Holiday Gaming Gift Guide: 'Borderlands 4,' 'Civilization VII,' 'Mafia: The Old Country,' 'Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds'

If you're looking for the best gift for the gamer on your list, I'd advise steering away from the newest releases and checking out the slate of games that came out earlier in the year. You are likely to find more than a few price breaks, and the titles have been upgraded with updates and DLC for several months, making them a far superior product from the one that was first released.

With that focus in mind, here are my picks for the best games to stuff into stockings of those you love this year:

FOR THE ACTION FAN: 'BORDERLANDS 4'

When Borderlands 4 first launched on Kairos, it delivered the signature billion-gun chaos we expected, but was hampered by instability and performance hiccups, particularly on PC. Fast-forward a couple of months, and the game is no longer just good—it’s excellent, proving that Gearbox learned valuable lessons in post-launch commitment. The initial technical snags have largely been smoothed out through consistent weekly hotfixes and patches, resulting in a dramatically smoother, more stable experience across all platforms.

The true highlight, however, is the commitment to the endgame. Initial complaints about loot consistency and build variety have been thoroughly addressed. Smarter loot drops, a dedicated Legendary Loot Indicator on the combat radar (a glorious quality-of-life fix!), and crucial Class Mod adjustments mean that farming now feels genuinely rewarding, not frustrating. Furthermore, the first Seasonal Mini-Event, “Horrors of Kairos,” was a riot, adding fresh Legendary gear and a challenging, limited-time environment that successfully bridges the gap between major DLC packs.

With the first free Bounty Pack, “How Rush Saved Mercenary Day,” now available for all players, and the redesigned, progression-based Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode keeping the difficulty scalable, Borderlands 4 has cemented itself as a premier looter-shooter. If you waited for the dust to settle, now is absolutely the time to dive in. This is the prime Borderlands experience: explosive, massive, and beautifully supported.

FOR THE STRATEGIST: "CIVILIZATION VII'

After a strong but slightly controversial launch, Civilization VII has found its true footing, cementing itself as a deep, rewarding, and visually stunning entry in the legendary 4X series. Firaxis Games has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to post-launch support, refining the interface, balancing the divisive three-age system, and, most importantly, injecting rich, free content that completely overhauls the maritime game: the Tides of Power Collection.

This collection—available free for a limited time—isn't just a minor patch; it’s a massive broadside of content that focuses on naval expansion and coastal power. It introduces the Republic of Pirates and Tonga as new civilizations, and Blackbeard (Edward Teach) as a leader whose pirate-focused mechanics allow your fleet to engage in profitable, non-war piracy. Naval units are now fundamentally split into specialized melee and ranged types, turning sea battles from simple jostling matches into genuinely strategic engagements. New wonders like the Great Lighthouse and Nan Madol dramatically empower coastal settlements, finally making maritime empires feel as viable and distinct as land-based ones.

The sheer value of the Tides of Power update, coupled with continuous balance and quality-of-life fixes, transforms Civ VII from a solid strategy game into an essential one. If you initially held off due to complexity or early feedback, now is the perfect time to hoist the sails. The deep strategic possibilities and the joy of seeing your civilization transition between eras—now supported by a wealth of free, high-quality content—make this the best iteration of the classic "one more turn" loop yet.

FOR THE BAD BOY: 'MAFIA: THE OLD COUNTRY'

Mafia: The Old Country has always excelled as a deeply cinematic experience, transporting players to the rugged, sun-drenched beauty of early 1900s Sicily. Focusing on the rise of Enzo Favara, the core 12-hour narrative is a gripping, tightly wound crime saga, rich with betrayals, forbidden love, and phenomenal voice acting that makes the story feel like an interactive classic Italian film. The atmosphere, from the period-accurate automobiles and horseback travel to the stunning vistas of the Valle Dorata, remains unparalleled in the genre. However, the initial game’s rigid, linear structure often left players wanting more ways to simply exist in its beautiful, detailed world—a problem the new Free Ride Update fixes completely.

This massive free content drop transforms the post-game experience from a simple "Explore" mode into a robust, replayable sandbox. It introduces a comprehensive series of optional activities, including multi-tiered combat challenges, stealth assassinations, and thrilling point-to-point car and horse races scattered across the map. These challenges not only encourage deep exploration of areas previously only seen during missions, but they also reward players with Dinari currency, which can be spent on a massive trove of new weapons, outfits, and period vehicles.

Perhaps the most impactful additions are the new immersive features. The ability to activate First-Person Driving is a series-first, drastically increasing the realism and challenge of races and casual drives alike. Furthermore, the Cinema Siciliano visual filter—which gives the entire game a stunning, black-and-white, vintage Italian film look—is a sublime touch that elevates the drama. By providing meaningful content and long-requested features that enhance both the narrative and sandbox modes, Hangar 13 has proven its commitment to The Old Country. This update ensures that Enzo Favara’s journey won't end when the credits roll.

FOR THE SPEED FREAK: "SONIC RACING: CROSSWORLDS'

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds delivers on the promise of hyper-fast, chaotic arcade competition while adding a layer of strategic depth the genre desperately needed. Moving away from previous team mechanics, Sonic Team has distilled the best elements of the series’ racing history, creating a pure, adrenaline-fueled experience that immediately places it on square footing with Mario Kart World as the premier choice in modern kart racing.

The headlining feature, the CrossWorlds mechanic, is nothing short of brilliant. After the first lap, the leading racer dictates the second lap's destiny, launching the entire pack through a Travel Ring into one of several distinct, short-form "CrossWorlds"—entirely new tracks that splice into the race. This dynamic change transforms every race into an unpredictable three-lap journey, rewarding adaptability and ensuring that mastery relies on strategic thinking, not just luck.

Complementing this innovation is the deeply satisfying Gadget System. Racers can equip multiple perks, allowing for meaningful character customization that transcends simple cosmetic changes. Want a faster boost recharge, better handling off-road, or the ability to hoard power-ups? The Gadget Plate allows players to engineer highly specific builds that cater to individual play styles, adding an RPG-like element to the pre-race prep.

With a huge roster of characters, vehicles that fluidly transform across land, sea, and air, and an abundance of high-octane tracks pulled from 35 years of Sonic history, Crossworlds is a confident, feature-complete package. The controls are tight, the sense of speed is exhilarating, and the chaos is perfectly balanced. This isn’t just a great Sonic game; it’s one of the best kart racers ever made, ready to take the crown.

Publishers provided review codes.

Hot on Home Video: 'The Conjuring: Last Rites,' 'Him,' 'Five Nights at Freddy's: The Ultimate Collector's Edition,' 'Scarface: The Ultimate Collector's Edition'

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES

For fans of the long-running franchise, The Conjuring: Last Rites 4K Ultra HD disc set is an absolute must-buy, providing a beautiful technical presentation for Ed and Lorraine’s final central case. The 2160p transfer with Dolby Vision is fantastic, perfectly preserving the film's intended dark, atmospheric, and moody aesthetic. The deep, inky black levels and subtle shadow detail are crucial in maximizing the terror, ensuring that the unsettling visuals hiding in the gloom are rendered with impressive clarity.

The Dolby Atmos audio track is equally powerful, delivering a masterclass in immersion. Dialogue is clean, while the low-frequency effects (LFE) are genuinely impactful, turning every ghostly thump and floor creak into a visceral event that rattles the room. While the film itself is a heartfelt, nostalgic coda for the beloved characters, this 4K release elevates the experience, making it the definitive way to witness the Warrens' last rite.

HIM

The 4K Ultra HD release of Him is a solid technical achievement, although it ultimately serves a truly awful film. The movie itself is a narrative disaster, suffering from a derivative, padded script and painfully unengaging characters; its predictable third-act twist leaves the viewer cold and unsatisfied. Thankfully, the technical presentation is flawless, a high point that almost justifies owning the disc.

The 2160p transfer with Dolby Vision is reference quality. Detail is razor-sharp, and the HDR grading utilizes a wide, vibrant color palette and deep black levels that give the film a stunning pop, despite the on-screen misery. The Dolby Atmos audio track is equally impressive, delivering a dynamic, aggressive soundscape that will give your sound system a workout. While the cinematic content is a cynical release, the pristine A/V quality makes this disc a valuable addition for technical enthusiasts.

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION

The Five Nights at Freddy's Ultimate Collector's Edition is an absolute triumph of packaging that elevates a middling cinematic adaptation into a shelf-worthy collectible. The film itself is disappointingly cautious, pulling its punches to achieve a PG-13 rating. It focuses too heavily on Mike's backstory, sacrificing genuine scares and the game's inherent tension for a plot that only occasionally clicks into gear. It’s fan service, not essential horror, but perfectly watchable.

However, the physical presentation is reference quality for collectors. Housed in a fantastic Freddy Fazbear's pizza box, the set includes an exclusive 4K SteelBook, a quality IconArt metal poster, and a numbered certificate of authenticity. These physical goodies alone justify the price. Furthermore, the on-disc bonus features are great, offering solid, bite-sized making-of featurettes, including a fantastic look at how the Jim Henson Creature Shop brought the practical animatronics—the best part of the movie—to terrifying life. This is a must-buy for franchise loyalists and physical media enthusiasts, despite the film's flaws.

SCARFACE: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITON

The Scarface Ultimate Collector's Edition is the definitive tribute to Brian De Palma's iconic 1983 crime epic. This release successfully merges technical excellence with lavish, over-the-top physical media, perfectly mirroring Tony Montana's own taste for excess. The film's 4K Ultra HD transfer is stunning, boasting a rich, cinematic grain structure and vibrant HDR color grading that makes the lurid pastels and neon lights of 1980s Miami truly pop. The audio, remastered with an immersive DTS:X track, brings every dramatic shootout and Giorgio Moroder synthesizer cue to life with incredible depth.

Beyond the reference-quality A/V presentation, the set excels in presentation. Housed in a premium faux-leather collectible box featuring Tony's "TM" insignia, it includes an exclusive SteelBook and a high-quality IconArt metal poster—a display piece worthy of Montana's mansion. The extensive bonus features are ported over and include the invaluable 35th Anniversary Reunion with Pacino, Pfeiffer, and De Palma. This collection is essential for physical media enthusiasts and the only way a true fan should own this American crime classic.

Studios provided review screeners.

Game Review: 'Silent Hill 2' Remake on Xbox Series X/S

 

The shadow drop of Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake on the Xbox Series X/S console is more than just a late port; it’s the end of a year-long console exclusivity agreement that finally brings one of the most critically-acclaimed survival horror stories to the Microsoft ecosystem. For the large player base who watched from the sidelines during the initial PlayStation 5 and PC launch, the question is simple: was it worth the wait, and how does the game perform on Microsoft's current-gen hardware?

The short answer is yes, and remarkably well, considering the engine.

Konami tasked the Polish studio Bloober Team—known for titles like Layers of Fear—with the unenviable job of updating a masterpiece. The core narrative, following James Sunderland’s harrowing search for his deceased wife in the titular town, remains intact. The remake succeeds primarily by committing to the original’s themes of psychological guilt and repression. The oppressive atmosphere, which is the true star of the original, is meticulously rebuilt here using Unreal Engine 5, featuring ray tracing and a modern soundscape that weaponizes every distorted radio static and creature groan against the player.

Crucially, the game adopts an over-the-shoulder perspective and features modernized combat, moving away from the deliberate clunkiness of the 2001 classic. While this was a contentious point for purists, the change effectively translates James’s vulnerability to a contemporary audience, making every encounter with a Lying Figure or Mannequin a tense resource-management exercise, not just a static test of timing.

The Series X/S version lands amid ongoing industry conversations about next-gen optimization. On the Series X, players are presented with the standard choice: a Quality Mode targeting 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (FPS), and a Performance Mode aiming for 60 FPS. Technical analyses suggest that while the visual quality modes are dynamic and frequently sit below native 4K, the Performance Mode often delivers a more consistent 60 FPS experience than its competitor console. For a game that relies on tight combat cues and smooth navigation of dense, foggy environments, prioritizing that higher frame rate is the pragmatic choice.

For the user, the timing of this release is a significant win. Not only does it arrive supporting Xbox Play Anywhere—bundling the console and PC versions together—but Konami launched it with an aggressive 50 percent discount, effectively turning the Series X/S debut into a high-value purchase. This final delivery of Silent Hill 2 to the Xbox faithful ensures that no player is left out of experiencing what many still consider the pinnacle of horror storytelling, now gorgeously rendered and technically sound on their preferred console. It’s a successful product launch that marks the completion of the remake's cross-platform journey.

Publisher provided review code.

Game Review: 'Jaleco Sports: Bases Loaded' And 'Jaleco Sports: Goal!'

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States, Rock It Games has delivered a genuine gift to retro sports fans: the simultaneous re-launch of two of the platform’s most beloved sports games, Jaleco Sports: Bases Loaded and Jaleco Sports: Goal!, each packaged with their Super Nintendo sequels, for just $7.99 a pop on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. This isn't just a nostalgic curio; it’s a masterclass in how to revive a classic, adding quality-of-life improvements that make these games feel fresh and vital today.

First up is the baseball diamond, with the package featuring the original 1988 NES Bases Loaded alongside Super Bases Loaded (SNES 1991). The NES original, developed by the esteemed Tose, was revolutionary for its time, known for its unique TV-style presentation that brought the pitcher-batter matchup right up close—a huge leap in realism for 1988. With 12 teams and 30 uniquely skilled players, the game offered genuine strategic depth that resonated with players, making it an overnight bestseller. The SNES sequel amplified this, introducing an all-new center-field TV perspective, five difficulty levels, and a "radar" feature to track fielders, ensuring that both the 8-bit charm and the 16-bit evolution are represented here.

Taking to the pitch, Jaleco Sports: Goal! (NES 1988) and Super Goal! (SNES 1992) remind us why this series was a top-tier soccer sim before FIFA dominated the scene. The original Goal! was celebrated for its innovative gameplay, featuring 16 international teams competing for the World Cup and uniquely rated players across essential skills like speed and dribbling. The NES version’s Shootout mode alone could justify the price of admission. Super Goal! took the formula to the next level with full-field radar views, 24 international teams, instant replays, and strategic options like four defensive formations, proving the series was always pushing the envelope.

As Michael Devine, CEO of Rock It Games, put it, "We're adding a bit of Rock It's curating magic to these rereleases." That magic is evident in the new features: players can seamlessly switch between the NES and SNES versions of both games anytime. You can activate Retro CRT Mode for that ultimate 90s TV look, or, most critically, utilize a brand new save feature that lets you save your progress at any point—a welcome modern convenience for games that required a serious time commitment. The addition of monthly leaderboards and, for the Goal! package, the incredibly useful Rewind the Action feature, turn these retro experiences into accessible, competitive titles.

Whether you're looking to recapture the glory days of 8-bit sports or experience some of the most advanced sports titles the NES and SNES had to offer, these Jaleco Sports collections are a triumph of preservation and modernization. They offer immense value and a fantastic walk down gaming memory lane.

Publisher provided review code.

Game Review: 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection'

 

The act of pressing pause on Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection isn't simply stopping a game; it’s stopping a cultural phenomenon—a brutal, pixelated inflection point in the history of interactive media. Digital Eclipse’s meticulous collection of the foundational MK titles, spanning the original arcade cabinets, bizarre handheld oddities, and the infamous spin-offs like Mythologies: Sub-Zero, is not just a package of retro fighting games. It’s an unflinching sociological archive that forces us to reckon with the competitive, often emotionally simplistic, pathology of early 90s digital masculinity.

In a culture increasingly seeking more resilient, authentic, and collaborative identities, Mortal Kombat remains the ultimate performance of traditional, aggressive male posturing. The Fatality, after all, is not just a move; it's a dramatic, zero-sum declaration that your opponent’s entire existence has been invalidated. This collection preserves that feeling with arcade-perfect precision, thanks to the addition of rollback netcode, which ensures that modern online duels are as sharp and unforgiving as they were next to a sticky cabinet twenty-five years ago. The technical fidelity here is exemplary, but the feeling it evokes—that high-stakes, chest-beating adrenaline—is what truly defines the experience.

What makes this release genuinely compelling, however, is not the flawless emulation of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, but the meta-narrative provided by the interactive documentary features. Digital Eclipse, in its role as curator and chronicler, doesn't just present the finished product; it pulls back the curtain on the developers themselves. We are given access to the vulnerability and humanity of creators like Ed Boon and John Tobias as they discuss the sheer, accidental magnitude of what they birthed. This access offers a profound contrast: the creators engaging in dialogue and reflection, while their creation is solely concerned with terminal, unsparing confrontation.

The inclusion of the genuinely broken oddities, particularly the platforming failure Mythologies: Sub-Zero and the awkward Special Forces, serves a critical purpose. These games, clunky and frustrating as they are, represent the inevitable difficulty in translating the raw spectacle of violence into something with genuine narrative or emotional complexity. They reveal the messy, often embarrassing, attempts to make sense of the carnage outside the confines of the tournament square.

Ultimately, the Legacy Kollection stands as a vital cultural artifact. It provides the definitive way to play the games that shaped an entire generation’s perception of competitive play. More than that, it forces us to look at the genesis of digitized violence—a space where we, as players, could safely practice a hyper-masculine ideal of dominance, evasion, and absolute finality. It begs the question: how much of that primitive performance is still embedded in our current emotional code? It's a must-own for historians, critics, and anyone still searching for the roots of their own competitive drive.

Publisher provided review code.

Game Review: 'Call of Duty Black Ops 7'

 You know, the interesting thing about the Call of Duty: Black Ops series is that it always promises high-octane spectacle, but what it delivers—or at least, what its best iterations deliver—is a kind of grim, cold exhaustion. The moral ambiguity isn’t just window dressing for the set pieces; it’s the actual theme. Black Ops 7 is the first game in the sub-franchise to truly ditch the historical Cold War for a full-on near-future Cyber Cold War, and the result is less a thrilling spy caper and more a meditation on digital alienation.

Look, this isn't the simple, gritty realism of the classic titles. Set in 2042, the conflict is fought not over borders, but over control of global data streams. You play Agent Kilo, an operative for a shadowy international security collective known as 'Aegis'. The campaign drags you through beautifully rendered, neon-soaked ruins of neo-Tokyo and the desolate, sand-choked server farms of the Central Asian steppes. What’s fascinating here is the sheer ugliness of the future, despite the polish. The tech—the neural hacks, the optical cloaking—feels intrusive, not empowering. The game doesn't let you forget that you're just a highly specialized piece of meat running code. The story, which revolves around recovering a terrifyingly effective algorithmic weapon called 'Scythe,' is genuinely engaging, if a little overwrought with conspiracy tropes. The moments of quiet betrayal, where you question your handler's motives, are where the writing truly shines.

Mechanically, the gunplay is predictably tight. The developers have nailed the feeling of the next-generation kinetic weapons. Every trigger pull feels precise and weighty. However, the introduction of the 'Chrono-Shift' mechanic—a short-range teleport tied to a cooldown—is the element that makes multiplayer fundamentally different. It forces a faster, more vertical game, but I found it often disrupted the careful, tactical rhythm that makes Black Ops campaigns so effective.

Aesthetically, the game is a masterclass in mood. The sound design alone deserves praise; the subtle, glitching synth score during stealth segments and the sudden, deafening chaos of an inevitable firefight perfectly capture the anxiety of surveillance. Yet, while the aesthetic is strong, I wish the level design had been less linear. A true espionage thriller, even a futuristic one, benefits from player agency, from giving the player space to breathe and choose their approach. Too often, Blac Ops 7 feels like a tightly choreographed stage show, which is a shame given the compelling narrative premise.

Ultimately, Black Ops 7 is a solid, well-made entry. The campaign, while short, is a gripping cyberpunk tale, offering more food for thought than your typical annual military shooter. The multiplayer will, of course, dominate the zeitgeist for the next year, but the real takeaway here is the atmosphere of surveillance and paranoia. It's a game that asks, "What if the Cold War never ended, it just went internal?" For fans looking for a compelling story wrapped in a glossy, high-budget package, this is easily recommendable. Just be prepared for the moral fog that comes with the territory.

Publisher provided review code.

Hot on Home Video: 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas 25th Anniversary Edition,' 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

 

DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY DEDITION

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Ron Howard’s live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas on 4K Ultra HD is the best-looking and sounding way to experience Whoville. The true star of this release is the upgraded video presentation, now featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10. This High Dynamic Range (HDR) pass corrects the sometimes dull, hazy appearance of previous releases, instead delivering richer, deeper colors that make the famously elaborate Whoville sets truly pop. The reds of the festive decorations and the sickly emerald green of Jim Carrey’s Grinch suit display a noticeable depth and vibrancy.

While the film remains a 2K Digital Intermediate upscaled to 4K, the clarity benefits significantly, revealing impressive texture in the meticulous makeup work and costuming. The upgrade to Dolby Atmos audio also provides a massive benefit, enveloping the viewer with precise object placement for the snow, wind, and the chaotic sounds of the Grinch’s inventions.

For collectors, this edition is a generous package. It includes all legacy bonus features (like the director commentary and "Who School" featurettes) and adds a brand-new retrospective, "25 Years Later: The Gift of The Grinch." This new featurette, which includes interviews with Ron Howard and star Taylor Momsen, is a welcome addition that makes this disc a worthwhile upgrade for fans.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

The 4K Ultra HD debut of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a monumental success, delivering a restoration that respects the film’s original 1970s cinematography while breathing new life into the asylum's oppressive atmosphere. Sourced from the original 35mm camera negative, the native 4K transfer presents a beautifully organic, film-like image.

Grain is dense but perfectly resolved, maintaining that authentic 70s texture without appearing noisy. The subtle HDR application is masterful, preserving the muted, clinical color palette of the institution while allowing key moments—like the vibrant colors during the fishing trip—to genuinely pop. Detail levels, especially in facial close-ups and the textures of the ward, are a massive upgrade over previous Blu-ray editions, which suffered from digital tinkering.

The audio features a solid 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio remix, which enhances Jack Nitzsche's score, along with the original 2.0 theatrical mono track for purists. The set also includes new retrospective featurettes with Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and Brad Dourif, alongside the excellent legacy documentary, Completely Cuckoo.

Despite omitting the classic commentary track, this 4K package is a highly recommended, definitive presentation of Miloš Forman’s masterpiece.

Studio provided screenerS for review.

Broadway in Tucson Review: 'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical'

 

Bursting with costumes and stagecraft that grant a third dimension to the children's author's iconic illustrations, "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical" thrives on various meta-levels at the same time. It's an adaptation of a 1966 short animated film, which was adapted from the Dr. Seuss' book, which in turn gave way to live-action and animated feature-length films.

Each has a slightly different take on the source material and the backstory voids they've left, and the stage musical fills most of them in with wild aplomb. 

The energetic core, of course, is Josh Woodie in the title role. With a hammy roast beast of a performance that might make Jim Carrey blush, Woodie shatters the fourth wall in witty, Deadpool-style heckles, careens up the side of the stage on an elevator and struts and gestures with haughty indifference as the Whos around him sing about his devious exploits. It's Woodie's party, and we are the guests who are just lucky to be there.

Serial scene stealer Emma Rose Marinoff, as Cindy Lou Who, in the wholesome, sweet yin to the Grinch's wretched yang. And in a reverent touch, Old Max W. Scott Stewart), looking back at his days as the Grinch's unwitting canine sidekick, serves as a barely reliable narrator and the baritone stand-in who cover Thurl Ravenscroft's incomparable 1966 theme song.

While the ensemble is saddled with a thankless job of serving as the backdrop to the Grinch's scenery-chewing, their meek choreography, performed in cumbersome cartoon costumes, is just what's needed to set the madcap, nostalgia-oozing tone. The lighting and background filters provide the illusion of cell-shaded scenery that recall nights of fevered Christmas anticipation, glued to the CRT set to watch the TV special with the fam.

While the throughline of togetherness snuffing out holiday commercialism settles for the backseat in the F1 race with the Grinch at the wheel, there's a spirited, community theater-style sense of jubilee to the proceedings. In the final act, when Old Max strikes up an audience sing-along to the title song, it's impossible not to grin and not notice everyone around you is doing the same. 

Amid the merriment that is nothing short of magic, the Grinch isn't the only one whose heart grows two sizes.

"Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical" plays through Nov. 16 at Centennial Hall. Buy tickets here.

Hot on Home Video: 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale'

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE

The Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, due out Nov. 11, is a solid way to say goodbye to the Crawley family and their devoted staff. This presentation is nothing short of breathtaking, elevating Julian Fellowes' heartfelt conclusion into a truly cinematic experience.

The 4K transfer, enhanced with HDR, is the standout feature. The intricate embroidery of Lady Mary’s evening wear, the rich wood grain of the Great Hall, and the sweeping green landscapes of the Yorkshire exterior are rendered with such fine detail and precision that they practically leap off the screen. Candlelit dinners and shadowy downstairs scenes maintain perfect contrast, showcasing deep, stable black levels without crushing detail.

Beyond the impeccable visual fidelity, the Dolby Atmos audio mix envelops the viewer in the world of Downton. John Lunn’s magnificent score swells with newfound depth, while the ambient sounds of clinking silverware and the bustling servants’ quarters feel wonderfully textured and alive. The film itself offers a gentle, satisfying conclusion, tying up beloved storylines and delivering a final, emotional montage that truly pays tribute to the 15-year journey. For long-time fans, this release—packed with over an hour of bonus content—is an absolute must-have collector's item and a graceful final bow.

Game Reviewer: 'Double Dragon Revive'

 

Double Dragon Revive marks the franchise's bold leap into a fully 3D environment while attempting to retain the classic, side-scrolling beat 'em up formula that made the Lee brothers legends. The result is an experience that is deeply respectful of its lineage and often thrilling in its combat design, though held back by a few fundamental missteps that prevent it from achieving true greatness.

Visually, Revive is a treat for long-time fans. The game leans into a slightly grittier, post-apocalyptic aesthetic, telling a new story set 15 years after a nuclear war. The character models for Billy, Jimmy, and Marian are stylishly updated, blending modern flair with their iconic silhouettes. More importantly, the action design, supervised by Arc System Works staff, is excellent. This isn't just a mindless button-mashing brawler; it’s a strategic fighter. The introduction of the Dragon Orb Gauge, combined with environmental takedowns and weapon use, encourages players to string together creative combos. Breaking enemy armor at the right moment is deeply satisfying, turning routine encounters into rewarding displays of martial arts mastery. When the combat clicks, especially in local co-op, Double Dragon Revive delivers that perfect arcade rush of clearing out a screen of thugs with synchronized strikes.

The game also deserves credit for its structure. Beyond the main story, the Extra Mode is packed with challenges and character-specific missions, providing significant replay value for those who want to master the deeper mechanics. This gives the game more longevity than many other titles in the genre. The soundtrack, which features a solid mix of riffy original tracks and modernized remixes of classic themes, does a great job of keeping the energy high during the long street fights.

However, the major drawback—and the reason the review remains mixed—lies squarely in the movement. While the developers aimed for refined controls, the transition to eight-directional 3D movement in a belt-scrolling context often feels disappointingly floaty. Characters lack the immediate, grounded responsiveness necessary for precision brawling. Punches and kicks can feel slightly delayed or imprecise, leading to frustrating moments where attacks seemingly "miss" due to an enemy shifting slightly on the plane. Furthermore, the platforming sections, which are thankfully rare, are clunky and painful because of this lack of satisfying weight and precision. This floatiness creates a constant tension between the game's excellent strategic combat design and its slightly clumsy execution.

Ultimately, Double Dragon Revive is a solid, enjoyable beat 'em up that offers a compelling story and genuinely deep combat options. While its floaty movement and occasional lack of polish mean it doesn't quite live up to the standard set by recent genre titans, the heart, challenge, and co-op thrills of the Dragon brothers’ return are certainly enough to make it worth a punch or two.

Publisher provided review code.