The idea behind the TouchArcade Game of the Week is that every Friday afternoon we post the one game that came out this week that we think is worth giving a special nod to. Now, before anyone goes over-thinking this, it doesn’t necessarily mean our Game of the Week pick is the highest scoring game in a review, the game with the best graphics, or really any other quantifiable “best" thing. Instead, it’s more just us picking out the single game out of the week’s releases that we think is the most noteworthy, surprising, interesting, or really any other hard to describe quality that makes it worth having if you were just going to pick up one.
These picks might be controversial, and that’s OK. If you disagree with what we’ve chosen, let’s try to use the comments of these articles to have conversations about what game is your game of the week and why.
Without further ado…
SpellTower+
Zach Gage’s original SpellTower launched almost a decade ago, back in November of 2011. Its concept was pretty simple: Mix the word searching mechanics of Boggle with the block-removal mechanics of Tetris. It might not have even been the first word game to mix those elements together, but as we’ve come to find from all of Gage’s games over the years, SpellTower pulled it off with a level of style and polish that was pretty unmatched even in the crowded word game genre on mobile. Over the years numerous new features and new modes have been added to SpellTower, and Gage has been great about keeping the game updated to ensure it would still work on new versions of Apple’s hardware and software. It has stood the test of time, and even today, stands as one of the best word games on mobile.
So when Gage announced SpellTower+(), a revamped version of the game, for release this week, I sort of had to ask myself: Why? How do you improve on a game that was pretty close to perfect already. Well as it turned out, there was room for improvement and it actually was possible to make an even better version of SpellTower. It’s just the sort of thing you need to experience firsthand before all the little details and improvements start to pop out at you. Functionally, you’re still creating words by connecting letters in a jumble forwards, backwards, diagonally, or criss-cross and all the basics of the original SpellTower remain.
The big changes in SpellTower+ are the golden letters which can double (or triple, or quadruple, etc) your word score if you’re able to incorporate them into your word. Also there is a very slick real-time word-checking feature, so if you spell something and you’re pretty darn certain it’s an actual word but the game isn’t recognizing it as such, you can use a Challenge and the game will contact whatever powers that be who are in charge of this sort of thing and see if it really is a word or not. If it’s not a word, you lose a Challenge (you only get a limited number) and go on with your game, but if it IS a word you keep your Challenge and even get a point on a special leaderboard dedicated to those with the most successful Challenges. Every word game should have this system.
There’s also a brand new mode called Search where you’re tasked with creating the most elaborate word possible out of a jumble while making sure to incorporate one specific “star" letter. This mode also comes in a Daily flavor to join the returning Daily Tower mode so you can compete with other players around the world on the leaderboards. Regular Tower, Puzzle, Rush, Zen, and ExPuzzle modes all make a return accompanied by new Double, Bubble, and Blitz modes. Everything is packaged in an even cleaner, more minimalist aesthetic with even more charming animations and sounds, and a level of polish that is somehow even higher than the original SpellTower. This new version also comes in a free with ads model with a one-time IAP to unlock an ad-free version and additional modes, so there’s no barrier of entry for anyone and everyone to be checking out the new SpellTower+.
Earlier this month we took a look at the announcement trailer for a new game called Bulwark of the Abyss from developer Chase Holton, aka When’s Lunch? Games, aka maker of one of my favorite dungeon crawlers of the past few years The Scrungeon Depths($1.99). Bulwark of the Abyss is easily his most ambitious project yet, and looked to take inspiration from his previous work, specifically the deflection-based combat of Gwarmbee(Free) and the over-the-top items and weaponry of the aforementioned Scrungeon Depths. It looks really promising, and here is that announcement trailer once again just in case you missed it the first time around.
So, something that I did not realize was happening was that over the past several weeks, Chase Holton has been posting entries on his development blog that are… strange, to say the least. I guess you could describe them as snippets of short stories, or perhaps journal entries from some unnamed character, perhaps a character in Bulwark of the Abyss? The writing is actually fantastic, and even these little snippets of story are really compelling, but they’re also massively confusing. Well, as it turns out there is a lot more going on in those blog posts than it might first appear. Apparently there is all sorts of cryptic clues that have been leading up to the release of a brand new teaser trailer this week. It’s a teaser for one of the boss enemies in Bulwark of the Abyss, and it is intense.
As you can probably notice, there’s a bunch of other cryptic characters hidden in that trailer, and apparently if you’ve been following along with the blog posts you should be able to use the clues from there to decrypt the hidden message in the trailer. What do you say, are you in for a good old-fashioned riddle solving? I readily admit that I am terrible at this stuff, and so I’m sort of relying on anyone reading this to figure all this out and tell me what’s going on. I mean, I’ve witnessed firsthand how smart our readers and community members are at this sort of thing back during that crazy Land Sliders ARG in 2016 (Side note: RIP Land Sliders), so hopefully you all can come through on this one so I can stop scratching my head over all this. If you’re a bad enough dude or dudette to to crack the code, head over to the game’s forum thread to divulge all those juicy secrets.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake is just a couple of months away, but in the meantime, the game that started it all is celebrating a birthday. The original FFVII launched on the PlayStation 23 years ago, and a new trailer for the Remake pays homage with more characters and scenes we remember so fondly--along with a few surprises. We've noted some of the most important, silliest, and coolest takeaways about the upcoming game. So far, the game is certainly shaping up to be quite the revisit to classic adventure, taking familiar elements from the original while also not hesitating to offer some refreshing new changes. If the full game's rendering of classic characters and moments proves as well-executed as what we've seen in trailers so far, then it just might be one of this year's finest.
For more about FFVII Remake, be sure to read our feature covering everything you need to know about the game. You can also read our impressions detailing our time spent playing the game at E3 2019--one of the few moments where Square Enix offered a hands-on with the remake. If you're keen to grab yourself a copy, you can also check out our pre-order guide. In the meantime, be sure to watch the new trailer in the player below and let us know your thoughts about how the game is shaping up so far in the comments.
Reeve Clashing With Heidegger And President Shinra
The new trailer makes a point of introducing a host of executives from the corrupt Shinra corporation, but none have the vast implications that the appearance of Midgar's city planner, Reeve, does. The trailer shows him arguing with President Shinra and begging him to reconsider. The scene is reminiscent of one in the original game when Reeve learned of Shinra's plan to bring down Midgar's Sector 7 to crush a section of the slums below, complete with the militaristic Heidegger mocking his cowardice. Given what happens with Reeve's story arc much later, this scene is laying significant groundwork. We won't see the full payoff for Reeve until a sequel is released, which could be years away.
Palmer, Scarlet, And The Shinra LeadershipAlong with the debut of a reimagined Reeve, the new trailer also revealed scenes with Palmer and Scarlet--two other key figures on Shinra's board of executives. In the original game, these two were the heads of Shinra's abandoned space program and its weapons development, respectively. Though they didn't have many scenes in the original game, the moments these two characters did have still made it clear they were among the most despicable members of the company, which made it satisfying to see them get their comeuppance. Though, anyone who's familiar with the plot will know that a confrontation with these two will come sometime later in the game. Still, it's interesting to see that they'll have increased presence in the earliest parts of the main story, and perhaps that could lead to new encounters with them.
The Honey Bee Inn and Cloud's Makeover
Surprisingly, the new trailer offered a glimpse at one of FFVII's most memorable portions, which remains essentially intact. When Cloud and Aerith go to rescue Tifa from the lecherous Shinra informant Don Corneo, they learn that only ladies make the cut in his brothel, the Honey Bee Inn. So Cloud takes his clean-shaven good looks and poses as a woman to gain access to Corneo's hideout. This trailer shows Cloud's full and fabulous makeover. In the original, some parts of Don Corneo's vice den have a tinge of gay panic and might be tone-deaf for modern audiences. Hopefully, Square Enix understood what was unreasonable about the original scene and changed it for the better.
Motorcycle Soldier: Here Comes A New Challenger!
It appears Cloud is getting a new rival in addition to big baddie Sephiroth: this fancy-haired motorcycle-driving scoundrel overtakes Cloud, Wedge, and Biggs as they're infiltrating what appears to be a Shinra base. Based on his attire, he's a part of SOLDIER, and if we're going off the color-coding seen in previous FFVII games, his blue uniform potentially indicates he's third-class. However, the character's outfit makes it hard to say for sure, as he seems to be wearing the SOLDIER harness over standard Shinra trooper fatigues.
This mysterious Shinra SOLDIER's presence could introduce an interesting layer to the proceedings, as he may challenge Cloud's understanding of his true identity. That line about having a "second dance" also seems to allude to an established relationship between the two, but given what we know about Cloud's mysterious past, it's possible that dynamic isn't what it seems.
Hey Kids, It's Red-XIII!
The cast of Final Fantasy 7 is memorable for a lot of reasons, but even in that storied company, Red-XIII stands out as one of the all-time best character designs. The Final Fantasy series had always centered on human (or at least humanoid) protagonists, but Red-XIII, a crimson hybrid of wolf, fox, lion, and shaman, was something completely different. It stood to reason that we'd see him in this first episode of the Remake, since he first appears as a specimen in Hojo's lab in Midgar, and our first glimpse from the trailer didn't disappoint. He looks just as intriguing as ever.
Meh, It's Professor Hojo AKA The Worst
We finally get a glimpse at Professor Hojo, who continues to be the awful human being we know him to be. He seems to be observing Cloud via security cameras, which leads us to think he'll likely be a more persistent threat throughout this first part of the Remake.
Jenova's Debut And New Boss Fight (Also, Hello Sephiroth?)
The infamous Jenova appears, and as you'd expect, the sight of her instantly triggers traumatic visions of the past in Cloud. While seeing Jenova is to be expected, the most intriguing detail seen later in the trailer is the confirmation that you'll also get to fight her. Since the first part of the FFVII Remake covers the story up until the end of Midgar, this fight comes as a shock. You don't technically fight Jenova in the original game until you get to the ship in Costa del Sol, which is a few hours after leaving Midgar, so this encounter is totally new.
Another important detail is that it appears the party seems to actually see Sephiroth when they find the tank holding Jenova--at least, if their body language is to be believed. In the original, Sephiroth only appeared as hallucinations in Midgar and didn't actually show up in person until that first fight with Jenova in Costa Del Sol.
Bust Through The Front Door Or Take The Stairs?
One thing all FFVII veterans will remember is the classic scene where you have to choose whether to break into Shinra HQ by sneaking in and taking the stairs or busting through the front door. Both options are equally viable and entertaining in their own right, but whether you can do both in a single playthrough still remains to be seen. But we all know taking the stairs is the best way, though. Poor Barret.
Climactic Battle Against The Heli Gunner
A little after the halfway point of the trailer, we see Cloud, Barret, and Tifa fighting the “Heli Gunner” boss. This iconic boss originally was part of the climax of the escape from the Shinra HQ as Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII took the elevator to the entrance while Cloud fought Rufus. Here, it looks as though this could be one of the final fights in the game, with the sunrise and highway in the background reminiscent of leaving Midgar in the original. Perhaps once you defeat the first phase of this fight, the Heli Gunner follows you from the Shinra Building?
It's also worth noting that none of the weapons that Cloud, Barret, and Tifa are using during this fight were available at this point in the original game. However, it does make sense that new weapons will be available in the remake, considering the only weapon upgrades you previously could get before leaving Midgar were Barret's Assault Gun and Cloud's Hardedge. This first part is a full 40-hour game, after all, so they probably had to add more!
More Summon Monsters: Leviathan and Chocobo/Mog
In previous trailers, we've seen some of the summon materia you can find in the first part of Final Fantasy VII: Remake. In the latest footage, it was revealed that the fan-favorite Leviathan and Chocobo summons are back in full force. What's interesting about summon monsters in this game is that you'll actually be getting them much sooner than in the original, which could have more to do with how the remake has a more fleshed-out Midgar arc. Like the original game, you can conjure up a massive tidal wave with Leviathan or a stampede of chocobos led by the recurring Final Fantasy character Mog. Both summons have been recreated in the Remake, and they look stunning in action. It'll be interesting to see if there will anymore summon characters making an appearance in the first part of this reimagining of the game.
You Might Recognize Who Made That Theme Song...
If the sweet theme song playing during the first part of the trailer really got you in the mood for FFVII Remake, there's a good reason for that. The track was written by none other than classic Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, who stopped writing music for the series after FF10. While his involvement is not a full-on return to the franchise, this contribution to the project is still a nice touch.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake is just a couple of months away, but in the meantime, the game that started it all is celebrating a birthday. The original FFVII launched on the PlayStation 23 years ago, and a new trailer for the Remake pays homage with more characters and scenes we remember so fondly--along with a few surprises. We've noted some of the most important, silliest, and coolest takeaways about the upcoming game. So far, the game is certainly shaping up to be quite the revisit to classic adventure, taking familiar elements from the original while also not hesitating to offer some refreshing new changes. If the full game's rendering of classic characters and moments proves as well-executed as what we've seen in trailers so far, then it just might be one of this year's finest.
For more about FFVII Remake, be sure to read our feature covering everything you need to know about the game. You can also read our impressions detailing our time spent playing the game at E3 2019--one of the few moments where Square Enix offered a hands-on with the remake. If you're keen to grab yourself a copy, you can also check out our pre-order guide. In the meantime, be sure to watch the new trailer in the player below and let us know your thoughts about how the game is shaping up so far in the comments.
Reeve Clashing With Heidegger And President Shinra
The new trailer makes a point of introducing a host of executives from the corrupt Shinra corporation, but none have the vast implications that the appearance of Midgar's city planner, Reeve, does. The trailer shows him arguing with President Shinra and begging him to reconsider. The scene is reminiscent of one in the original game when Reeve learned of Shinra's plan to bring down Midgar's Sector 7 to crush a section of the slums below, complete with the militaristic Heidegger mocking his cowardice. Given what happens with Reeve's story arc much later, this scene is laying significant groundwork. We won't see the full payoff for Reeve until a sequel is released, which could be years away.
Palmer, Scarlet, And The Shinra LeadershipAlong with the debut of a reimagined Reeve, the new trailer also revealed scenes with Palmer and Scarlet--two other key figures on Shinra's board of executives. In the original game, these two were the heads of Shinra's abandoned space program and its weapons development, respectively. Though they didn't have many scenes in the original game, the moments these two characters did have still made it clear they were among the most despicable members of the company, which made it satisfying to see them get their comeuppance. Though, anyone who's familiar with the plot will know that a confrontation with these two will come sometime later in the game. Still, it's interesting to see that they'll have increased presence in the earliest parts of the main story, and perhaps that could lead to new encounters with them.
The Honey Bee Inn and Cloud's Makeover
Surprisingly, the new trailer offered a glimpse at one of FFVII's most memorable portions, which remains essentially intact. When Cloud and Aerith go to rescue Tifa from the lecherous Shinra informant Don Corneo, they learn that only ladies make the cut in his brothel, the Honey Bee Inn. So Cloud takes his clean-shaven good looks and poses as a woman to gain access to Corneo's hideout. This trailer shows Cloud's full and fabulous makeover. In the original, some parts of Don Corneo's vice den have a tinge of gay panic and might be tone-deaf for modern audiences. Hopefully, Square Enix understood what was unreasonable about the original scene and changed it for the better.
Motorcycle Soldier: Here Comes A New Challenger!
It appears Cloud is getting a new rival in addition to big baddie Sephiroth: this fancy-haired motorcycle-driving scoundrel overtakes Cloud, Wedge, and Biggs as they're infiltrating what appears to be a Shinra base. Based on his attire, he's a part of SOLDIER, and if we're going off the color-coding seen in previous FFVII games, his blue uniform potentially indicates he's third-class. However, the character's outfit makes it hard to say for sure, as he seems to be wearing the SOLDIER harness over standard Shinra trooper fatigues.
This mysterious Shinra SOLDIER's presence could introduce an interesting layer to the proceedings, as he may challenge Cloud's understanding of his true identity. That line about having a "second dance" also seems to allude to an established relationship between the two, but given what we know about Cloud's mysterious past, it's possible that dynamic isn't what it seems.
Hey Kids, It's Red-XIII!
The cast of Final Fantasy 7 is memorable for a lot of reasons, but even in that storied company, Red-XIII stands out as one of the all-time best character designs. The Final Fantasy series had always centered on human (or at least humanoid) protagonists, but Red-XIII, a crimson hybrid of wolf, fox, lion, and shaman, was something completely different. It stood to reason that we'd see him in this first episode of the Remake, since he first appears as a specimen in Hojo's lab in Midgar, and our first glimpse from the trailer didn't disappoint. He looks just as intriguing as ever.
Meh, It's Professor Hojo AKA The Worst
We finally get a glimpse at Professor Hojo, who continues to be the awful human being we know him to be. He seems to be observing Cloud via security cameras, which leads us to think he'll likely be a more persistent threat throughout this first part of the Remake.
Jenova's Debut And New Boss Fight (Also, Hello Sephiroth?)
The infamous Jenova appears, and as you'd expect, the sight of her instantly triggers traumatic visions of the past in Cloud. While seeing Jenova is to be expected, the most intriguing detail seen later in the trailer is the confirmation that you'll also get to fight her. Since the first part of the FFVII Remake covers the story up until the end of Midgar, this fight comes as a shock. You don't technically fight Jenova in the original game until you get to the ship in Costa del Sol, which is a few hours after leaving Midgar, so this encounter is totally new.
Another important detail is that it appears the party seems to actually see Sephiroth when they find the tank holding Jenova--at least, if their body language is to be believed. In the original, Sephiroth only appeared as hallucinations in Midgar and didn't actually show up in person until that first fight with Jenova in Costa Del Sol.
Bust Through The Front Door Or Take The Stairs?
One thing all FFVII veterans will remember is the classic scene where you have to choose whether to break into Shinra HQ by sneaking in and taking the stairs or busting through the front door. Both options are equally viable and entertaining in their own right, but whether you can do both in a single playthrough still remains to be seen. But we all know taking the stairs is the best way, though. Poor Barret.
Climactic Battle Against The Heli Gunner
A little after the halfway point of the trailer, we see Cloud, Barret, and Tifa fighting the “Heli Gunner” boss. This iconic boss originally was part of the climax of the escape from the Shinra HQ as Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII took the elevator to the entrance while Cloud fought Rufus. Here, it looks as though this could be one of the final fights in the game, with the sunrise and highway in the background reminiscent of leaving Midgar in the original. Perhaps once you defeat the first phase of this fight, the Heli Gunner follows you from the Shinra Building?
It's also worth noting that none of the weapons that Cloud, Barret, and Tifa are using during this fight were available at this point in the original game. However, it does make sense that new weapons will be available in the remake, considering the only weapon upgrades you previously could get before leaving Midgar were Barret's Assault Gun and Cloud's Hardedge. This first part is a full 40-hour game, after all, so they probably had to add more!
More Summon Monsters: Leviathan and Chocobo/Mog
In previous trailers, we've seen some of the summon materia you can find in the first part of Final Fantasy VII: Remake. In the latest footage, it was revealed that the fan-favorite Leviathan and Chocobo summons are back in full force. What's interesting about summon monsters in this game is that you'll actually be getting them much sooner than in the original, which could have more to do with how the remake has a more fleshed-out Midgar arc. Like the original game, you can conjure up a massive tidal wave with Leviathan or a stampede of chocobos led by the recurring Final Fantasy character Mog. Both summons have been recreated in the Remake, and they look stunning in action. It'll be interesting to see if there will anymore summon characters making an appearance in the first part of this reimagining of the game.
You Might Recognize Who Made That Theme Song...
If the sweet theme song playing during the first part of the trailer really got you in the mood for FFVII Remake, there's a good reason for that. The track was written by none other than classic Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, who stopped writing music for the series after FF10. While his involvement is not a full-on return to the franchise, this contribution to the project is still a nice touch.
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Need help deciding what to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, or Shudder? From Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Hunters, here are our top TV shows and movies to check out that are new on the streaming platforms in February 2020!
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Need help deciding what to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, or Shudder? From Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Hunters, here are our top TV shows and movies to check out that are new on the streaming platforms in February 2020!
Doom Eternal's third level, the frozen-over Cultist Base, kicks off with a little platforming sequence, and if you've been keeping up with the game then that might not be too surprising. You're probably aware that alongside chaotic combat with tough demons, you'll be doing a lot more than rushing to the next fight. In our three-hour hands-on preview of Doom Eternal, we experienced first-hand just how platforming and traversal has changed things. As to why it's been emphasized so much in Eternal, we asked game director Hugo Martin about that.
Martin prefaced, "A criticism of DOOM 2016 is that it was kind of like skate parks and arena fights; hallways to the next arena, fight, hallways to the next arena, fight. And the arena fights were great." He then continued, "But in between the combat arenas, we really needed to make sure that we can engage the player just as much with the spaces outside of the arenas as we could inside...and expand the scope of the levels quite a bit."
You're given tools that coincide with this design philosophy, such as the double dash ability, swinging on monkey bars, and wall climbing on specific surfaces. Levels look and feel bigger, and present more intricate ways for getting from point A to B. It also makes the search for secrets and hidden content a bit more involved.
In our experience, platforming elements certainly take some getting used to, especially with this being an FPS. But Martin said it's meant to be part of Eternal's ramp-up in getting you to master the several aspects of Doom Eternal: "They're all of them skill-based traversal puzzles. What would be challenging in the beginning of the game becomes second nature at the end of the game."
Doom Eternal's third level, Cultist Base, kicks off with a bit of platforming.
Platforming and traversal isn't just isolated in between combat scenarios, though. Doom Eternal also emphasizes these elements with more spacious combat arenas, giving you more room to navigate these fights and search for much-needed pickups. You can both create space or close the gap between demons depending on the situation, and even pull off aerial glory kills--the Super Shotgun's hookshot adds to the numerous ways you'll be moving around in combat, too.
Doom Eternal's third level, the frozen-over Cultist Base, kicks off with a little platforming sequence, and if you've been keeping up with the game then that might not be too surprising. You're probably aware that alongside chaotic combat with tough demons, you'll be doing a lot more than rushing to the next fight. In our three-hour hands-on preview of Doom Eternal, we experienced first-hand just how platforming and traversal has changed things. As to why it's been emphasized so much in Eternal, we asked game director Hugo Martin about that.
Martin prefaced, "A criticism of DOOM 2016 is that it was kind of like skate parks and arena fights; hallways to the next arena, fight, hallways to the next arena, fight. And the arena fights were great." He then continued, "But in between the combat arenas, we really needed to make sure that we can engage the player just as much with the spaces outside of the arenas as we could inside...and expand the scope of the levels quite a bit."
You're given tools that coincide with this design philosophy, such as the double dash ability, swinging on monkey bars, and wall climbing on specific surfaces. Levels look and feel bigger, and present more intricate ways for getting from point A to B. It also makes the search for secrets and hidden content a bit more involved.
In our experience, platforming elements certainly take some getting used to, especially with this being an FPS. But Martin said it's meant to be part of Eternal's ramp-up in getting you to master the several aspects of Doom Eternal: "They're all of them skill-based traversal puzzles. What would be challenging in the beginning of the game becomes second nature at the end of the game."
Doom Eternal's third level, Cultist Base, kicks off with a bit of platforming.
Platforming and traversal isn't just isolated in between combat scenarios, though. Doom Eternal also emphasizes these elements with more spacious combat arenas, giving you more room to navigate these fights and search for much-needed pickups. You can both create space or close the gap between demons depending on the situation, and even pull off aerial glory kills--the Super Shotgun's hookshot adds to the numerous ways you'll be moving around in combat, too.
The trailer for F9, the ninth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise has arrived. While it's given some insight into the plot of the upcoming film and revealed John Cena's role in the story (he's Dom's brother? What?), all of that pales in comparison to a twist revealed at the end of the clip.
As the gang hangs out in their underground base, which we're going to call the Furious Cave, a familiar face walks in. After being killed off in Fast & Furious 6, or so we thought, Han Seoul-Oh (Sung Kang) is back. He simply walked into the Furious Cave snacking, per usual. "Nice clubhouse," he said before giving Dom a hug.
With that one moment, our minds were completely blown. How did this happen? Where has Han been all this time? How does he fit into the story of F9? There are so many questions to be answered. We don't want to wait for the May 22 release of the movie, though. So GameSpot has taken the liberty of trying to answer the biggest mystery: How is Han still alive?
Take a look below at our 14 best reasons we're finally getting justice for Han in F9. Yes, they're outlandish. This is the Fast & Furious franchise, though. If you're not going way over-the-top, you're not trying hard enough. Take a look at 14 potential ways Han is still alive before, then don't miss our guide to everything we know about Fast & Furious 9.
Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot's parent company.
1. Han is a robot
This is going to sound weird, but what if this isn't Han at all? What is this is a robot designed to look like Han? How is that more ridiculous than anything else that's happened in these movies? Or perhaps Han was a robot the entire time, so after he "died," he was actually just repaired and has been off doing something else this entire time. - Chris E. Hayner
2. Maybe he got the Hobbs & Shaw treatment
If he's not a robot, he could potentially have survived thanks to the sort of cybernetic implants Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), the villain of Hobbs & Shaw, used to turn him into "black Superman." Maybe this enhanced version of Han is practically indestructible. - Chris E. Hayner
3. Han was never actually dead
It's entirely possible Han never died. After all, everyone in Dom's family is practically a superhero at this point. That does beg the question, though: Who did Dom and the crew bury at the funeral held for Han in Furious 7? - Chris E. Hayner
4. Han is secretly the villain
When Hobbs & Shaw hit theaters, there was plenty of speculation that Han was the mysterious director behind Eteon, the super-creepy evil organization that created the enhanced Brixton. What if Han is not only behind that, but all of the evil from throughout the Fast Saga? Han could be the biggest movie villain of all time. - Chris E. Hayner
5. This is actually Han's long-lost twin brother Shawn
John Cena plays Dom's long-lost brother in F9. What if Han also has a long-lost brother than happened to look exactly like him? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Shawn Seoul-Oh, international car thief or something. - Chris E. Hayner
6. This Han is from another earth in the multiverse
If the Arrow-verse has taught us anything, it's that there are many earths out there, each with their own set of characters. That's practically a fact now, right? What if this Han is actually from Fast & Furious Earth-2? The big question now is whether he traveled here through some kind of portal or if all of the earths were merged in some kind of crisis we'll learn more about in Fast & Furious 10. - Chris E. Hayner
7. Han is the Palpatine-like overlord of the galaxy
Seriously, we want this one if only so the movie opens with a crawl that says, "THE DEAD SPEAK…"
But then, who's the Rey of Fast 9? Is it Dom? Is John Cena's new character Kylo Ren? Will Cena turn his back on Han's Palpatine at the end to kiss Dom then die? No, that would be ridiculous. That's the kind of thing they'd save for the tenth movie in the franchise. - Chris E. Hayner
8. The Gods of Cars reincarnated him into another Han body
Han's death was unwarranted, unjust, and the most tragic moment in Tokyo Drift, aside from Bow Wow selling random objects in the streets of Japan. However, upon his death, Han's spirit ascended to the heavens, and he gazed upon the God of Cars and NOS. The deity looked down upon Han, snacking away on some bagged chips and said, "Your time on Earth is not over. You must go back and show the world how to make snacking look effortless." Han returned to his body--which had been magically put back together--and that was that. Also, Han has superpowers now. -Mat Elfring
9. Han is obviously the God of Cars and can't be killed
We've already established that the God of Cars is totally canon within the Furiousverse. So it makes sense that Han could in fact be the manifestation of that god but sent to Earth in order to show people how to drift properly. When Shaw blew up his car at the end of Tokyo Drift--which happens after Fast & Furious 6--Han traversed the astral plane, with his body, and then came back to Earth after the dust had settled. -Mat Elfring
10. Han faked his own death because he wanted to eat in peace
Han likes to snack, something established very clearly in Tokyo Drift. However, training Sean Boswell to drift was his last straw. Han wanted a simple life away from all the action and drama of the world. Plus, with Giselle's death still fresh in his mind, Han needed an escape. So he hired Deckard Shaw to kill him, and Han went into the mountains with a van full of various bagged snacks, and he lived there for years. However, he found in his isolation that being alone wasn't what he needed. He needed those family values Dom hammered into his brain for years. Han decided to return, but only after a haircut. Also, Han has superpowers now. -Mat Elfring
11. Han is the physical manifestation of the Speed Force
This one sort of speaks for itself. Perhaps the Han we see now isn't Han, but rather a Speedster version that has all the powers of the Speed Force. In this instance, his superhero name should be Justice. There's only so far "driving fast cars" can go as a genre. Might as well dip into sci-fi. - Chris E. Hayner
12. Mother Shaw has figured out how to bring humans back from the dead
She's got to be back in this movie for some reason, right? What if Deckard and Owen's mum, Queenie Shaw (Hellen Mirren), found a way to reanimate corpses and restore life? Now only does that promise an eventual Fast & Furious horror movie, but it gives an interesting reason for Han's return. Spoilers: She did it using NOS. - Chris E. Hayner
13. Han is actually just a holographic AI that exists only in the Furious Cave
What's the one thing the Fast family is missing? That's right, a JARVIS. The AI system essentially ran all of Tony Stark's operations as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before he evolved into Vision. What if--stay with us--this Han is actually a hologram and artificial intelligence system. It builds them cars, tells when where and how to drive, and keeps the operation moving forward as Dom tried to kill his brother for two-and-a-half hours. - Chris E. Hayner
14. Tokyo Drift and the mid-credit sequence of Fast & Furious 6 were all a dream
Everyone has nightmares, even someone as amazing as Han. While the majority of the events of the Fast & Furious franchise happened, Tokyo Drift never did--and neither did Deckard Shaw's assassination of our favorite character. Han found himself awake in his own bed after this nightmare and went into the bathroom to find Patrick Duffy in his shower. Duffy assured him everything was alright, and Han went back to work with Dom and company. Does this create a ton of plotholes? Sure, but whatever. Also, Han has superpowers now. -Mat Elfring
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The trailer for F9, the ninth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise has arrived. While it's given some insight into the plot of the upcoming film and revealed John Cena's role in the story (he's Dom's brother? What?), all of that pales in comparison to a twist revealed at the end of the clip.
As the gang hangs out in their underground base, which we're going to call the Furious Cave, a familiar face walks in. After being killed off in Fast & Furious 6, or so we thought, Han Seoul-Oh (Sung Kang) is back. He simply walked into the Furious Cave snacking, per usual. "Nice clubhouse," he said before giving Dom a hug.
With that one moment, our minds were completely blown. How did this happen? Where has Han been all this time? How does he fit into the story of F9? There are so many questions to be answered. We don't want to wait for the May 22 release of the movie, though. So GameSpot has taken the liberty of trying to answer the biggest mystery: How is Han still alive?
Take a look below at our 14 best reasons we're finally getting justice for Han in F9. Yes, they're outlandish. This is the Fast & Furious franchise, though. If you're not going way over-the-top, you're not trying hard enough. Take a look at 14 potential ways Han is still alive before, then don't miss our guide to everything we know about Fast & Furious 9.
Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot's parent company.
1. Han is a robot
This is going to sound weird, but what if this isn't Han at all? What is this is a robot designed to look like Han? How is that more ridiculous than anything else that's happened in these movies? Or perhaps Han was a robot the entire time, so after he "died," he was actually just repaired and has been off doing something else this entire time. - Chris E. Hayner
2. Maybe he got the Hobbs & Shaw treatment
If he's not a robot, he could potentially have survived thanks to the sort of cybernetic implants Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), the villain of Hobbs & Shaw, used to turn him into "black Superman." Maybe this enhanced version of Han is practically indestructible. - Chris E. Hayner
3. Han was never actually dead
It's entirely possible Han never died. After all, everyone in Dom's family is practically a superhero at this point. That does beg the question, though: Who did Dom and the crew bury at the funeral held for Han in Furious 7? - Chris E. Hayner
4. Han is secretly the villain
When Hobbs & Shaw hit theaters, there was plenty of speculation that Han was the mysterious director behind Eteon, the super-creepy evil organization that created the enhanced Brixton. What if Han is not only behind that, but all of the evil from throughout the Fast Saga? Han could be the biggest movie villain of all time. - Chris E. Hayner
5. This is actually Han's long-lost twin brother Shawn
John Cena plays Dom's long-lost brother in F9. What if Han also has a long-lost brother than happened to look exactly like him? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Shawn Seoul-Oh, international car thief or something. - Chris E. Hayner
6. This Han is from another earth in the multiverse
If the Arrow-verse has taught us anything, it's that there are many earths out there, each with their own set of characters. That's practically a fact now, right? What if this Han is actually from Fast & Furious Earth-2? The big question now is whether he traveled here through some kind of portal or if all of the earths were merged in some kind of crisis we'll learn more about in Fast & Furious 10. - Chris E. Hayner
7. Han is the Palpatine-like overlord of the galaxy
Seriously, we want this one if only so the movie opens with a crawl that says, "THE DEAD SPEAK…"
But then, who's the Rey of Fast 9? Is it Dom? Is John Cena's new character Kylo Ren? Will Cena turn his back on Han's Palpatine at the end to kiss Dom then die? No, that would be ridiculous. That's the kind of thing they'd save for the tenth movie in the franchise. - Chris E. Hayner
8. The Gods of Cars reincarnated him into another Han body
Han's death was unwarranted, unjust, and the most tragic moment in Tokyo Drift, aside from Bow Wow selling random objects in the streets of Japan. However, upon his death, Han's spirit ascended to the heavens, and he gazed upon the God of Cars and NOS. The deity looked down upon Han, snacking away on some bagged chips and said, "Your time on Earth is not over. You must go back and show the world how to make snacking look effortless." Han returned to his body--which had been magically put back together--and that was that. Also, Han has superpowers now. -Mat Elfring
9. Han is obviously the God of Cars and can't be killed
We've already established that the God of Cars is totally canon within the Furiousverse. So it makes sense that Han could in fact be the manifestation of that god but sent to Earth in order to show people how to drift properly. When Shaw blew up his car at the end of Tokyo Drift--which happens after Fast & Furious 6--Han traversed the astral plane, with his body, and then came back to Earth after the dust had settled. -Mat Elfring
10. Han faked his own death because he wanted to eat in peace
Han likes to snack, something established very clearly in Tokyo Drift. However, training Sean Boswell to drift was his last straw. Han wanted a simple life away from all the action and drama of the world. Plus, with Giselle's death still fresh in his mind, Han needed an escape. So he hired Deckard Shaw to kill him, and Han went into the mountains with a van full of various bagged snacks, and he lived there for years. However, he found in his isolation that being alone wasn't what he needed. He needed those family values Dom hammered into his brain for years. Han decided to return, but only after a haircut. Also, Han has superpowers now. -Mat Elfring
11. Han is the physical manifestation of the Speed Force
This one sort of speaks for itself. Perhaps the Han we see now isn't Han, but rather a Speedster version that has all the powers of the Speed Force. In this instance, his superhero name should be Justice. There's only so far "driving fast cars" can go as a genre. Might as well dip into sci-fi. - Chris E. Hayner
12. Mother Shaw has figured out how to bring humans back from the dead
She's got to be back in this movie for some reason, right? What if Deckard and Owen's mum, Queenie Shaw (Hellen Mirren), found a way to reanimate corpses and restore life? Now only does that promise an eventual Fast & Furious horror movie, but it gives an interesting reason for Han's return. Spoilers: She did it using NOS. - Chris E. Hayner
13. Han is actually just a holographic AI that exists only in the Furious Cave
What's the one thing the Fast family is missing? That's right, a JARVIS. The AI system essentially ran all of Tony Stark's operations as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before he evolved into Vision. What if--stay with us--this Han is actually a hologram and artificial intelligence system. It builds them cars, tells when where and how to drive, and keeps the operation moving forward as Dom tried to kill his brother for two-and-a-half hours. - Chris E. Hayner
14. Tokyo Drift and the mid-credit sequence of Fast & Furious 6 were all a dream
Everyone has nightmares, even someone as amazing as Han. While the majority of the events of the Fast & Furious franchise happened, Tokyo Drift never did--and neither did Deckard Shaw's assassination of our favorite character. Han found himself awake in his own bed after this nightmare and went into the bathroom to find Patrick Duffy in his shower. Duffy assured him everything was alright, and Han went back to work with Dom and company. Does this create a ton of plotholes? Sure, but whatever. Also, Han has superpowers now. -Mat Elfring
The idea behind the TouchArcade Game of the Week is that every Friday afternoon we post the one game that came out this week that we think is worth giving a special nod to. Now, before anyone goes over-thinking this, it doesn’t necessarily mean our Game of the Week pick is the highest scoring game in a review, the game with the best graphics, or really any other quantifiable “best" thing. Instead, it’s more just us picking out the single game out of the week’s releases that we think is the most noteworthy, surprising, interesting, or really any other hard to describe quality that makes it worth having if you were just going to pick up one.
