Issue 130 christmas 2016 £ 5.99 gamesradar.com/opm
don’t buy a duffer!
Massive reveal! Eight infopacked pages on the game of your dreams
at l a s t !
the last guardian The perfect Christmas game?
xmas gift guide
The must-have gear and apparel for every serious PlayStation fan
it’s here! all your ps4 pro questions answered the official exclusive! hands-on with THE EPIC PS4 COMEBACK the worldS the vehicles the combat
h o l ly w o o d a c c e s s !
assassin’s creed Fassbender tells all as we go on the set of the biggest gaming movie ever made
which 4k tv is best for ps4 pro? The essential ps vr games + apps cod vs battlefield – which wins?
ISSUE 130 / XMAS 2016 Future Publishing Ltd, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA, United Kingdom Tel +44 (0) 1225 442244 Email opm@futurenet.com Twitter @OPM_UK Web www.gamesradar.com/opm
Ho-Ho-Ho! Y
EDITORIAL Editor Matthew Pellett @Pelloki Managing art editor Milford Coppock @milfcoppock Operations editor Miriam McDonald @crinolinerobot Games editor Jen Simpkins @itsJenSim Staff writer Ben Tyrer @bentyrer Shaming editor The Goat Of Shame @TheGoatOfShame CONTRIBUTORS Words Louise Blain, Matthew Clapham, Alex Dale, Jordan Farley, Andy Hartup, Daniella Lucas, Ben Maxwell, Steve May, Dave Meikleham, Simon Miller, Louis Pattison, Tom Regan, Chris Schilling, Chris Scullion Design Andrew Cottle, Chris Hedley, Rob Speed ADVERTISING Commercial sales director Clare Dove Senior advertising manager Lara Jaggon Advertising manager Mike Pyatt Director of agency sales Matt Downs Head of strategic partnerships Clare Jonik Advertising director – Games Andrew Church For Ad enquiries contact andrew.church@futurenet.com MARKETING Marketing director Sascha Kimmel Marketing manager Emma Clapp Production & Distribution Head of production UK & US Mark Constance Production controller Vivienne Calvert Printed in the UK by William Gibbons & Sons Ltd on behalf of Future Distributed by Marketforce, 2nd Floor, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HU Overseas distribution by Marketforce
game of the month Skyrim: Special Edition fave xmas food Sprouts
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“we flew out to bioware for a ukexclusive playtest of mass effect andromeda.”
es, it truly is “the most wonderful time of the year.” I’m not talking about snow falling or fires crackling, though – I’m on about PlayStation 4s whirring away merrily, bellies full of shiny new discs containing the latest and greatest games. We all know the games industry loves its annual glut of pre-Xmas launches, but 2016 gives us extra reason to be jolly. Not only is the relentless release list packed with more jaw-droppers than it has been in years, here in the realm of PlayStation we’ve got a double helping of hardware to revolutionise the way we play in the shape of PS4 Pro (p6) and PS VR. I don’t know about you but I’m actually relieved the likes of Horizon and Mass Effect were pushed back until 2017… Thankfully, you won’t need to wait until next year to read about Andromeda. Ben flew out to Bioware for a UK-exclusive playtest of the brand-new Mass Effect. Turn to p48 for all the new info and shots, then flip to p64 for the month’s biggest reveal of all: Red Dead Redemption 2. Now that’s a festive feast. Enjoy.
Matthew Pellett
Secure your copy of the bumper OPM #131 + 2017 wall planner
Editor matthew.pellett@futurenet.com @Pelloki
Subscribe on p72 by 2 Dec
this month’s little helpers
Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Peter Allen Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)207 042 4000 (London) Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244 (Bath)
All contents copyright © 2016 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored, transmitted or used in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price and other details of products or services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any changes or updates to them. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Future a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage. We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from well managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. Future Publishing and its paper suppliers have been independently certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
Ben Tyrer
Jen Simpkins
Milford Coppock
Miriam McDonald
game of the month COD: Infinite Warfare fave xmas food Pigs in blankets
game of the month Titanfall 2 fave xmas food Roasted chestnuts
game of the month Battlefield 1 fave xmas food Yule log
game of the month World Of Final Fantasy fave xmas food Trifle
staff writer “Why are you dressed as an elf, Ben?” “Well, I was going to be Santa,” he says, “but I was worried about getting the sack.”
Games editor She may be an industry “Rising Star,” but Jen once went to jail after she was caught stealing an advent calendar. She got 24 days.
managing art editor Milf wanted to pay to get Rudolph and Blitzen into the office for Team OPM’s annual Xmas pictures. Alas, they were two deer.
operations editor Wordsmith Mim’s been giving the team a special series of Xmas writing lessons. Now they know all about subordinate Clauses.
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highlights The big 10
006 PS4 Pro Bigger, better and oodles more beautiful: the console arrives. 004
pREVIEW
032 The Last Guardian Finally! We’ve been let loose in the emotional adventure a decade in the making. feature
048 Mass Effect Andromeda Yes, we’ve played it. Bioware Montreal opens its doors to OPM, letting us explore the space-set RPG’s newest stars. (Screams were heard.) featurE
058 Xmas buyer’s guide Last-minute shopping panic? Nope – you’ve got our handy PlayStation-themed gift list to help. feature
064 red dead redemption 2 Saddle up for one hell of a ride as we apply our expert eye to Rockstar’s Wild Western sequel. review
078 Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Our soldier shoulders his rifle (DualShock?) to put a score on COD’s interstellar instalment. retrostation
106 grand theft auto IV We go for a nostalgic wander through Liberty City’s shooter sandbox with our old pal Niko.
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s e c ti o n s a t a g l a n c e
the big 10
previews
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Latest info, screens and playtests All the hottest news
features
reviews
network
retro STATION
To-the-point, detailed analysis
In-depth verdicts on every big new game
Max out your PS4, online and off
Classics revisited
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THE Games index 092 100ft robot golf 086 ace banana 044 agony 016 assassin’s creed 088 battlefield 1 078 call of duty: infinite warfare 078 call of duty: modern warfare remastered 102 doom 096 eve: Gunjack 096 eve: valkyrie 100 fifa 17 102 farming simulator 17 040 ghost recon wildlands 106 grand theft auto IV 044 gravity rush 2 087 here they lie 093 hitman Episode six 008 horizon zero dawn 044 kingdom hearts 2.8 final chapter prologue 044 lethal vr 102 lego star wars: The Force Awakens 096 loading human 048 mass effect andromeda 006 nioh 102 Overcooked 102 paragon 092 pixel gear 018 polybius 064 red dead redemption 2 109 resident evil remaster 100 rigs: mechanized combat league 101 rIse of the tomb raider 094 skyrim: Special edition 086 sports bar vr hangout 102 star wars battlefront rogue one: Scarif 038 steep 036 super impossible road 092 tethered 041 the fall part 2: unbound 032 the last guardian 097 the playroom vr 084 titanfall 2 042 tokyo 42 044 tumbleseed 102 volume: coda 014 wailing heights 102 Warframe 096 wayward sky 082 world of final fantasy
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Pro won’t play 4K Blu-ray discs – but with Netflix and co streaming in 4K, film buffs needn’t fear.
The Big10
Stories everyone’s talking about
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The triple-stack beauty’s speed and power boosts the appearance and performance of games.
12 APPS ENTERTAINMENT
The best non-gaming fun on PS VR.
16 Fassbend your ear
We chat to the silver-screen Assassin.
18 Polybius Lives
The legend becomes a new VR game…
TheBig10 Stories everyone’s talking about
PS4 Pro launch brings 4K gaming into the light
The powerful new PlayStation arrives to transform present and future titles If seeing truly is believing, consider us converts. The arrival of PS4 Pro has given us a glimpse of the future – in crisp 4K and bright HDR-enhanced colour. Coming in at £349.99, Sony’s supercharged console is now sitting pretty in the homes of PlayStation fanatics everywhere. And pretty is the word. Not only is the system itself a triple-stack beauty, but its speed and power boosts the appearance and performance of games. Got it hooked up to a 4K, HDR-ready telly? Then you’re experiencing crisp native (or upscaled) 4K detail, and eye-wateringly bright HDR lights plus darks blacker than the void. On top of the souped-up visuals, you’re also treated to higher, smoother and more stable framerates. Cue awe-inspired tears in three, two… But if you’re worried about PS4 players being split into the Pros and the no-Pros, don’t be. The latest
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addition to the family is more of an optional upgrade than a new generation of console. Screens of joy While it packs significantly more of a graphical punch, PS4 Pro won’t receive any exclusive titles. PS4 and PS4 Pro play the same games. Two chips inside (much like “the wings of a butterfly,” notes poetic lead hardware architect Mark Cerny) mean PS4 Pro runs all existing PS4 titles and Pro-patched versions of recent and upcoming games. But HDR? That’s for everyone, thanks to the latest system software update ensuring anyone with a PS4 and an HDR-compatible TV can take advantage. Pro players simply enjoy an extra layer of 4K gorgeousness. As of its launch, PS4 Pro optimises over 30 (and counting) of PlayStation’s best, including Uncharted 4, Hitman, Ratchet & Clank, Rise Of The Tomb Raider and Titanfall 2. Many are PS VR titles. Rez: Infinite, Robinson: The Journey and PlayStation VR Worlds all get the Pro treatment too – not 4K
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The Big10 Stories everyone’s talking about
or HDR, but twice as many pixels rendered and then crunched down onto PS VR makes them look better. And the list of upcoming games set to be Pro-ified keeps on growing: Nioh and GT Sport are the latest additions to the swelling ranks.
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Status pro While the older games confirmed to be receiving visual and performance enhancements will be patched to support the new system’s features, you can expect upcoming titles to include the necessary upgrades on the disc. Indeed, Titanfall 2’s PS4 Pro support came bundled on the disc, no downloadable patch required. So who should get PS4 Pro? Admittedly it isn’t for everybody, and 4K, HDR televisions are needed to get the most out of the new PlayStation. However, PS4 Pro boasts some benefits for those of us who aren’t yet ready or capable of upgrading our television sets at the moment. For those of us staying in the 1080p realm for now, PS4 Pro will make certain games look or run better. Similar to PC setups, the likes of Nioh and Rise Of The Tomb Raider offer multiple 1080p gaming options, some with better looks and standard framerates, some with slightly more modest visuals but running at a lightning-fast 60fps.
To put your mind at ease, all of your existing PS4 peripherals are compatible with PS4 Pro, as are your profiles and your save files (see p103 on swapping over your data and getting ready to make the most of PS4 Pro). The all-important Premium HDMI – aka HDMI 2.0 – cable needed to transport the beefy signals is included in the box, too. An extra USB port at the back takes care of PS VR’s cable, letting you still keep two front-facing ports free to charge your pads, and the 1Tb hard drive is a big upgrade on the launch PS4’s paltry 500Gb storage… though those of you hungry for more space should know that Pro now supports faster SATAIII hard drives if you want to stick a bigger one into your new machine. The one thing you really need to be aware of is that PS4 Pro’s HDR technology is fully compatible with HDR10 specifications, but not Dolby Vision HDR. That bit is important if you’re looking to invest in a new TV. But it’s worth it. Thanks to the more powerful PlayStation we’re finally seeing games as they’re
all of your existing ps4 peripherals and data is compatible with playstation 4 pro.
Joystick Division
Just missing out on last month’s In The Mood For… feature was an amazing ’80s-style, VHS-effect PS4 Pro advert tweeted by PlayStation UK, touting the console’s “super fresh graphics.” Check it out: bit.ly/Prozombs.
meant to be, and devs couldn’t be happier. “It‘s been great for us to see things approaching the level of quality we saw during development,” says Naughty Dog’s Arne Meyer about both Uncharted 4 and The Last Of Us. “We were wowed when we started running things and saw how crisp it was in 4K, but with HDR combined, we got really excited!” Car bodies are reddy Most exciting of all, however, is what PS4 Pro’s future looks like. Days Gone, Horizon Zero Dawn, Mass Effect: Andromeda, SpiderMan… In our demos, strands of Aloy’s hair glisten in Horizon’s blinding sun and tiny azure sparks of Ki dance on the winds of Nioh’s feudal Japan. Headlights in racer GT Sport practically glare out of the screen during replays – and series creator Kazunori Yamauchi points out one detail appearing true-to-life for the first time ever in the series with PS4 Pro’s HDR capabilities. “Ferrari’s red was a colour that was outside the colour space up until now,” he reveals. “On Pro, the red of the Ferrari is accurately represented.” He’s clearly thrilled, and with the promise of seeing 2017’s biggest games in their true forms, we Pro owners are too. Got your paws on PS4 Pro? Now turn the page for our best 4K telly picks.
GT Sport’s photo mode is impossibly beautiful. The headlights actually manage to dazzle us.
■ A free update means Uncharted 4K is
a thing now. Nate’s stubble is mesmeric.
■ PS4 launch game Knack is the oldest
release getting a PS4 Pro upgrade.
Nioh has multiple PS4 Pro settings, including hi-res Movie and 60fps Action modes.
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■ With blockbuster titles such as Days Gone and Mass Effect: Andromeda (p48) on the way to PS4 Pro, we’ll be needing that 1Tb of storage space…
Horizon Zero Dawn looks so different on Pro. When HDR is active it’s like the sun’s been switched on.
The Big10 Stories everyone’s talking about
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Welcome to the fourth place 4K gaming is here – but which telly to buy for PS4 Pro? Want to get the most out of your PS4 Pro? Then you’ll need to upgrade your flatscreen to 4K and HDR. You can pick up a 4K TV for chump change, but adding HDR support is trickier, as screens need to be able to deliver higher peak brightness. In the market? Here are our top TV picks…
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highlights to pop off the screen. The ZD9 uses the Android smart OS, with YouView catch-up TV. There’s also Netflix and Amazon Video streaming with 4K HDR. LG OLED65E6 £4,499 currys.co.uk If OLED is the future of TV, bring it on. Unlike LED screens, OLED doesn’t need a backlight, which explains why the E6 is so thin. OLED HDR may not be as bright as premium LED HDR models, but with a deeper black level contrast seems just as pronounced. The E6 uses the webOS smart platform and supports Dolby Vision devices as well as HDR 10. Since PS4 Pro isn’t DV-enabled, that last bit’s key.
ensure your new uhd tv has a dedicated hdr game mode.
Sony KD-65ZD9 £3,999 johnlewis.com Offering the sharpest 4K HDR picture we’ve seen, Sony’s Z-Series flagship delivers supreme levels of contrast. Precision LED backlighting minimises haloing, enhancing black performance and allowing HDR
expert talk “To get the least laggy 4K gaming experience, ensure your new UHD TV has a dedicated HDR Game mode, or allows you to select the Game preset when playing HDR footage. Many first-gen HDR sets didn’t have gaming capability built in (I’m looking at you, Samsung), but thankfully it’s fast becoming standard practice.” Steve May
Freelance technology writer
Philips 55PUS6401 £649 argos.co.uk Strong contender for best value HDR TV, this 4K Philips punches way above its price tag. It’s edge-lit, so doesn’t really have the chops for squint-worthy HDR, but it looks dynamic enough and offers wide colour – another benefit of HDR. Only two of the four HDMIs support HDCP2.2 (needed for UHD Blu-ray players, Sky Q etc), but the set does have Ambilight mood lighting. It’s Android powered, with Netflix and Amazon 4K on board. Panasonic TX-58DX802B £1,289 currys.co.uk With its fancy stand and detached soundbar, this 58-inch Panasonic unashamedly plays the style card – but there’s substance here too. The screen may be edge-lit, but Panasonic has done a grand job
If money is no object, look no further than the Sony KD-65ZD9.
The Tourn’ Identity
Founded in Germany in 2000, ESL – or Electronic Sports League – is the largest and longest-running eSports company in the world, and runs tournaments of all sizes across most gaming formats.
The Big10 Stories everyone’s talking about
Find a tournament slot that works for you and you can sign up direct from the Dashboard tab.
PS4’s now for the competitive players Time to get serious: Tournaments have arrived Have you spent the last few years looking enviously at pro eSports players, thinking you could hold your own against them? Are you sure you’re the next breakout PlayStation gaming superstar, if only you could get the big break you need? Or do you simply want to upgrade your online gaming so that it’s more meaningful than just a series of one-off matches? Then PS4’s latest update is for you. Head on over to the Events tab on your PlayStation 4 and you’ll discover there’s a brand new icon on show: Tournaments. Powered by major eSports company ESL, this is your gateway into the realm of officially sanctioned competitions where you can prove you’re Lord PlayStation’s gift to q, e, r and, indeed, w. To get started you’ll need to sign up for a free ESL account, either on
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giving 4K HDR the kind of zing we like. Colour fidelity and detailing is superb. The set combines the Firefox OS with a Freeview Play tuner. There’s also Amazon and Netflix with 4K shows on tap. Sony VPL-VW550ES £9,000 sony.co.uk If you’ve invested in a PS4 Pro you clearly appreciate the finer things in life, so why not splurge on a 4K projector? The VPL-VW550ES supports native 4K HDR and is capable of cinema-grade imagery. All you need do is convert that spare room into a fully fledged home theatre! Sony says the VW550ES will even be upgradable to Hybrid Log-Gamma, the next generation broadcast TV HDR spec… After more shopping ideas? See p58 for our bumper Xmas 2016 Gift Guide.
the official ESL website at www.eslgaming.com or via the browser on your PS4, and link the account to your PSN ID. Once that step’s complete it’s simply a case of browsing the available tournament tabs on your PS4 and registering to take part. Kicking things off are one-on-one tournaments for Mortal Kombat X, WRC 5, Project Cars, Madden NFL 17, and NBA 2K17, but more games, and other types of tourneys, are coming soon. Soon the tab will host weekendonly Contender Cups, which’ll pit you against others in Tumblestone or PS Plus freebie Tricky Towers, and the very special Go4 Cups (beginning with FIFA), where prizes are up for grabs. Be sure to read each game’s rules and entry mechanics carefully before jumping in and flying the flag for the OPM community. Good luck.
This is your new gateway to officially sanctioned PS4 tourneys.
Are you tournament-ready? PS4 now has two eSports pads – turn to p19…
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Pixar-esque 3D film Invasion! is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Ethan Hawke. Fancy.
Feeling appy with PS VR The best interactive films and experiences on the PS VR Store 012
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ALLUMETTE
Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl, this freebie is more than an animated short – it’s a tiny, living, breathing world. In a quaint cloud city (all handdrawn houses and sky-bridges) dinky characters babble and a heart-rending tale of sacrifice unfolds. It’s the future of storytelling, made powerfully real through the sensation of being there. We definitely didn’t tear up. *sniff*
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INVASION!
Ever wished you could star in a Pixar movie/become a bird of prey’s lunch? Plop into the body of a fluffy white bunny and view the attempted alien abduction action (and look over your shoulder to shoot companion bunny Chloe disbelieving looks) as two goofy extra-terrestrials named Mac and Cheze try to rabbit-nap you. Short, but oh-so-sweet – and totally free.
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DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S FIRST LIFE VR
Floating from the Natural History Museum and onto PS VR soon is this educational experience, narrated by everybody’s fave naturalist. In case gazing at 540-million-year-old organisms bobbing in the Cambrian ocean wasn’t relaxing enough, Attenborough provides commentary on
their evolution in a voice as warm as an angora-jumper-wearing kitten dipped in chocolate fondue.
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KISMET
We see a shadow looming in your future… It’s your housemate standing over you, wondering what you’re up to in this curious fortune-telling app. In the candlelit glow of an opulent caravan, a masked mystic automaton tells your future. Once you’ve paid a fiver, astrology sessions, tarot card readings and an ancient board game named Ur keep you returning for dreamy, daily doses of divination.
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HATSUNE MIKU: VR FUTURE LIVE
Turquoise-tressed Miku is one of the world’s most successful pop stars. She’s also not real – making her a great fit for the VR realm, natch. Buy “stages” to watch concerts (featuring outfit changes, rhythm mini-games and special guests) from various spots in the stadium and wave glowsticks, magic wands, and even leeks in the crowd.
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ATOMIC GHOST FLEET
Explored the depths of VR Worlds’ Ocean Descent? Fancy double-dipping? Alchemy VR’s deep-sea swim sim may fulfil your adventuring needs. Set in the tropical waters near Bikini Atoll (an
irradiated island, the site of US nuclear tests in the 1940s and ’50s), you peer at shipwrecks on the ocean floor – and at the exotic inhabitants. Fingers crossed for no orange, three-eyed fish.
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HARMONIX MUSIC VR
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LITTLSTAR VR
Got cash, a USB stick of music and a hankering for trippy art therapy? This one’s for you. Interact with a beach as waveform mountains bounce! Fly through kaleidoscopic tunnels as they pulsate with percussion! Puppeteer a robo-dance party and eat Teleport Cake! Use PS Move controllers to paint beautiful swatches of colour that inexplicably come to life! (Okay, proper therapy may be required afterwards.) You might have tried big-screen Cinematic mode – if you haven’t, go and play Uncharted 4 on it now – but you’re missing out if you haven’t downloaded this free app. 360-degree videos offer experiences such as skydives, rollercoaster rides, comedy sketches and shootouts. It’s looking to support “choose your own adventure”-style FMV games in future. You can even create your own content, if you wish. Behave. All apped out? Looking for games? Turn to p112 for our new PS VR Hall Of Fame.
■ There’s truly an application for everyone (more than we could squeeze onto one page!), and most of these experiences won’t cost you a thing.