These Headsets Are Super(FI)Fine For Their Price Tag

China peripheral brand FIFINE is known for its audio equipment, but not so much its headphones and headsets tailored for gaming. Being a lucrative market as proven by heavyweights like Armaggeddon Razer and SteelSeries, FIFINE made its first step with the gaming headset dubbed the Ampligame H6; we’ll just call it FIFINE Gaming Headset for posterity’s sake.
Is it great? For it’s price, it’s quite a steal.
China Wine

We’ll touch upon the bad first: if you wear the FIFINE headsets for too long, you may feel the tight pinch between your ears a bit more prominent. Unless you’re used to these mid-sized “pinching” grip headsets, this may cause some discomfort for gaming sessions longer than 10 hours. Speaking of prolonged usage, you may need to unplug and replug the headset again because some static can start appearing in the sound if you use it for a lengthy amount of time. FIFINE’s headset just needs a refresher once in a while.
Beyond that, I had no major issues using the headset for playing games, listening to music, and doing sound editing work. The audio from the headphones are crystal clear and crisp, though it can be loud by default. The bass isn’t the strongest, but at least the trebles and highs make up for it. The surround sound option for gaming also works just fine too; playing a few rounds of Halo Infinite, Overwatch 2, and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands allowed me to pick up some sounds here and there to figure out what’s at the corner and the footsteps I can trace with my ears. I can’t complain, basically.
Luckily the headset’s handy-dandy multi-function wire control on its cable can help adjust a number of things like the type of equalizer for your audio preferences (movie mode, game mode, music mode), the ability to toggle 7.1 virtual surround sound on or off when gaming, and the volume/mute button. Simply put, the remote is convenient and helpful, with its simple buttons and its responsiveness. The red lights on the remote also help indicate which EQ you’re on so that you can switch around to get the best out of the audio you’re listening to.

Why a mute button? Because the headset comes with a nifty omni-directional microphone that’s pretty clear and picks up just the right amount of sound in the vicinity. In fact, you can even use it for livestreaming and record some of your own sounds with it; the audio sounds just fine and good enough. You can probably fine-tune it with an in-house mixer for the best version, but the raw audio that goes out isn’t too shabby. It’s no Shure or Bose mic, but for the price you’re getting, it’s pretty good.
Built To Last?
We should also bring up how flexible and durable the headset is. It’ partly made of metal, it’s pretty wide, and its build and fabric makes it a bit tough to last. The headphone’s setup is easy; just plug it into your PC via USB and you’re golden. If you’re using a PS4, you just plug it to any available USB slot and it’ll recognize it. The left and right sides also light up in the classic gaming RGB fashion; too bad there’s no way to turn it off if that bothers you. But it doesn’t, at least for me. I do feel it adds a bit more charm to the smiley face brandished on the cans.

And that’s the main takeaway here: these gaming headphones are not China-quality knockoffs, far from it. For US$45.99 (RM205+), you’re getting a lot out of the FIFINE Gaming Headset if you want minimum fuss and need a decent pair of cans that is a jack of all trades. Sure, it may feel a bit flimsy to hold build-wise, but everything about it is more than adequate when it comes to delivering quality audio and microphone communication. Just mind how tight the headsets can get for prolonged gaming hours.
Final Score: 80/100
Disclaimer: Product provided by FIFINE.

Vital Statistics
Output Connection: USB Type-A
Headset Weight: 330g (with microphone)
Headset Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Headset Bit Depth: 16-bit/24-bit
Headset Sample Rate: 48kHz
Headset Driver: 50mm dynamic
Power Consumption : USB 5V power
Microphone Type:Condenser
Polar Pattern:  Omni-directional
Microphone Sensitivity: -40±3dB
Shipping Weight: 0.6 kg


Capcom Leaks Reveal Resident Evil Village Release Window & More

A group of hackers called Ragnar Locker penetrated Capcom’s defences earlier this month and stole over 1TB of data. Apparently, the Japanese games giant refused to submit to their demands, resulting in the leaks of a portion of that enormous data on 4chan and Reddit.
Here are the biggest revelations to come out of the leaks:
Resident Evil Village is launching sometime in April 2021.There will be a Resident Evil Village demo before launch, and PS5 owners will be able to download it earlier.Resident Evil Village will receive a multiplayer component titled Dominion, similar to Resident Evil Resistance.Netflix’s Resident Evil Infinite Darkness is launching sometime in May 2021.Monster Hunter Rise is launching on PC sometime in October 2021.Monster Hunter Stories 2 is launching on PC sometime in June 2021.An Ace Attorney Netflix series is in the works.An Ace Attorney Trilogy + Dai Gyakuten Saiban 1 & 2 box set for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.An Ace Attorney 7 in development, originally targeted for the third quarter of FY 2021.A new shooter titled Shield, with a demo planned for September 2021 and launching sometime in March 2022.

Capcom has responded with an official press release, stating that alongside all the game details and information above, the hackers may have obtained information of 14,000 customers from the North American Capcom store, as well as the names, addresses and gender of 4,000 users from Capcom’s esports operations in the US.
In addition, the company reassured that it is safe for players to continue playing their games, both online and offline.
It’s worth pointing out that these are all based on alleged leaks obtained illegally by hackers, so none of it can be confirmed to be true. They might turn out to be true, but just take it all with a grain of salt for now.


These Game Of Thrones Adidas Shoes Are Too Cool For White Walkers

Adidas has unveiled its new line of Game of Thrones Ultraboost shoes. There will be six different variants of the Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones shoes, each of which will be based on three houses of Westeros, the Targaryen dragons, White Walkers and the Night’s Watch.
Let me list them down below, from my favorite design to my least favorite:
Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones “House Lannister”

With its sleek black, scarlet and gold color scheme, this one is worthy of bearing the House Lannister name, though it would’ve been even better if the actual crest was on it.
Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones “Targaryen Dragons”

The most striking of the bunch, this one looks like it’s literally on fire.
Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones “House Stark”

The cool grey and black color scheme are reminiscent of the house’s honorable stature.
Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones “Night’s Watch”

Simple and elegant, just like the Night’s Watch.
Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones “White Walkers”

The blue highlights represent the icy threat of the White Walkers.
Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones “House Targaryen”

The worst of the bunch, it’s disappointing to see my favorite house being given the most unremarkable color scheme.

All six pairs will feature the iconic Game of Thrones logo on the insoles and the official motto of each house on the heel tab. The Adidas Ultraboost X Game of Thrones line of shoes is slated to be available for sale on Friday, 22 March 2019 at 0800. Each pair is priced at RM850.
The first episode of Game of Thrones Season 8 will debut at the same time as the U.S. on Monday, 15 April at 9am, with a same-day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO (Astro Ch 411 / 431 HD).
In the meantime, check out my breakdown of the latest Game of Thrones Season 8 trailer here.


PS5 Shipments Surpass 38.4 Million Units, May Break Annual Consoles Sales Record

According to Sony’s financial reports, the PS5 has shipped 38.4 million units worldwide. Sony also revealed that they plan to sell a record number of PlayStation consoles during its current fiscal year.
During the earnings presentation, Sony’s president, COO and CFO Hiroki Totoki, said:
“Based on this forecast, we believe that 25 million units within this fiscal year is something that we think we can achieve.”
That is a possible number, considering that we’re getting more PS5 exclusives later this year, including Final Fantasy 16 and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It’s a good year for Sony.
Other statistics include:

There are 47.4 million PlayStation Plus subscribers as of March 31, 2023.
There are 108 million monthly active users on PlayStation Network as of March 31, 2023.
PS5 and PS4 software combined sold 68 million units during the three months ended March 31, 2023. 70 percent of software sales were full game software digital downloads.


The Matrix Did Not Need Resurrecting, But It’s Still Fun To Revisit The Place

Right off the bat, 20 minutes or less after the first action beat and intro to a “still alive” Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), The Matrix Resurrections does not give a s*** if you didn’t do your research. It daringly jumps right into the deep end of the lore pool head-first, expecting you to remember the sequences and key points of the Matrix trilogy back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
That’s going to be a sticking point for movie-goers, because the film takes place a number of years after the end of The Matrix Revolution. For some reason, Thomas Anderson, our main protag from the past films, is alive and well and has a high profile game designer job making Binary, an MMORPG(?) title that is similar to the Matrix adventures he was embroiled in. Elsewhere, an operative named Bugs (Jessica “The Good Part Of Netflix’s Iron Fist” Henwick) and a rogue program named Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) team up to help Mr. Anderson figure out if his reality is a construct or not like in the last film.
A Bogus Journey?

There are numerous throwbacks here and there, with a blatant scene taking place in a broadway theatre playing the first film’s key revelation scenes on a projector just to hit the point home.Â And there’s a lot of dialogue added in about the supposed purpose of sequels and remakes, as if it’s trying to jab at blockbuster cinema culture but the irony is lost when you remember who publishes this film. Then again, the Matrix films were anything but subtle, and it’s nice that director Lana Wachowski had reins to the narrative and script so she can continue the story in a way that makes sense.
So, does the whole story and its explanations make sense without being huge info dumps and expositions? Yes and no; there’s an attempt at forwarding the plot but a lot of the technobabble and philosophy talk is what you expect: it’s there and moves at a breakneck pace, though not as insanely agonizing as Matrix Revolution.
At the very least the action balances everything out. While the action scenes are competently done and are a heckuva spectacle, with special props going to the second half and the “suicide bombers” segment, there isn’t anything revolutionary and trend-setting about it. Then again, the 1999 Matrix and its sequel Matrix Reloaded set the bar way too high; the Wachowski sibling settled for “just good enough” to placate your jollies, with a good mix of practical and digital work that is more sleek and easy on the eyes. If anything, there’s a lot more saturation in this show’s make-believe world and even key scenes outside of The Matrix so you can easily tell what’s going on amidst the quick cuts and close-ups.
Wake Up

The Matrix Resurrections is clearly focusing the spotlight on Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss (as Tiffany/Trinity, who also ended up alive for reasons explained in the film) as two characters trying to reconnect through the course of the story while keeping it serious and emotionless; basically keeping true to the trilogy.
The standout performance has to go to Neil Patrick Harris as Mr. Anderson’s psychiatrist who ends up being a major part of the story later. Suffice to say, he adds colour to the already 4K saturated landscape with his delivery and panache. Jessica Henwick and Yahya’s Bugs and Morpheus are fine as new characters entering the Matrix fray; they serve their roles well and look cool doing it with their trademark look. Jessica with her blue hair and nimble frame, and Yahya with his yellow suits and lady boner-popping pecs.
I’m not sure if the entire world is clamouring for a revisit to The Matrix and the drab world Thomas Anderson/Neo is stuck in, but it is nice to head back to that Warner Bros. universe using a 2021 lens and viewpoint, especially with the work Lana Wachowski put in the narrative and continuation of the trilogy. Are non-Matrix fans and newbies going to get lost in this film? Should you have watched the Matrix trilogy that’s been around for 18+ years so that you’re kept up to speed before diving in? Is this the sequel that sticks to its roots without being so far up its own ass? The answers are a resounding “yes”.
Long story short: welcome back, Mr. Anderson. We miss you, kinda.
Final Score: 70/100


Project Sekai Is Going To Be Localized In English This Year

Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku, the really addictive Sega-published music rhythm mobile game, is going to be localized in English worldwide for iOS and Android in 2021. It’ll be dubbed Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!.
No set date has been confirmed yet, but this is lovely news for those who have been playing the Japanese version and trying to figure out the stories of each of the vocaloids and new bands in the music rhythm title. Here are some words from Sega producer Shingo Kosuge:
“Iâ€™ve been a fan of Hatsune Miku from the very start, and have observed the global phenomenon of the growth of her fanbase and community. Weâ€™ve created a new immersive experience with Hatsune Miku offering her fans, as well as fans of anime and Japanese culture, to engage and experience her music. It will be a thrill for us to watch how people respond to the musical performances and fun gameplay challenges that weâ€™re creating.”
The upcoming music rhythm game features Hatsune Miku and her vocaloid pals (Kagamine Rin/Len, Luka, Kaito, and Meiko), along with 20 new original characters split into five bands. You have a runway with notes that you have to hit in accordance to the song beat; said music will be techno electro J-pop content from Hatsune Miku’s brand and original content just for the game.


Here’s Our First Look At The Live-Action Powerpuff Girls

The CW has given our first official look at the upcoming Powerpuff Girls live-action TV series. It will starÂ Chloe Bennet as Blossom, Dove Cameron as Bubbles and Yana Perrault as Buttercup. Donald Faison will play their father Professor Drake Utonium, Nicholas Podany will play the showâ€™s version of villain Mojo Jojo named Joseph â€œJojoâ€ Mondel Jr. and Robyn Lively will play Sara Bellum.
The series is actually just officially titled Powerpuff, and it is based on the popular Cartoon Network series created by Craig McCracken. However, the live-action TV series will follow the Powerpuff Girls as disillusioned adults in their 20s who resent having lost their childhood to crime-fighting.
The CW has also confirmed that the characters will only wear the costumes during flashbacks to their teenage years. According to the official descriptions (via Variety):

Blossom (Bennet) was a spunky, conscientious, Little-Miss-Perfect child who holds several advanced degrees, but her repressed kiddie-superhero trauma has left her feeling anxious and reclusive, and she aims to become a leader again â€” this time on her own terms.
Bubbles (Cameron) had a sweet-girl disposition that won Americaâ€™s hearts as a child. She still sparkles as an adult, but her charming exterior belies an unexpected toughness and wit. Sheâ€™s initially more interested in recapturing her fame than saving the world, but she just might surprise us and herself.
Buttercup (Perrault) was the rebellious badass of The Powerpuff Girls in its heyday. More sensitive than her tough exterior suggests, she has spent her adulthood trying to shed her Powerpuff Girl identity and live an anonymous life.

Heather Regnier and Diablo Cody will serve as writers and Maggie Kiley is the director. Executive producers include Regnier, Cody, Kiley, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and David Madden, while producers are Erika Kennair, Berlanti Productions and Vita Vera Films in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Check out the first official look at Powerpuff below:


Warzone Is the Call of Duty Battle Royale Experience We’ve Been Waiting For

Platforms: PS4, PC, Xbox One
Genre: Battle Royale Response From Activision
After months of hype building and terribly kept secrets on Activision’s part (or was it?), Call of Duty’s latest battle royale mode, Warzone, finally dropped in.
Rightfully living up to its hype with all guns blazing, they didn’t spare any bullets, no sir. Activision continued the barrage by pelting rocks in the form of brand new features never seen on battle royale games.
Warzone is a new mode available for everyone regardless of the platform they are on for free, using the latest Call of Duty Engine. If you’ve played 2019’s Modern Warfare multiplayer modes, then you should have a slight leg-up entering Warzone as the control settings transfer directly from your multiplayer setup with the only new additions being the ping and inventory system.
We’ve written about the differences between the full and free-to-play versions of the game and you can read all about it here.
A BReath of Fresh Air
Fresh features such as the gladiator-style respawn mechanism and buy-back stations to revive fallen comrades gives Warzone a distinct feel compared to the likes of Fortnite, PUBG and Apex Legends.
The sheer size alone sets Warzone apart. This game accommodates up to 150 players at the start of any map, with the maximum squad size of three players. But a small tweak to the settings allows the number of teams participating surpass fifty. Since players can limit their teams to just either one or two players by selecting the ‘Do Not Fill’ option, don’t be surprised to see more than 60 teams ready at the start of the round.

Leaning towards the more realistic end of the spectrum, Warzone lacks the complexity and inventory mess synonymous with PUBG but more than makes up for that with sleeker shooting and streamlined controls.

Needless to say, Warzone exhibits the best shooting mechanics in any battle royale game right now, slightly pulling ahead of Apex Legends thanks to its vast variety of weapons straight out of last year’s Modern Warfare. From your M4A1s to your Origin 12 shotguns, these bad boys can complement to whatever playstyle you fancy.

Improving from their take on the battle royale realm via Blackout last year, one cannot deny that Warzone is heavily inspired by Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends. From the three-man squad setup as opposed to the traditional four-man team, to the ping and respawn systems; however, all with mixed results.
Second Wind
The ping system isn’t as extensive as Apex Legends’ system but one can expect for it to improve in the next few patches and updates. On Apex Legends, players have a variety of commands to their pings such as voicing intention to scout, defend or loot in a particular area. Warzone’s take is quite simplistic at the moment, making non-mic comms with randoms almost impossible.
In Warzone, your health regenerates after a while; the only way to make yourself tankier is by equipping the armour plates which can be found in the open or purchased via Buy Stations. More on that in a second.
Downed teammates can be revived as long as they aren’t finished off by the enemies and Warzone brought their own interpretation of second chances in a battle royale game. Unlike Apex Legends where eliminated teammates can immediately return once their ‘banner’ is sent to the Respawn Beacon, second chance mechanics come with a novel twist in Warzone. Players are first sent to The Gulag straight after their first death. Here, they are put in a one-on-one fight with an enemy with the winner getting a second chance to return to the game for free.
But all hope is not lost for the losing player. Assuming their squad is still active on the map, they can be brought back simply by having their remaining teammates bail them out at Buy Stations scattered across the map.
Yes, you heard that right: you can buy back your teammates into the game.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E44DClsX5Q&w=560&h=315]
On top of scrounging for weapons and ammo, you pick up in-game cash which can be used for various purchases. Heading to Buy Stations allow you to purchase items such as armour plates, medkits, killstreaks, even your custom loadouts from the multiplayer mode and of course, your downed teammates who either lost their Gulag match or fallen for the nth time. Assuming you have enough cash on you, you can theoretically recall any downed teammate for an infinite number of times.
This in turn cause “dead” teammates to stick around even though they’re out of the game for the second time, cheering on their squad as they make a beeline towards the nearest Buy Station to bail out their teammate. With the high number of starting squads, The Gulag, and an almost infinite amount of bailout chances, a typical Warzone round can be a tad lengthy and more draining compared to other battle royale matches.
Hunt or Be Hunted
In an obvious attempt to combat campers and encourage a lively round, developers Infinity Ward added “Warzone Contracts” – a form of a mini-game within the game where squads can choose to undertake to earn extra cash. There are three types of contracts: securing specific sites, locating hidden weapons caches, and hunting down enemy players and squads.
The third one is the most lucrative but the most challenging, mostly because the hunter only has a rough indication of where their target is. Meanwhile, the hunted have no idea where their impending doom is coming from. This is a primary reason why I leave my ideal camping spot to hightail using any vehicles within sight. There’s always that impending fear that I’m somebody’s potential bounty.
Warzone plays on a sprawling map which from the looks of it, only slightly dwarfed by PUBG’s Erangel. Called ‘”Verdansk”, Warzone’s first map combines several maps seen on Modern Warfare’s Ground War mode including Tavorsk District, Krovnik Farmland, and the Verdansk Port.

You can also find classic multiplayer maps and locations featured in previous Call of Duty games such as classic Killhouse and iconic locations seen in previous campaign missions.

The circle, or the gas in Warzone’s case, is brutal. Unlike Fortnite and PUBG where it is somewhat forgiving, or on Apex Legends where damage dealt only ramps up towards the late game, the gas will take you out in an instant.
We do not recommend delving into it to retrieve a fallen comrade or any item as the risk greatly outweigh the reward. You can use the Gas Mask to enter the gas area without suffering health penalty but even that is limited to roughly fifteen seconds.

For instance, on Blackout, a host of vehicles are scattered on the map which when used, gives away your location to anyone within an earshot. With RPGs scattered about, we do not recommend staying in vehicles for too long, in open area, unless you want a quick visit to The Gulag.

Cashing In
A second free mode made available in the game is Plunder. Unlike the standard battle royale mode, you hunt for and hoard cash instead of fighting to be the last one standing. The round only ends once a squad amass 1 million in cash or the timer runs out. There’s no scrounging for gear too, as you jump in fully kitted with your chosen loadout.
It is a much more casual version of Warzone as there is no threat of the gas, but gather enough cash. Suddenly, you’re on the radar of every other team within the vicinity as you are basically an ATM on-foot.

Starting Plunder rounds fully kitted also changes the way the mode is being approached. More conservative teams tend to be tactical, focusing on gathering up cash early on instead of risking losing their early earnings to other squads. You can, however, play spoilsport and let others do the dirty deed, only to pounce on them when they’re weak following a brutal gunfight.
Mission Report
Call of Duty Warzone is Infinity Ward looking at the battle royale scene and thinking to themselves “how do we make one that is more than just another Fortnite challenger running on CoD mechanics?”

The result is clearly an evolution of the well worn-out formula that entertains & invigorates.

The introduction of The Gulag and Warzone Contracts are genius steps to keep every player invested until the very end. The’ping’ system definitely could use a rework and button remapping features would improve quality of life for console players by a considerable amount. Pinging using the up D-Pad button puts us at a disadvantage, you know?
While current CoD players (PC or console) would jump into Warzone like gaming influencers on a new fad, the game isn’t very forgiving for battle royale newbies, at least in the late game. This is due to its high ceiling required in mastering map rotation, shooting mechanics, and the nuances in CoD games.
It will take loads of practice, but it will be worth it. When all else fails, Plunder mode can sate your gunrunning lust while you pace yourself.
Is Warzone the best battle royale game in the market? Honestly, it’s too soon to say. But with all of its innovation and refinements, it’s very close to being the proverbial king of the hill.
Pros

Great CoD gunplay.
The Gulag is a fresh take to second chances in BR games.
Various in-game activities lead to non-stop action.
The ability to import multiplayer loadouts adds a lot.
Low barrier to entry, at least in early phases.

Cons

Ping system a bit lacking at launch.
Button mapping for consoles isn’t as fluid.
Very high endgame ceiling may crush newbies.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100


Celebrate Mother’s Day With These Samsung Tech Promos

Article brought to you by Samsung.
It’s the month to celebrate a very important woman in our life. Mom! There isn’t a present that could ever say a big enough thank you for all our mothers and mother figures have done for us. But you can give her something more meaningful – the gift of connection, memories, wellness, laughter, and leisure.

With great deals throughout May, Samsung wants to help you honour and reward the person who has been your pillar of strength from day one. Whether your mom is into tech, entertainment, working out, or she’s a home goddess, you will find a variety of items that she’s bound to love!
Mother’s Day Online Promotion (From now until 31 Dec)

1. Enjoy trade-in rebate promo of RM600 on the Galaxy S23 series* from now until 31 Dec.
2. Get monitor offers up to 56% off.
3. Get TV offers up to 38% off.
4. Get Soundbar offers up to 35% off
5. Get home appliances with offers up to RM1,800 off
*Customers are entitled to enjoy the current promo of free Galaxy Buds Live.

Get RM150 off with code SAMDEALS150 (Valid until 31 May)
Customers are entitled to RM150 off on selected digital appliances and monitors that are below RM4,000 with the code SAMDEALS150. Just go to: https://www.samsung.com/my/online-store/samsung-grab/

Samsung Rewards in May (1-31 May)
Customers who purchase any Galaxy devices and consumer electronics on the eStore will be entitled to earn 5% Rewards Points.

Samsung Accessories Clearance (28 Apr – 15 May | 22-31 May)
Customers can enjoy 50% on selected Samsung accessories on the eStore.

First Purchase Offers (6-28 May)
New customers who purchase any Galaxy devices and consumer electronics from the eStore will get 5% offer on top of any ongoing eStore promotions. Register for a Samsung account and log in to enjoy the offer.

Have a browse and pick out the gift that mom will love best. And perhaps a little something for yourself too! Samsung wishes all mamas a Happy Mother’s Day!
For more promos, head here.


Duke Nukem 3D Has Been Brought Back To Life Using The Serious Sam 3 Engine

The bitter aftertaste and crushing disappointment from Duke Nukem Forever is still felt by some of us today. What should’ve been the return of one of gaming’s most iconic anti-heroes turned out to be like one of those old men who’d wear their cap backwards while carrying around a skateboard. Dated and cringe-inducing.
Two modders have decided to take matters into their own hands and produce what could be an enjoyable modern iteration of the Duke Nukem series. Serious Duke 3D is the brainchild of modders Syndroid and NSKuber.
A comparison between the original and the mod.
The mod basically ports the first episode of Duke Nukem 3D using the Serious Sam 3 engine but it isn’t merely a direct port as changes and adjustments have been made to level designs and enemy placements.
Check out the trailer here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRNgnwWUUXQ&w=560&h=315]
Dubbed a “remake and reimagining” of the first episode, the total conversion mod will require you to have Serious Sam 3 on your PC. What’s astonishing is that it even has VR support but you’ll need Serious Sam 3 VR edition for that, of course.
Syndroid has stated that there probably won’t be any more updates that will include the other episodes from Duke Nukem 3D but there’s a possibility they’ll be made into single maps that contain the best parts of each episode.

Due to limited time and resources I can’t do the other episodes. At least not in the same way the current episode was done.
There’s however a chance I do each episode 2 and 3 as single maps which would contain all the highlights of the respective episode in one level.
– Syndroid, on the mod’s Steam Workshop page.

The installation guide can be found on the Serious Sam Fusion Steam Workshop page here. Props to DSOGaming for highlighting this incredible mod.


We Finally Get A Good Look At Revenant, Apex Legends’ New Murderbot

As with all good stories, this one begins with murder.
The official Apex Legends Season 4 – Assimilation trailer has finally dropped. Respawn managed to bamboozle some of us by introducing Forge as the next playable Legend but it’s confirmed now that the long-awaited Revenant is our new guy.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzfsGxrCD4o&w=560&h=315]
If you need some help getting up to speed with what’s happening in Season 4 in terms of gameplay and a bit of the lore, do check our summary of everything you need to know. There are some interesting background details regarding Hammond Industries in there.
Revenant seems to be an robot assassin that used to be human in the past but he wasn’t just any assassin, he was the Syndicate’s best. In case you don’t follow, the Apex Games is currently organised by The Syndicate.

According to the trailer description, Hammond Robotics installed a program to trick him into believing he’s still human. Unfortunately for them, the programming has failed and Revenant now wants to paint the walls red with their blood.
We get to see a glimpse of what could be one of Revenant’s skills or perhaps his ultimate while he’s killing all of his target’s guards. He gains an ember-like appearance similar to the Shadow Squad we played as in the Halloween-event Shadowfall mode.

Another interesting tidbit seen in the trailer is that final scene of the little girl full of vengeance in her eyes. It’s highly possible that this girl will grow to be another Legend, presumably the leaked Loba.
I’m fairly confident that the girl is definitely Loba because her late father gifted her a figurine of a wolf. What’s “wolf” in Portuguese? That’s right, “loba”.
Revenant’s skills may have already been leaked months ago but of course, we don’t know for sure until Respawn tells us more and we get to play as him starting on 4 February 2020 which is when Season 4 drops.
For more details on Season 4 including information on changes in ranked mode and the new Sentinel sniper rifle, read our article here.


The Game Awards 2021: All The Game Reveals, News, & Winners

The Game Awards 2021 just concluded, and it was probably the biggest iteration of the annual event yet. The show featured tons of surprises in the form of new game announcements, trailers, reveals, and a slew of guest appearances.
Geoff Keighley Speaks Out On Games Industry Harassment

Good try, given that later on the show debuted a Quantic Dream-developed Star Wars game. That’s a company with some harassment issues.
Tunic

Explore a land filled with lost legends, ancient powers, and ferocious monsters in Tunic, an isometric action game about a small fox on a big adventure. Stranded on a mysterious beach, armed with only your own curiosity, you will confront colossal beasts, collect strange and powerful items, and unravel long-lost secrets.
Tunic comes out on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 16 March 2022.

The King Of Fighters XV

Krohnen is the latest character reveal for The King Of Fighters XV.
A second open beta test is also coming soon, whichÂ will support cross-generation play, as well as the following characters:

Krohnen
Isla
Meitenkun
Antonov
Kâ€™
Blue Mary
Ryo Sakazaki
Terry Bogard

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Gun Interactive, creators of Friday the 13th: The Game, and Sumo Nottingham, have announced The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, an authentic gaming experience based on the groundbreaking 1974 film.
Platforms and a release date were not announced.

Homeworld 3

Homeworld 3 is a real-time strategy game coming to PC in Q4 2022.
Tactical, beautiful, and wholly unique, the GOTY-winning sci-fi RTS returns with Homeworld 3. Assume control of Fleet Command and battle through fleet combat in dazzling, fully 3D space while the story unfolds on a galactic scale.

The Expanse A Telltale Series

The Expanse A Telltale Series is set before the start of the TV series. Taking the reins as Camina Drummer, players will lead a scavenging crew on the spaceship Artemis, as they rove through the corners of The Belt. Players will face mutiny and conflicting personalities, aboard The Artemis, in this narrative-driven interactive game.
No release date or platforms beyond PC for The Expanse A Telltale Series have been announced.
Babylon’s Fall

Babylonâ€™s Fall will launch for PS5, PS4, and PC via Steam on 3 March 2022, publisher Square Enix and developer PlatinumGames announced.

Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak

Chilling new monsters and mysterious characters beckon you to a land of perilous adventure: Elgado!
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak launches for the Nintendo Switch in Summer 2022.

Thirsty Suitors

Thirsty Suitors is a stylish, story-driven adventure that unfolds through turn-based battles, skateboarding, and cooking. Help Jala confront her mistakes, make up with her exes, reconcile cultural differences, and become the person she was meant to be.
Developed by OUTERLOOP GAMES and published by Annapurna Interactive.

Evil West

Get a thunder-packed uppercut of adrenaline in todayâ€™s trailer with fast-paced and visceral third-person combat. Paint your lightning-fueled gauntlet with monster blood using brutal combos as you blast your way through various weird west locations. Face hulking abominations, screeching monstrosities, and ancient vampires and ram them all back to hell one piece at a time in spectacular boss fights and encounters.
Evil West releases in 2022 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

Have A Nice Death

Have a Nice Death is a hand-drawn 2D Action Rogue-Lite where you play as Death, Founder and CEO of Death Incorporated, a sprawling corporate empire that processes souls for the afterlifeâ€”who currently finds himself teetering on the edge of burnout.

Planet Of Lana: An Off-Planet Odyssey

A young girl and her loyal friend embark on a rescue mission through a colourful world full of cold machines and unfamiliar creatures. Planet of Lana is a puzzle adventure game framed by an epic sci-fi saga that stretches across centuries and galaxies. Features music from Takeshi Furukawa, who did the score for The Last Guardian and other Fumito Ueda titles.
It’s coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2022.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax

Atlus will release Persona 4 Arena Ultimax for PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on 17 March 2022 worldwide, the company announced.

Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2

Debuted at The Game Awards 2021, check out the Senuaâ€™s Saga Hellblade II gameplay reveal. It’s coming exclusively to Xbox and Windows PC from Ninja Theory. Captured in-game by the development team.

Star Wars Eclipse

Star Wars Eclipse is the newest adventure in the High Republic era, now early in development by Quantic Dream.Â Star Wars Eclipse is an intricately branching action-adventure game that can be experienced in many ways and puts the destinies of multiple playable characters in your hands, created in collaboration between Quantic Dream and Lucasfilm Games.
Platforms and a release date were not announced.

Wonder Woman

Publisher Warner Bros. Games and developer Monolith Productions have announced Wonder Woman. Platforms and a release date were not announced.
In development by Monolith Productions, creators of the critically acclaimed Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor and sequel Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War, the single-player open-world action game will introduce an original story set in the DC Universe and allow players to become Diana of Themyscira in the fight to unite her Amazon family and the humans from the modern world.
Powered by the Nemesis System, gamers will forge deep connections with both enemies and allies as they progress from a heroic fighter into a proven leader.

Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited sequel to Remedy Entertainment’s award-winning 2021 psychological thriller will be available in 2023 on PC via the Epic Games Store, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

The worldâ€™s favourite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in Sonic The Hedgehog 2. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilisations.
Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
It stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, with Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails.
It premieres on 8 April 2022.

Horizon Forbidden West

Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Guerrilla Games have released a new trailer for Horizon Forbidden West dubbed â€œNew Threats.â€
It’s coming to the PS4 and PS5 on 18 February 2022.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade finally comes to PC via the Epic Games Store on 16 December 2021.

Destiny 2 The Witch Queen

Having returned from an encounter with SavathÃ»n, the Witch Queen, a troubled Guardian provides a debriefing for Ikora Rey and Eris Morn. Their findings are concerning to say the least. Was this an illusion or the terrifying truth?
Destiny 2 The Witch Queen launches on 22 February 2022.

Slitterhead

Bokeh Game Studio, the studio founded by Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush creator Keiichiro Toyama, has announced horror game Slitterhead, which features music by Akira Yamaoka. Platforms and a release date were not announced.

Nightingale

Nightingale is a new shared-world survival crafting and building game coming to PC Early Access in 2022.
Explore, discover and survive in an interconnected web of beautiful, mystical, and dangerous realms.
Immerse yourself in a new Victorian gaslamp fantasy universe, where youâ€™ll build estates and homesteads, band together with other survivors, and fight nightmarish creatures as you search for a way home.
Announced at the 2021 Game Awards, Nightingale is being developed by Inflexion Games in Edmonton Canada.

The Lord Of The Rings Gollum The Untold Story

The Lord Of The Rings Gollum is a story-driven action-adventure coming to Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC in 2022.
Take on a perilous journey as Gollum, chasing the only thing that is precious to him. From his time as a slave below the Dark Tower to his stay with the Elves of Mirkwood, climb, leap, and sneak your way past dangers.
Skilful and sly, Gollum is also torn by his split personality. It is up to you to decide whether the darker side of Gollum takes over or if there is a spark of reason left in what once was SmÃ©agol.

Somerville

Somerville, a brand new sci-fi adventure game from the co-creator of Limbo and Inside, debuted a new trailer at The Game Awards 2021.
It is due to launch on Xbox platforms and PC sometime in 2022

Cuphead In The Delicious Last Course

Another helping of classic Cuphead action awaits you in Cuphead – The Delicious Last Course! Brothers Cuphead and Mugman are joined by the clever, adventurous Ms. Chalice for a rollicking adventure on a previously undiscovered Inkwell Isle! With the aid of new weapons, magical charms, and Ms. Chaliceâ€™s unique abilities, players will take on a new cast of fearsome, larger than life bosses to assist the jolly Chef Saltbaker in Cupheadâ€™s final challenging quest!
For all those with an appetite for adventure, be ready to set sail for D.L.C. Isle when The Delicious Last Course launches on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Steam, and GOG on 30 June 2022.

Sonic Frontiers

Sonic Frontiers will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam in holiday 2022, Sega announced.

Warhammer Vermintide 2 Warrior Priest

The Warrior Priest of Sigmar is a new career for Victor Saltzpyre. This DLC contains the new playable career complete with a new talent tree, new weapon types, new abilities, a new Warrior Priest of Sigmar skin, and more.
It is now available on PC and Xbox. It comes to PS4 later in January 2022.

Tchia

Tchia is a Tropical Open-World adventure. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox. Use Tchia’s Soul Jumping ability to take control of any animal or object you can find, and Jam on your fully playable Ukulele. A game inspired by New Caledonia.
It’s coming to PS4, PS5 and Epic Games Store sometime in spring 2022.

Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League

Publisher Warner Bros. Games and developer Rocksteady Studios have released a new gameplay trailer for third-person shooter action adventure game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League dubbed â€œFlash and Burn.â€
It’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime in 2022.

Forspoken

Forspoken will launch for PS5 and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store on 24 May 2022, publisher Square Enix and developer Luminous Productions announced.
Mysteriously transported from New York City, Frey Holland finds herself trapped in the ancient land of Athia.
Frey soon learns this beautiful land once flourished under the reign of benevolent matriarchs, called Tantas, until a devastating blight relentlessly corrupted everything it touched. The Break transformed animals into beasts, men into monsters, and rich landscapes into four dangerous realms. At the center of their shattered domains, the Tantas now rule as maddened and evil sorceresses.
Unaffected by the Break and desperate for answers, Frey reluctantly agrees to help the last remaining citizens of Athia who see her as their only hope. Freyâ€™s journey through this strange and treacherous land will take her deep into the heart of corruption where she must battle monstrous creatures, confront the powerful Tantas, and uncover secrets that awaken something much more from within.

Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2

The legendary franchise returns for a spectacular, action-packed experience, bringing the Warhammer 40,000 universe to life like never before on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
It’s a new third-person action title from the cult-classic Space Marine franchise which recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the original game. Unveiled at this yearâ€™s Game Awards, the world premiere reveal trailer of Space Marine 2 heralds the next instalment for Captain Titus and mankindâ€™s ultimate protectors, complete with a glimpse of brutal gameplay action. Heed the call of battle. For there is only war.

Saints Row

Publisher Deep Silver and developer Volition debuted a new trailer for the Saints RowÂ at The Game Awards 2021.
Saints Row is due out for PS5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Epic Games Store on 23 August 2022.

Dune Spice Wars

Control the spice, control the universe. Vie for total domination of the spice in Dune: Spice Wars, an upcoming 4X RTS game set in the DUNE universe. What House will you lead to victory? Coming to early access 2022.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

We know how the game’s going to be (it’s basically more Borderlands), but what about the story? Well, we have Will Arnett voicing the main antagonist, the Dragon Lord. Both Will and Tiny Tina VO Ashly Burch do a bit of comedy before introducing the wacky story of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
Tiny Tinaâ€™s Wonderlands is due out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on 25 March 2022.

Among Us VR

Your favourite party game of betrayal and teamwork is coming to VR!

Steelrising

Publisher Nacon and developer Spiders have released a new trailer for action RPG Steelrising dubbed â€œThe Angel of Death.â€

Metal Hellsinger

Set out on an infernal journey in order to achieve the purest of goals: Vengeance in Metal Hellsinger, an upcoming rhythm FPS game. Featuring some of your favourite metal artists including James Dorton, Matt Heafy, and now Randy Blythe from Lamb of God.
Coming 2022 for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Star Trek Resurgence

Dramatic Labs, an independent game developer comprised of former Telltale Games developers, has announced Star Trek Resurgence, a third-person choice-driven adventure game. It will launch in spring 2022 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Epic Games Store.

Rumbleverse

Visit Grapital City, where you can brawl anywhere and be anyone. Enter a 40-person melee as you lay the smack down to be declared Champion in this Brawler-Royale.
Developed by Iron Galaxy, published by Epic Games Publishing.

A Plague Tale Requiem

Asobo Studio and Focus Entertainment are thrilled to reveal the first gameplay of A Plague Tale Requiem, sequel to critically acclaimed and award-winning A Plague Tale Innocence, in a new gripping trailer that premiered during The Game Awards 2021.
In this new trailer, as Robert Louis Stevensonâ€™s poem â€œRequiemâ€ sets the tone, witness the first glimpses of Amicia and Hugoâ€™s epic adventure in a brutal, breathtaking world twisted by supernatural forces. After escaping their devastated homeland, Amicia and Hugo journey far south to new regions and vibrant cities.
Embark on a heart-rending journey in A Plague Tale: Requiem, set to release in 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC in 2022.

Dying Light 2 Staying Human

Among all the challenges people face in The City, staying human is by far the greatest one of all. Unimaginable choices must be made as everyone’s fighting to write their own story.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human is due out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on 4 February 2022.

CrossfireX

CrossfireX delivers an intense FPS experience spanning multiple thrilling gameplay modes and a cinematic campaign.
It’s coming to Xbox on 10 February 2022.

Vampire The Masquerade Bloodhunt

As announced at The Game Awardsâ€¯show, we will be launching Bloodhunt in Spring 2022 for PS5 and PC.
Join the Bloodhunt and become the ultimate vampire! Bloodhunt is a free battle royale game set in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. A treacherous betrayal has stirred a war amongst the vampires, who are also being targeted for annihilation by a secret society known as the Entity. Use your supernatural powers, weapons and wit in this thrilling battle royale game to dominate the night and restore the order.
Developed and published by Sharkmob from MalmÃ¶, Sweden.

GTFO

GTFO Version 1.0 is now available on Steam. GTFO is a hardcore co-op FPS horror with high-intensity combat, tension-filled stealth, and team-based puzzle-solving for up to 4 players. In GTFO, you need to work together in order not to die together.

Halo TV Series

Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, Halo the series will weave deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.
Halo the series will be streaming in 2022, exclusively on Paramount+.
The series stars Pablo Schreiber (Master Chief, John-117), Natascha McElhone (Dr. Halsey), Jen Taylor (Cortana), Bokeem Woodbine (Soren-066) and more.
Check out the first trailer for the Halo TV series.

Elden Ring

Check out the new Elden Ring trailer.
Elden Ring is due out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on 25 February 25 2022.

Arc Raiders

Free-to-play cooperative action shooter ARC Raiders will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam in 2022, developer Embark Studios announced.

The Matrix Awakens An Unreal Engine Experience

Prepare for a wild ride into the reality-bending universe of â€˜The Matrixâ€™, featuring performances by Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Created by members of the original movie team including Lana Wachowski, the demo morphs from breathtakingly realistic cinematic to fast-paced third-person shooter experience, complete with an action-packed car chase sequence, and also provides a rich, vastly detailed open world to explore.
You can download and play the demo now on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The Game Awards Winners 2021
Here are the winners of The Game Awards 2021 (theyâ€™re highlighted in bold):
Game of the Year

Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.

Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
It Takes Two (Hazelight / Electronic Arts)
Metroid Dread (MercurySteam / Nintendo)
Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Resident Evil Village (Capcom)

Best Game Direction
Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.

Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
It Takes Two (Hazelight / Electronic Arts)
Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Best Narrative
For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.

Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
It Takes Two (Hazelight / Electronic Arts)
Life is Strange: True Colors (Deck Nine Games / Square Enix)
Marvelâ€™s Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos Montreal / Square Enix)
Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)

Best Art Direction
For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation.

The Artful Escape (Beethoven & Dinosaur / Annapurna Interactive)
Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Best Score and Music
For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.

The Artful Escape (Johnny Galvatron, Josh Abrahams, composers)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Marcin Przybylowicz, Piotr T. Adamczyk, composers)
Deathloop (Tom Salta, composer)
Marvelâ€™s Guardians of the Galaxy (Richard Jacques, composer)
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139â€¦ (Keiichi Okabe, composer)

Best Audio Design
Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.

Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Studios / Xbox Game Studios)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Best Performance

Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.

Erika Mori as Alex Chen (Life is Strange: True Colors)
Giancarlo Esposito as Anton Castillo (Far Cry 6)
Jason Kelley as Colt Vahn (Deathloop)
Maggie Robertson as Lady Dimitrescu (Resident Evil Village)
Ozioma Akagha as Julianna Blake (Deathloop)

Games for Impact
For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.

Before Your Eyes (GoodbyeWorld Games / Skybound Games)
Boyfriend Dungeon (Kitfox Games)
Chicory (Greg Lobanow, Alexis dean-Jones, Lena Raine, Madeline Berger, A Shell in the Pit/Finji)
Life is Strange: True Colors (Deck Nine Games / Sqiare Enix)
No Longer Home (Humble Grove, Hana Lee, Cel Davison, Adrienne Lombardo, Eli Rainsberry/Fellow Traveler)

Best Ongoing
Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.

Apex Legends (Respawn / Electronic Arts)
Call of Duty: Warzone (Infinity Ward / Raven Software / Activision)
Final Fantasy XIV Online (Square Enix)
Fortnite (Epic Games)
Genshin Impact (miHoYo)

Best Indie
For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.

12 Minutes (Luis Antonio / Annapurna Interactive)
Deathâ€™s Door (Acid Nerve / Devolver Digital)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
Loop Hero (Four Quarters / Devolver Digital)

Best Mobile Game
For the best game playable on a mobile device.

Fantasian (Mistwalker)
Genshin Impact (miHoYo)
League of Legends: Wild Rift (Riot Games)
MARVEL Future Revolution (Netmarble)
Pokemon Unite (TiMi Studios / The Pokemon Company)

Best Community Support
Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates / patches.

Apex Legends (Respawn / Electronic Arts)
Destiny 2 (Bungie)
Final Fantasy XIV Online (Square Enix)
Fortnite (Epic Games)
No Manâ€™s Sky (Hello Games)

Innovation in Accessibility
Recognizing software and / or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.

Far Cry 6 (Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft)
Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios)
Marvelâ€™s Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos Montreal / Square Enix)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
The Vale: Shadow of the Crown (Creative Bytes Studios/Falling Squirrel)

Best Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality
For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.

Hitman III (IO Interactive)
I Expect You To Die 2 (Schell Games)
Lone Echo II (Ready at Dawn / Oculus Studios)
Resident Evil 4 (Armature Studio / Capcom/ Oculus Studios)
Sniper Elite VR (Coatsink / Just Add Water / Rebellion Developments)

Best Action Game
For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.

Back 4 Blood (Turtle Rock / WB Games)
Chivalry II (Torn Banner Studios / Tripwire Interactive)
Deathloop (Arkane Studios / Bethesda Softworks)
Far Cry 6 (Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft)
Returnal (Housemarque / Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Best Action / Adventure
For the best action / adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.

Marvelâ€™s Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos Montreal / Square Enix)
Metroid Dread (Mercury Steam / Nintendo)
Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Resident Evil Village (Capcom)

Best Role-Playing
For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.

Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt RED)
Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom)
Scarlet Nexus (Bandai Namco)
Shin Megami Tensei V (Atlus / Sega)
Tales of Arise (Bandai Namco Entertainment)

Best Fighting
For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba â€“ The Hinokami Chronicles (CyberConnect2 / Sega)
Guilty Gear: Strive (Arc System Works)
Melty Blood: Type Lumina (French-Bread / DELiGHTWORKS)
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (Ludosity / Fair Play Labs / GameMill)
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown (Sega)

Best Family
For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.

It Takes Two (Hazelight / Electronic Arts)
Mario Party Superstars (NDcube / Nintendo)
New Pokemon Snap (Bandai Namco Studios / The PokÃ©mon Company/Nintendo)
Super Mario 3D World + Bowserâ€™s Fury (Nintendo)
WarioWare: Get It Together! (Intelligent Systems / Nintendo)

Best Simulation / Strategy
Best game focused on real time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.

Age of Empires IV (Relic Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)
Evil Genius 2: World Domination (Rebellion Developments)
Humankind (Amplitude Studios / Sega)
Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
Microsoft Flight Simulator (Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studios)

Best Sports / Racing
For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.

F1 2021 (Codemasters / EA Sports)
FIFA 22 (EA Vancouver / EA Sports)
Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games / Xbox Game Studios)
Hot Wheels Unleashed (Milestone)
Riders Republic (Ubisoft Annecy / Ubisoft)

Best Multiplayer
For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.

Back 4 Blood (Turtle Rock / WB Games)
It Takes Two (Hazelight / Electronic Arts)
Knockout City (Velan Studios / Electronic Arts)
Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom)
New World (Amazon Games)
Valheim (Iron Gate Studio / Coffee Stain Publishing)

Content Creator of the Year
For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2021.

Dream
Fuslie
Gaules
Ibai
TheGrefg

Best Debut Indie
For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Ember Lab)
Sable (Shedworks / Raw Fury)
The Artful Escape (Beethoven & Dinosaur / Annapurna Interactive)
The Forgotten City (Modern Storyteller / Dear Villagers)
Valheim (Iron Gate / Coffee Stain Publishing)

Most Anticipated
Recognizing an announced game that has demonstrably illustrated potential to push the gaming medium forward.

Elden Ring (FromSoftware / Bandai Namco)
God of War Ragnarok (Sony Santa Monica / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Horizon Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo)
Starfield (Bethesda Game Studios / Bethesda Softworks)

Best eSports Game
For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.

Call of Duty (Activision)
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Valve)
Dota 2 (Valve)
League of Legends (Riot Games)
Valorant (Riot Games)

Best eSports Athlete
The eSports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021, irrespective of game.

Chris â€œSimpâ€ Lehr
Heo â€œShowMakerâ€ Su
Magomed â€œCollapseâ€ Khalilov
Oleksandr â€œs1mpleâ€ Kostyliev
Tyson â€œTenZâ€ Ngo

Best eSports Team
Recognizing a specific eSports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

Atlanta FaZe (Call of Duty)
DWG KIA (League of Legends)
Natus Vincere (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
Sentinels (Valorant)
Team Spirit (Dota 2)

Best eSports Coach
The eSports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2021.

Airat â€œSilentâ€ Gaziev
Andrey â€œENGHâ€ Sholokhov
Andrii â€œB1ad3â€ Horodenskyi
James â€œCrowderâ€ Crowder
Kim â€œkkOmaâ€ Jeong-gyun

Best eSports Event
Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.

2021 League of Legends World Championship
PGL Major Stockholm 2021
PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2020
The International 2021
Valorant Champions Tour: Stage 2 Masters


Onmyoji Celebrates 3.5 Year Anniversary With Special Gacha

Mobile RPG Onmyoji has been sticking around the portable gaming space for about 3 and a half years. So congrats!
To celebrate, its developer and publisher NetEase game will be adding more shikigami and gacha opportunities for said shikigamis for fans. From 23 June to 29 June, the first summon made each day with a Mystery Amulet will be free of charge. Players will also have a chance to earn a Moon Amulet from 23 June to 4 July.
Those who summon a shikigami using a Mystery Amulet, Jade, or AR Amulet 520 times throughout the course of the event will receive a Moon Amulet, which can be used to summon an SSR-grade shikigami from a select pool of creatures. There will also be special bonuses for players who log-in to Onymoji throughout the event, which will be revealed at a later date.
Best of all, players will get a chance to summon a new SSR shikigami named Asura, a pretty badass-looking hero voiced by veteran seiyuu Katsuyuki Konishi. When he arrives in the game on 23 June, all SSR shikigami rates will increase by 2.5x from 23 June to 4 July.

Onmyoji is available now for iOS and Android phones. If you like mobile RPGs like Princess Connect, but with prettier guys, this game may be your jam.


Baldur’s Gate 3 Jumps Into Steam Top 10 Again: This Is Why

Baldur’s Gate 3 is less than a month away from launching on 3 August 2023 on PC, and that’s usually already reason enough for a game to jump up the Steam charts. However, the game is now back in the Steam Top 10 not because of that, but because of a different reason entirely.
In case you missed it, Baldur’s Gate 3 will feature bestiality. Players can have sexual relations with a Druid that turns into a bear. Yes, you read that right. Baldur’s Gate 3 is now in the Steam Top Sellers chart, higher than even games like Cyberpunk 2077 and more.
Baldur’s Gate 3 launches for PC on 3 August 2023 and for PS5 on 6 September 2023. The Xbox Series X/S version doesn’t have a release date yet.


Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Will Be The Biggest Budget DLC Yet

Cyberpunk 2077’s upcoming expansion, Phantom Liberty, will be a big game. How big, you may ask? Bigger than any expansion its developer, CD Projekt, has done.
According to a claim in the Polish financial newspaper Parkiet (via Wccftech), CD Projekt investor relations manager Marek Bugdol said the DLC would be the biggest the company has ever made budget-wise.
“We hope that the new adventures and characters will attract those who are already familiar with Cyberpunk and also encourage many new players to start playing Night City.”
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty will be set in an all-new district of Night City and will feature actors Idris Elba as FIA Agent Solomon Reed and Sasha Grey as radio DJ Ash. Keanu Reeves will return as Johnny Silverhand. It also helped that Cyberpunk 2077’s current resurgence is due to the success of the anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.


Revenant Esports SENSEI & MJ To Battlegrounds Mobile India Roster

Revenant Esports just announced their latest signings of Battlegrounds Mobile India players Deepak “SENSEI” Negi and Harshit “MJ” Mahajan. You can even watch the announcement video on Revenant Esports below.

Rohit Jagasia, the Founder and CEO of Revenant Esports, had this to say about the new recruits: “We’re always on the lookout for talented athletes to join us and help us achieve our goal of becoming the top spot for casual and pro gamers. SENSEI and MJ are two of the most successful mobile gaming players out there, with a huge fan following and a lot of experience in their careers. We’re thrilled to have them on board with Revenant Esports, and we’re excited to support them as they continue to grow.”
SENSEI used to play for Team XO, where he racked up a ton of awards, including coming in third place in the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) 2021, as well as winning first place in the Skyesports Grand Slam 2022, Upthrust Esports India Rising 2022, and the Snapdragon Conquest New State Invitational. When asked about joining Revenant Esports, SENSEI said, “I’m so excited to be a part of Revenant Esports. The organization has been growing like crazy since it started, and they can offer me the support I need to keep improving as a player.”
MJ has been in the esports scene for a while now – he got his start in PUBG Mobile esports back in 2019 and even represented his country at the PUBG Mobile World League (PMWL) 2020. Most recently, he was playing for Nigma Galaxy, where he won the Pro Warrier Cup S2 and the Rooter Invitational Series. MJ had this to say about joining Revenant Esports: “The mobile gaming industry in India is exploding right now, and I needed an organization that could support me and help me grow alongside other veterans in the scene, like SENSEI. Revenant is the perfect fit for me, and I’m pumped to be a part of their team.”
Revenant Esports is a big deal in the esports world – they’re one of the top organizations in India, with over 8 rosters across different games and more than 45 athletes. They’re dedicated to helping up-and-coming esports talent, and bringing on SENSEI and MJ will only help boost their mobile gaming division.


Funcom Unveils New Alpha Gameplay From Dune Awakening

During the PC Gaming Show 2023, Funcom unveiled new gameplay footage of Dune Awakening. The game was originally announced in August 2022.
In Dune Awakening, you’ll have to survive the most dangerous planet in the universe, as well as build shelters against sandstorms, maintain your stillsuit, and master the old ways to walk even the deepest deserts. You must also avoid or be devoured by the colossal sandworms that dwell beneath the sands.
In addition, you’ll get to explore the ever-changing face of Arrakis and walk the ruins of long-forgotten biological testing stations, scavenge the wreckage of fallen spaceships, and wander the dusty halls of abandoned sietches. You’ll head into unmapped sectors and be the first to discover secrets and riches before the coriolis storms once again shift the sands and alter the landscape.
In the game, you have to take control of the spice and hunt for spice blooms and deploy your harvester, then protect it from opportunistic raiders and rival factions. Soak the sand in blood as massive battles shift seamlessly from foot to vehicles and from ground to ornithopters in the sky. You will also make a name for yourself among the inhabitants of Arrakis and wield intrigue and force to influence the Landsraad and impact the world, as well as build your own faction through spice harvesting, trade, subterfuge, and open conflict.
It’s coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, but there is no release date.
Check out the trailer below:


Dragon Ball Super Broly Movie Coming to Malaysia Next Month

Good news for all Dragon Ball fans in Malaysia! TGV Cinemas will be screening the upcoming Dragon Ball Super Broly movie in Malaysian cinemas nationwide starting from December 27, 2018.

Hi, tentatively this movie will be start screening on 27th December 2018. Please stay tuned 🙂
â€” TGV Cinemas (@TGVCinemas) November 8, 2018
That release date means that Malaysians will be watching the highly-anticipated Dragon Ball Super Broly movie earlier than those in the U.S. but a bit later than those living in Japan. In comparison, the movie is slated to screen on January 16, 2019, and December 14, 2018, in the U.S. and Japan, respectively.
That’s not all, my fellow DB fans, as a new Dragon Ball Super Broly trailer was also released earlier today. This is actually its third trailer to date (after the SDCC and NYCC trailers), and it reveals several new details about the movie.
First, we can see what appears to be a Super Saiyan God Vegeta. This the first time the Prince of Saiyans ever transforms into this fiery red form, since he pretty much skipped straight to Super Saiyan Blue in the Dragon Ball Super anime. We also see a glimpse of Golden Frieza, and more footage of the fight between Goku, Vegeta, and Broly.
Super Saiyan God Vegeta
What’s interesting here is that Super Saiyan Blue Goku seems to be evenly matched with Super Saiyan Broly. If that’s the case, how will Goku and the others defeat the much more powerful Legendary Super Saiyan Broly (which he gloriously transforms into at the end of the trailer)?
To tide you over until December 27, 2018, check out the new Dragon Ball Super Broly trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuIbeQv3v7c&w=560&h=315]


Dragon Ball Z Kakarot Adds Trunks’ Time Machine Today

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is a decent game (check out my full review here), and a successful one for Bandai Namco, having sold more than two million copies as of earlier this month. At launch, the publisher promised that a Time Machine would be added into the game. Two months after launch, we’re finally getting it.
In a free update later today, Trunk’s Time Machine will be added in Dragon Ball Z Kakarot, allowing players to replay their favourite story scenes or complete previously-missed side quests. It’s possible to miss out on certain side quests in the game, so fans have wanted this feature from the very beginning.
The animated cutscenes in the game are glorious to behold, so I can see how fans would want to replay iconic battles like Goku’s first fight against Vegeta, or his climactic battle against Frieza on Planet Namek. The side quests also feature a lot of easter eggs for fans of the franchise, so it’s worth doing those too.

In the meantime, Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is still expected to receive more content through its Season Pass, which will include two original episodes and one new story. Rumours are rife that they could feature Dragon Ball Super storylines and characters, but they have yet to be confirmed by Bandai Namco.


Joseph Gordon-Levitt Is Looking For Malaysian Speakers, Writers & Musicians (Update)

(Updated on 12 August 2020)
Earlier today, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has posted yet another one on his Facebook. This time, he’s looking for Malaysian writers who can write in either English or Malay.
All you have to do is observe the picture below and write one line about it in either English or Malay. You can head to this link to contribute now.
https://www.facebook.com/JoeGordonLevitt/photos/a.192553260768346/3560570757299896/?type=3&theater
He’s also looking for musicians and artists to work with.
https://www.facebook.com/JoeGordonLevitt/videos/742140993275249/

For those unfamiliar, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is more than an actor. He is also the founder of an online collaborative media platform called HitRecord, which uses a variety of media to produce projects such as movies, short films, books, and DVDs.
Now, he’s looking for Malay speakers or anyone who speaks Malay in order to contribute to a project called ‘Poetry Around The World’. He shared the news on his personal Facebook account earlier today, and so far more than a thousand people have contributed their voices to date.
https://www.facebook.com/JoeGordonLevitt/posts/3557887317568240?__xts__[0]=68.ARDv4K2fchwG7YU-lCyWYgnPIR1MWGXENrZ59kCe1o-89brpet1jqrmvwN-Ng4SBM01mdiUmgw_VP_moo2nz0J_hq21jkoNceeeOqy_gRtOyN8_pnyDV6K3BoGjYszD0nukOvg9vCN2F5XPBZ0Vc9x-16wyeO2zyKge49ObULdg6QL-C072-wVuP_gAlTyFjqE7ZXAws3QR3YL784J5oZIx6IvdQdBa8SBAjcP8InGA9VfbpOTCOz1Cd1QoLVy3fdXl-uBO2nD7-ZUVZhR3wygaYWMI7_6N3lkhYgclN_sI8grfzq6t6LQCQQMLsZiDmqllkkBz50kkWDv3oBYSxfg&__tn__=-R
All you have to do is go to the link provided in Gordon-Levitt’s Facebook post (here).
The project requires contributors to speak the only one word; the English word ‘poetry’ in Malay, which translates to ‘puisi’.
In order to contribute your voice, you need to log in via Facebook, Twitter, Google or your email address when you select the button ‘Contribute’. Then, you’ll need to create a username. After all that, you need to record your voice via any recording app and transfer the file. In addition, you also need to add a title and an optional description.
Who knows? Your voice might be chosen and used in the project.
In the meantime, Joesph-Gordon Levitt will soon be spurred into action once again in the upcoming Netflix’s Project Power. You can check out our interview with him and the rest of the Project Power cast here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw1vQgVaYNQ&w=560&h=315]


A Death Stranding Cameo Is Making Japanese Fans Raise Eyebrows

It’s not uncommon for video games media publications to give specific games perfect scores so that they can establish a stronger relationship with certain developers and publishers. This could mean being rewarded with access to exclusive interviews and coverage of upcoming games for the future.
The Collector, as portrayed by Hirokazu Hamamura. Image taken from @k0ta0uchi.
Japan’s Famitsu magazine is one such publication with a history of questionable practices. They recently handed out their 26th perfect score of 40/40 to Death Stranding. Japanese fans have noted that former Famitsu Editor in Chief Hirokazu Hamamura appears in the game as an NPC known as The Collector.
It’s true that Hamamura is no longer working under Famitsu but he is currently the director of Kadokawa Group Holdings which owns Kadokawa Game Linkage, Famitsu’s current publisher. If you ask me, that’s actually even worse.

There’s no mistake that Hamamura is The Collector since his name does pop up in the closing credits under the “Special Appearance” category, alongside other famous figures such as Junji Ito and Conan O’Brien. So he must have gone to the Kojima Productions studio to do the 360Â° face-scan like every other actor and person under the “Special Appearance” list.
According to users on 2ch, the dialogue that The Collector says to Sam after completing a delivery for him has the words “You’ll surely get in the hall of fame.” which could be a hint of the game entering the short list of games receiving perfect scores from Famitsu.
Necky the Fox. Image from @zak_0_lantern.
As if all this wasn’t bad enough, Famitsu’s mascot Necky the Fox is also in the game. A mural of him can be found on the surface of a rocky wall somewhere in the game. It’s definitely an easter egg but one that brings the magazine’s review further into untrustworthy territory.
Previously, Famitsu has given 428: Shibuya Scramble a perfect score. Hamamura also appeared in that game. This isn’t the first time Hamamura has been involved in a Hideo Kojima game too. He used to appear in an ad campaign for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker that ran in Famitsu, which also got a perfect score from the magazine.
Death Stranding is Kojima’s fourth game to get a 40/40 score from Famitsu. The first was Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, followed by Peace Walker, and then Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
I’m one of those people who has never trusted Famitsu ever since they gave Metal Gear Solid 4 a perfect score back in 2008. However, I opined that it was due to a difference in taste rather than an obvious bias but now, it seems that there might have been more than meets the eye.
Famitsu Weekly’s 7 November 2019 publication featured a cover with Death Stranding art done by Yoji Shinkawa.
Thank you, Kotaku.


The Rainbow Six Invitational Kicks Off Next Month

Ubisoft has announced that Tom Clancyâ€™s Rainbow Six Invitational 2021 will take place from 11 May to 23 May 2021 in Paris, France, with all four Rainbow Six Esports regions participating.
Following approval from the French Government and local authorities, Brazilian teams will be authorized to join the competition in France, following additional safety measures. To ensure everyone’s safety, the event will be held without any live audience and all participants will follow strict sanitary measures, which is available here.
While Ubisoft is saddened once more by the fact that, despite its joint efforts with the organization, Wildcard Gaming will not be competing at the Six Invitational, the crown jewel event of the Rainbow Six Siege competitive year is fast approaching, and the company is looking forward to offering the Siege communities around the world, the so long-awaited clash of the regions that will determine Season 2020â€™s World Champions.

Notably, representing Southeast Asia as APAC League finalists, Singapore based team Giants Gaming will be returning to compete again in this yearâ€™s Six Invitational.
The competition will gather 19 teams from all Rainbow Six Esports regions, in a LAN environmentÂ following strict sanitary measures, with no audience on site.

11 May to 16 May 2021: Group Stage.
19 May to 23 May 2021: Playoffs, broadcast from the Palais Brongniart, a historical venue at the very heart of Paris, France.

With the well-being of pro players, staff and partners as the main priority, Ubisoft will work with partner organizer Live Nation, health and safety agency ACEPS, medical agency ISMA and the French Government to develop a controlled, safe and competitive offline environment throughout the entire event, in line with the guidelines of the health organizations and local authorities. Any changes to the ongoing situation are being monitored to ensure appropriate actions are taken.


The Many Deaths Of Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft

To celebrate the live-action Tomb Raider film reboot that will be out later this week, we look back at the many highs and lows of Lara Croft’s demise and death animations. Not since Bubsy have we seen this much care and detail being put in a character’s temporary exit from life.
Disclaimer: these animations can make some people feel squeamish. You were warned, in case the title of this piece didn’t tip you off.
On that note, you animators are pretty twisted people.
Legend Of The Fall (Tomb Raider)
https://youtu.be/XH8X6H7YLq8?t=1m1s
You can’t go wrong with the classics.
Ragdoll Physics In Effect (Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHTMllccyhs
This is the first and last time Kakuchopurei will talk about that crappy Tomb Raider reboot.
The Midas Touch (Tomb Raider Anniversary)
https://youtu.be/8Cnou02wTEA?t=1m39s
Greed kills, I guess.
Dinosaur Snack (Tomb Raider Anniversary)
https://youtu.be/MNajWw01dzA?t=52s
I like how the dinosaur flips Lara like a Scooby snack before going om nom nom all over her.
Strangulation (Tomb Raider 2013 reboot)
https://youtu.be/mPOvSZtg5HY?t=9s
The one scene that generated a ton of negative buzz and cries of “in-game attempted rape” before the game even came out.
Wolf Chew Toy (Tomb Raider 2013 reboot)
https://youtu.be/Qk-tKfOhW6k?t=22s
Fun fact:Â A large wolf can bite down with over 1,200 pounds of pressure.
Rock Crush (Tomb Raider 2013 reboot)
https://youtu.be/ddj8zZXmFl4?t=21s
Still very, VERY unsettling up to this day.
Body PiercingÂ  (Tomb Raider 2013 reboot)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGpXr87i6_s
Having your neck impaled by a sharp metal pole while you’re going down the rapid river is a pretty bad way to go. The hand-feeling-the-pole motions was the “icing” to this death cake that made Conan O’ Brien go “holy mother of god”.
Got Wood? (Tomb Raider 2013 reboot)
https://youtu.be/WeG9MuzUppM?t=15m39s
I feel there are WAY too many death animations in the reboots, don’t you think?
Spikes (Rise of the Tomb Raider)
https://youtu.be/5F4a-Tvl0jw?t=12s
That’s still a very unsettling expression.
Boulder Dashed (Rise of the Tomb Raider)
https://youtu.be/gkNQdAu4FsE?t=28s
Bear Chow (Rise of the Tomb Raider)
https://youtu.be/dfy4qmzCayo?t=12s
“Tastes like chicken,” the bear probably said to itself as it finally took revenge against her for all of its cousins she gunned down in cold blood.
Did we miss any other Tomb Raider deaths? Let us know!


Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins Is A Love Letter To Whovians

Platforms: Android, iOS, PC (Steam)
Genre: Puzzle, Interactive, Horror, Found-Phone
In almost sixty years of Doctor Who, there has never been a decent video game in the franchise’s history, and especially not one that Whovians (that’s what Doctor Who fans call themselves) can actually be proud of. Here comes Kaigan Games’ Doctor Who The Lonely Assassins to change all that, which is possibly the best Doctor Who game ever made. At least for this generation of gaming.
Don’t Blink

Malaysian studio Kaigan Games is best known for ‘found phone’ horror games Sara Is Missing, 2017â€™s Simulacra and 2019â€™s Simulacra 2. They’ve returned with the same formula, but one set in the Doctor Who universe. However, it’s clear from the get-go that Doctor Who And The Lonely Assassins is made with Whovians in mind.
The events of this game is essentially a sequel to the events of the iconic Doctor Who Series 3 Episode 10 â€˜Blinkâ€™. It was notable for introducing the Doctor Who villains known as the Weeping Angels and starring the then-unknown Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan as protagonist Sally Sparrow. It remains a legendary episode even now because of how good it was despite being a Doctor Who episode with the Doctor being absent for most of its duration.

In Doctor Who And The Lonely Assassins, players need to uncover and decipher the mystery of a â€˜found phoneâ€™ which once belonged to Larry Nightingale (who is also a character from the Doctor Who episode Blink). He is missing and players will have to work with Doctor Who character Petronella Osgood (with Ingrid Oliver reprising the role) to unravel the case and find the truth.
Finlay Robertson has returned to reprise his role as Larry Nightingale even if Carey Mulligan didn’t come back as Sally. You’ll learn more about what Larry has been up to since the events of ‘Blink‘ and if he ended up with Mulligan’s Sally (I won’t spoil it). What isn’t a spoiler is that what happened to Larry definitely has something to do with the Weeping Angels and the same creepy Wester Drumlins house from the ‘Blink‘ episode.

Here’s how the game works; you basically have access to Larry’s phone, so you’ll have to go through his messages, emails, pictures, videos and even browsing history contained inside to slowly solve the mystery at hand. Each clue you find will have to be scanned and send to Osgood in order to progress through the game. Each clue will open up more data inside the phone, and you’ll have access to more messages, pictures and the like to inspect.
It’s not a difficult game, as each clue will cause a yellow icon to pop up at the bottom left of the screen, so you can’t exactly miss a clue if you’ve stumbled on it. However, this is still a game with horror elements, so it’s important to note that players should expect abrupt jump scares every now and then. You’ll also engage with a lot of multiple-choice dialogue with Osgood and other characters, though most of them are just ‘tell me more’ instances rather than meaningful choices that will actually affect the game’s narrative.

There were much fewer puzzles than I expected, and the obstacles I did face in the game were when some of them required me to memorize certain details and bits of information littered throughout the game. In addition to the main objectives, there are optional side quests like finding hidden TARDIS (that iconic blue police box, which is actually the Doctor’s spaceship) in pictures.
If you think you can just mindlessly play through this game, there are some challenges that you can actually fail to complete but the narrative will still continue (which surprised me). This, along with the optional side quests, has obviously been included by the developer to add replay value with more than one playthrough.
The game only took me a little over two hours to complete on my first playthrough, but I didn’t manage to complete everything so that probably warrants a second playthrough if I want the best ending.
Allons-y

As far as fan service goes, I can definitely say that this game made the Whovian in me extremely happy. Not only is this a sequel to ‘Blink‘ (which itself is already fantastic!; see what I did there, fellow Whovians), there are references to the Doctor’s past adventures (including one involving a certain legendary Dutch painter) and easter eggs related to the time-travelling Time Lord. However, I should warn you that the Doctor herself (this takes place during the current era of Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor, which was confirmed in our exclusive interview with the developers) doesn’t actually show up until the very end. Even then, I should warn you that it’s just a voiced cameo.
While the overall mystery was enough to keep me engaged and occupied as I gradually learnt more about what happened to Larry, veteran Whovians will likely have guessed what happened halfway through the game (or even before then, as I did).
It’s not hard to predict the plot, especially if you’ve watched Blink or is well-verse in Doctor Who lore. That’s not necessarily a bad thing per se, but it will lessen the intrigue of the mystery somewhat for Whovians.

As for those unfamiliar with Doctor Who, the game does explain who the Doctor is and who the Weeping Angels are, so you won’t be left out. You can still enjoy the ‘found phone’ gameplay mechanics and horror elements. At two hours long, it doesn’t overstay its welcome either, though some might find that brief length a tad too short.
Still, this game is primarily aimed towards Whovians, who owe it to yourselves to try this game out (who am I kidding, the game even begins with the Doctor Who theme playing as it transitions into the main menu). This game is pretty much canon as well, so perhaps the story might receive a follow-up in the actual series in the future. Who knows?
As the Eleventh Doctor once said: “We’re all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?”
Pros

A genuinely good Doctor Who game that will make Whovians happy.
The found phone mystery is engaging enough.
Creepy at times (but there are also cheap jump scares).

Cons

One playthrough can be as brief as two hours long.
A bit too predictable and ‘safe’ plot for Whovians.

Final Score: 80/100
Doctor Who The Lonely Assassins was reviewed on Steam (PC) via a review code from the developer (Kaigan Games). It is now available on Android (Google Play Store), iOS (Apple App Store) and PC (Steam) today.


Tougher Behemoths And Challenge Leaderboards Coming In New Dauntless Update

Dropping on 16 July 2019, the first major update for the free-to-play monster hunting game Dauntless will include a slew of new content. Titled Fortune & Glory, the patch will also mark the end of Hunt Pass Season 5: Hidden Blades.
The biggest addition to the game will be a new environment called the Island of Trials which will have enhanced Behemoths. A new NPC called Lady Luck will act as a shopkeeper of sorts to trade weapon mods, special moves, and cosmetics for a new currency called Marks.

Players will obtain Marks when they complete Trials by defeating the aforementioned modified Behemoths. Completion times for Trials will also be recorded and players (both Solo and Group) with the fastest times will have their names displayed on the Wall of Champions. I suppose that’s the “Glory” part.
The Trials are weekly challenges and once the new week starts, the Wall of Champions will be erased for players to give another go at attaining glory for themselves and their squad.

Developer Phoenix Labs are also being fair to smaller monsters by introducing smollusks. These guys will be found on the Island of Trials and will ooze out some sort troublesome goo that might take away precious seconds from your attempt to get on the Wall of Champions. Protip: take em’ out before you go up against a Behemoth.
Last but not least, the update will also come with two new Hunt Passes. The season will begin with High Skies and end with Zephyr Strike. Each pass will feature a full fifty levels, Basic and Elite progression tracks, and a bunch of other pirate-themed rewards.

Fortune & Glory will run from 16 July until some time in August, Zephyr Strike will begin immediately after. Read more at the game’s official blogpost.


Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Wins The First Grammy Award For Best Score Soundtrack Under Video Games Category

In the category of Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Dawn Of Ragnarok and its composer, Stephanie Economou, have won the first-ever Grammy award under this category.
According to the Grammy Awards’ page, Economou and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla won the first award in the video game music category at the 65th Grammys, beating Austin Wintory and Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Bear McCreary, and Call of Duty: Vanguard, Richard Jacques and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and Christopher Tin and Old World.
We couldn’t help but chuckle during the announcement when the host mispronounced the word “Valhalla”, pointed out by one of the users via Twitter.

can’t stop laughing at this guy announcing the Grammy win for Assassin's Creed Valhalla pic.twitter.com/vz9bTVZFTX
— Wendell (@RhodeToLove) February 5, 2023

“I just want to recognize all of the people who fought tirelessly to bring this category of video game music into existence,” Economou accepted the Grammy. “Thank you for acknowledging and validating the power of game music. This is truly such an honor, thank you.”
If you’re not familiar with the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok soundtrack or just want to listen to it again, watch the official Ubisoft Music Youtube channel below.
We had our hands on the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla game and had a great time playing it. Check out the full review here.


Two Of Sega’s Best 2020 Games Are Half Off On The PS Store

The PlayStation Store is having a massive Sega sale from 26 May to 9 June, featuring a bunch of Sega and Atlus titles with awesome discounts.
Here are the highlights:

Yakuza: Like A Dragon for 50% off for the PS4 version at S$37.45/RM114.50. Yes, you should get this RPG if you haven’t: it’s the best version of Dragon’s Quest without the fantasy tropes of Dragon’s Quest. Also, the main protagonist Ichiban Kasuga is so loveable yet dumb as bricks.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is 45% off at S$47.38/RM131.45. It’s personally my GOTY of 2020 just because of its epic sci-fi plot, amazing aesthetics, and lovely visual novel/real-time strategy gameplay. And yes, this is the English version of the game.
Other game deals include Persona 5 Royal at 50% off (RM126), Sakura Wars at 80% off (RM51.20), and Odin Sphere Leifthrasir at RM60. Great stuff if you’re looking for good deals for RPGs and sci-fi masterpieces.


Spider-Man PS4 Fantastic Four Suits Swing To Action In Latest Update

Insomniac Games recently teased that something ‘Fantastic’ would be making its way to Marvel’s Spider-Man, and it looks like it has arrived. According to several websites and players, the latest Spider-Man PS4 patch 1.14 has supposedly added two new Fantastic Four-related suits, which includes the Future Foundation and Bombastic Bag-Man suits.
Take a look at them below, courtesy of Resetera user Chopin the Third.

				Future Foundation Suit

				Bombastic Bag-Man Suit

For those who don’t know, the Future Foundation Spider-Man suit has long been a fan-favorite, as it was from a time when Spidey joined the Fantastic Four in place of the deceased Johnny Storm AKA the Human Torch. This was requested by Johnny himself in his last will and testament, as Peter Parker was one of his closest friends.
The Fantastic Four was then known as the Future Foundation. All members wear costumes with the same black and white scheme, hence why Spider-Man adopted their colors. Itâ€™s made of unstable molecules, so it can change to other clothing at will or even turn into an uber-cool black stealth mode.
Meanwhile, the Bombastic Bag-Man (also known as the Amazing Bag-Man) only appeared in a single comic book issue, in which Spidey was left without a costume after Reed Richards helped him remove the Venom symbiote. Due to that, Johnny Storm gave him a spare Fantastic Four suit with a â€˜Kick Meâ€™ sign on its back, a brown paper bag as a makeshift mask and no shoes. This combination became an instant classic.
At the time of writing, the Spider-Man PS4 1.14 patch is not yet available for download here in Malaysia, and probably the rest of Southeast Asia/Asia. Players who have posted screenshots of the new suits online are mostly from European countries. Fret not, for the update will certainly arrive sooner or later. Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for the latest news!
(Image Credit: @PeteyReilly from Twitter)


Dates & Seeding For 2022 LoL World Championship Have Been Announced

We finally have some more information on this year’s League of Legends World Championship circuit, set to take place across North America.
Riot Games has come out and announced that Worlds is set to start on 29 September and will culminate the grand finals on 5 November. The Play-In stage will take place in Mexico City at the Arena Esports Stadium from 29 September to 4 October. Following this, the remainder of the competition will be moved to the United States, starting with Madison Square Garden in New York City between 7 October to 16 October for the group stage. Quarterfinals will also be held in Madison Square Garden from 20 to 23 October.
The semifinals will take place on 29 to 30 October as the competition heads south to Atlanta, Georgia’s State Farm Arena with the grand finals taking place in San Francisco’s Chase Stadium on 5 November.
The company also revealed the seedings for the upcoming event, following a similar pattern from previous iterations of Worlds. Of the 24 teams that qualify for Worlds, 12 will have to qualify for the group stage by making it through the play-in stage, while the other 12 will qualify directly to the group stage.
Notably, however, the LCL will be unable to send representatives to this year’s Worlds. In their spot, the LEC is gaining one extra slot for a total of four, now on par with both the LPL and the LCK. The LCS trails behind them with three representatives.
Information regarding tickets for the various parts of Worlds 2022 has not yet been revealed but is expected to be announced in the near future. Players can look forward to the international League competition coming together on the biggest stage of the year starting 29 September.


The Best Monster World Game Is Getting A Remake Next Year

With Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom and Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap out and remastered for current-gen platforms, it’s only a matter of time until the fourth action-adventure instalment Monster World IV gets the same treatment. That time is next year, it seems.
The 1994 Sega Megadrive title will be getting a remake slated for PS4 and Nintendo Switch (via IGN). Its official title? Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World. The upcoming 2D game will be a collaboration between Studioartdink and publisher Inin Games.
Original game director Ryuichi Nishizawa will be back to helm the remake while series composer Shinichi Sakamoto, character designer Maki Ozora, and creative manager Takanori Kurihara will also be helping in their respective roles.
Also, the game’s main character Asha will be fully-voiced in the game, which is a first in the Wonder Boy remakes. Hopefully it’ll turn out just as smoothly-animated as the Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap remake by Lizardcube.
Gameplay footage will be out 29th August via Gamescom’s indie showcase. In the meantime, here’s a longplay session of the original game on the Megadrive: still looks just as good as it did back in the day.


First Studio Ghibli CGI Movie Trailer Shows Off New Style

The first trailer for Studio Ghibliâ€™s new CGI animated movie has arrived, and it looks different, to say the least.
Directed by Goro Miyazaki (the son of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki himself), Earwig And The WitchÂ is based on a novel by Diana Wynne Jones and was first announced earlier this year.
It will be Studio Ghibli’s first-ever CGI movie, which is a departure from the fluid and detailed 2D animation that the company is usually known for.
Earwig And The Witch follows a 10-year-old girl growing up in England in the 1990s, unaware that sheâ€™s actually the daughter of a witch. When sheâ€™s adopted by a strange couple, she begins to discover her magical powers.
ItÂ is set to premiere in Japan on 30 December 2020.
Currently, Studio Ghibli is also working on another film,Â How Do You Live?, for which Hayao Miyzakai came out of retirement to direct it himself.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ncs4AGA8Sfc


Tencent Gains Ownership Of Another Major Title

The Chinese gaming giant continues to consume. According to The Esports Observer, Tencent has just acquired a majority stake in a consortium that indirectly holds an 81.4% stake of Supercell, the developer behind Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. This was found based on a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Clash Royale, one of Supercell’s most popular games.
Tencent acquired 44,000 additional shares in the consortium via a US$40 million convertible bond which increased its stake in the consortium from 50% to 51.2%, effectively making it the biggest shareholder and technically the owner of the consortium. Said consortium was founded in June 2016 as a Luxembourg SociÃ©tÃ© Anonyme solely to acquire Supercell.
In layman terms, a Luxembourg SociÃ©tÃ© Anonyme (SA) basically translates to a Luxembourg Public Limited Company. According to Luxembourg Office website, an SA offers the possibility to “promote the development of a business by bringing new shareholders on board” and “access financial markets”.
Long story short, Tencent now owns Supercell which means it also owns their games including Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. The Chinese gaming giant is currently the biggest games company in the world in terms of revenue. Tencent wholly owns Riot Games and has stakes in Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft.