Compared to its predecessor, horses play a much bigger role in Red Dead Redemption 2 than you might think. So much so that it can be overwhelming if you haven’t been paying close attention to the tutorial messages. Horses have been made to feel like living, breathing creatures this time around, and as such, you need to commit to taking care of them and being cautious of their temperament.To help you wrap your head around Red Dead Redemption 2's horses, we detail below and in the video above everything you need to know to properly care for your steed. If you're more of an experienced rider and want to know what are the best horses out there, we've gathered that information in our best horses guide.For more guides like this, be sure to check out our guides roundup containing features highlighting all the tips you should know before playing and things the game doesn't tell you. And if you want to have some extra fun, be sure to read our feature detailing the game's cheat codes. Though, if you're a curious outsider looking in and want to know whether or not this game for you, then read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven't already.How To Ride Your Horse And Maintain Its CoresHorse controls are relatively simple. Tap the X or A button repeatedly to speed up and R1 or RB to slow down. You can double tap and hold X or A to match a companion's speed, and if you tap X or A in rhythm with your horse's gallop you will conserve stamina.As you ride your horse, you’ll want to keep an eye on its Cores. Like Arthur's Cores, the heart is your horse's Health Core and the lightning bolt is its Stamina Core--they've just got fancy little horseshoes in them. The symbol at the center of the circle represents the Core, while the ring meter that surrounds it is known as a bar.The more you push your horse, the quicker the Stamina bar will deplete. And if you don’t feed your horse every now and then, its Cores will drain and it won’t have as much Stamina or Health in its associated bars. It will also look sad and run with its head down, so try to stock up on horse foods and revival items from the General Store to keep your horse well.Your horse will get dirty over time as you ride it. If this happens, its meters will drain 25% quicker. You can clean it with your brush or by riding it through water. The former is acquired after completing the story mission, "Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego." It's also worth noting that your horse's cores will refill when you sleep.There are ways to notice when something is awry with your horse. A flashing red exclamation point in the Stamina Core indicates your horse is scared/stressed (you need to press L3 to calm it) while a flashing red brush in the health core means your horse is dirty.Leveling Your HorseWhile mostly identical to how Arthur's Cores work, where horse Cores differ is how you increase their level. Instead of leveling them up by moving and withstanding damage, you develop your horse's Cores and bars by forming a stronger bond with them. As you ride, feed, and clean your horse, your bond will strengthen. And as that bond grows, your horse's Health and Stamina bars will increase.Your horse will even learn advanced maneuvers. At level 2, you can rear your horse back by pressing R1 or RB with square or X. There isn't really a use for this other than to look threatening from time to time--that or to just feel like a cool cowboy from an old western film. At level 3 you learn how to skid. While sprinting, press R1 or RB and you can either bring your horse to a halt or change directions at a moment's notice. Finally at level 4 you learn how to drift and piaffe, which is a fancy word for strafe. As your bond increases your horse will also respond to your call from greater and greater distances, and its stats, including speed, will get a slight bump. If you wanna see how close you are to the next level, you can check the player menu when you the press the pause button.You can expedite bonding by feeding your horse treats. And the stronger your bond is with a horse, the longer it will take to bleed out if it gets knocked down. It takes 60 minutes real time for a level 4 horse to die, so that gives you plenty of time to get to town and purchase a horse reviver from the General Store.Horse Stables And Upgrading Your Horse's StatsIf you wanna get the most out of your level 4 horse, you’ll want to stop at a stable and upgrade its saddle. Most items for sale are cosmetics, but there are a few things that can improve your horse's stats, like the stirrups and the saddles.But WAIT, you say! I can’t seem to enter the stable, and I can’t find a stupid brush to clean my horse. Well that probably means you’re screwing around too much and not doing any story missions. Once you complete "Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego," you will have access to stables across the map and your horse brush.While at the stables, you can also rename, sell, and buy horses. You can sell both stolen horses and horses you’ve acquired legally. Stolen horses won’t fetch as good a price at stables, but at a certain point in the story you will meet some characters willing to purchase stolen horses for a better profit. Level 4 horses will also fetch a higher price, so if you plan on flipping a horse, so we recommend leveling it up first.Breaking HorsesIf you are looking to buy a horse, the first thing you’ll probably notice is that good horses ain’t cheap. As attached as you'll become with your first, Tennessee Walker, he's not exactly the powerhouse you’ll want by your side throughout the entire game. And if the best horses are too expensive, that means you'll have to find some out in the wild and break 'em yourself. Lucky for you, one of the best horses in the game can be acquired for free at the beginning of chapter 2 and onward. But before we get to that, let’s learn how to break a horse.As you explore the world, you’ll find wild horses everywhere. Big horses, little horses, painted horses, black horses, and so on. There are a dozen different breeds roaming the frontier, all with unique stats and attributes. If you see a horse you’re interested in, first take out your binoculars. Once you study the horse you will be given a prompt to “show info." Hit that, and you can check out the horses stats and its breed details.There are two ways to go about breaking a horse. You can chase it down, lasso it, and hop on its back, or you can approach it slowly, calming it if it gets spooked. Once you get close enough, you can hop on its back. While you might be inclined to take on the first method, it's much easier to break a horse if you approach it slowly. Once you’re on its back, pull back the left stick and subtly tilt the right stick to balance while calming it with square or X. If it bucks you, chase it down. When it calms down a bit, you can repeat the process.How To Find One Of The Best Horses Early: The White-Maned ArabianOnce you feel comfortable breaking horses, pack up a thick jacket and head up to the Grizzlies to find the White-Maned Arabian. This snow-white beauty wanders around Lake Isabella and can be found early on. It's quite difficult to tame, so you're going to need to be persistent in following it around and calming it down enough before you can approach it. If it bucks you and escapes, well, it’s gonna be a while before another one respawns.Once you do break it, put your saddle on it and take it to the nearest stable. Technically the horse will be yours once you put the saddle on, but take it back to a stable just in case--you can never be too careful!Info from Gamespot.com

As you explore Red Dead Redemption 2's vast open world, you'll come across a lot of interesting (and slightly disturbing) things. Sometimes it's a wailing snake-bite victim in need of assistance; other times, it's a creepy abandoned building with a story to tell. But there's one set of chance encounters more gruesome than the rest, and once you find the first, you'll be on the lookout for a very messed-up serial killer.You'll likely find the first murder scene early in the game. While the other two murder victims are a bit of a ride from the opening areas, you can find them at any time as long as you can freely roam the map. For this guide, we've kept location spoilers to a minimum, and all the screenshots are from an early save with little unlocked--so no worries if you want to play detective for a bit before you really dig into the rest of the game. Of course, this does contain spoilers for the American Dreams Stranger Mission.For more guides, check out our features highlighting all the tips you should know before playing and things the game doesn't tell you. We also have specific guides on things like money making and gun customization to help you be the best outlaw out there. Be sure to read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven't already, and if you want to have some extra fun, be sure to read our feature detailing the game's cheat codes.Step 1: Completing the MapThere are three murder scenes to be found, with a piece of a map hidden at each. In order to initiate the Stranger Mission itself, you first have to put the map back together. In general, you're looking for an area that sticks out in some way--maybe you see blood stains on the road or vultures in the distance. You can also zoom in on the map when you get close, since an X marking the corpse will appear and show you the way.Murder 1: South of ValentineThe first murder scene is just outside of Valentine. Follow the railroad tracks going south out of town; you'll have to ride directly on the tracks at one point to get over a gap, and then you'll find the body under the next overpass. The "front" of the scene faces west. You'll find creepy words written in paint on the right, and to the left, the victim's severed head is stuck to a support beam. In its mouth is the first of three map pieces.Murder 2: West of Shady BelleThe second crime scene can be found in the Scarlett Meadows region, which is a decent ride southeast of Valentine. It's just west of Shady Belle or a bit south of Rhodes, depending on your angle of approach. It's easiest to spot coming from Shady Belle; take the road west, go straight at the first fork, and keep going straight for a bit until you reach a second major fork. Turn right here, then go straight until you reach another fork in the road. The corpse will be strung up in a large tree to your left; on your map, it will be right around where the "S" in "meadows" is. Go around the back of the tree to find the severed head and map piece.Murder 3: Southwest of Wallace StationThe final murder victim can be found strapped to a large rock just southwest of Wallace Station in the West Elizabeth region (it's west and a bit south of Valentine, across the river). Cross the stream and you'll see the rock up the hill, likely with vultures perched on top of it. The head and final map piece are on a smaller rock to the left.Step 2: Locating the KillerOnce complete, the map will give you vague instructions on where to go and what to do when you get there. It shows a bridge with arrows leading into a forest, a dilapidated log cabin, and a code for a combination lock: 6-34-32. As any true crime fan knows, murderers usually kill in areas they know and perhaps live in, which is as good a place to start as any. (If you'd rather solve the mystery yourself from here on out, don't keep reading!)As it turns out, it ends where it all began: Valentine, or technically southwest of Valentine at a place called Lucky's Cabin. If you're coming straight from the Wallace Station murder scene, cross the river and follow the main road northeast--this is the direction shown on the map, and you'll turn left just after you cross the bridge to reach the cabin. If you're instead coming from Valentine, just follow the road out of town to the west.With the pieced-together map, you'll be able to open the basement doors and see the horrors within. A white ? icon indicating a Stranger Mission should appear on the map around the cabin--if not, you might have an active mission you need to complete first. After taking a good look around the killer's hideout (use your lantern if you really want to see every grisly detail), head to the back and inspect the knife. This will trigger a cutscene, so all you need to do is follow the prompts.Once you've hogtied and delivered the killer to the Sheriff's office in Valentine, he'll attack the Sheriff. Use Dead Eye to kill him and save the Sheriff for a reward, which will complete the American Dreams Stranger Mission. Hopefully Arthur isn't too creeped out. Info from Gamespot.com

While Red Dead Redemption 2 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One takes place in a very realistic world where many dynamic, and engrossing systems play off one another, this is a Rockstar game. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to engage in dumb and ridiculous fun. Beyond what you can make happen on your own, much like the original game, you can access a variety of cheat codes in the game to enhance and fundamentally alter aspects of your to suit your needs. Though we strongly recommend finishing the main story and seeing all the key events before trying out these codes out, you're free to use those to your liking at any time (though some codes do require advancing to a certain point in the story first).In order to start messing around with these codes, you'll need to input the key phrases into the Cheats menu--which is accessible in the Settings option in the pause menu. While many of these codes can be used at any time, many of these options will require some extra effort to unlock. As of now, we haven't discovered all of them, and several of them will needed to be unlocked after acquiring specific newspapers from the various towns throughout the game. However, before you activate these cheats, you'll need to know that doing so will deactivate all Achievements and Trophies for your save game after the initial use. So before you go crazy with these codes, be sure to make a separate save file.And with that, here's our quick list of some of the best codes to use. Though if you want to know more about Rockstar's open world western, go check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 review. Though if you're looking for tips and other details to learn, check our essential guide for newcomers, and along with our round up of interesting details that the game doesn't tell you about.Drunk On CommandBy inputting the phrase "A fool on command" in the cheats menu, you'll unlock the Drunk option. This will instantly make Arthur intoxicated, resulting in him wobble about as he struggles to stand up straight. You'll even get an occasional odd comment from him as he wanders down the street or insolation while in the wilderness. While enabled, this will keep the main character perpetually drunk. But if you've had enough, you can deselect the option to return Arthur to his sober self--and all without the nasty hangover.A Horse Ride Is Only A Whistle AwayAs you're gradually building a bond with your new steed, you'll notice that whistling for your horse will only work within fairly short distances. If you don't have time to invest in building up your bond to increase the distance, you can input the code "Better than my dog" to get it to come to you at anytime, regardless of where you are on the map. This can be quite handy when you're traveling the great distances and you can't be bothered to backtrack to where you last left them.That New Horse SmellHowever, if you feel you deserve a stronger and more able-bodied stallion to help you cover great distances, the code "Run! Run! Run!" will do just the trick. After activating this code, you'll instantly spawn a prized race horse for Arthur to ride. As Red Dead Redemption 2 features a large variety of different horses, this particular mare is naturally adept at getting from A to B quickly.A New, Rejuvenated YouAfter spending so much time traveling in the wilderness and getting into dangerous scrapes with many of the gangs roaming the land, you'll often find yourself in rough shape. If you need a pick-me-up fast, then enter the cheat "You flourish before you die" to fully restore Arthur's main cores. Once you're top shape, you'll be able to dive right back into your adventure in no time.Guns, Lots Of GunsWhen you're living life as a bandit, the difference between seeing another day and laying face-first in the dirt could down to what weapon you're holding in your hand. So if you want to upgrade your own hardware to even the odds, use the code "Greed is American Virtue" to unlock a new set of weapons for the traveling outlaw. Once activated you'll find the Pump-Action Shotgun, Mauser Pistol, Semi-Automatic Pistol, and Bolt-Action Rifle sitting in your inventory. To unlock this cheat for use, you'll need to finish the Advertising, the New American Art mission in Chapter 3, and then acquire a newspaper in the town of Rhodes.All The Ammo You NeedRed Dead Redemption 2 prides itself on on offering semi-realistic world where survival is dependent on the resources you have. However, there may come a time where you wish that ammo was in more plentiful supply. If that ever happens, all you'll need to do is use the cheat "Abundance is the dullest desire" in the menu, which is unlocked after picking up the newspaper in Valentine during Chapter 2. Once activated, all ammo will come in unlimited supply, and you can keep firing off your weapons without worrying to count your bullets.Info from Gamespot.com

In Red Dead Redemption 2, hunting is an important part of exploration and survival in the vast open world. In addition to finding food and other necessary supplies, you'll be able to use materials taken from fallen prey to craft outfits and talismans, which unlock special perks that amplify Arthur's main attributes. As you travel, you may even stumble upon an elusive animal that other explorers have rarely seen. Your first encounter with such a beast will be the Legendary Grizzly Bear, which can offer up a legendary bear pelt if you're able take it down.These Legendary Animals can be found across the many regions of the map and take some extra effort to hunt. While some of these are small in stature, there are many that tower in size over Arthur and are quite dangerous in a fight. But if you're able to take them out, you'll acquire the means to craft some of the game's most valuable accessories and outfits. These particular animals offer the rarest pelts and materials you can find, which can be turned in to the local Trappers and Fences--those shady, black market dealers offering up some of the rarest goods. But rest assured, any materials that can't fit in your bags will be sent straight to the respective merchants.In this feature, we're giving you all the details you need in order to track and hunt each of the game's Legendary Animals. If you want some extra tips for general survival and even fishing--which has its own set of Legendary Fish--be sure to check out our guides and features relating to each of Red Dead 2's most involved gameplay systems. Furthermore, be sure to check out our new weekly series QuickDraw, which focuses on the game's numerous gameplay features and along with a broader look on the impact of the Red Dead series.Table of Contents [hide]Legendary Bharati Grizzly BearLegendary BeaverLegendary Bighorn RamLegendary BoarLegendary BuckLegendary BullgatorLegendary CougarLegendary CoyoteLegendary ElkLegendary FoxLegendary Giaguaro PantherLegendary MooseLegendary Tatanka BisonLegendary White BisonLegendary WolfLegendary Bharati Grizzly BearLocation: During the Chapter 2 story mission Exit Pursued By A Bruised Ego, you'll encounter your first Legendary Animal. While it's possible to take down the bear at this time, you can return later if you want better firepower. You can find it in Grizzlies East, north of the lake O'creah's Run.Crafting:Fence: Bear Claw Talisman (Decreases health core drain by 10%) -- Legendary Bear Claw, Silver Chain Bracelet, Quartz ChunkLegendary BeaverLocation: This rare beaver is known to wander southwest of Butcher Creek, which is directly to the west of Van Horn Trading Post.Crafting:Fence: Beaver Tooth Trinket (Slows weapon degradation by 10%) -- Legendary Beaver ToothLegendary Bighorn RamLocation: Living up to its name, this unusual ram can be found at Cattail Pond, just west of Valentine--the first town you come across in Chapter 2.Crafting:Fence: Ram Horn Trinket (Doubles amount of Creeping Thyme, Oregano, and Wild Mint collected): Legendary Ram HornLegendary BoarLocation: The rare boar can be found in Bluewater Marsh, north of Lagras in the Lemoyne region.Crafting:Fence: Boar Tusk Talisman (Decreases drain speed of horse health and stamina by 10%) -- Legendary Boar Tusk, Cobalt Petrified Wood, Gold EarringLegendary BuckLocation: In the mountains northwest of Strawberry, you'll encounter this large buck.Crafting:Fence: Buck Antler Trinket (Receive higher quality parts when skinning animals) -- Legendary Buck AntlerLegendary BullgatorLocation: First, you'll need to complete the Chapter 4 story mission Country Pursuits, which introduces you to the beast while showing you why it's so dangerous. Afterwards, you'll be able to encounter the massive gator in Bayou Nwa, west of Lakay--which is north of Saint Denis.Crafting:Fence: Alligator Tooth Talisman (Decrease dead eye drain speed by 10%) -- Legendary Alligator Tooth, Gold Jointed Bracelet, Vintage Civil War HandcuffsLegendary CougarLocation: This fearsome feline can be found in Gaptooth Ridge, west of Tumbleweed.Crafting:Fence: Cougar Fang Trinket (Increase stamina XP by 10%) -- Legendary Cougar FangLegendary CoyoteLocation: The hunting grounds for this dangerous coyote can be found in Scarlett Meadows, northwest of Northwest of Rhodes and Southeast of the Old Mill.Crafting:Fence: Coyote Fang Trinket (Increase dead eye XP by 10%) -- Legendary Coyote FangLegendary ElkLocation: You can find this animal east of Bacchus Station in the Ambarino region--the northern section of the map.Crafting:Fence: Elk Antler Trinket (Increase money from looting by 10%) -- Legendary Elk AntlerLegendary FoxLocation: The fox can be found near Mattock Pond, just north of Rhodes in the Lemoyne region.Crafting:Fence: Fox Claw Trinket (Increases eagle eye duration by five seconds) -- Legendary Fox ClawLegendary Giaguaro PantherLocation: To encounter this incredibly dangerous animal, you'll first need to prove yourself as hunter by reaching the rank 9 challenge for Master Hunter. Afterwards, you'll find it roaming west of Shady Belle in Lemoyne. This is directly east of Braithwaite Manor.Crafting:Fence: Panther's Eye Trinket (Decreases dead eye drain speed by 10% for three seconds) -- Legendary Panther EyeLegendary MooseLocation: This massive moose can be seen in the area of Roanoke Ridge, which is near the northeastern corner of the map. Legendary Pronghorn Location: This rare antelope is found wandering in Rio Del Lobo Rock, just east of Fort Mercer in New Austin.Crafting:Fence: Moose Antler Trinket (Increases health exp by 10%) -- Legendary Moose AntlerLegendary Tatanka BisonLocation: In New Austin, you can find this rare bison just southeast of the MacFarlane ranch at Hennigan's Stead.Crafting:Fence: Tatanka Bison Horn Trinket (Decreases received melee damage by 10%) -- Legendary Tatanka Bison HornLegendary White BisonLocation: You can find another rare bison at Lake Isabella, just north of Mount Hagen in Grizzlies West.Crafting:Fence: Bison Horn Talisman (Decreases the speed stamina drains by 10%) -- Legendary Bison HornLegendary WolfLocation: This elusive wolf can be found in Cotorra Springs, west of Bacchus Bridge in Ambarino.Crafting:Fence: Wolf Heart Trinket (Doubles resistance to alcohol) -- Legendary Wolf HeartInfo from Gamespot.com

Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn't make a lot of its mechanics known to the player. There are systems buried deep within that you'd be hard-pressed to come in contact with if you're mainlining the game's major story and side missions. Among these mechanics are special Perks that offer improvements to Arthur's overall abilities.We know what you're thinking, though: "Perks? You mean like Perks you unlock from an RPG-like progression tree?" Yes, and no. Red Dead Redemption 2 does in fact offer these sorts of Perks, but they're unlocked by obtaining special items known as Talismans and Trinkets, and not from any special in-game progression screen.Talismans and Trinkets are primarily crafted at Fences--special black market shops that sell all manner of useful items you can't get at any ol' General Shop. You'll need parts from Legendary Animals to craft them. Others are rewarded to you by completing specific missions under special conditions. While Talismans and Trinkets are technically items, know that you don't need to equip them in order for them to be active. Once you acquire one, it'll affect Arthur's abilities permanently, and they can even be equipped as a cosmetic item.Below we run down all of the Talismans we've found so far, what they do, and what you need to unlock them. Any Talismans or Trinkets that have crafting components marked with a "*" are special items that require you to complete specific missions or challenges; a table can be found further below that details their locations.If you're looking for more guides, you'd be remiss not to check out our feature highlighting all the tips you should know before playing. Though, we also have guides on more specific subjects, like cheat codes, gun customization and money making. Be sure to read our Red Dead 2 review if you haven't already.GeneralThe General category has the most Perks affecting a variety of attributes, like weapon degradation, Eagle Eye duration, alcohol resistance, and much more. There are 10 General Perks in total--not including the Eagle Talon Talisman Perk you get from the Special/Ultimate Edition.NamePerk EffectHow To GetBeaver Tooth TrinketSlows weapons degradation by 10%Crafted at Fences with Legendary Beaver ToothBuck Antler TrinketIncreases chances of higher-quality parts from skinning animalsCrafted at Fences using the Legendary Buck AntlerElk Antler TrinketIncreases the money you get from looting by 10%Crafted at Fences using the Legendary Elk AntlerFox Claw TrinketIncreases Eagle Eye duration by five secondsCrafted at Fences using the Legendary Fox ClawPronghorn Horn TrinketStops animals stored on your horse from decomposingCrafted at Fences using the Legendary Pronghorn HornRam Horn TrinketDoubles the amount of herbs you get from picking oregano, creeping thyme, and wild mintCrafted at Fences using the Legendary Ram HornWolf Heart TrinketDoubles resistance to alcoholCrafted at Fences with Legendary Wolf HeartOwl Feather TrinketReduces speed of Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye Core drain by 15%Reward for completing "Archeology for Beginners" without killing a single personBoar Tusk TalismanDecreases Core drain speed of your horse's Health and Stamina by 10%Crafted at Fences using, Cobalt Petrified Wood*, Gold Earring, Legendary Boar TuskRaven Claw TalismanSlows weapon degradation by 20%Crafted at Fences with Old Brass Compass*Eagle Talon TalismanIncreases Eagle Eye duration by five secondsAvailable as a bonus for Special/Ultimate Edition owners onlyHealthNot including the Iguana Scale Trinket Perk you get from the Special/Ultimate Edition, there are five Health Perks to collect. Each affects your Health in different ways. While some help your Health Core and bar drain speed, others are more specific in decreasing the type of damage you receive.NamePerk EffectHow To GetTatanka Bison Horn TrinketDecreases melee damage received by 10%Crafted at Fences using Legendary Tatanka Bison HornMoose Antler TrinketIncreases your health XP gain by 10%Crafted at Fences with Legendary Moose AntlerIguana Scale TrinketReduces the damage received while on horseback by 10%Available as a bonus for Special/Ultimate Edition owners onlyBear Claw TalismanDecreases the drain speed of your Health Core by 10%Crafted at Fences using Silver Chain Bracelet, Quartz Chunk*, Legendary Bear ClawStaminaThere are five Stamina Perks in total--of which we've gathered three thus far. As you'd expect, most of them affect your Stamina gains and drains.NamePerk EffectHow To GetCougar's Paw TrinketIncreases Stamina XP gain by 10%Crafted at Fences with Legendary Cougar's PawLion's Paw TrinketIncreases Stamina XP gain by 10%Crafted at Fences with Lion's Paw*Bison Horn TalismanDecreases the drain speed of your Stamina Core by 10%Crafted at Fences using Abalone Shell Fragment*, Silver Earring, and Legendary Bison HornDead EyeThere are five Dead Eye Perks in total. Below you can find the three we've discovered so far, which focus on decreasing the speed of Dead Eye Core and bar drain, as well as increase the gain speed of Dead Eye XP.NamePerk EffectHow To GetCoyote Fang TrinketIncreases Dead Eye XP gain by 10%Crafted at Fences with Legendary Coyote FangPanther's Eye TrinketDecreases drain speed of Dead Eye bar by 10% for three secondsCrafted at Fences with Legendary Panther's EyeAlligator Tooth TalismanDecreases the drain speed of Dead Eye Core by 10%Crafted at Fences using Vintage Civil War Handcuffs*, Gold Jointed Bracelet, and Legendary Alligator ToothSpecial Crafting MaterialsAs stated, some Talismans and Trinkets require special crafting components you can only get from certain instances in the story or by completing challenges. Below you can find a rundown of where these special components are found.Crafting ItemTalisman/Trinket RecipeHow To GetCobalt Petrified WoodBoar Tusk TalismanLocated in a chest under a rock overhang northwest of Lake IsabellaOld Brass CompassRaven Claw TalismanLocated in Francis Sinclair's cabin after mailing all 10 rock carvings in the "Geology for Beginners" missionQuartz ChunkBear Claw TalismanRecieved by mailing in the first dinosaur bone location in the "Test of Faith" missionLion's PawLion's Paw TrinketTaken from the lion during the Stranger Mission: "He's British, of Course IV"Vintage Civil War HandcuffsAlligator Tooth TalismanMail in a set of Cigarette CardsInfo from Gamespot.com

Fences--merchants, not boundary markers--in Red Dead Redemption 2 are the only businesses that will buy goods you've found while looting strangers and rifling through private property, and by gum, they sure are hard to find. Considering the size of RDR2's map, and that there are only four fences in all the land, odds are you may be wondering where they're hiding. We've got a handy reference guide to help locate the black-market traders that peddle in illicit goods.Fair warning: you have to first complete Chapter 2's 'The Spines of America' mission before you can use any fence, and you won't be able to access either of the specialized fences--for horses or wagons--until you reach certain progress milestones in the game's main story.Let's start off with the first location you're likely to find: Emerald Ranch Fence #1: Emerald Ranch (Unlocks after Chapter 2, Pouring Fourth Oil)The first fence location you might stumble across during the natural trajectory of the story's early mission is located on the south-west edge of Emerald Ranch, on the backside of a massive barn. In additional to its usual services, this is also the only fence that will pay you for turning in stolen stagecoaches and carriages.The same time that you unlock the standard fence at Emerald Ranch, you will also unlock the ability to trade in stolen carriages; simply ride them up to the barn doors to engage the wagon fence. Fence #2: Van Horn Trading PostOn the far-east edge of New Hanover (practically due east of Emerald Ranch) lies Van Horn Trading Post. The fence at this location is tucked away within the rear of building along the docks. Fence #3: RhodesDue south of Emerald Ranch lies Rhodes, a small town with a small trailer park to the north. There you will find a bright red trailer, and on the backside you'll find a counter and a window where the local fence awaits your business. Fence #4: Saint DenisThe far-off bustling streets of Saint Denis are where you'll find the most well-hidden fence of them all. Tucked under the busy market square, it's easy to spot if you keep an eye out for the brick archways, or the green building with bright green shudders. This is also the only fence that will purchase gold bars, valued at a whopping $500 a piece. Horse Fence, North Of Rhodes (Unlocks after Chapter 3, Horse Flesh For Dinner)After completing the gruesomely titled mission mentioned above, you can speak to a pair of strangers northwest of Rhodes, along the waterside, to turn in stolen horses. Info from Gamespot.com

It's shocking the amount of stuff you can find in Red Dead Redemption 2. Heck, the Stranger missions, Legendary animals, and camp side-activities were already enough as it is. But it seems another major discovery has been made, and it's not what you'd expect. UFOs were one thing, but this is another entirely.To keep you from getting spoiled, we're going to be vague with the details of this discovery. It's really worth seeing it through the end so you can experience it yourself. The objective of this mission is quite simple: find five mysterious writings scattered across Saint Denis. Once you've found all those, you'll get a map that points you to an alleyway near the church in town. However, in order to trigger the event properly, you need to visit at night. If you really want to know what it is, hover your mouse over the text below:You find five mysterious writings that inevitably lead you to finding an actual vampire. Seriously. A vampire!Below we detail the locations of all five mysterious writings, as well as provide directions on how to get to the alleyway by the Saint Denis church. You can find the writings in any order, but for the sake of clarity, we've numbered them to make it easier to follow. Massive props to Luke Lawrie of Stevivor, who deserves all the credit for being able to discern these clues and find them all across town. With bizarre stuff like this, it seems there's no shortage of secrets tucked away in Red Dead Redemption 2, so if you've discovered something crazy, be sure to let us know about it in the comments below.Clue 1"I drink from the maiden and I live again in the dead. The heart of the king of blood."The first clue is located on the building just above the second "N" in "Saint Denis" on the map. You'll see it written on the wall of a red building with white doors.Clue 2"I feed again. The blood of life. The circle has begun."The second clue is near the Saint Denis market place where the local Fence and Trapper are. It's tucked away in an alleyway behind a gate where there are some neatly stacked barrels.Clue 3"Five bones under the perfect star. Nosferatu with Dominica will become mortal again."The third clue is located by the Butcher and General Store on the southwestern side of town. It's on the other side of the shops, tucked away under an overhang.Clue 4Oh sweetest of napes, may your blood remain forever on my lips. Six there will be before the lust is sated."The fourth clue is found directly north of the post office, tucked away in a corridor. Look to the shot above to chart a path to its locations.Clue 5With one long kiss, I draw the life from her and await the outpost of advancing day."The final clue is found on another wall of the building the previous clue was written on. Simply head up north to get to it, but you'll likely have to run around the building to reach it. This building complex is a bit of a labyrinth but stick with it and you'll find it eventually.The Big RevealAs stated above, you'll get a map once you've gathered all the clues. It's a tad vague in the direction it's trying to point you, but it's ultimately trying to get you to go to a secluded alleyway to the west of the General Store and Butcher. However, the special event won't trigger until nighttime, so be sure to advance time at the local saloon. Once it's night, head to the alleyway and prepare yourself for a bizarre event that defies expectations.Info from Gamespot.com

After the amazing gaming year that was 2017, many wondered how well 2018 would turn out. Fortunately for everyone, it has been great. The first half of the year has yielded a wealth of fantastic games, and there's more on the horizon. Upcoming games for the rest of this 2018 include slew of hotly anticipated new games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man, and a whole lot more. To help you keep track of all the games coming out and what has already released, we've compiled a list of all the noteworthy release dates for the biggest ones confirmed to come out in 2018 so far.Game release dates change all the time and new ones arrive every month. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we'll be updating this article with more release dates or any potential changes to any of the dates below. And if you're eager to figure out the release dates from games next year, you can also reference our feature on the game release dates of 2019.JanuaryGamePlatformRelease DateThe Escapists 2SwitchJanuary 11Forged Battalion PCJanuary 16Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced EditionPS4, Xbox OneJanuary 16Street Fighter V: Arcade EditionPS4, PCJanuary 16Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's MemoryPS4, VitaJanuary 19Kirby Battle Royale3DSJanuary 19IconoclastsPS4, VitaJanuary 23Lost SphearPS4, Switch, PCJanuary 23OK KO: Let's Play HeroesPS4, Xbox One, PCJanuary 23The InpatientPSVRJanuary 23My Time at PortiaPCJanuary 23Velocity 2X: Critical Mass EditionPS4, VitaJanuary 23CelestePS4, Switch, PCJanuary 25Dust and SaltPCJanuary 25Dragon Ball FighterZPS4, Xbox One, PCJanuary 26Monster Hunter WorldPS4, Xbox OneJanuary 26Railway EmpirePCJanuary 26Dissidia: Final Fantasy NTPS4January 30Railway EmpirePS4, Xbox OneJanuary 30FebruaryGamePlatformRelease DateBatallion 1944 (Early Access)PCFebruary 1Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac AgePCFebruary 1Night in the WoodsSwitchFebruary 1SteamWorld DigSwitchFebruary 1EA Sports UFC 3PS4, Xbox OneFebruary 2Shadow of the ColossusPS4February 6Civilization VI: Rise and Fall (Expansion)PCFebruary 8Dragon Quest BuildersSwitchFebruary 9The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of BritanniaPS4February 9Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late[st]PS4, PS3, VitaFebruary 9Crossing Souls PS4, PCFebruary 13Dynasty Warriors 9PS4, Xbox One, PCFebruary 13The Fall 2: UnboundPS4, Xbox One, PCFebruary 13Kingdom Come: DeliverancePS4, Xbox One, PCFebruary 13OwlboySwitchFebruary 13The Longest Five MinutesSwitch, Vita, PCFebruary 13Monster Energy Supercross: The Official VideogamePS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCFebruary 13Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology3DSFebruary 13Secret of ManaPS4, PS Vita, PCFebruary 15Bayonetta + Bayonetta 2SwitchFebruary 16FePS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCFebruary 16Age of Empires: Definitive EditionPCFebruary 20Metal Gear SurvivePS4, Xbox One, PCFebruary 20Xenon Valkyrie+Xbox OneFebruary 20Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 PlusSwitchFebruary 22Stellaris: ApocalypsePCFebruary 22Past CurePS4, Xbox One, PCFebruary 23Sword Art Online: Fatal BulletPS4, Xbox One, PCFebruary 23Yume Nikki: Dream DiaryPCFebruary 23GravelXbox OneFebruary 26De Blob 2PS4, Xbox OneFebruary 27Immortal RedneckXbox OneFebruary 27Payday 2SwitchFebruary 27Riftstar RaidersXbox OneFebruary 27MarchBravo TeamPSVRMarch 6Final Fantasy XV: Royal EditionPS4, Xbox One, PCMarch 6FranticsPS4March 6Scribblenauts ShowdownPS4, Xbox One, SwitchMarch 6Fear Effect SednaPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchMarch 6Devil May Cry HD CollectionPS4, Xbox One, PCMarch 13GolemPSVRMarch 13Pure Farming 2018PS4, Xbox One, PCMarch 13Burnout Paradise RemasteredPS4, Xbox One, PCMarch 13Kirby Star AlliesSwitchMarch 16Assassin's Creed Rogue: RemasteredPS4, Xbox OneMarch 20Attack on Titan 2PS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchMarch 20Sea of ThievesXbox One, PCMarch 20Titan QuestPS4, Xbox OneMarch 20A Way OutPS4, Xbox One, PCMarch 23Detective Pikachu3DSMarch 23Ni no Kuni II: Revenant KingdomPS4, PCMarch 23Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious PaintingsPS4, PC, SwitchMarch 27Far Cry 5PS4, Xbox One, PCMarch 27MLB The Show 18PS4March 27Outlast 2SwitchMarch 27AgonyPS4, Xbox One, PCMarch 30AprilGamePlatformRelease DateExtinctionPS4, Xbox One, PCApril 10OwlboyPS4, Xbox OneApril 10Hellblade: Senua's SacrificeXbox OneApril 11Wild Guns ReloadedSwitchApril 17Yakuza 6: The Song of LifePS4April 17Metal Max XenoPS4, VitaApril 19God of WarPS4April 20Nintendo Labo Variety KitSwitchApril 20Nintendo Labo Robot KitSwitchApril 20FrostpunkPCApril 24South Park: The Fractured But WholeSwitchApril 24MayGamePlatformRelease DateSuper Mega Baseball 2PS4, Xbox One, PCMay 1Killing Floor: IncursionPSVRMay 1Total War Saga: Thrones of BritanniaPCMay 3City of BrassPS4, Xbox One, PCMay 4Donkey Kong Country: Tropical FreezeSwitchMay 4AO International Tennis (originally AU, NZ only)PS4, Xbox One, PCMay 8Conan ExilesPS4, Xbox One, PCMay 8Destiny 2: WarmindPS4, Xbox One, PCMay 8Pillars of Eternity II: DeadfirePCMay 8Raging JusticeSwitch, PS4, Xbox One, PCMay 8Tacoma (first released on Xbox One, PC)PS4May 8Immortal RedneckSwitchMay 10One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3SwitchMay 11Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – MartyrPS4, Xbox One, PCMay 11Battle Chasers: NightwarSwitchMay 15Dragon's Crown ProPS4May 15Horizon Chase TurboPS4, PCMay 15Little Witch Academia: Chamber of TimePS4, PCMay 15OmensightPS4, PCMay 15Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux3DSMay 15Far: Lone SailsPCMay 17Hyrule Warriors: Definitive EditionSwitchMay 18Little Nightmares: Complete EditionSwitchMay 18State of Decay 2 (Ultimate Edition)Xbox One, PCMay 18Ancestors LegacyXbox One, PCMay 22Mega Man Legacy CollectionSwitchMay 22Mega Man Legacy Collection 2SwitchMay 22Runner3Switch, PCMay 22Space Hulk: Deathwing - Enhanced EditionPS4, PCMay 22State of Decay 2 (Standard Edition)Xbox One, PCMay 22Tennis World TourPS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCMay 22Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers3DSMay 24Dark Souls RemasteredPS4, Xbox One, PCMay 25Detroit: Become HumanPS4May 25AgonyPS4, Xbox One, PCMay 29EverspacePS4May 29Legend of Kay AnniversarySwitchMay 29Sega Mega Drive ClassicsPS4, Xbox OneMay 29Street Fighter 30th Anniversary CollectionPS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCMay 29JuneGamePlatformRelease DateBlazBlue: Cross Tag BattlePS4, PC, SwitchJune 5The Elder Scrolls Online: SummersetPS4, Xbox One, PCJune 5OnrushPS4, Xbox OneJune 5Shaq Fu: A Legend RebornPS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCJune 5VampyrPS4, Xbox One, PCJune 5MotoGP 18PS4, Xbox One, PCJune 7Sushi Striker: The Way of SushidoSwitch, 3DSJune 8Unravel TwoPS4, Xbox One, PCJune 9Fallout ShelterPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchJune 10Jurassic World Evolution (Digital)PS4, Xbox One, PCJune 12Fortnite: Battle RoyaleSwitchJune 12Hollow KnightSwitchJune 12Moss (Physical)PS4June 12Super Bomberman RPS4, Xbox One, PCJune 12LEGO The IncrediblesXbox One, PS4, Switch, PCJune 15The Lost ChildPS4, PS VitaJune 19Mario Tennis AcesSwitchJune 22New Gundam BreakerPS4, PCJune 22The Awesome Adventures of Captain SpiritPS4, Xbox One, PCJune 26Crash Bandicoot N.Sane TrilogyXbox One, PC, SwitchJune 26De Blob RemasteredSwitchJune 26Far Cry 3 Classic EditionPS4, Xbox OneJune 26Lumines RemasteredPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchJune 26Nier: Automata Become As Gods EditionXbox OneJune 26The Crew 2PS4, Xbox One, PCJune 29MXGP ProPS4, Xbox One, PCJune 29Wolfenstein II: The New ColossusSwitchJune 29JulyGamePlatformRelease DateJurassic World Evolution (Physical)Xbox One, PS4, PCJuly 3Red Faction: Guerrilla RemasteredPS4, Xbox One, PCJuly 3Mushroom Wars 2SwitchJuly 5Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – MartyrPS4, Xbox OneJuly 5Shining Resonance RefrainPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchJuly 10Captain Toad: Treasure TrackerSwitch, 3DSJuly 13EarthfallPS4, Xbox One, PCJuly 13Octopath TravelerSwitchJuly 13Adventure Time: Pirates of the EnchiridionPS4, Xbox One, PCJuly 17Sonic Mania PlusPS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCJuly 17Mega Man X Collection 1+2PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCJuly 24No Man’s SkyXbox OneJuly 24The Banner Saga 3PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, MacJuly 24Hello NeighborPS4, Switch, iOS, AndroidJuly 27ChasmPS4, Xbox One, PCJuly 31Code of Princess EXSwitchJuly 31Titan QuestSwitchJuly 31AugustGamePlatformRelease DateYakuza 0PCAugust 1WarioWare Gold3DSAugust 3Dead CellsPS4, Xbox One, PC SwitchAugust 7Flipping DeathPS4, Xbox One, PC SwitchAugust 7Overcooked 2PS4, Xbox One, PC SwitchAugust 7Monster Hunter WorldPCAugust 9Okami HDSwitchAugust 9Madden NFL 19PS4, Sbox One, PCAugust 10We Happy FewPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 10Death's GambitPS4, PCAugust 10The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 1PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCAugust 14World of Warcraft: Battle for AzerothPCAugust 14Guacamelee! 2PS4August 21Shenmue I & IIPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 21Gone HomeSwitchAugust 23F1 2018PS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 24Little Dragons CafePS4, SwitchAugust 24Night Trap: 25th Anniversary EditionSwitchAugust 24Blade StrangersPS4, Switch, PCAugust 28Donut CountyPS4, PC, iOSAugust 28Into the BreachSwitchAugust 28Monster Hunter Generations UltimateSwitchAugust 28Pro Evolution Soccer 2019PS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 28Yakuza Kiwami 2PS4August 28The MessengerSwitch, PCAugust 30Two Point HospitalPCAugust 30Divinity: Original Sin 2PS4, Xbox OneAugust 31Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi StrikerPS4, Xbox One, PCAugust 31Wasteland 2 SwitchAugust TBA 2018SeptemberGamePlatformRelease DateDestiny 2 Forsaken DLCPS4, Xbox One, PCSeptember 4Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive AgePS4September 4Player Unknown's BattlegroundsXbox OneSeptember 4Gone Home SwitchSeptember 6Immortal: UnchainedPS4, Xbox One, PCSeptember 7NBA Live 19PS4, Xbox OneSeptember 7SNK Heroines: Tag Team FrenzyPS4, SwitchSeptember 7Spider-ManPS4September 7Yo-kai Watch Blasters: Red Cat Corp and White Dog Squad3DSSeptember 7NBA 2K19PS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchSeptember 11BastionSwitchSeptember 13Cities: Skylines SwitchSeptember 13Final Fantasy XV: Pocket EditionPS4, Xbox One, SwitchSeptember 13Wasteland 2: Directors CutSwitchSeptember 13Nintendo Labo Vehicle KitSwitchSeptember 14Shadow of the Tomb RaiderPS4, Xbox One, PCSeptember 14Light Fingers SwitchSeptember 14BlindPSVRSeptember 18Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCSeptember 18UndertaleSwitchSeptember 18Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country DLCSwitchSeptember 21South Park: The Stick of TruthSwitchSeptember 25Valkyria Chronicles 4PS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchSeptember 25The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 2PS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchSeptember 25Life Is Strange 2 -- Episode 1PS4, Xbox One, PCSeptember 27Towerfall SwitchSeptember 27Dragon Ball FighterZSwitchSeptember 28FIFA 19PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PCSeptember 28OctoberGamePlatformRelease DateAstro Bot Rescue MissionPSVROctober 2Forza Horizon 4Xbox One, PCOctober 2Fist of the North Star: Lost ParadisePS4October 2Mega Man 11PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCOctober 2Assassin's Creed OdysseyPS4, Xbox One, PCOctober 5Super Mario PartySwitchOctober 5Disgaea 1 CompletePS4, SwitchOctober 9Mark of the Ninja: RemasteredPS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCOctober 9WWE 2K19PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCOctober 9Child of LightSwitchOctober 11Call of Duty: Black Ops 4PS4, Xbox One, PCOctober 12Luigi's Mansion3DSOctober 12The World Ends with You: Final RemixSwitchOctober 12Lego DC Super VillainsPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchOctober 16Starlink: Battle for AtlasPS4, Xbox One, SwitchOctober 16Valkyria ChroniclesSwitchOctober 16Warriors Orochi 4PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PCOctober 16Syberia 3SwitchOctober 18Dark Souls RemasteredSwitchOctober 19Soulcalibur VIPS4, Xbox One, PCOctober 19 Just Dance 2019PS4, Xbox One, SwitchOctober 23My Hero One's JusticePS4, SwitchOctober 26Red Dead Redemption 2PS4, Xbox OneOctober 26Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video GamePS4, Xbox One, PCOctober 30NovemberGamePlatformRelease DateThe Quiet ManPS4, PCNovember 1Diablo III: Eternal CollectionSwitchNovember 2DéracinéPSVRNovember 6Overkill's The Walking DeadPS4, Xbox One, PCNovember 6World of Final Fantasy MaximaXbox One, SwitchNovember 6Ride 3PS4, Xbox One, PCNovember 8Hitman 2PS4, Xbox One, PCNovember 13SNK 40th Anniversary CollectionSwitchNovember 13Spyro Reignited TrilogyPS4, Xbox OneNovember 13Fallout 76PS4, Xbox One, PCNovember 14Underworld AscendantPCNovember 15Civilization VISwitchNovember 16Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu/Let's Go EeveeSwitchNovember 16Battlefield VPS4, Xbox One, PCNovember 20WarframeSwitchNovember 20WreckfestPS4, Xbox OneNovember 20Darksiders 3PS4, Xbox One, PCNovember 27ArtifactPCNovember 28Katamari Damacy RerollSwitch, PCNovember 30DecemberGamePlatformRelease DateJust Cause 4PS4, Xbox One, PCDecember 4Monster Boy and the Cursed KingdomPS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchDecember 4Persona 3: Dancing in MoonlightPS4, PSVitaDecember 4Persona 4: Dancing All NightPS4December 4Persona 5: Dancing in StarlightPS4, PSVitaDecember 4Super Smash Bros. UltimateSwitchDecember 7Earth Defense Force 5PS4December 11Dragon Marked for DeathSwitchDecember 13Big Games Confirmed for 2018Below you can find a list of the biggest games that don't have explicit release dates but are confirmed to release sometime this year. There are also games listed that we expect to launch in 2018. We'll be moving each of these games into the release date sections above as soon as official dates are announced.GamePlatformChocobo's Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy!PS4, SwitchInfo from Gamespot.com

One of the first things you learn in Red Dead Redemption 2 is how to hunt. It's a survival skill that can help you sustain your cores while out in the wild, and it's a reliable source of cash if you're able to quickly gather and turn around animal pelts--the better the condition, the more valuable, of course.While it can take time to spot high-quality animals and even longer to learn how to hunt them efficiently, without making a mess of their pelt, the hardest piece of the puzzle to figure out early on is where to go to sell fur for cash once it's in your hands. You need a trapper, and we've got an easy-to-follow guide that shows you exactly where Read Dead 2's wandering Trapper can be found; five locations in all. Saint DenisThe main location is in Saint Denis, the bustling city to the south. You can go there at any point after the game sets you free. The trapper is located within a busy market, under the giant brick wall painted red with an advertisement for biscuits. This is this only trapper location within a town or city; the rest are scattered throughout the wilderness. Roanoke Ridge Woods, New HanoverTucked away in the woods, around the northeast quadrant of the map, lies a shady outpost for our industrious trapper. Big Valley (East), West ElizabethSlightly Northeast from the nearby Riggs Station lies our man, setup in the middle of a small clearing. Big Valley (North), West ElizabethWith lots of great hunting opportunities nearby, the convenience of the trapper's spot in the northwest corner of the map is worth taking advantage of. Endgame TrapperWe don't want to get into too many specifics here, but know that this trapper spot won't be available until the final chapter in the game.Info from Gamespot.com

Hitman 2 is now available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, provided you purchase the Gold edition. For everyone else, it releases on Tuesday, November 13. The first Elusive Target, part of the game's free post-launch support, comes later this month and features actor Sean Bean. Read on for our full review, originally published on November 8.Hitman is a game about killing people. Well, killing specific people and trying not to kill other people unless you really have to. But it's also a game about exploring large, real-world-inspired spaces, learning about how they operate, finding multiple solutions to problems, and using that knowledge to improvise and manipulate the environment to hit the people you're hunting. The episodic nature of the Hitman refresh in 2016 saw IO Interactive release one level every month--a contentious move at the time, but one that helped accentuate the potential in each mission. Hitman 2 ditches the episodic model and adds a few new minor mechanics, but the loop of continuously replaying a single location, slowly uncovering the wealth of possibilities, and being able to effectively draw upon that knowledge in new challenges is where Hitman is strongest.Hitman 2 takes you to six new locales, and each poses unique situations to overcome as you attempt to assassinate your targets. Mumbai is a standout with its densely populated streets and labyrinths of tenement buildings--a great environment that makes the most of a new Assassin's Creed-style crowd blending mechanic, allowing you to disappear into big groups of people. A mission in Miami, Florida takes place at an active raceway, a loud and vibrant stage that feels like a theme park with its swaths of attendees, distinct zones, and a concealed backstage underbelly.These levels are overwhelming in the best way possible, and it's exciting to begin peeling away the layers of these large, intricate areas--exploring the spaces, discovering routes, finding tools and disguises, and figuring out the best places to utilize them. If you're familiar with Hitman, you know that each stage and its AI inhabitants run on routines like clockwork, making Hitman a game that rewards social stealth and patience. Eavesdropping, tailing, and passive observation are good first steps to success. Even the Whittleton Creek stage, a small, sparsely populated suburban block in Vermont, feels like a mindmap of interconnected causality when you begin to dig deeper. Having the curiosity to uncover how things operate within levels, stumbling upon minor plotlines and amusing flavor dialog along the way, is interesting in its own right.Hitman does make an upfront effort to help focus your scope and give you some momentum toward your objectives, though thankfully your initiative is still necessary to solve some predicaments. Stumbling across a Mission Story (previously known as Opportunities) might lead you to a machine you can sabotage, for example, but you need to find the tool to do so and work out the best method of either distracting or dispatching the people around it.Mission Stories are a great first step, but Hitman becomes its best when you start to internalize the stages and uncover the more obscure ways things can unfold in subsequent playthroughs, be it through pursuing alternative Mission Stories, Challenges that ask you to perform specific tasks, or your own improvisation. There are few fail states other than your own death, and there are so many approaches and tools at your disposal that the path to victory can be as creative and elegant or as bumbling and messy as it needs to be. Completing a stage typically takes a long time, and there will be plenty of moments when a guard catches you doing something you shouldn't be doing and calls for backup. Unhinged gunfights still feel as futile as ever, but when things get out of control there's almost always the opportunity to escape to a less hostile part of the level, swap your disguises, and come up with an alternative "make do" approach. In fact, Hitman is sometimes more exciting when your initial plans fail.The only problem with being presented with such a staggering array of interactions is that the limitations of the sandbox will eventually reveal themselves if you push the wrong way. For example, while you can stash bodies in dumpsters and closets, I was disappointed to discover I couldn't stash them in one of many vacant portable toilets. While Agent 47 can leap tall fences and shimmy across daringly high ledges, he seemingly can't muster the courage to drop down from certain first-floor balconies. Guard AI behavior is stern but generous--if you're found trespassing in a restricted area they'll give you a chance to find the exit before reacting, but sometimes it's too generous. I was amused to see a target's personal bodyguard decide to go home for the day after his employer "accidentally" fell off a building, even though I was the only other person in the room.Hitman 2 continues to embrace a trial-and-error playstyle in its campaign. The levels are long, but autosaves are generous and manual saving is encouraged, which gives you the freedom to experiment with different ways of approaching a problem. And the closer you get to bending the systems in just the right way--trying to narrowly squeeze past a guard's sightline from different directions, or using coins and cheeseburgers to divert someone's attention--the more thrilling it feels, no matter how goofy it actually looks. Hitman 2's interstitial cinematics are as grim and dramatic as a British espionage drama, and it's hard not to let yourself buy into the clinical overarching conspiracy. But in the field, the series' tongue-in-cheek absurdity happily remains with ridiculous costumes, unlikely weapons, and Agent 47's self-aware deadpan acting, which perfectly accompanies any bumbling improvisation. Both exist distinctly, don't really compliment or detract one another, but are still enjoyable in their own right.Hitman 2 also boasts a few significant modes outside of its campaign, including Sniper Assassin, which adapts the design seen in the Hitman: Sniper smartphone game and tasks you with taking out a series of targets from a single vantage point using only a scoped rifle. It's a straightforward but enjoyable, low-stakes mode that allows for a surprising amount of creative freedom, and it can be played in two-player online co-op. But Hitman 2's most enticing bonus, at least if you own the previous Hitman, is the ability to download the original stages into Hitman 2, which gives you feature-complete versions of them with the addition of new mechanics like functional mirrors (which enemies can spot you in) and the briefcase (which lets you conceal and transport tools discreetly), among other things. These legacy stages are wonderful to revisit under a new light.It should also be mentioned that one of the most compelling elements of the 2016 Hitman was the continuous, free live content updates that occurred after the game's launch. Escalation Missions, where you're given specific conditional challenges of increasing difficulty, and Elusive Targets, limited-time events where you have only one chance to take out unique assassination targets, added tense trials that tested both your knowledge of levels and improvisational skills. IO Interactive has announced that these familiar features will be making a return, along with free content updates to Sniper Assassin and Ghost Mode. We obviously can't judge the quality of this content at launch, but it's surely something to look forward to.The addition of other minor mechanical changes--like concussive weapons, a picture-in-picture enemy activity alert, and visible security camera sightlines--help to improve Hitman 2 overall as a dense and accessible stealth assassination game. But the new locations are the real stars, impressive and inventive sandboxes ripe for picking apart with exciting experiments. Hitman is about experiencing the anticipation of seeing whether a plan will work when you try it for the first time. It's about feeling the tension of briskly walking away from a bad situation, hoping you can lose the suspicious guards. It's the satisfaction of knowing the machinations of a level so well that when a target moves into a particular place at a particular time, you have the perfect way to intervene. Hitman 2 is a familiar experience, but in the Hitman world, familiarity is an incredible strength. Info from Gamespot.com

Kingdom Hearts 3 already has an all-star cast of Disney characters, but at Xbox's X018 fan event one more made his debut. Everyone's favorite honey-loving bear, Winnie the Pooh has been confirmed to appear in the third entry in the Square Enix-developed title. Of course, this isn't the first time he's been featured in the series, as players have traveled to 100 Acre Woods, home of Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and friends multiple times.This time, we got to see Pooh talking to Sora, Donald, and Goofie, telling him that he'd always be with him. Along with Pooh, the trailer also provided another glimpse at what Master Xehanort and Organization XIII are up to. Naturally, it will require Sora, Donald, Goofy, and a supporting cast of some of the most iconic Disney characters from throughout the ages to come together and put a stop to these evil schemes, which involves creating an ultimate keyblade.Shinji Hashimoto from Square Enix also appeared during the stream to talk about Pooh's appearance, saying that in Kingdom Hearts 3 there will be mini-games to play in the 100 Acre Woods. For this location specifically, gameplay will be oriented around puzzles. Talking about technological advancements and what they bring to Kingdom Hearts 3, Hashimoto said the Xbox One hardware allowed the team to depict roaring scenes in the Pirates world and the vastness of Big Hero 6's San Fransokyo.The trailer also gave us a glimpse at the some of other words, including an evil Baymax in the Big Hero 6 universe. Some on-ship acrobatics in the Pirates of the Caribbean world.On November 5, Square Enix released a trailer set in the Kingdom of Corona, the world in which Tangled takes place. In that trailer, Sora, Donald, and Goofy meet Rapunzel and Flynn, before being ambushed by enemies. Rapunzel looks to have a pretty handy traversal ability that involves using her long hair to swing from tree branches. This will no doubt help the gang get around much easier.Other Disney franchises represented in Kingdom Hearts 3 include Toy Story, Big Hero 6, Frozen, Hercules, and Monsters Inc. Various members of the voice cast attached to these are also reprising their roles for the game. For example, Zachary Levi be playing as Flynn Rider while Donna Murphy will once again be Mother Gothel. For Frozen, Idina Menzel will be voicing Elsa, while Kristen Bell returns for Anna, Josh Gad is Olaf, and Jonathan Groff is Kristoff. Haley Joel Osment will also be voicing series protagonist Sora again.Kingdom Hearts 3 is set to release on January 29, 2019 on Xbox One and PS4.Info from Gamespot.com

Microsoft announced even more backwards compatible games coming to the Xbox One at its X018 conference. On November 13, the service will add three more games: the full trilogy of Final Fantasy XIII titles with Xbox One X enhancements. Plus Civilization Revolution, which is already available via backwards compatibility, will be getting some Xbox One X upgrades as well.The original Final Fantasy XIII was Square Enix's big tentpole title in its marquee franchise. For its two sequels--Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII--the studio focused more singularly on the central character of Lightning and blended in some action game mechanics. While FFXIII's narrative was built to stand alone, XIII-2 and Lightning Returns are part of a matched set, with a cliffhanger that neatly leads from one into the other.Civilization Revolution took the sim aspects of the popular strategy series and simplified them for a more quick and casual experience. That helps the interface work a little better on consoles, but the game has hit tons of other platforms including mobile devices.As always, once these go live on the service, if you already own these games you can insert the disc to start the download, or find the digital version in your Games section on the dashboard. The number of games on Xbox One is big and constantly growing, so check out our full list of backwards compatible games to see if any of your nostalgic favorites are already available.Info from Gamespot.com

Microsoft has announced that Ori and the Will of the Wisps, the sequel to acclaimed Xbox 360 titles Ori and the Blind Forest, will be available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers when the game launches in 2019. Those that have an active membership for the Microsoft service will be able to play the game at no additional cost.Ori and the Will of the Wisps was first announced at E3 2018 and, as expected, the debut trailer showcased its beautiful, whimsical art style, as well as some of the tricky platforming gameplay that made the first game so compelling. As of yet, Ori and the Will of the Wisps doesn't have a specific release date, but developer Moon Studios is targeting 2019.This announcement was made during X018, a fan event celebrating all things Xbox. During the show, Microsoft also confirmed that Ori and the Blind Forest is making its way to Xbox Game Pass in December, so you can play the first game in the series ahead of the sequel's launch.For those that aren't subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft is offering a discount from now through January 3. During this period, membership will be available for $1 during for the first month. Xbox Live Gold subscriptions will also be discounted to $1 for the first month, so with both you'll be set up to download a variety of games and take them online. This is a good deal if you've had your eye on Forza Horizon 4 or State of Decay 2, which are two multiplayer titles released recently.Ori and the Blind Forest launched in March, 2015. In his review, Kevin VanOrd awarded it a 9/10. "It's important, however, not to mistake Ori and the Blind Forest for being simply beautiful," he said. "It certainly is--but it is also unceasingly clever. It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond."It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope." Read the full Ori and the Blind Forest review for an in-depth analysis of it. Info from Gamespot.com

Sea of Thieves, the pirate game developed by Rare, is getting a new player versus player mode called The Arena in 2019. Announced during X018, the Xbox fan event being held in Mexico City, the mode was billed as a way for players to "test their pirating skills in fast-paced matches against rival crews."Rare is promising matches that are a "fun, frenetic and action-packed race to find treasure that brings together all the most exciting elements of Sea of Thieves." On top of this, The Arena will also introduce a brand new-tavern area and a Trading Company called the "Sea Dogs." This outfit will provide players with new goals to achieve, rewards to unlock, and fresh opportunities to build their pirate legend.During the stream, developers Rare studio head Craig Duncan and executive producer Joe Neate came on stage to talk about The Arena. According to Neate, The Arena will be a distinct mode that is selected from a menu. The studio is currently testing it internally and will then give access to it to some of its community to refine. The launch date is currently set as "early 2019" and it will be a free update.Sea of Thieves originally launched in March, 2018. In GameSpot's Sea of Thieves review, Peter Brown said it was "a somewhat hollow game that can be fun for a handful of hours when played with friends, and something worth trying out if you happen to be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber."Even though it's hard to wholeheartedly recommend, I like enough of what I see to hold out hope that things will eventually improve as the game continues to be patched and updated with new content," he added.The last major update for Sea of Thieves update introduced Cargo Runs, which could be completed to improve your standing with the Merchant Alliance. These missions asked players to find specific cargo in question, acquire it--using any means necessary--and then drop it off at a destination point. Performance is evaluated based on speed and how well the goods were handled, so it's a matter of being fast but careful.Rare has also launched Forsaken Shores, an expansion that opens up a volcanic region of the map that players can sail to and explore to complete challenges. Before that, there was the Hungering Deep and Cursed Sails add-on. Info from Gamespot.com

During a showcase of new info for Crackdown 3 today at X018 in Mexico City, Microsoft announced that all Xbox One owners can download the original Xbox 360 Crackdown for free, anytime before November 30, 2018. It's available now on the Microsoft Store, or on Xbox Live. Similarly, when Crackdown 3 launches early next year, it will arrive on Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service on day one.This news came on the heels of the new unveiling of Crackdown's 3 multiplayer mode. The aptly named Wrecking Zone features fully destructible environments, such as dense cityscapes made of relatively fragile skyscrapers, and this feat is only possible because Microsoft is leveraging its Azure cloud computing service.Crackdown 3 has was first announced over four years ago at E3, and it has experienced a pair of delays, first when it missed a 2016 window, and again after it failed to launch with the Xbox One X. It's one of Microsoft's flagship exclusives next year, and is currently scheduled to launch on February 19.The big theme at XO18 was Game Pass announcements. Besides Crackdown 3's availability on the service, there were 15 other Game Pass games revealed, including Void Bastards and the ever popular battle royale shooter, Playerunknown's Battlegrounds. For all the announcements from X018, head over to our news section. Info from Gamespot.com