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Peering through the lens of the Combat Visor, it is easy to believe that it’s a window – your way of assessing the acrid ecology of Talon IV. But it’s really a mirror, reflecting the anguished determination of Samus Aran as bright beams of light illuminate dark and dusty corridors. Two decades later, Metroid Prime’s smartest visual flourish has lost none of its impact. Is that down to the quality of this remaster, which occupies uncommon ground between faithful emulation and confident reconfiguration, or because the foundations first outlined by Retro Studios have largely circumvented the slow decay of time? It’s difficult to say, although I can tell you that Metroid Prime Remastered is a triumph.

FAST FACTS: Metroid Prime Remastered

Metroid Prime Remastered Switch screenshot — (Image credit: Nintendo)

Release date: February 8, 2023
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Developer: Retro Studios
Publisher: Nintendo

I was 13 years-old when I first steered the bounty hunter down to the inhospitable surface of Talon IV, following the aftermath of an explosion aboard the Orpheon – a Space Pirate frigate ripped apart by biological experiments. In hindsight, I now understand that I was too young to completely appreciate this video game‘s achievements. I’m 33 now, and Remastered is like seeing Metroid Prime for the very first time. A quiet, contemplative adventure where the balance of power shifts gradually. Not as you repair the damaged Varia Suit, slowly expanding its capabilities with hidden Chozo technology, but as you gain a better understanding of the alien flora and altered fauna that surrounds you. That hurts you. That hunts you.

Surveying the unknown

Metroid Prime is underpinned by vibrant imagination and powered by a vivid attention to detail. That was true of the original, though the atmosphere is undoubtedly accentuated after a careful remastering process. The hiss of a

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ADVENTURE

Why Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Will Probably Be The Final Adventure For Patrick Stewart’s Title Character

January 29, 2023January 29, 2023

by Tracy J. Chu

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 is just around the corner, and while we know a good deal about what to expect from this upcoming season, we’re still in the dark about where this series will leave most of The Next Generation‘s beloved characters. While I can’t predict the fates of every returning character, like Geordi, Beverly and Worf, I do have a pretty good feeling about where things will end up for Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. It seems fated that while other characters may continue to live on after this series, Picard will not.

I could be completely off base, and I will note that I have no insider knowledge of what to expect this season. With that said, I have a few key things for readers and Star Trek fans to consider, all of which point to the fact that this series might’ve always been pointing toward the death of one of Star Trek‘s greatest characters.

Jean-Luc Picard in Picard on Paramount+ — (Image credit: Paramount+)

Picard Has Frequently Teased Jean-Luc’s Death The Past Two Seasons

It may not be too hard for some to assume Jean-Luc Picard will die at the end of Star Trek: Picard, and that could be because he’s almost died twice now in two seasons. In fact, Picard’s body technically died in Season 1, which led to his consciousness being transferred over to a Synth shell indistinguishable from a normal human body. It was a bit of a silly twist in hindsight, but it did take care of that terminal illness the character was first diagnosed with in The Next Generation.

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 once again put Jean-Luc Picard’s life in peril, as he was put into a coma after being hit by a car. Again, he ultimately pulled through and lived to fight another day,

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HOTEL

The best hotels in Israel for a unique and luxurious stay |

December 13, 2022December 13, 2022

by Tracy J. Chu

The best hotels in Israel impress in various ways, from small boutique boltholes in the mountains near the border with Syria to beachside luxury in the buzzing capital. But as different as each of the places on our list are, one element remains constant – all impress with stylish bedrooms, fantastic service, and beautiful breakfasts.

As one of the easiest countries to work abroad in, Israel also wows with the variety of its landscapes – there are picturesque rolling deserts, 187 kilometers of stunning coastline, and olive tree-covered mountains. It’s also one of the best places to travel to in 2022 as many of the world’s most beautiful hotels are here too, but that means picking where to stay isn’t always an easy decision and that’s where our expert rating comes in.

We spent a month traveling through the stunning country visiting city hotels and countryside dwellings to compile a comprehensive list of the hotels we rate as the absolute best in the country. Each one on our list will ensure the trip of a lifetime…

Our pick of the best hotels in Israel for a unique and luxurious stay

TEL AVIV-YAFO

1. The Drisco, American-German Colony

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A bedroom at the drisco, one of the best hotels in israel — (Image credit: The Drisco)

Price per night: Classic double rooms start from $492 (£408) a night, including one of the best breakfasts in the city

Expert rating: 9/10

Hidden away in the beautiful American-Germany Colony area of town alongside unique wooden houses shipped over from the US sits The Drisco with its ornate facade and 48 rooms, each simply but perfectly designed. At just four years old, the place has become one of the best spots in town for breakfast and dinner due to the beautiful dishes (including some seriously stunning

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ADVENTURE

Strange World Voice Cast: Who Voices Who In Disney’s Animated Adventure

November 29, 2022November 29, 2022

by Tracy J. Chu

Disney has taken us to many wonderful and also very “strange” worlds in its nearly 100-year history. In 2022, the company’s animation department is taking that specific mantra to heart with a new theatrically released movie called Strange World, in which a farmer is reunited with his long-lost father — a legendary explorer — after he and his family become embroiled in a dangerous mission through bizarre and unexplored terrain.

Disney has employed a star-studded ensemble of talented actors to breathe life into the lovable characters from this character-driven sci-fi/fantasy adventure that has come to theaters just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend. Let’s go over who plays who in the Strange World cast.

Jake Gyllenhaal in Ambulance and Strange World — (Image credit: Universal / Disney)

Jake Gyllenhaal (Searcher Clade)

Leading the Strange World voice cast as Searcher Clade, a simple man whose extraordinary family history catches up with him, is Jake Gyllenhaal. The Academy Award nominee is known for westerns like Brokeback Mountain and The Sisters Brothers, horror movies like 2001’s Donnie Darko and Velvet Buzzsaw, gritty crime thrillers like Zodiac and Nightcrawler, and action-packed popcorn flicks like Michael Bay’s Ambulance, most recently.

In fact, one of the actor’s last collaborations with Disney (which his role as Mysterio in the MCU’s Spider-Man: Far From Home would, technically, not count as) was an action-packed popcorn flick called Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time from 2010. Gyllenhaal — who made his acting debut at 11 in 1991’s City Slickers — last leant his voice to an animated movie when he joined Netflix’s Spirit Untamed cast in 2021.

Dennis Quaid in Blue Miracle and Strange World — (Image credit: Netflix / Disney)

Dennis Quaid (Jaeger Clade)

As Searcher’s famous adventurer father, Jaeger, we have Dennis Quaid, who last played Jake Gyllenhaal’s onscreen dad in Roland Emmerich’s 2004 disaster movie, The Day

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HOTEL

The 17 best country house hotels in the UK for a luxury retreat |

November 23, 2022November 23, 2022

by Tracy J. Chu

When it comes to the best country house hotels in the world, nowhere comes close to the UK. Steeped in history and grandeur, these iconic properties each have a story to tell. From manor houses to refurbished inns and grand stately homes, these country house hotels offer sumptuous interiors, world-class food, and glorious natural surroundings.

Offering some of the best UK staycations, a visit to one of these country house hotels is the chance to relax and recharge during a peaceful rural retreat. Naturally, spa breaks and county house hotels go hand in hand, and many of the hotels in our edit are home to the most-coveted spas in the UK. Some of these high-end country house hotels are among best luxury hotels in the world, with the likes of Cliveden House and Heckfield Place hosting A-List celebrities from across the globe.

These UK weekend getaway destinations are often nestled in remote parts of the English countryside, with rolling hills, acres of unspoiled lands, vast lakes, and woodlands on their doorsteps – making them the perfect base for a nature holiday in the UK. Many of the hotels on our list offer special packages, from wellness to historical tours, as well as nature-based activities like paddle boarding and foraging for food.

In order to determine which hotels are worth the trip, we considered hundreds of online reviews, along with our own personal insights, to curate a definitive list of the best country house hotels in the UK, ranging from more affordable to super luxe. These are the best country house hotels across England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

17 best country house hotels in the UK

1. Storrs Hall, Windermere

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Storrs Hall in Windermere exterior — (Image credit: Booking.com)

Price per night: rom £260

Google rating: 4.6/5

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ADVENTURE

DC and Webtoon’s Batman: Wayne Family Adventures returns for season 2

October 4, 2022October 4, 2022

by Tracy J. Chu

DC and Webtoon have announced the return of Batman: Wayne Family Adventures (opens in new tab) for season 2, launching this Wednesday, September 28.

Written by CRC Payne, drawn by StarBite, colored by C.M. Cameron, and lettered by Kielamel Sibal, Batman: Wayne Family Adventures is a slice-of-life comic following the Bat family in their everyday lives. They go on plenty of adventures in-costume, but they also share lots of moments together in their civilian dress, navigating relationships, and more.

“DC is excited for more hilariously heartwarming slice-of-life Batman stories – we love Wayne Family Adventures!” DC editor-in-chief Marie Javins says in the announcement. “We’re even more delighted with the Webtoon format re-imaginings of our other iconic characters, like Vixen and Red Hood.

“As a fan myself, I always look forward to seeing these stories told with a playful approach, and as an editor, it’s interesting to see how the incredible WEBTOON talent stays true to each character while telling fresh, new stories.”

“The reader response to the first season of Batman: Wayne Family Adventures was beyond our expectations – it not only brought Bat-family fans to Webtoon, but also introduced new fans on Webtoon to this legendary cast of characters in the Batman mythos,” adds David Lee, VP of content at Webtoon. “It has been a smash success and we can’t wait for readers to experience the new adventures in store for the Wayne family this season.”

DC and Webtoon released teaser images from upcoming Batman: Wayne Family Adventures season 2 episodes, including a crossover with Vixen: NYC (opens in new tab), another DC/Webtoon comic written by Jasmine Walls and drawn by Manou Azumi. Check out the full preview below.

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TOUR

Up close with the new KTM Revelator Alto Team: B&B Hotels’ Tour de France bike

July 24, 2022July 24, 2022

by Tracy J. Chu

Racing their first Tour de France, the Breton B&B Hotels p/b KTM team have a new bike to exploit. It’s called the KTM Revelator Alto Team, and it hasn’t yet been launched by KTM, so little is known about it. Naturally, then, we borrowed one of the team’s bikes to get a closer look, and here we’ll talk about what we can glean from its appearance.

One of the bike’s most striking features is its paintwork, especially on the top tube, but more on that shortly. The rider of this particular example is Cyril Lemoine, who, at 39 is one of this Tour’s older competitors. Currently placed 123rd on GC, he may not be setting the results alight, but is having a much better Tour than in 2021, when that crash – caused by the Opi Omi sign – on the opening stage saw him forced to abandon with a collapsed lung and broken ribs. Now in his 17th professional season, 2022 could be his Tour swansong.

Right at the start of its career, the Revelator Alto Team seems to tick the boxes of modern racers looking for a highly competent all-around machine. Judging it by looks, as well as considering the expectations of a professional cycling team and recent market trends, it is likely to be torsionally stiff, with decent seated comfort, aerodynamic features, precise handling and low weight. Of course, only a future in-depth test will reveal its true character.

The new KTM Revelator at the Tour de France — The head tube and cockpit of KTM’s new Revelator Alto Team. (Image credit: Josh Croxton)

The KTM’s head tube is heavily buttressed, strengthening the junctions with the top and down tubes, but also creating more room for the bike’s internal cable routing to travel smoothly within it. The FSA ACR stem’s acronym stands for Aerodynamic Cable Routing, and

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