The latest Doctor Who episode, “World Enough and Time,” aired this past weekend. Unlike the previous episodes, which either had political themes or were nothing more than one great big political message, “World Enough and Time” is just some good old sci-fi fun, or at least that’s what it tries be. The actors give it their all and bring the story to life, but some aren’t given enough material to properly shine.
Spoiler alert, this review covers everything. Every plot twist, every event (mostly) — everything. If you haven’t seen the episode, stop reading this article, watch the show, and then come back.
The Story
This current season’s overarching plot focuses on The Doctor’s attempted rehabilitation of his long-time arch-nemesis, The Master, or Missy (as she currently calls herself). “World Enough and Time” starts with Missy and The Doctor’s companions, Bill Potts (who is actually a woman) and Nardole, answering a distress call from a 400-mile long colony ship struggling to escape a black hole’s gravitational pull, while The Doctor watches and judges Missy’s first outing as a good guy/gal from the safety of his TARDIS. However, the group’s arrival, or more specifically Bill’s arrival, attracts the attention of a bunch of Silent Hill monster rejects who carry IV drip poles and wear bags over their heads; I’m going to refer to these creatures as the Incomplete, because God knows they weren’t given a name in the show. Since the sole remaining crew member of the ship, Jorj, is terrified at the thought of seeing the Incomplete, he decides to kill Bill (sorry) with a laser gun, because Jorj thinks the Incomplete will leave if Bill dies. And this is no weak laser gun; it completely obliterates Bill’s chest and leaves a hole big enough to stick your head through. While the Incomplete leave, they take Bill to a hospital, so a surgeon can fix the gaping hole in her chest. What seems like a straightforward plot that focuses on a black hole quickly turns into a race against time to rescue Bill from the hospital. However, he Doctor has to hurry to save Bill because of the black hole. For those of you who don’t know, black holes create a huge time dilation effect, thanks to their impossibly strong gravity. To put it simply, the closer you are to a source of gravity, the slower you and time moves to outside observers and vice versa, which means that every minute for The Doctor, Nardole, and Missy is years for Bill. As for Bill, turns out she has a new, mechanical heart that only functions inside a the hospital, which explains why she just can’t go to The Doctor; I theorize that it only functions when connected to the hospital’s Wi-Fi, but your guess is a good as mine. However, The Doctor, Missy, and Nardole are too late to stop Bill from being converted into a Cyberman, but not any regular Cyberman: a Mondasian Cyberman. Dun dun dunnnn! Oh, and apparently the person Bill befriended through her years waiting, Mr. Razor, is actually The Master before he regenerated into Missy. Um, surprise?
As previously mentioned, “World Enough and Time” doesn’t have a political message; it’s just The Doctor and Company gallivanting across time and space in search of adventure and getting in over their heads, i.e., what the series is best at. The aforementioned black hole organically does away with the need for a ticking clock while still retaining a sense of urgency, since Bill isn’t in any danger (as far as The Doctor knows) but will die of old age in a matter of hours thanks to time dilation. Bill, on the other hand, has nothing but time while she waits for The Doctor to rescue her. The episode manages to switch between The Doctor hurrying and Bill lazily going about her new life rather seamlessly. However, the plot twists only work for people well-versed in Doctor Who lore. The reveal that the ship is Mondasian (made by humans who hail from Earth’s twin Mondas) in origin, the unveiling of the Cyberman, and the literal unmasking of the Master are only impactful for people who know what Mondas, Cybermen, and The Master are; everyone else will just be confused. Then again, the teasers spoiled these plot twists early, so audiences had plenty time to do the proper research.
The Characters
A story will only get you so far in a television show; you also need characters who are fun, memorable, relatable, well-written, and brought to life by their actors. Doctor Who has characters in spades, but the show only focuses on a select few, usually The Doctor, his companion(s), and the villain/monster of the week. Usually, these characters get the best lines and effectively move the plot along, but sometimes one or two are squandered, which happens in “World Enough and Time.” Lucky for the audience, though, all the actors delivered solid performances.
The Doctor
This incarnation of The Doctor wears his feelings on his sleeves, especially the negative ones. However, he is quick to believe that he can trust other people, hence his willingness to give Missy a chance and let the Incomplete cart Bill away. The Doctor isn’t the main focus of the episode, but he still manages to shine in several moments, all brought to life by Peter Capaldi’s nuanced acting. Also, I love that he managed to dumb down time dilation for the audience and audience surrogate; it’s the kind of stuff you need in shows like Doctor Who, and Capaldi does it rather well.
Bill
I would complain about Bill remaining in the hospital for years, as normally she hates just sitting on her butt, but she knows her mechanical heart only works in the hospital, so what else can she do? At least she takes up odd jobs and learns about the ship from Mr. Razor, so she is as active as she can be in her situation. Pearl Mackie helps sell Bill as both accustomed to her new life and as eager to leave it once The Doctor arrives.
Missy
I’m still not sold on the whole “Missy’s trying to be rehabilitated” story, but at least she’s got an instantly recognizable personality down: one part Hannibal Lector and two parts Harley Quinn. Maybe Missy’s got a plan up her sleeves, or maybe she finally realizes that it’s pointless to try to kill The Doctor. I am torn on this, but she is consistent with her psychopath-yet-upbeat personality. Even when Missy tries playing the good guy/gal she will always be The Doctor’s equal and opposite. Michelle Gomez continues to steal the show and makes me believe that Missy would gladly disintegrate me if I so much as spilled tea, which is something Missy has probably done in the past on more than one occasion.
Nardole
Nardole is, as Missy puts it, the comic relief. Usually he helps move the plot along or lightens the mood with a funny line, but in this episode he is nothing but superfluous. Nardole is slowly becoming the Jar Jar Binks of the series, and “World Enough and Time” just might be the nail in that coffin. Matt Lucas, I’m sorry, you were fun when you played a one-off character, but now your shtick is so tired it’s literally putting me to sleep. It’s not your fault, though; blame the writers, because they just don’t know what to do with you. You’re a funny guy, but you need better roles.
Mr. Razor/The Master
Mr. Razor initially comes off as one of those “eccentric for the sake of eccentricity” characters who occasionally appear in Doctor Who, and while he seems friendly, I always predicted he would eventually betray Bill; I prayed that he wouldn’t, but my instincts won out in the end. However, I need to ask: why did Mr. Razor have to be The Master in disguise? Couldn’t he have just been an intelligent charlatan who loved playing the fool to trick people? Maybe the next episode will answer this crucial question. Still, hats off to John Simm for effectively playing this strangely-charismatic, goblinesque man. I never would have guessed who he was under all that makeup, but that’s the point of such a disguise. It’s The Master’s M.O. to a tee.
Conclusion
I enjoyed “World Enough and Time”, at least while watching it. The episode took its time (pun not intended) with the plot and never felt rushed. However, I realize that I know more about Doctor Who lore than the average Doctor Who viewer, which unfairly colored my experience of certain events, including the Mondasian plot twist. The black hole makes for a decent red herring, but it isn’t as integral to the plot as it could, or even should have been, and I only like the Incomplete because they are easy to riff on. The Mondasian Cyberman plot twist probably would have worked without these not-Bubblehead Nurses, but then again, the twist only works if you know what Mondas is, and I’m willing to bet money that more than a few current Doctor Who fans don’t. The more I think about “World Enough and Time,” the more I realize I liked it when I watched it because I was jaded by the previous three episodes. That’s not to say “World Enough and Time” is a bad episode; the story is adequate and the actors all deliver admirable performances, even when they’re just taking up space on screen. The biggest problem with the episode is that much of what it builds to relies on nostalgia and an encyclopedic knowledge of Doctor Who aliens.
After many years of fans begging Square Enix to remaster Final Fantasy VII, they finally listened and did just that. There were numerous excuses as to why the game’s re-release had lagged behind the re-releases of both VII and IX, with the most common excuse being that the game’s original code was lost years ago. However, the company made it happen and the game is finally available for modern audiences to play on modern hardware today. We’re going to give you 5 reasons why you should do just that.
First time available on modern hardware
As we’ve already said, this is the first time that the game is available on modern hardware. While the game originally launched for PS1 back in 1999, it later got a PC port in 2000. That means that is has been a whopping 19 years since a new version of the game has been available for purchase, and that wait was a brutal one. However, it is finally over and you can now play this classic game on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch along with PC. If the lack of modern hardware support was stopping you from checking out, that excuse just got thrown out the window.
The visuals look better than ever
Thankfully, Square Enix did not just slap this port together quickly and throw it out there to shut everyone up. They did a terrific job of putting on a shiny new coat of paint for the game, with the character models in particular looking much better. While things like environment textures didn’t get quite the same amount of attention, this is nevertheless the best that the game has ever looked. It also helps that the game is simply beautiful from a design standpoint, with the game’s world being gorgeous to behold even though we’re dealing with the hardware limitations of 1999.
Quality of life improvements
While those who played the game 20 years ago will still be getting what is essentially the same experience, Square Enix did add some quality of life improvements to put it more in line with current JRPGs. These changes include the likes of increasing battle speed by 3 times, shutting off random encounters completely and even a cheat to give you max HP and limit breaks. While these may seem minor, these will go a long way to ease some of the tedium that many feel after some particularly long gaming sessions. Max HP and Limit Breaks will also make the incredibly tough Ultima and Omega Weapon boss fights a lot easier to deal with.
Triple Triad
The Final Fantasy series is known for having its fair share of enticing side quests and mini games, but there isn’t a single one that is as addicting as Triple Triad. The game is essentially a card game that is played on a 3×3 grid, and each card has a certain number on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You need to place your cards in a manner that the numbers on your cards are higher than your opponents, and seeing as your card can be attacked from four different sides this can be tricky. You’re able to challenge many different characters to a match throughout the course of the entire game, and doing so comes with plenty of nice rewards that will make your quest easier.
The game is awesome
While our previous points focused on specific elements of the game, this one is a simple fact that has been true since 1999: the game is awesome. Unfortunately, releasing immediately after Final Fantasy VII (a watershed moment for gaming) put it under a very cruel microscope, with many knee jerk reactions simply saying it “isn’t as good as VII.” However, in the years that have passed people have revisited the game, and the consensus has definitely changed. This adventure that Square created is unlike any other in the series, being host to an ambitious and bizarre plot filled with some of the best characters the series has ever seen. If you’ve played the game before then this is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece all over again, and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?
2019 has been yet another good year for gaming so far, with several games releasing that will be big contenders for game of the year once the curtain closes. However, despite the year already being more than halfway over, there are still some huge titles on the horizon that are sure to make their own dents on the coming best-of lists. This article will list the 10 biggest games that are still coming in 2019.
Control
A new game from Remedy Entertainment is always highly-anticipated, and Control is no different. The game is an action-adventure game in the same style as Alan Wake or Quantum Break, but with a supernatural twist. Players will control Jesse Faden, who possesses a variety of supernatural abilities like telekinesis, levitation and more. She will be using her abilities in order to defeat an enemy known only as the Hiss, which has corrupted reality. Control launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 27th.
Borderlands 3
It has been many years since the last game in the Borderlands series released, but the hiatus is finally coming to an end very soon. Those who have played previous games in the series will feel right at home with this game, as it’s once again a loot-driven FPS. The game will offer more zany characters and a charming and insane world to explore, all while dealing with new antagonists Troy and Tyreen Calypso along with their Children of the Vault cult. Borderlands 3 launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, with a Google Stadia port release date being TBA.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is returning soon with Breakpoint, which will serve as a continuation of previous game Wildlands. The game is set in an open world environment called Aurora, which is a fictional island in the Pacific Ocean. Players will control Lieutenant Colonel Anthony “Nomad” Perryman, who is a special forces operative that was sent to the island to investigate a series of disturbances in the area. Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 4th, with a Google Stadia port coming in November.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Each new installment in the Call of Duty series is always huge, but Modern Warfare’s release marks a first for the long-running franchise. It will be the first game in the series that is reimagining of a previous game in the series, taking 2004’s original game and updating its mechanics and themes to match today’s world. The game will still have some of the beats that the first game had, but will also incorporate lots of surprises to make it a fresh experience. Modern Warfare launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th.
The Outer Worlds
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds is one that will be very highly-anticipated for fans of Fallout: New Vegas, as this game serves as a sort of spiritual successor to that game. It will be an open world RPG that allows you to explore many unique areas crawling with plenty of deadly foes. Players will also be able to encounter and recruit NPCs as companions that have their own personal missions and stories to take part in. The Outer Worlds launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th, with a Switch port also being in the works.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
It seemed very unlikely that Luigi’s Mansion would become a recurring franchise for Nintendo following the original GameCube game, but here we are. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to Switch, which also means it will be the first home console release since the original game back in 2003. This time the game is set in a haunted hotel rather than a mansion, and Luigi has some new tricks up his sleeves to take down all those ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 31st.
Death Stranding
If you’re looking for the most ambitious (and weirdest) game still coming in 2019, then look no further. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding has perplexed gamers ever since its announcement, and each new trailer that releases just brings more and more questions to the table. It is Kojima’s first game since breaking up with Konami after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phanton Pain (and the cancellation of Silent Hills), and it looks like Kojima has taken the newfound complete creative control to deliver something truly original. Death Stranding launches exclusively for PS4 on November 8th.
Pokemon Sword & Shield
At this point we all know what to expect from a new Pokemon game, and Sword and Shield seems poised to deliver even more cute creatures for players to capture and battle very soon. What sets Sword and Shield apart from its predecessors is that it will be the first home console release for the series, which is saying something considering the series has been around for over 20 years. Pokemon Sword & Shield launches exclusively for Switch on November 15th.
Shenmue III
If you’re a fan of Shenmue then nothing needs to be said for the inclusion of the upcoming third game on this list. Fans of the series have been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up to the second game, and in just a couple of months that will finally be delivered to them. Brought to life thanks to an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the game continues the adventure of protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he hunts down his father’s killer. Shenmue III will launch for PS4 and PC on November 19th.
DOOM Eternal
id Software’s DOOM 2016 was one of the best FPS games to come along in years, so it’s a no-brainer that the follow-up would be on this list. Eternal is set to offer yet another intense FPS campaign for players to plunge into, while also offering a multiplayer component that greatly improves upon the last game’s underwhelming multiplayer mode. There will also be twice as many demon types than there was in the last game, meaning that the chaos level just got that much higher. DOOM Eternal launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC on November 22nd.
Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference has officially come to an end, and with it came plenty of big announcements to get excited about. Some new games were announced, whereas previously-announced games got new footage and/or release dates. In this article we’ve narrowed it all down to the 5 most exciting announcements.
New Xbox “Project Scarlett” Coming Holiday 2020
We’ve known for a while now that a new Xbox was in the works, but now we know when to expect it. Microsoft’s fourth console (which hopefully has a better official name than Xbox One did) will be a big step up from the previous console. Things like much faster load times, an AMD Processor that is four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, 8K Resolution and 120 FPS were all mentioned. A price and exact release date weren’t mentioned. It will also be launching with…
Halo Infinite Coming Holiday 2020, Launching On Both Xbox One and Project Scarlett
The wait for the next Halo game has been longer than ever before for series fans, and the announcement at E3 revealed that the wait will continue. Halo Infinite will not be launching until Holiday 2020, meaning it will have been 5 years since the previous game released with Halo 5. It will also be launching on Xbox One and Project Scarlett, meaning the new console will have a big launch title for fans to get pumped about.
Cyberpunk 2077 Coming April 2020, Stars Keanu Reeves
It’s hard to pick a game that people have been more excited about than Cyberpunk 2077, and after Microsoft’s press conference we’re even more excited. Not only is it coming in April of next year, but Keanu Reeves himself will be playing a “key” role in the game. Everything shown from the game has looked great so far, so hopefully it all pans out and we have another classic from CD Projekt RED come April 2020.
FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration Elden Ring Announced
This one was actually leaked prior to the presentation, but Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin are collaborating on a new game. The game is called Elden Ring, and it will be a departure from the developer’s most recent games as it will be open world. Very little information on the game is known at this point, as it is still in the early stages of development.
Phantasy Star Online 2 Is Coming West
It took a very long time, but the popular MMORPG is finally coming west. The game is coming to Xbox One in a free-to-play form in Spring 2020, so the wait won’t be that much longer. “There will be no limitations on game experiences,”says Sega, because they want to “provide all players with a fair and exciting experience.”
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