ASUS TUF Dash F15 Review – Gaming with a dash of productivity

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 is one of the latest gaming laptops from ASUS and as we got our hands on one, you know we had to review it.

Being able to support up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11370H CPU and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, the laptop certainly has what it takes to be a solid gaming machine. Read on to learn more about the ASUS TUF Dash F15 and how it performs in this review.

Specs
Note that the TUF Dash F15 review unit provided to us from ASUS is of the FX516P-MHN074T model, but we are including the specs of the FX516P-MHN085T variant for your reference below.

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Model Name
FX516P-MHN085T
FX516P-MHN074T

Product Name
ASUS TUF Gaming Dash F15

Colour
Eclipse Gray

Dimensions
36.0 x 25.2 x 1.99 ~ 1.99 cm

Weight
2 Kg

Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-11300H Processor 3.1 GHz, 4 cores
(8M Cache, up to 4.4GHz)
Intel® Core™ i7-11370H Processor 3.3 GHz, 4 cores
(12M Cache, up to 4.8GHz)

Graphic
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 6GB GDDR6

Max Graphic TGP
85W

Panel size & info
15.6-inch IPS-level FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Adaptive-Sync
144Hz 250nits 62.5% SRGB

Memory
Total 8GB RAM
Slot 1: Empty
On-board: 8GB DDR4-3200
Total 16GB RAM
Slot 1: 8GB DDR4-3200
On-board: 8GB DDR4-3200

Storage
Slot 1: 512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
Slot 2: Empty

Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
Intel Wi-Fi 6(Gig+)(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.1 (Dual band) 2*2
(*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)

I/O Ports
3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
1x Type C USB 4 with Power Delivery, Display Port, Thunderbolt™ 4
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
1x HDMI 2.0b

Mic
Built-in array microphone

Keyboard Type
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard

Aura Sync
N/A

Speakers
2x 2W speaker

Audio Tech
DTS software

OS
Windows 10 Home

FingerPrint
YES

Battery
76WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion

Power
ø6.0, 200W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 10A, 200W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universal

Bundled Items
TUF Gaming backpack

Warranty
2 Years Global Warranty
(1st Year with Perfect Warranty)

SRP
RM4,699.00
RM5,499.00

Availability
APRIL 2021

Dashing Design
Aesthetically speaking, the laptop’s grey colour certainly makes it stand out in a market oversaturated with black laptops. Its faux-brushed metal detailing and garish yellow backlit keys help give it a more elegant appearance.
Sporting a new chassis design, the TUF Dash F15 appears remarkably thin. Do not let this slim exterior fool you, however—ASUS states that it still meets military-grade MIL-STD standards. This means that it is a relatively rugged laptop and will not break apart that easily.
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Interestingly enough, the laptop weighs 2 kg which definitely feels heavier than it looks. Despite that, it is not as heavy as many other conventional gaming laptops, making it less of a pain to carry by hand. Furthermore, its dimensions of 360 x 252 x 19.9 mm make it quite compact overall. It will still fit into pretty much any backpack comfortably. For comparison, it is larger than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, but having more ports and utilities is a worthwhile tradeoff.

As for its display, the TUF Dash F15’s 15.6-inch FHD IPS display panel boasts adaptive sync and 240Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth work and gaming experience. The bezels are also really thin which helps to maximise display size and tops off the laptop’s overall sleek appearance.

Keyboard
The TUF Dash F15’s backlit keyboard has three different intensities which you can adjust. While they all look fine in dark or dimly lit surroundings, I do recommend keeping them off if you are working or gaming in a brightly lit environment.
The keyboard is also relatively quiet. However, when testing it, I found it a bit too squishy for my liking. Playing video games on it is fine, but typing on the keyboard for extended periods of time does not feel as smooth of an experience compared to other laptop keyboards.

At the top part of the keyboard, there is a volume key, mute key and Armour Crate key which can be used to open apps and adjust other user preferences. However, a minor complaint I have with the keyboard is the lack of a shortcut key for the print screen function. Whereas most laptops have fn+f12 or windows key+f12, the TUF Dash F15 only has snap tool shortcuts (fn+f6).

Ports galore
The wide array of available ports makes the TUF Dash F15 a decent option as a work laptop. With 1 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 and 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, the laptop will cover most of your day-to-day work needs. It also has a HDMI 2.0 port—a must-have for those who work with projectors or multiple screens.
Connectivity aside, the WiFi 6 feature is a neat way to play online games at LAN speeds wherever compatible. Two-Way AI Noise Cancelling helps to remove noise and other unnecessary sounds, granting a higher overall mic input audio quality.

When things get hot…
The ASUS TUF Dash F15 remains cool under demanding play sessions thanks to its robust cooling system. The venting by the WASD keys allows the fan beneath to generate airflow through the board, helping to keep things cool. As a result, the keyboard does not feel hot at all. The heat dissipates towards the bottom and the sides of the chassis, but never feels as hot as other laptops.
Users can also adjust the fan manually, but only for Silent and Performance mode. If you are playing demanding games or using demanding software, the laptop will automatically activate the turbo fan. Thankfully, ASUS reduced the noise of the fan for the TUF Dash F15, making my review a more pleasant experience overall. It is a lot quieter when compared to other ASUS laptops that I reviewed in the past.

Audio
The laptop boasts two speakers with four cut-outs, providing a loud audio quality overall. You can also tweak the optimised preset modes for the audio to customise them to your liking.
That said, however, I am not a big fan of the audio. The sound overall is rather drowned out. Trying to adjust the audio settings only mildly mitigated the issue. Without headphones, it can be a challenge to listen to the footsteps of enemies when playing FPS or battle royale games. Thus, I recommend headphones for anything that requires precise audio quality, such as video/audio editing or playing certain games.

Battery performance
To review the battery performance of the TUF Dash F15, I played Valorant. From 100% battery, a full Valorant match which lasted 46 minutes drained the battery down to 36%. Thus, an intense gaming session without being connected to a plug point will probably last just over an hour.
As for less intensive work such as typing documents, watching videos and surfing the net, the battery lasts for at least 3 – 4 hours without charging.
Overall, the battery performance feels somewhat of a letdown, especially when compared to other gaming laptops. Thankfully, its Type C 100W charger charges relatively quickly and can bring the laptop battery to 50% in around 30 minutes.
In-game performance
Besides the aforementioned Valorant, other video game titles that were played on the ASUS TUF Dash F15 for this review are Watch Dogs Legion and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

Valorant
As a competitive 5v5 FPS title, Valorant can cause quite a fair bit of laptops to lag during high graphics gameplay. Overall, gameplay was smooth, with the frame rate hovering between 50 – 70 frames per second. Furthermore, the TUF Dash F15 remained cool and was never too hot.

Watch Dogs Legion
For a gaming laptop boasting respectable mid-range specs, I was quite surprised with its performance while playing Watch Dogs Legion. While it is unable to run the game at the highest graphic settings just like the majority of the other laptops in the same range, I still managed to get a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience on medium graphics with Ray Tracing on and Balanced DLSS. The in-game benchmark even stated that the game will run between 29 – 65 fps. The low FPS may be due to the laptop heating up, but the Turbo fan speed helped to mitigate that.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The TUF Dash F15 held up great while playing this game. With high graphics and DLSS on, the game hits a peak of 230 FPS during story sequences. During intense gunfights and other action sequences, FPS was around 60 – 90. On Zombie mode, the FPS was a bit more volatile, switching between 40 – 70 FPS.
Benchmark
The TUF Dash F15 was tested on various benchmarks, all of which revealed that it performed rather well. Note that the turbo fan auto turns on when the laptop is handling anything intensive. You can refer to the screenshots of the benchmarks below to see how the laptop performs.

Useful Software

ARMOURY CRATE
Armour Crate lets users control many of the laptop’s system and lighting controls in one place. From customising aesthetic effects and audio settings, it is a useful program. Users can also create specific Scenario Profiles to automatically adjust performance when launching apps and games.

MyASUS
MyASUS is exclusive software for ASUS laptops that puts all the essential ASUS applications for system control in a single program. It helps to simplify management of the laptop’s essential settings and makes them easier to access.

Closing thoughts
Overall, the ASUS TUF Dash F15 is a decent pick for a work laptop that can play moderately demanding games. It is a solid mid-range laptop that is worth its price. Easy to carry, cool and quiet, I recommend the ASUS TUF Dash F15 for those who want to game without sacrificing productivity.
If you are interested in getting one yourself, you can visit the official ASUS website where the product is priced between RM 4,699 to RM 6,999 depending on the model.

Review Unit Provided by ASUS ROG Malaysia

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Tags: ASUSASUS TUF DASH F15


Harvest Moon: Mad Dash set to launch for Sony PS4 and Nintendo Switch

Harvest Moon: Mad Dash will be available on Sony PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch consoles, publisher Natsume confirms. Full details will be unveiled at E3 2019, on the 11th June 2019.

Our @E3 lineup is here!  Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure, #HarvestMoon: Mad Dash, and Cosmic Defenders!  Learn more: https://t.co/dmJG8FFV6a pic.twitter.com/0gxyYuqdKs

— Natsume Inc. (@Natsume_Inc) May 30, 2019

Natsume has a robust lineup of games just ready to be shown off at this year’s event and has generously announced what those games are in a Facebook post.
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Harvest Moon: Mad Dash is the major eye-catcher. It is a new spinoff title belonging to the series. Harvest Moon titles are basically ranch/farm simulation games where you have to manage a rundown farm and make it successful.
You can check out our post about the Doraemon version of Story of Seasons, to get an idea of how a Harvest Moon game is like.

Besides Harvest Moon, Natsume also confirmed that details for Reel Fishing: Road Trip Adventure and Cosmic Defenders will be announced at E3 this year.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on this and all other E3 2019 announcement when the time comes, so stay tuned for more news!

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Tags: Harvest MoonHarvest Moon: Mad DashNatsumeNintendo SwitchPS4


Bandai Namco shares more details on Tales of Crestoria

A new full concept trailer for Tales of Crestoria has just been released by Bandai Namco. The developer also shared details on the game’s systems and showcased some of it cast members from previous games.

As with all mobile RPGs, the home screen is where you will be spending most of your time. Here, you can check things like quests and party stats. Place your favourite character in the home page and tap on them to your heart’s content to listen to their voices.

You pretty much engage in the campaign mode of Tales of Crestoria by going through the main story. Protagonist Kanata will encounter unique allies here, and your party will grow accordingly. Side stories as you would expect, take place outside the main plot and feature “allies” who help out Kanata and the others on their adventure. The allies in question are heroes from previous games, and have their own story to tell too.
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Character episodes are where you will be learning about your newly-acquired party member. A key element of the Tales franchise makes a return here in the form of face chats. These take place in between quests and are a series of lighthearted banter between party members and conversation not part of the primary story.

Tales of Crestoria is scheduled for a Western launch on the Android and iOS and Android platforms in 2019.
 Download

Tales of CrestoriaPublisher: Bandai Namco EntertainmentDeveloper: Bandai Namco EntertainmentRelease Date: 2020-07-17Android, iOS
Live. Even if it's a sin.

TALES OF CRESTORIA is a brand-new Tales adventure for mobile! Step into this epic anime RPG game set in an original Tales series world, featuring a dramatic storyline and brand new characters! Experience this anime/manga adventure as Kanata and his allies fight to survive through the fantasy world of Crestoria while bearing the weight of their past sins.

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Tags: AndroidBANDAI NAMCOiOSMobileRPGTales of Crestoria


Forspoken reveals more gameplay footage in extended cut trailer

The extended cut of the title announcement video for Forspoken reveals more gameplay footage and details for the upcoming game. You can watch the trailer in question below:

Ironically, the extended cut is actually shorter than the title announcement video for Forspoken released last week. However, there are more gameplay sequences featured in this new video compared to the last.

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The extended cut shows protagonist Frey cursing at a bear as she fights it. The dragon in last week’s video also appears earlier in the video this time.
Ella Balinska, the actress who plays Frey, also has a longer commentary in the extended cut. Balinska reveals:
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“Forspoken is the first video game that I have been involved in, and is my first time doing performance capture and I am loving every single second of it. Frey is a character I immediately connected with when the project was first brought to me. She’s real, she’s raw. She’s a girl who both literally and figurative has lost her way and she’s fighting for survival as she discovers where she fits in the world.”
Previously known by its working title of Project Athia, Forspoken is an upcoming game that is planned to release in 2022 for PS5 and PC.
You can learn more about the game on its website.

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Tags: ForspokenLuminous ProductionsProject AthiaSquare Enix


Crash Bandicoot: On the Run Launches On Mobile In Spring 2021

Publisher King has announced their upcoming mobile game title Crash Bandicoot: On the Run which will be released for Android and iOS devices in Spring 2021.

Game Overview

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This mobile spin-off to the Crash Bandicoot series promises to deliver classic gameplay fans of the series will be familiar with alongside base-building and weapon crafting elements. Players can also customize their Crash which will net them additional experience points.
Throughout the game, players will be able to battle against iconic bosses from the series including the likes of Scorporilla, Nitrus Brio, Nina Cortex, Dingodile and Fake Crash. This will also include a showdown with Crash’s nemesis Dr. Neo Cortex in a recreation of ‘The Lab’ level from the original Crash Bandicoot.
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Aside from tacking bosses, there will be the usual array of Crash levels to spin, jump and slide through as either Crash himself or his sister Coco. There will be hidden paths to discover that will lead to more hazards and enemies but with the potential of earning greater rewards.
If players decide to pre-order the game ahead of release they will receive an exclusive Blue Hyena Skin on launch day. This version of everyone’s favorite Bandicoot first appeared in Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled.

If you’re interested in the game, do check out the official website for more details and future updates.

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Tags: AndroidCrash Bandicoot: On The RuniOSMobile Game


eFootball PES 2021 Mobile launches globally

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Football simulation fans rejoice, as Konami has released eFootball PES 2021 Mobile globally for iOS and Android devices! The latest mobile installment of eFootball PES, itself already having celebrated over 300 million downloads during the summer, packs numerous key features and licenses already announced for the console and PC eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE title.

Featuring player and team data from the latest season, the mobile edition offers sharp and responsive mobile football gameplay based on the console experience lauded as E3 2019’s “Best Sports Game”. Players will experience new Matchday mode events, updates to players, clubs and leagues, and much more.

PES 2021 Mobile offers a variety of officially licensed clubs from some of the top teams in European football, including FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus, FC Bayern and new exclusive partner, AS Roma.
New additions will join the ‘Iconic Moment Series’, allowing players to relive and recreate even more magical moments from the careers of current and former football superstars.

Starting today, Ronaldino, Carlos Puyol and Deco will be released as Iconic Moment Legends. Players can also live out their football fantasy by signing various Legends to their myClub squad, including David Beckham, Francesco Totti, Diego Maradona, Steven Gerrard, Gabriel Batistuta, Fernando Torres and Karl Rummenigge to name a few.

Data from real matches being played around the world is collated on a weekly basis and implemented in-game through the Live Update feature to create a more authentic experience. These updates affect various aspects of the game, including player Condition Ratings and team rosters. Learn more about carrying over data and other FAQs via the official website.
 Download

eFootball PES 2021 MobileDeveloper: KonamiRelease Date: 2020-10-27Android, iOS
With PES 2021, we've taken the same critically acclaimed console gameplay that won E3 2019's "Best Sports Game" award, and distilled its essence to bring you the most authentic soccer experience on mobile to date. Featuring an exclusive partnership with AS Roma, new Matchday mode events, updates to players, clubs and leagues, and much much more!

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Tags: eFootball PESeFootball PES 2021eFootball PES Mobile 2021Konami


The War of Genesis: Battle of Antaria Pre-Registration Now Open

Joycity’s The War of Genesis: Battle of Antaria, is currently open for pre-registration globally. It is the first to be released in the popular, long-running The War of Genesis SRPG series. In this role-playing strategy mobile game that features collectible heroes and more, players have to collect, customize, and then conquer!

Players who pre-register will receive in-game goods to assist them in their journey in the land of Antaria when it launches globally. By pre-registering on Google Play, you will get an additional 100 Diamonds. Reaching one million pre-registrations will grant every player with a unique heroine called Silver. A bonus package filled with in-game items worth up to approximately 200 dollars is also included.

Furthermore, an additional Facebook Like Event is underway, with each milestone reached granting a huge amount of Diamonds, Eld, Stamina, Spirit Stones, and Summon Stones.

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The War of Genesis brings mobile RPGs into a new fray. By mixing elements of both strategy and RPG genres, The War of Genesis offers a unique gameplay experience. The game previously underwent a soft launch back in May 2018 in a few selected countries and since then, it has been a huge step forward as the global launch is imminent.

Head over to the pre-registration page and sign up for the journey in the Land of Antaria. To keep up with the latest news, follow The War of Genesis on Facebook.
 Pre-register now!

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Tags: AndroidiOSJoyCityMobilePre-registrationRPGStrategyThe War of GenesisThe War of Genesis: Battle of Antaria


Biomutant next-gen upgrade comes September, free for existing owners

THQ Nordic has announced the next-gen upgrade for Biomutant, which will be launching September 2022. Biomutant on next-gen will allow for ultra-fast loading times, native 4k resolution, HDR support, and up to 60 FPS, available 6 September 2022.

The game will be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X | S at SRP $ 39.99 / € 39.99 / £ 34.99. Existing owners can enjoy a free upgrade ( Xbox to Xbox, Playstation to Playstation only ) to the enhanced version and utilize their old save files.

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The PS5 version will have:

Three different graphic modes

Quality: 30 fps @ 4k resolution
Quality Unleashed: 40+ fps, averaging 50-60 fps, up to 4k resolution
Performance: 60 fps locked @ 1440p
Haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, motion control, speaker sound
Activity Cards

The Xbox Series X | S meanwhile:
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Three graphic modes

30 fps @ 4k resolution (1440p on Series S)
40+ fps, avg. 50-60 fps, up to 4k resolution (1440p on Series S)
60 fps locked @ 1440p (1080p on Series S)

If you’re wondering whether or not to get the game, you can check out our review here. If you’re only just getting started, then check out our guide on how to farm Bio Points here.
Here’s a brief overview of the game:
BIOMUTANT® is an open-world, post-apocalyptic Kung-Fu fable RPG, with a unique martial arts styled combat system allowing you to mix melee, shooting and mutant ability action.
A plague is ruining the land and the Tree-of-Life is bleeding death from its roots. The Tribes stand divided. Explore a world in turmoil and define its fate – will you be its saviour or lead it to an even darker destiny?

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Tags: BiomutantExperiment 101THQ Nordic


Castlevania: Symphony of the Night now available on mobile

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is now available for iOS and Android mobile devices! Interested players can purchase it for $2.99 or their regional equivalent. Below is the blurb from its Google Play page:

The iconic game from the beloved Castlevania series finally comes to mobile. This direct port of the classic console action RPG lets you jump, dash and slash your way through Dracula’s vast castle as Alucard while encountering a unique array of enemies and characters along the way.

Rediscover the world of Castlevania with one of its original groundbreaking games and renowned music and graphics.
Features
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Fully compatible with game controllers
New continue feature
Unlock achievements with hard-fought battle milestones
Available in 6 languages: English, Japanese, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Notes
Pixel 4: Turn off “Smooth Display”
This would be more a mobile port than an actual mobile foray, like Grimoire of Souls. We’d last reported it available as a soft-launch in Canada, and the game hasn’t apparently made its way worldwide, or at least, this region. Hopefully we’d hear more about it soon.

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castlevania SotN 6castlevania SotN 5castlevania SotN 4castlevania symphony of the night 3castlevania symphony of the night 2castlevania symphony of the night 1
In the meantime, you can enjoy classic Castlevania with this port of Symphony of the Night on your mobile device of choice. From the screenshots, it looks like it’s been adapted well enough for the screen, so give it a shot.
 Purchase

Castlevania: Symphony of the NightPublisher: KonamiDeveloper: KonamiRelease Date: 1997-03-20Android, iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
The iconic game from the beloved Castlevania series finally comes to mobile. This direct port of the classic console action RPG lets you jump, dash and slash your way through Dracula’s vast castle as Alucard while encountering a unique array of enemies and characters along the way.

Rediscover the world of Castlevania with one of its original groundbreaking games and renowned music and graphics.

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Tags: CastlevaniaCastlevania: Symphony of the NightKonami


Jojo Part 9: JOJOLands Will Begin Serialization Next February

It has been announced that Hirohiko Araki’s Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure (Jojo) Part 9: JOJOLands will begin serialization on the 17th of February 2023. Shueisha will be publishing it in the March issue of Ultra Jump.

Source: Jojo News
Jojo part 9 was announced last year following the conclusion of Jojo Part 8: Jojolion with Araki stating the following in the September 2021 issue of Ultra Jump:

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“Thank you very much for these past 10 years of ”JoJolion”! Let’s take a bit of a rest, and then meet again with the new “JOJOLANDS” (tentative)”.
The gap between Parts 8 and 9 will be the most extended hiatus Araki has taken between parts of the series. However, Araki worked on three chapters of Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe during this time.
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In terms of story, we know little about the plot of JOJOLands, only that it will take place in the same continuity as Jojo Part 7 and 8. These take place in an alternate timeline from the world established in Parts 1-6. Araki also recently said in an interview that Part 9 would be about the descendants of the character named Joseph Joestar who appeared at the end of Part 8.
“I’m currently planning out Part 9. Of course, it’s going to be a story about the “Joestar bloodline“. “Joseph Joestar” appeared at the end of Part 8, which was foreshadowing that this story will be about his descendants”.

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Tags: Hirohiko ArakiJoJo's Bizarre AdventureShueishaUltra Jump


Blasphemous 2 Gets a Release Window And New Gameplay

Team17 has shown off new details for Blasphemous 2, including the release window for their upcoming metroidvania.

In a new gameplay trailer, they confirmed that Blasphemous 2 would release some time in Late 2023 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5 as well as Xbox Series X|S.

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The trailer also showed off plenty of new mechanics coming to the game, such as a bespoke air dash, as well as other skills like a teleport strike.
They also revealed that this time the Penitent One would not just be locked to using Mea Culpa, with the website confirming that you’d be able to use new weapons such as a massive flail, a greatsword as well as twin blades.
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In fact, the trailer actually does not seem to feature the straight sword from the first game at all, though it’s not confirmed that the weapon would not show up somewhere in the game.
Each weapon also has its own special moves, such as a giant overarching spin with the hammer.
Despite the new tools though, it looks like Blasphemous 2 will be sticking to a lot of what made the original so beloved, with its strong Catholic imagery as well as souls-like bossfights with heavy reliance on parrying incoming attacks, considering all the weapons have one.
The original Blasphemous was a 2D metroidvania, following the Penitent One- an immortal soldier out to get to the center of the Miracle, which causes the guilt of everyone in the world to manifest and give them abilities.

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Tags: Blasphemous 2Team17The Game Kitchen


Project Winter Mobile now available for smartphones

Boltrend Games has finally officially launched Project Winter Mobile for the Android and iOS platforms following a round of CBT.

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A description for the game as follows via its store page:
Betray your friends in this 8 person multiplayer focused on social deception and survival.
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Communication and teamwork is essential to the survivors’ ultimate goal of escape. Gather resources, repair structures, and brave the wilderness together. Just beware that there are traitors within the group working to sabotage your chances of getting out alive by any means necessary.
Roles:
Survivor:
As a survivor you will have to complete a series of objectives in order to call in one of several rescue vehicles and escape to win the game.

Repair all the objectives to restore the cabin radio to working order.
Break rocks, harvest berries and herbs, and cut down trees to earn crafting materials used to repair objectives, and help keep you alive.
Explore crates found in the buildings scattered throughout the map which contain items that will help you survive and complete your objectives.
Use the radio in the cabin to call in the emergency escape vehicle.
Board the escape vehicle and escape with as many innocent survivors as possible.
Use your keen senses to deduce who the traitors are, react to their attempts to sabotage your escape and exile anyone you find suspicious.

Traitor:
As a traitor your goal is to stop the survivors from escaping without being identified or killed.

All of your teammates will be revealed to you at the start of the match and can be identified by a red traitor symbol, much like yours. You will start with a red radio to communicate with your fellow traitor.
Use traitor crates and hatches scattered throughout the map to gain advantage against survivors. Crates hold equipment and reward you with traitor points that can be used to perform special actions. Hatches let you quickly travel to different key locations across the map.
Spend traitor points on special abilities. Points can be used to activate your roll ability, as well as to sabotage objectives, bunker consoles, and other objects across the map.
Use traps, poison and many other tools in your toolkit to hinder or kill the survivors. Prevent them from escaping before time runs out in order to win!
Blend in with the survivors. Do not reveal yourself too early… they can always defend themselves.

Features:
Teamwork
Survivors cannot escape unless they work together. Players who wander off on their own will have difficulty surviving the elements, can fall victim to hostile wildlife, or become easy targets for the traitors.
Communication
Communication is key if the survivors have any hope of escaping. There are several ways to communicate with other players:

proximity-based voice chat
private voice chat radio channels,
text chat and emotes

Betrayal & Deception
The traitors are outnumbered and weak when the game begins, they may infiltrate the survivors and earn their trust while they build up their strength. Survivors can never be 100% sure of who to trust. The traitors can take advantage of this by spreading lies, and pitting the survivors against each other.
Customization
Play the game how you want with multiple game modes including basic, normal and custom mode! Add some flair to your character with cosmetics that can be bought with our in-game currency earned after each match!

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Tags: AndroidiOSProject Winter Mobile


Azur Lane OBT Impressions – Ship This

Azur Lane made quite a splash when it was released in 2017, quickly becoming a big hit in Japan, which is quite an impressive feat, given that it is developed by two China-based game developers, namely Manjuu and Yongshi.

Let us address the elephant in the room first. Yes, at first glance this is some sort of Chinese bootleg of Kantai Collection, and while there are a lot of similarities, Azur Lane takes the best aspects of the game and improves above and beyond, while introducing new elements on its own.

Unlike Kantai Collection where battles are entirely turn-based and RNG-centric, how well you perform in Azur Lane‘s combat phase is pretty much solely based on your skill and reflexes. If you have played any shoot ’em ups such as Raiden and Ikaruga to the more extreme bullet hells such as the Touhou game series, you will be right at home here.  You use the virtual joystick to move around and tap the on screen buttons for torpedo fire, airstrikes and battleship bombardments. And perhaps the best aspect about the combat is that none of your characters can permanently die should their health be depleted, a far cry from Kantai Collection where your ships will be gone forever.
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Kantai Collection’s lineup of ships are mostly Axis-aligned, a trend which it carries on to today, with some exceptions, where UK and USA shipgirls were introduced later on. Azur Lane is somewhat more varied in this department, so unless you are a fan of a specific shipgirl, you will be pleased with the assortment available here. The variety of ships and classes play a far more important role here than in Kantai Collection too, since they all have their own specifications and abilities. A mix of the right ship types will be imperative in clearing some of the harder missions.

Micro-management here is far simpler, as you do not need to manually mark the quests, so whatever task you complete for the day or week is automatically checked. In addition, your girls are fully repaired after the end of each sortie, so you can go at it again immediately.

On the topic of subject of mobile game sensibilities, Azur Lane not only retains the secretary (and eventually marriage) system from Kantai Collection, you now have access to a dormitory where you can admire your girls as they go about their business, something it borrowed from THE [email protected] Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage. Furthermore, much like other mobage, Azur Lane rewards players who play consistently by rewarding them for logging in daily. And while it is very possible to deplete your fuel, a resource required to go on sorties, the game is generous in handing them out to you.
At the end of the day, Azur Lane is at its heart a free-to-play game, and that means there is premium currency to deal with. That said, it is very possible to enjoy this game to its fullest extent without ever having to make any purchases. The game does however shower you with premium currency, so you will be able to access the many quality of life improvements and in-game resource bundles.
Overall, Azur Lane not only succeeds at being an enjoyable game in its own right, it is far superior to Kantai Collection with regards to its game mechanics. One would argue that Kantai Collection offers better character designs and derivative works, but at the end of the day, its dated gameplay engine makes the experience of playing more of a chore than a joy.

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Tags: AndroidAzur LaneiOSMobileSimulation


Balan Wonderworld Demo Impressions – Take Centre Stage

There’s nothing quite like a good show. That’s certainly the case with Balan Wonderworld, the new 3D platfomer by Balan Company and Square Enix. From its unique character design to its classic gameplay, there’s a lot to love with Balan Wonderworld.

Thankfully, there’s a demo of the game out now for anyone interested in giving the game a go before committing to a full purchase. Does the game live up to its theatrical hype? Or is it just another bad game with a strangely attractive mascot? Read on and find out.

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An Untotal Eclipse Of The Heart

Balan Wonderworld is a 3D platformer, taking its place next to games like Banjo-Kazooie and the 3D Mario games. It’s not really as popular a genre anymore, so just by that merit Balan manages to be incredibly eyecatching by not trying to shoehorn more popular game design choices.
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The intro cinematic explains that you are one of two main characters, looking for a piece of their heart by helping Balan peer into the hearts of other troubled individuals. You journey through their hearts, solving puzzles and ultimately defeating the negative emotions (Taken form as monsters called Negati, naturally) consuming these people, such as Jose, a farmer whose crops were destroyed by a tornado.

It’s a really cool motif, with a lot of room for different level aesthetics and mechanics. Despite being given three worlds to explore, they each play fairly differently- the first world is more straightforward, familiarizing you to the game’s core mechanics. Meanwhile, World 4 is wind-themed, with lots of puzzles built around floating and jumping from target-to-target via the special costumes of that world.
The final world in the demo, World 6, is also really interesting, as you primarily use the Gear costume to interact with mechanical devices around the stage.
Dress Up To Take The Stage!

The costumes are a really interesting mechanic, as the game has fairly simple controls. All of your buttons do the same action, and each costume changes what that action does. For example, there’s a plant costume in World 1 that makes you grow taller, letting you collect higher-up droplets. There’s also the Dainty Drake, which makes you forego your jump entirely in favor of chucking fireballs.
Costumes also disappear in a single hit, meaning you’ll have to start looking for duplicates. You’re also limited to three at any point in time, but you can switch out between the costumes

I really like how they’ve limited skills to whatever costumes you have equipped, since it makes planning of utmost importance. Each costume has objects they’re meant to interact with, such as the Wolf being able to break blocks or the Pig being able to ground pound buttons. As a result, you’re going to end up in situations where you can clearly see where you might use a costume, but you may not have access to it on the first go.
It’s just as well that they do this, since exploration is a huge part of the genre. Future stages can’t be unlocked if you don’t meet the minimum exploration requirement, which you can absolutely miss if you’re just gunning for the finish line the whole time. On the other hand, obsessively chasing down every nook and cranny isn’t good either, since there’s parts where the game clearly wants you to come back when you’ve unlocked more costumes.
There’s also multiple collectibles hidden in the stages, such as the Balan Trophies and Balan’s Bout minigames. Balan’s Bout puts you in quick-time events as Balan, watching the charming showman do cool feats of strength on innocent debris. They’re fairly simple, but my one gripe is that they look really boring compared to the rest of the game’s vibrant level design.
Defeating The Darkness

Of course, the demo lets you try out one of the game’s boss fights, against the Wolf from World 1. Since we’re only given what’s essentially a tutorial boss, it’s hard to make any judgements on the game based off of it.
The boss is fairly straightforward, incorporating various moves from the costumes of the world. It also goes down fairly easy, only needing a hit from one of the attack-type costumes and a groundpound from the pig to finish it off.
It’s not like I’m expecting Shadow of the Colossus or anything, but like I said- it’s hard to make judgement with so little information available. Judging by the rest of the game so far though, it seems like a safe bet that these will all be kind of simple boss fights, aimed at a much younger audience. By that metric, they’re amazing.
If you’re looking for a super challenge though, these might not be the ones for you.
You also get a nice broadway-style musical number at the end for beating the boss, which is a great reminder of Balan Wonderworld’s overall show theme. I gotta say, it’s hard to complain about this game when it’s got such a charming aesthetic to it.
Timfoolery

The game’s hub world is called the Isle of Tims, which is a great place to chill out in between areas. As the name implies, it’s inhabited by Tims- the bird-like mascots that all sound vaguely like Pikachu.
You feed them droplets that you’ve collected from your exploration, causing them to grow bigger. You can also interact with the Tims, picking them up and throwing them around.
There’s also a clicker aspect to this, whereby you can throw your Tims on to a device that sets a counter, and as the counter hits milestones you’ll unlock the Tower of Tims, along with more Tim Trampolines. The demo hasn’t really explained what this does, but it’s a fun way to just idle if you’re tired from the core gameplay.
Despite the game featuring three of Balan Wonderworld’s worlds, there’s only one bossfight in the demo, for World 1. This is because the other two are mere previews of their stage, so you won’t get to play through the whole world.
The boss for World 1 is pretty interesting, being clearly made of the costumes from the World. It’s a fairly straightforward fight, where you just have to damage the boss before launching it with a Ground Pound, and there’s plenty of Costume crystals lying around should you lose yours on accident.
Curtain Call

For those not familiar with 3D platformers, I’m sure Balan Wonderworld is going to be really hit-or-miss with them. After all, the controls can feel a little finnicky, and it’s hard to compare it when your main point of reference is the entirety of 3D Mario games.
Still, it’s a fun little jaunt that’s clearly aimed for a younger audience, and it certainly feels nice to have it presented as a new IP rather than some sort of spin-off of another mascot.
There’s also local co-op, which we didn’t really get to try out that’s sure to be a big appeal for the game since not many 3D platformers have had that kind of option.
Balan Wonderworld will drop on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch March 26th, 2021.

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Tags: Balan CompanyBalan WonderworldSquare Enix


Sony Inzone H3 Gaming Headset Is A No-Nonsense Accessory With Style To Spare

Sony has jumped in on making gaming peripherals, launching the Inzone gaming headphones earlier this month. While the range sports a variety of cool features, there’s nothing quite like a nice amount of plug-and-play simplicity- and that’s exactly what you get with the H3 model.

Unlike the H6 and H9 wireless models, the H3 is a fairly simple wired headset. Using a standard audio jack, it’s easy to just plug it in to your gaming laptop, PS5 controller or Nintendo Switch and immerse yourself in your favorite games.

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As far as wired headphones go, it’s a pretty solid deal. I’m a gamer that loves bringing my Nintendo Switch out, especially since Monster Hunter is such a great game for grinding in public. To that end, the H3 is pretty excellent since the cups on the side are incredibly comfortable.
For context, I’ve never really been a fan of keeping your headphones in your bag. I’m the kind of guy who decided that headphones are meant to be worn as an accessory around your neck., so you can aloofly stare off in the distance contemplating if the world does, in fact, end with you.  The problem is not many headphones really accommodate that style for long periods of time, with many either chafing around your neck or worse, squeezing.
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With the H3 that’s not really the case- the soft cushions are a welcome touch even in neckwear-mode, and it never feels like they’re cutting into your skin with how much padding they use.
On the visual end, the H3 headphones are plenty stylish. I really love the more capsule-shaped headphones, since they give off a more classic feel as opposed to round ones. The color is also a great match for your standard PS5, but it does make me worry about things like getting them dirty. Like a pair of white Jordans though, you’ll definitely feel the need to actually take care of them.
Crisp And Clear Audio
Accessory status aside, the H3 is actually a really solid piece of gaming hardware. It boasts incredibly clear sound, while also doing a good job of drowning out the rest of the outside world. Even in a game that’s not really about the atmosphere like Monster Hunter Rise, it’s amazing just how deep and varied all the sounds can be as you trudge through the environment after a majestic creature who’s soon to be turned into a fine hat.
I’m sure there’s a more technical term for it, but each type of sound sounds distinct with the headphones- the high pitched ding of your character doing a skill swap is a lot sharper as compered to the more distant-sounding environmental music. If you’ve ever really wanted to have opinions and appreciation for the minute sound effects in the game, you’re definitely going to be good with the Sony Inzone H3 headphones.

This extends to other games, too- the eerie atmosphere of Elden Ring sounds great with the H3 headphones, as everything from the trodding of your boots rushing the boss gate to the scraping of Godrick’s axe on the ground as he proceeds to punish you for a bad roll all sound great in your ears.
Of course, where you’ll really want to try this out is with your PS5- these sound great with games that support 3D audio, really allowing you to feel like you’re living in a hellhole trapped in a timeloop a la Returnal. High-definition sound is a great feature that can only really be appreciated with a good pair of headphones, and to that end the H3 deliver. They’re even great for music too- but getting them to work with your Apple devices if you wanted to test out the Spatial Audio might be a little bit more of a nightmare since that ecosystem has forsaken audio jacks.
Chat It Up With Your Friends

Another really nice feature is the built-in microphone. There’s not much to say about this since it’s just really high-quality. I tend to use a big condenser mic in my home setup, but I’m really surprised that the H3’s microphone is pretty comparable in quality to that. While you might not want to use it for something like, say, your next big song cover, it will definitely be great for gaming and meeting purposes.
Premium Price For Premium Quality

All in all, the Sony Inzone H3 headphones are great for someone who wants a no-nonsense pair of headphones that also boasts great quality. While the up-spec versions may boast more convenient features like wireless use and noise-cancelling, the H3 is moreso aimed at people who just want a good audio experience- and does so spectacularly.
The problem with this does make itself known when it comes to the price. In Malaysia, the Sony Inzone H3 retails for RM439. While not bad for entry-level headphones, the fact that it doesn’t sport much else outside of it can make it feel a little barebones, even though the little it does is still really good.
Personally, that’s no problem for me since I’ve already had hands-on time with it, but I can imagine spending over RM400 on a pair of headphones only to find out they can be rendered useless if the wire gets damaged can make it a scary investment. But if you’re the type to value high-quality sound, these are definitely some of the best entry-level headphones on the market right now.

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Tags: Sony InzoneSony Inzone H3


3 Kingdom Blade Is Launched In Stores!

3 Kingdom Blade (三國Blade) that is published by Game Dreamer has launched the game in the App Store and Play Store! However the game is available only in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia and it is only available in Traditional Chinese language. Servers has been opened since 12 pm yesterday.

If you did not catch the news, 3 Kingdom Blade was a game developed by 4:33 Creative Labs and was released in 13th January, in Korea only. However this time, Game Dreamer Malaysia has taken up the game to publish it in our region! Thanks to them, we are able to experience another Action RPG with insane graphics developed with Unreal Engine 4.

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The game plays out like Dynasty Warriors, except it has town building features which you can build for resources and an army. Players will be able to do battle against other players and pillage their town. This is like a conquest game in an ARPG! With over 30 collectible heroes from the Romance of Three Kingdoms, we will get to see some of our favourite warriors in crispy high graphics on our mobile!

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Tags: 3 Kingdom Blade4:33 Creative LabsAction SquareAndroidGame DreameriOSMobile三國Blade


[TGA2022] Judas, New Game by Ghost Story Games Announced

During the World Premiere of The Game Awards 2022, game developer Ghost Story Games has announced their brand new game, Judas.

Judas will be a single-player, narrative first person shooter with the tagline “Fix What You Broke” set to release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

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An official page for the game is also available with a brief description of the game as follows:
A disintegrating starship.
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A desperate escape plan.
You are the mysterious and troubled Judas. Your only hope for survival is to make or break alliances with your worst enemies. Will you work together to fix what you broke – or will you leave it to burn?
Ghost Story Games is the studio led by Ken Levine, Creative Director of System Shock 2, BioShock and BioShock Infinite. Judas will be the first game the studio is releasing.
The game is up for Wishlist on Epic Games Store and Steam and sign up for more updates on the game through Ghost Story Game’s official website.

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Tags: Ghost Story GamesJudas


So you’re the chosen one? Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age PS4 review

Having first come out on the Nintendo Switch, the definitive edition of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age at last came out for other consoles on 4 December 2020, expanding an already staggeringly huge game that launched September 2018 worldwide. For players who had the original, the game barely needs any introduction, but here’s the gist of it:-

You play a silent protagonist who lives in a sleepy little village. After undergoing your coming of age ceremony, you then receive the revelation that you are the apparent reincarnation of the legendary hero, the Luminary. You’re sent off to Heliodore to tell the good news to the king. Wow, imagine the game ending within the first hour!

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… of course not. You are declared an enemy of the people, the Darkspawn, and thus begins your adventure, bu being thrown into jail. What colourful characters and zany adventures will you experience? It’s a long journey ahead.

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STARTING OUT
While DQ XI doesn’t have a New Game+ per se, I do like that you’re offered the choice to start out with the Draconian Quest settings to make your game harder. I figure this would be good for those who’ve played the original, and bought the game again for the Definitive Edition, and considering how long the game is, for fresh players who simply like the challenge, they can do so at once. The options available are:

No Shopping
No Armour
Reduced EXP from easy fights
All Enemies are Super Strong
Shypox / Super Shypox

Your allies become super embarrassed because… reasons.

Townsfolk Talk Tripe

They can lie when giving you info

Party wiped out when protag dies

Most games tend to lock these additional options until after you’ve cleared the game at least once, so it’s nice you can just slap these on. You can choose to play the game in either English or Japanese dub: I picked the latter, which gives the warning that there may be discrepancies in the text.
Another thing is that even on the PS4, after the initial startup, the loading screens aren’t that long which I really appreciate. The world is fairly seamless and open too, so I’ll give em credit here.
PRESENTATION
With character designer Akira Toriyama once again at the helm, the distinctive style pretty much anyone can recognize from Dragon Ball is present in the characters. The world is gorgeous to explore in 3D mode, and with the addition of photo mode, you can really slam that camera shutter. Its options for poses and such may not be the most extensive one out there, but it’s all in good fun.
Top of the Tor in 3D.
As you run around in 3D mode, your party members will trail behind you in the Definitive Edition. If them teleporting behind you on occasion bothers you – like after a climb – well, you’ll have to get used to that. Monsters will bounce around on the overworld which comes in handy: you can hit them to get pre-emptive attacks.
Alternatively, you can switch to 2D Mode through the Church. While nice to see the classic look of ye olde Dragon Quest games, you can’t immediately pick up from your current progress. If you want to play 2D mode, you can consider it as starting an entirely new save. Whether you opt to swap back and forth, all the items and such are kept across the graphical changes. It’s also unvoiced and doesn’t have the fully rendered cutscenes. The monster encounters are also random, since their sprites don’t appear in 2D mode.
The Tor cutscene in 2D.
Your mileage may vary, but at certain points in the story, I do feel the awkwardness of having a silent protagonist. 2D mode makes this slightly less jarring, since no one talks there anyway. I’d argue the selling point is to play it in 3D mode, however, but play however you prefer.
You can do Party Talks, where in 3D mode you can see your party members kinda hang about. Also in 3D mode, since they now trail behind you, you can just talk to them directly and get some hints or just plain gossip as you go along. It’s also available in 2D mode, likewise unvoiced.
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!
First things first: your default running speed is good enough to make your way across the large maps, and you can go even faster with R2 (or your platform equivalent). You do automatically slow down when you’re in smaller buildings so as not to make a comedy routine of bumping into things you don’t want to. In the overworld, you can find horse bells to magically summon a horse and gallop across the map double time, especially fun if you need to run to find that obscure side quest in wherever the hell it is.

You’d be seeing the Church or its outdoor statue equivalent a fair bit in this game as it does quite a few things:

Saving your game
Reviving knocked out party members
Curing status effects or curses
Changing between 2D and 3D mode

There’s some use of day and night cycles, which you have to worry about less early game.
As with any good JRPG, there are secrets and treasures you can look out for. Handily enough, your very first party member, Erik, has a skill you can use in the Quick Menu to tell you how many goodies are there for you to sniff out. Hilariously enough – for me – while rifling through a wardrobe for items, the NPC actually had dialogue responding to my kleptomania, for that bit of flavour. Don’t worry about getting arrested for stealing grandma’s fishnet leggings. You can craft your own less scandalous equipment with a portable forge you get a little later in the early game, for which you’ll have to find recipes and the corresponding materials to make.

When it comes to a certain degree of convenience, I would say 2D mode is much nicer for exploration as it’s all out in a flat plane. There’s less button pressing to interact with things like rope or cliffsides, and you don’t have to weep about not being able to jump over a waist high fence. Don’t expect to do impressive parkour feats in this game.
While it may look like an action RPG in 3D mode, Dragon Quest XI‘s battle system is firmly turn-based. You can set tactics which works like an auto-battle system, whether to automatically use skills, or just bash things in, hopefully without the monsters calling in too much back-up. There’s a Pep Mode which is pretty much like a Limit Break / Ultimate, which you can also set to use automatically. It’ll fade over turns, as you might expect. Incidentally, while you can do pre-emptive strikes in 3D mode, you can’t do it on a horse.

Level ups provide a full heal, so you don’t have to run to find a campfire. You do have the option in the menu to smartly assign your healing items in your inventory so that you can think a little less on that end. It’s cute that your party members will also give a thumbs-up when they get more powerful, besides their default win pose. Levelling up will provide skill points that will unlock a variety of passive bonuses and new skills.
THERE BE DRAGONS IN YOUR QUEST
It’s Dragon Quest XI S. It’s an expanded edition of an already massive JRPG. There’s so much you can do that it might even be incredibly overwhelming, so it’s one to take at your own pace. If you’re one who plays slow, you even get the story recap when you load back in, so it’s less of an issue to catch up with the story.
That’s not even mentioning the colourful cast, the great writing also helped by the localization team, and the beauty of the game in either 2D or 3D mode. You can consider this the quintessential, classic JRPG experience, with many things yet for you to discover. For fans of JRPGs, you can’t go wrong with Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age!

Pros
Cons

So much to do and explore

Switching between 2D/3D is troublesome, but at least you keep your items

Can play in 2D/3D mode

May be overwhelming due to the sheer amount of content

Story recap!

FINAL SCORE
9 / 10

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Tags: Dragon QuestDragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive AgeSquare Enix


How much further can visual fidelity go? Michael Mumbauer at LEVEL UP SPACEBAR

For the second and last day of LEVEL UP SPACEBAR, Michael Mumbauer, Senior Director of Visual Arts Service Group, Worldwide Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment, came on to give a panel in The Next Frontier of Game Experience. This is a follow up to his keynote from LEVEL UP KL 2018, on going Beyond Interactive Entertainment, which you can watch for more context below.

When you think back of games from back in the day, you might think of coin arcade machines, before home consoles were really popularized. You’d occupy one booth, while your friend might be at another, with tokens stacked up at the ready whenever time ran out. When the first home consoles started getting released, most of the games could still be considered primarily single-player, with Pong probably one of, if not the, earliest examples of an actually multiplayer game.

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Riveting.
Mumbauer points out how games started out as solo experiences, nor did you go to the arcades for “story” games. Dragon’s Lair changed that: even if stories like that started out really simplistic by today’s standards, they were, nonetheless, a different experience.
People may have watched over your shoulder at the arcade, the beginnings of the viewer experience. Mumbauer says that experiences like these are simply “bigger”, “magnified”, with players now able to compete on bigger stages, filling stadiums at events. Everyone is now connected, watching others play online.
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When taking into consideration his panel today and his keynote from 2018, it could be summed up as such:
“Technology can now ‘unlock’ the imagination of game developers, removing limits… it might some day reach a level that is virtually indistinguishable from reality.”
“Virtual production” as a field can bring forth many opportunities – jobs notwithstanding – when it comes to creating cinematic games. This line between film- and video game-making is getting increasingly blurry. You don’t need to look very far for a comparison: if you’ve read our The Last of Us Part 2 impression and review, we’ve tried to stress how “real” everything looks. It wouldn’t look out of place on the silver screen.
If you removed the watermarks, it looks pretty believable as a movie still, don’t you think?
Games are in a unique position in being an interactive medium. When comparing it to other entertainment like television or movies, Mumbauer boils it down to the difference being the agency you have in games. You are playing the character. You are taking action. For books, movies, you merely sit back, and watch someone else act out the script. Choose Your Own Adventure books mimic the ability to make choices, but they don’t come with animated visuals, music, voice work, the whole thing.
Technology marches on as we go from pixels to 3D art. Mumbauer acknowledges it isn’t like good stories can’t be created without 3D art, but that other art styles may be seen as “too simple”.
“It’s the connection with the digital character, the believability in that they are alive, which the technology helps with. The devil is in the details.”
Whatever it is, visual fidelity is gradually built on, and he doesn’t believe there will be any single tool that will push it to the next frontier. Be it mocap to facial scanning and so forth, all these will be the pieces that build up for the future of visual effects. There will be opportunities in character modelling, and related animations, so he advises interested parties to find a “segment” you are most passionate about. Basically, find your specialization, and find whoever you need, and you’ll have a team!
One could make the argument about the more fantastic aspects of games – basically, you know, the fantasy stuff – but Mumbauer argues that so long you have the ground work and concepts done, even “not-real” things like dragons aren’t going to be issues to create. Draw from the realistic and let your imagination do the rest. He gives Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Smaug as an example.

High level of visual fidelity may have a certain tendency to be relegated to single player experiences, but there’s no reason why the future can’t see it reach to new heights in multiplayer game settings. It could also just go back to being simple, because trends can be circular like that.

The editor personally would prefer more “outlandish” art styles, rather than a focus on making games look “realer than real”. It’s not like a bright, colourful world can’t hide some horrifying stuff if you really wanted to have a deeper message underneath. You’d just need to watch out for it, and that sounds more fun as the gears turn in your head, thinking it over.
Still though, the impact will certainly be there with the controller in your hands. We’ll see what the future of gaming will look like – graphically! – and watch as the hardware do their best to catch up with the boundless imagination of those who work on their projects.

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Tags: Level Up KLLEVEL UP SPACEBARMichael Mumbauer


Legendary MMORPG MU ORIGIN 2 Officially Launched on Android and iOS Today

Following successful pre-registration period and Closed Beta Test for the past month, GameNow has announced that MU ORIGIN 2, MU Origin sequel, is now available in main SEA countries, both on iOS and Android. All players who have pre-registered for MU ORIGIN 2 or participated in Closed Beta Test will be able to acquire their OB rewards from the official website.

To celebrate the official release, MU ORIGIN 2 Facebook page is holding several events to share game derivatives and in-game items to players.

The sequel to hit mobile MMORPG MU Origin
MU ORIGIN 2 is licensed by WEBZEN and developed by the same team of MU Origin. Today, MU ORIGIN 2 brings to life a stunning and varied fantasy journey again, showcasing upgraded fantasy 3D MMORPG experience and heaps of content.

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Rebirth of Classic
Swordsman, Mage, Archer, they are all waiting for you in the fantasy 3D MMORPG world. The upgraded graphics also intend to reinvent the game quality and enhance players’ game experience. Gear up and power up to fight enemies now!
Diverse Gameplay

Plentiful dungeon adventures and classic PvE
Intense real-time PvP and cross-server battles
Live auction and unique free trade system
Auto EXP and gear collection with idle gameplay

Download the game from Google Play: https://bit.ly/2ApUKie
Download the game from App Store: https://bit.ly/2CLIWZn
Check out the Facebook page for more event details.

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Tags: AndroidGameNowiOSMobileMU Origin 2Open BetaWEBZEN


Showa American Story is an ARPG set in America, colonized by Japan, but with zombies

Showa American Story is a post-apocalyptic action game with a setting unlike any other—zombie-filled 80s America colonised by Japan. The game will release globally on PS4, PS5 and PC via Steam.

The game puts players in the shoes of Chigusa Chōko, a 19-year-old Japanese girl who returned from the dead only to discover that the world she knew has completely changed. No longer is it brimming with life, it’s now brimming with zombies, yakuza and bōsōzoku gangs instead.

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The game takes place in an alternate timeline during the 66th year of the Showa era (1926-1989), which saw rapid growth for Japan’s economy. A huge influx of Japanese immigrants arrived in America. Eventually, the blending of two very different cultures resulted in the birth of a unique landscape.
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Featuring backdrops such as the Golden Gate Bridge with Japanese lanterns, ubiquitous Ksitigarbha statues, gas stations painted with Ukiyo-e, the billboard of Statue of Liberty in kimono, a fusion of Japanese and American aesthetic persists in Showa American Story It shows us an amazing world with misplaced elements mixed together.

Discovering a motorbike and an RV near the start of her journey, Chōko travels across America (or what’s left of it) as she fights against the undead. As a former stand-in for action movies, Chōko is in great physical shape, allowing her to use all sorts of weapons, melee and ranged alike.

Combat is fast-paced and intense. Not only will the player need to adapt to the obstacles and challenges posed by the doomsday, Chōko herself will grow stronger throughout the process.

Relive the best of 80s culture in a unique post-apocalyptic setting while exploring stories of people and survivors of different backgrounds through main and side quests.
Fight against criminal gangs and hordes of zombies in countless fast-paced combats that will require all your attention. Get ready to dive into the ocean of ketchup!
Handle all kinds of melee weapons, ranged weapons, and some… strange weapons. Choose the ones that fit your combat style the best and learn different attack moves and abilities.
Turn an old recreational vehicle into your headquarters, improve it with the resources you find in your adventure, and decorate it to your liking. Also, you’ll find a lot of nostalgic mini-games and special costumes to wear!

For more information, visit the game’s website.

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Tags: 2P GamesHong Kong GSENekcom EntertainmentShowa American Story


Lineage2 Revolution holds special in-game event to celebrates 100 days since launch

It has been 100 days since Lineage2 Revolution (global version) is live on stores. To celebrate this, Netmarble is now offering a special in-game event from 18 September to 26 September for all the fans.

During this period, you can collect the letters 1, 0, D, A and Y to form the word “100 DAY”. Once the word “100 DAY” is complete, you can use it to redeem the Blessed Enhancement Scroll Bundle. You can also redeem Maphr’s Protection Fragments and Red Diamonds using the word “100” or “DAY”.

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You will find the letter 1 and 0 in the elite dungeons, while the letter D, A and Y is available in Gludio and Giran regions. A special sparkling letter 0 is up for grabs in all hunting spots too, which you can exchange it for random Adena boxes from your inventory.

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Besides, there are several boosts in the game’s content including an extra chance to enter equipment dungeon, Adena dungeon, EXP dungeon and summoning stone dungeon daily. Adena for forging items is discounted by 30%, while the herbs from extraction dungeon, honor points from Arena and coins from donating to the clan are doubled.

Hail Heroes!It has already been 100 days since we started our Lineage2 Revolution journey! To celebrate this wonderful…
Posted by Lineage 2: Revolution on Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Also, there is a one-time purchase special package consist of 500 red diamonds, 100,000 Adenas, and Adena random box (random amount of Adena boxes from 10 to 100) available during the event period. Lineage2 Revolution is now available on both iOS and Android, you can visit their official Facebook for new updates.

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Tags: AndroidiOSLineage 2Lineage II: RevolutionLineage2 RevolutionMobileNetmarbleNetmarble Games


Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 Review – A promising third-person shooter filled with plenty of positives

The Division 2 came out a while ago and has certainly caught the interest of gamers who love third-person shooters due to its excellent gunplay, decent story missions, superb graphics and much more. If you are interested in knowing more about the game, why not check out our previous interview with the game’s senior game designer first before proceeding to the review.

Check out the trailer:

Story missions
The story missions in The Division 2 are decent and fairly easy to play as well which is great for beginners to get used to the game quickly without any frustration. Guides are there to help so that players don’t get too lost in the game. I’m still quite behind in terms of progression but the few story missions I’ve played so far managed to keep me engrossed and I certainly enjoyed the experience. I wouldn’t rate them as 100% interesting and at the same time, I wouldn’t use the word “boring” either so I’m still hoping for more interesting story missions as I progress further in the game.

Combat system
There is a wide variety of guns in the game which you can store in your seemingly-limitless inventory. However, there are only three weapon slots available in your backpack and one’s already reserved for your secondary pistol (which has infinite ammo) so you will have to do with the other two slots for your primaries. Although primary weapons do not have infinite ammo, players won’t ever have to worry about running out of ammo quickly because one set of loot can already get you tons of resources which will definitely get you through for a long period of time.
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The gunplay in The Division 2 is excellent and not complicated at all unlike some other shooter games like CSGO where the recoil is insanely hard to master and the bullet spray for some guns such as the AK-47 isn’t aligned to the crosshair at all. Although I haven’t used all the guns that are available in the game yet but what I can say is, the recoil is easy to learn and control. A single shot to the head doesn’t usually result in an instant headshot kill which makes me assume that the damage dealt is based on distance. Of course, different guns deal different amount of damage so this could be a factor too.

Furthermore, you can actually test your guns to see which are the ones that are most suitable to you, which is good because not every shooter game has this feature. With this, players are able to go into each story mission brimming with confidence, knowing that they’ve got it. Also, guns can be upgraded in the game and thanks to the stats and other details, it’s easy to keep track with the upgrade progression.

Although the enemies are not very difficult to play against, their guns do still pack a punch which means players always have to be wary and take cover whenever it’s necessary. Sometimes during situations where they clearly have the advantage over me due to their numbers, they still wouldn’t come near me which really makes me think that they are either stupid or just a bunch of scaredy-cats. If they were to engage me in close range combat as a cohesive group using melee weapons, I would have been presented with a much tougher challenge, that’s for sure. Also, may I add that bosses are much tougher to kill and I’d advise other players not to take them lightly.

Stealth gameplay in The Division 2 is satisfyingly good and thanks to that, I felt like an invincible marksman who’s invulnerable to enemy fire at most times. Players can literally take cover and peek at almost everywhere such as behind walls and cars, then find the best angles to shoot down enemies. Plus, I became accustomed to it easily thanks to the indicator that always pops up whenever I got close to an obstacle.

Most impressive of all is definitely the unique skill which could benefit players a lot in battle and I chose the one that allows my character to disable enemies’ electronic devices within a specific radius. Although I’ve never really bumped into enemies that are equipped with electronic devices yet, I’m sure it would benefit me greatly in later stages of the game. Same goes for other players, regardless of which skill you decide to choose.

One of the things I dislike about The Division 2‘s combat system is undoubtedly the inability to possess melee weapons that would give players an advantage in close range combat. If the enemies are able to use melee weapons, that feature should be made available to us players as well. Also, the fact that enemies have the capability to literally knock me back with such force that left me vulnerable for a split second is a little bit too overpowered. I know we can still hit the enemies with the back of our guns but the inability to possess melee weapons in a shooter game of this calibre is just absurd.

Next would be the grenade control which I find it weird and very difficult to get used to. In most other shooter games, you just have to press once to throw a grenade but in The Division 2, players have to click on two separate keys to throw a grenade. During edgy situations where you have no time to reload at all and have no other choice but to resort to grenades, this is where it gets really annoying because you can’t quick throw your grenades, causing players to be exposed to enemy fire during crucial moments. Maybe The Division 2 is trying to implement something new with this two-click grenade control but in all honesty, it is unneeded and really should have been left undeployed.

Gameplay
The gameplay is overall good especially with the management of your character’s health which makes the game not frustrating to play. Your health automatically regenerates and the medical kits in the game are basically the tools that help you replenish your armor. Although your armor does not always automatically regenerate like your HP does, it is still pretty tough and can withstand enemy fire for quite a while.

However, there are still some things that I wish would have been added to the game such as jumping and crouching. These two controls are extremely essential in a shooter game and they give more freedom to how we want to play the game, also giving more options on how to execute a gunfight. There were times where I could have just jumped over obstacles to avoid enemy fire but because there wasn’t one, I took a few hits. I was kind of shocked at first, to find out that jumping and crouching are unavailable in the game.

Loot system
The loot system in The Division 2 is pretty good but it depends on luck and randomness as well. Yes, players can gain a lot of resources from just a single set of loot, which will obviously make life much easier especially when it comes to more tedious missions. However, not every enemy you kill will grant you guns and other resources so it’s really unpredictable like in RPGs. Loot boxes are great and will really help you in the middle of a gunfight but they are rarely found in the game.

Verdict
I have never played the first Division before but what I can say is, The Division 2 is overall a great third-person shooter game that is definitely worth playing. If you are a fan of third-person shooters, I would definitely recommend you The Division 2. On top of that, this game is not all just about single-player PVE story missions as there are PVP modes for players to enjoy as well such as the Dark Zones and Conflict game modes, although I’ve never tried them out yet. Lastly, although there’s not much to say, I have to mention the game’s outstanding graphics and good job to Ubisoft on that aspect because for me, it’s definitely up to standard.
Watch our gameplay here:

If you are interested in the game, it’s now available on PC, PS4 and XBox One. For more information on The Division 2, you can visit their official website and Facebook Page.

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The Review

                    Tom Clancy's The Division 2

7
Score

An overall great third-person shooter that gets so much more right than it does wrong with rooms for improvements which I really hope Ubisoft can work on.

PROS
 Graphics is arguably one of the best aspects of the game Great gunplay Not frustrating to play at all Additional PVP features which make the game more interesting

CONS
 The fact that players can't use melee weapons in the game is absurd Loot system is inconsistent at times Players can't quick throw grenades

Review Breakdown

Again, if you are a fan of third-person shooters, you definitely should give the game a try. 7/10 for me.
0

Tags: PCPlaystation 4PS4ReviewThe Division 2Tom Clancy’s The Division 2UbisoftXbox One


[Level Up KL 2021] Shuhei Yoshida and John Eternal Talk About The Importance Of Indies On PlayStation

Shuhei Yoshida, global head of PlayStation Indies and John Eternal, Sony interactive Entertainment Global Accounts Director presented a talk about indie games on PlayStation today, showing the platform’s commitments to supporting indie games.

Yoshida’s presentation was about the value of indie games, which he described as having an important role in the gaming ecosystem.

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“Indie games bring innovation”, he said, highlighting several influential games that started off indie. These included PUBG- a once-humble mod that invented the Battle Royale genre as we know it, to games like Minecraft- a game so huge it’s playable on virtually every platform.
He also talked about what PlayStation does to support these indies, highlighting various steps taken by the platform to get more indie games in the spotlight.
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The first was how they’re presented during shows like State of Play, where they’re never labelled as Indies unless it was an indie-only show. This way, they’re not seen as some sort of lesser game, but rather yet another title PlayStation shows off during their presentation.

That being said, he also says they make sure to promote the games in their own space, too. The PlayStation blog and console storefront regularly feature indie games, introducing upcoming and currently released games to viewers.

Of course, the most unique thing PlayStation does with regards to indies uses PlayStation Plus. Some indie games opt to launch as a free game via PS Plus, gaining incredible traction as many users download the free game to try out. The most notable user of this method is last year’s Fall Guys, which Yoshida admits to having a personal attachment to.
According to Yoshida, he would play the game every morning, publishing his results to his Twitter.
“Every time I play, I win or almost win”, he laughs. He then described how people would go to his Twitter just to check in on his daily 1-minute uploads, as he continued to collect crowns in the platformer battle royale title.
Publishing on PlayStation
John also chimed in about PlayStation Partners, the website for developers looking to publish their games on the PlayStation platform. He said that with the release of the PS5, they did also have improvements to their own back-end. While he couldn’t explain how, he said that those who’d been publishing with PlayStation for a long time would know just how much easier it’s become.
“We’re really excited to have a new back end that came with the PS5”, he says.
As Accounts Manager, he said there was also plenty of other ways his team could support indie developers, too. One of these is with PlayStation’s Co-Marketing tools- rather than market your game for you, John explains that they would give you tools to “amplify the marketing you were already doing”.

John also mentioned the team’s developer support program- which makes sure that your game runs as well as it can on PlayStation’s hardware.
“We have dedicated engineers who are experts in every part of the PlayStation hardware: PS4, PS5 as well as the game engines themselves”, he explains.
It makes sense that PlayStation would give so much support to their developers- after all, the popularity of a platform is affected by how good the games on it are. To this end he says all you’d need to do is reach out, and his team would try to support you to the best of their ability, even if you were using a third party engine like Unity or Unreal.

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Tags: John EternalLevel UP KL 2021Shuhei Yoshida


Blazblue Centralfiction Overtakes Guilty Gear Strive On Steam Following Rollback Announcement

Blazblue Centralfiction is seeing a resurgent userbase on Steam following yesterday’s announcement that the game would be getting rollback netcode, even overtaking Arc Systemworks latest title Guilty Gear Strive.

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According to Steamdb, Blazblue Centralfiction has had a spike in users since yesterday on Steam, with a 24-hour peak of 4,773 users. Note that this spike only came today, the supposed date the beta for the Rollback Netcode update is supposed to open.
This beats out Guilty Gear Strive’s own 24 hour peak, which sits at 3948 users.
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There’s a lot of reasons for this- first of all, improved netcode is something fans have been wanting in fighting games for a long time. We know there’s direct correlation- Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R also saw a huge spike once it ran its beta for Rollback Netcode, despite the game being close to a decade old now.

Secondly, Arc System Works is running a sale now on many of its titles, including BlazBlue CentralFiction as well as Blazblue Cross Tag Battle, both games due to receive the rollback netcode update. This means a big opportunity for many players to pick up the game if they haven’t already, checking out the beloved anime fighter.
It should be noted that both games, which support the fan-requested netcode, have beaten out other more mainstream fighters who don’t use it- such as Street Fighter V and Dragon Ball Fighters Z.
That being said both titles have still lost out to Tekken 7, with its 6,222 peak.
The Hubbub About Rollback Netcode
Without getting into technical details, many fans have been asking for popular titles to implement Rollback Netcode, allowing smoother matches over a broader spectrum of collections.
Despite rollback netcode almost always leading to an increased critical reception (just look at Accent Core and now Centralfiction), Japanese publishers in particular have been reluctant to see it implemented in titles.
Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada famously talked about the challenges of implementing the netcode in Tekken 7 as well, after a clip circulated from his Bar Harada Radio that made him look like he was being dismissive of the feature.

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Tags: BlazBlueBlazblue Central Fiction


Anno 1800 Announces Land of The Lions DLC

Ubisoft’s city builder Anno 1800 is getting new DLC. The Land Of The Lions is included as part of the Season 2 Pass for the city-building game on PC.

Land of The Lions will see players go to the East-African-inspired city of Enbesa. There, they’ll enter the service of Emperor Ketema, and be placed in charge of the capital of Enbesa.

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One of the coolest additions in Land of the Lions is the game’s new irrigation system. This will have players have to consider things like the arid weather of Enbesa. Mastering how this system works will be key to building your city.
It’s not all building and irrigation though. According to Ubisoft you’ll also have to fend off foreign influence on the city as well.
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The DLC will also add “2 new citizen tiers in Enbesa, 1 new citizen tier in the Old World, new production chains such as Hibiscus tea and telephones, 90 new buildings, , 3 quests islands, 134 new items and much more”.
The DLC will also release alongside Update 9, which will be free to all owners of Anno 1800. This update will add a variety of quality-of-life features for the game, such as improving trade route menus. Additionally, the developers are also adding the ability to select destination harbors for ships that travel between sessions.

Anno 1800Publisher: UbisoftDeveloper: Blue ByteRelease Date: 2019-04-16Microsoft Windows
The next game in a series of city building and strategy! It's the dawn of the industrial era, how would you build your metropolis?

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Tags: ANNO 1800Ubisoft Mainz


Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions Review

Sports games are a contentious bunch. Despite being one of the most niche genres, they also have one of the most passionate fanbases. As an outsider, it can be hard to get into the genre, especially with new titles every year. Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions, whether by design or accident, fixes this problem.

The game based on the popular anime and manga allows you to play your own legend, or be the titular Captain Tsubasa as you forge a path for your team. Does it do this well? Or does it miss the goal entirely? Read on to find out.

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Anime As Anime Gets
It’s not enough to save the ball, you have to make sure to save it with SPEED LINES
Visually, the game looks amazing. The retro-shonen art style of Captain Tsubasa translates really well into 3D, especially with the cool poses. The developers definitely took care to make sure these characters carry all the coolness from the manga with them.
This also translates to the game’s style as well, with super moves and goal saves all having cool looking cutscenes. While they can be frustrating in the heat of the moment, watching the goalie pull down his cap as he glares at you for even coming near his goal is a cool scene, every time.
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Even the less important characters, like in the other teams, are given the same level of style and care. If there’s one thing you can say about this game, it definitely looks good in screenshots.
This game fulfilled a fantasy I didn’t even know I had- to star in my own sports anime
Make Your Own Legend
The game’s story follows the events of the Captain Tsubasa manga. You play through several iconic matches from the Captain Tsubasa canon. Alternatively, you can also choose to go with your own custom character, whereby the game will give you your own legend, so to speak.
The story can be pretty great for fans of the original Captain Tsubasa. However, it’s not simply enough to win your games: the game will have several conditions for you to meet, such as Tsubasa scoring the finishing goal. This feels like artificial difficulty on the game’s part, as it severely limits your options in dealing with the AI.
When playing as the create-a-character, however, the game gives you the option of bonding with your teammates to acquire this skill. As someone who wasn’t really into Captain Tsubasa, this mode seems a lot more fun since it’s essentially a template to make your own sports anime. Your character’s field position is absolutely important, though, and you should make sure whatever skills you pick up are for that position.
For what anime game hath no super moves?
The Wonderful Game
Off the bat, the important thing to remember about Captain Tsubasa is that it’s not a football simulator. While it may look like one superficially, this is an anime game first and foremost.
One of the most important ways this manifests is the game’s Spirit meter. Spirit meter is required to do things like dribbling, as well as the characters’ super moves. Similarly, the goalkeeper’s spirit bar is spent keeping their goal safe. As long as the goalkeeper has a spirit bar, the ball isn’t going in.
This does make the game tend to favor overly agressive plays, but like I said: it’s not a realistic sports game, it’s anime. Charging the enemy’s goal looks cool in anime, and this game will naturally reward you for it.
Similarly, the game lacks any kind of referee. While sports sims fans may find this stressful, this is probably the most freeing part of the game. No longer are you bound by the laws of mortal football, and you are free to tackle with extreme prejudice. This especially gets fun in the game’s multiplayer mode, as aggressively hounding the enemy team becomes an effective form of mindgames.
However, while the game is fun when it’s being anime, it does tend to fall apart at regular football. Between the big hype moments, your characters jog at a weird pace. They don’t really have anywhere to be, after all. You can sprint to make them go faster, but should watch your meters appropriately to make sure your enemy doesn’t catch you off-guard.
Even as a non FIFA player, the lack of fine control does get a bit bothersome. Clearly the game was targeted at non-sim fans, but it can get more frustrating when it feels like the game is working against you.
…and what football game hath no friendship-ending penalty shootout?
Multiplayer Riot
Even though characters can have different stats, non-protagonist characters can be hard to tell apart in the thick of it. There’s a serious case of Protagonist Syndrome going on, with the side teams often looking like a copy/paste job at first glance compared to the glorious individuality of the Japanese team.
When playing the game’s Vs mode, you start to notice the game’s other flaw- it’s balancing. The Japanese team clearly overpowers the other teams, so much so that having them as the AI team can be incredibly problematic. Tsubasa himself is a beast, and being on the receiving end of a Drive Shot just isn’t fun.
The game allows for 2v2 multiplayer, which is probably the most fun this game gets. By being simpler than football sims like FIFA or PES, it’s actually more appealing to someone with no actual interest in sports. The anime aesthetic helps too, giving it a less serious feel. Instead of a hardcore football sim, the game’s couch multiplayer is a much more fun afternoon jaunt.
Additionally, the game also comes with collectible football cards, attainable through a gacha system. This isn’t a paid gacha, and the cards have no effect on gameplay other than being something to collect.
No referees, no red cards, only man.
Final Thoughts
As the whistle blows, is Captain Tsubasa a good game? It’s definitely not great, but it’s not exactly bad, either. At it’s core, it’s a good low-barrier-to-entry sports game. It’s also great for fans of the Captain Tsubasa manga, considering the lengths it goes to to make this game look good.
While the game is certainly a fun junk food game, it only really appeals to the venn diagram of people who would play a sports game, but don’t play sports games. If you happen to fall in that category though, you could probably squeeze some fun out of this.

Pros
Cons

When this game’s anime, it’s super anime.
Story mode can be unappealing if you’re not a fan of the anime

Simple controls
Low skill ceiling can be frustrating for sim fans

4-player mode is legitimately fun
Multiplayer teams have poor balancing

Aggressive-favored playstyle makes it good for junk food play.
Not much gameplay variety

Final Score:
6/10

Review copy for this game provided by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Game reviewed on PS4.

Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New ChampionsPublisher: Bandai Namco EntertainmentDeveloper: TAMSOFT CorporationRelease Date: 2020-08-28Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
The CAPTAIN TSUBASA franchise's long-standing global popularity is still going strong. Experience blitzing soccer action with slick anime graphics and over-the-top signature shots anyone can pull off.

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Tags: Bandai Namco EntertainmentCaptain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions


Microsoft Wins Court Case Against FTC To Aquire Activision-Blizzard

Following a five-day court case in San Francisco, California, between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), The presiding Judge has ruled in favor of Microsoft and denied the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction.

Today Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley has concluded the case by submitting the following statement saying that the Microsoft acquisition of Activision-Blizzard will not lessen competition, against the claims of the FTC:

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“Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has been described as the largest in tech history. It deserves scrutiny. That scrutiny has paid off: Microsoft has committed in writing, in public, and in court to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for 10 years on parity with Xbox. It made an agreement with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to Switch. And it entered several agreements to for the first time bring Activision’s content to several cloud gaming services. This Court’s responsibility in this case is narrow. It is to decide if, notwithstanding these current circumstances, the merger should be halted—perhaps even terminated—pending resolution of the FTC administrative action. For the reasons explained, the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore DENIED”.
This ruling means that Microsoft can close the deal to acquire Activision-Blizzard just ahead of the July 18th deadline however they will still need to resolve the acquisition block in the UK from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It seems however Microsoft is making moves to do so as they have announced they will pause their appeal process and attempt to “modify” the transaction so it will be more “acceptable” by the UK regulators.
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Responding to the news, Microsoft President Brad Smith has made a Twitter post saying that grateful to the court for the quick decision and that they are committed to addressing any further regulatory concerns.

Our statement on today’s decision: pic.twitter.com/jRDD8PhBeT
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) July 11, 2023

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer, who acted as a witness in the court proceedings has also left a Twitter post, likewise saying that he was grateful to the court for the swift ruling and that the acquisition will be good for the industry.

1/We’re grateful to the court for swiftly deciding in our favor. The evidence showed the Activision Blizzard deal is good for the industry and the FTC’s claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud don’t reflect the realities of the gaming market.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 11, 2023

As for the FTC, spokesperson Douglas Farrar has made a statement that the FTC is still planning its next move. “We are disappointed in this outcome given the clear threat this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services, and consoles. In the coming days, we’ll be announcing our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers”. It is possible that the FTC could attempt to appeal the case however nothing has been confirmed so far.

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Tags: Activision BlizzardMicrosoft