3 months. Given this is the lower-tier membership for both, there will be ads, but it’s still a solid sale considering this plan normally goes for $12.99 per month. The deal is valid for new and eligible returning subscribers, and you can cancel the subscription at any time to avoid paying full price. This offer ends right when the Daredevil: Born Again season 2 premieres.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Hits New Low On Amazon
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles– Amazon Exclusive Edition for PS5 is at its lowest price on Amazon. You can score the remaster of this turn-based tactical RPG for just $29.32. With it comes a better UI, new voice acting, improved graphics, and other upgraded features while staying true to the original. In our review of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, it scored a 9/10. Ronny Barrier went on to say, “It’s by far the best way to play this classic on modern hardware.” The Amazon Exclusive Edition also includes a double-sided poster.
Mario Day Switch Game Deals
The Mario Day Deals are upon us, and that means a bunch of discounts on Switch and Switch 2 games. Some notable titles on sale include Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury and Super Mario Odyssey for just $39.99 each. The Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV for Switch 2 is also $20 off. That’s not all, you’ll find a bunch of other Mario titles on sale to celebrate Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary. Check the best deals out below:
26K, 300W Anker Power Bank Up to 46% Off
If you’re after unbelievable charging power for topping up the best handheld gaming PCs, gaming laptops, and more, grab the Anker A110A Prime Power Bank. It comes with an impressive 26,250mAh capacity to charge up some seriously power-hungry devices. Charging will be quick, too, thanks to the USB-C port’s 140W max charging speed. When charging two devices, the USB-C can output an impressive 250W combined. And there’s also USB-A available for good measure, bringing the total max output to 300W.
You can score this top-tier power bank brand-new from the Amazon-owned Woot for only $139.99, and Prime members enjoy free shipping. Or if you’re okay with bulk packaging, it’s only $124.99. That’s up to 46% savings.
MTG: Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box Back Down to Low Price
The Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is back down to its lowest price ever on Amazon. For just $119.90, you’ll get 30 Play Booster packs, making each about $3.99, which is a solid deal. Each pack even guarantees a foil. This is a really fun set that features creatures throwing spells; a nice departure from the most recent Universes Beyond Sets featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar, Spider-Man, and Final Fantasy.
$100 Off the Apple Watch Series 11
The Apple Watch Series 11 is back down to its lowest price on Amazon. The top smartwatch, which dropped last September, is only $299 for the 42mm size and $329 for the 46mm size. That’s $100 in savings. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, it offers seamless integration. Of course, the reliable build and ample health and fitness tracking are equally brilliant. This latest model also comes with a “Workout Buddy” powered by Apple Intelligence to stay motivated during workouts, a sleep score, hypertension notifications, and a few other improvements over its predecessor.
Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.
Steelseries direct is offering a couple of excellent deals on one of its top rated gaming headsets. Right now you can pick up a blemished box Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro wireless gaming headset for just $250.99 with free shipping after you apply coupon code "WACKY12". The headset normally retails for $380.
Want a pristine box for gifting purposes? Alternatively, you can pick up a retail SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro bundled with a free QcK Vector mousepad for just $263.99 with free shipping after same coupon code "WACKY12".
SteelSeries Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset for $250.99
The Arctis Nova Pro is one of the highest-end gaming headsets in SteelSeries' repertoire. Only the Nova Elite, which retails for $600, is higher up the ladder. Like any proper top-of-the-line headset, the Nova Pro boasts excellent sound quality, all-day comfort thanks to a suspension style headband and leatherette ear cushions, high-performance retractable boom mic, simultaneous 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and even active noise cancelation (rare for a gaming headset).
However, the one feature that undoubtedly makes the Nova Pro stand out is the ingenious hot-swappable battery system. The Nova Pro includes two removable, rechargeable batteries so that while one is currently in use in your headset, the other stays topped up in a base station that also doubles as a battery charger. This way, you get wireless freedom with no charge anxiety. Each battery lasts for up to 22 hours of continued use so you don't need to swap out too often.
The base station deserves mention as well. Not only does it charge your battery, it also features a clear and legible OLED display and a handy volume control knob. On the rear are USB inputs for connecting to your PC as well as an optional 3.5mm passthrough should you want to connect your speakers directly to the base station.
The Nova Pro wireless has been my primary gaming headset for years and I absolutely recommend them. I've since upgraded the stock earcups to these aftermarket WC Freeze gel earpads and quite like them as well. Check out our Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro review by Kevin Lee for yet another positive take.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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