Deadpool Director Steps In For Borderlands Movie Reshoots

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything new about the Borderlands movie directed by Eli Roth. However, it looks like the film is in a bit of chaos, as a report from Deadline has claimed that Deadpool director Tim Miller has taken over directing duties for two weeks of reshoots on the Borderlands movie.
Why did that happen? According to the report, Roth handed over the reins for reshoots to his Miller, because Roth was already busy with directing Thanksgiving, a new horror film based on a mock trailer that Roth made for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s Grindhouse film.
Despite that, Eli Roth is still very much the director of the Borderlands movie. However, the movie still doesn’t have a release date.
The synopsis of the movie reads:
In the movie, Lilith (played by Cate Blanchett before she filmed Tár, the movie that has made her a Best Actress frontrunner), is an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B. Atlas (Edgar Ramirez). Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team – Roland (Kevin Hart), a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap (Jack Black), a persistently wiseass robot.
These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.
The movie’s script is written by Emmy-winning screenwriter Craig Mazin, who is also the showrunner of the upcoming HBO’s The Last Of Us TV series. In fact, we interviewed him recently, along with Naughty Dog director Neil Druckmann. Check out the full interview by heading over here.


Amy Hennig Launches Interactive Studio In Movie Production Company

Video games and story; they do indeed go hand-to-hand if balanced and designed properly. That balance is more or less perfected by a veteran like Amy Hennig,Â  the woman who directed Uncharted and the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver series.
She has joined film production company Skydance Media to create a new interactive division. This division will “shape the future of interactive media” by using streaming platforms to get gamers and non-gamers to play story-focused interactive series. She will be working alongside former EA producer JulianÂ  Bleak, who serves as vice president. Both of them worked together at EA for the unfortunately-cancelledÂ  Star Wars game, Project Ragtag.
Hennig herself said that the creative team will explore “new frontiers in interactive storytelling”.

“I’ve been in the game industry for 30 years now. I’ve seen so many different evolution and revolutions of creative content. And fundamentally, I came to it as a storyteller. I was potentially a filmmaker. When I was going to school, I wanted to be a writer. And so I found my creative home in games.”

This probably means the new studio wants to make higher-budget visual novels with a nice 3D engine built for walking.Â Kidding aside, this is probably the logical next step for Skydance since they made a recent Walking Dead spin-offÂ  VRÂ  game set in New Orleans.


Fnatic Finally Win An International Trophy At VCT LOCK//IN São Paulo

The VCT LOCK//IN grand finals between Fnatic and LOUD had everyone anticipating history to be made, but the way the series played out was unexpected.

For all of the results, you can check out our feature on it!
To kick off the series, Fnatic dominated LOUD‘s Ascent pick, much like their victory against Natus Vincere the day before. Leo “Leo” Jannesson, the young Sova player, stood out with an impressive performance, and Fnatic’s defence held off LOUD’s star duelist, Erick “aspas” Santos, to just eight kills.
Fnatic’s map choice of Fracture also showcased their defensive prowess. After a tied first half, Fnatic almost completely shut out LOUD on their attack, only giving up the bonus round in the second half. LOUD’s attempts at executing were continually thwarted by Fnatic.

FLAWLESS round from @FNATIC to get 11! #VCTLOCKIN pic.twitter.com/94kfg3d376
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) March 4, 2023

On Split, LOUD found their footing as aspas stepped up, helping them secure safe plant sites. LOUD’s Felipe “Less” Basso also played an outstanding game, and they were able to hand Fnatic their first map loss of the entire tournament despite their best efforts on the attack.

.@loud_aspas coming to life! #VCTLOCKIN pic.twitter.com/MWLy84XWr2
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) March 4, 2023

To complete their comeback, LOUD had to win on a map they hadn’t played before – Fnatic’s pick of Lotus. Despite starting behind 0-3, LOUD pulled off an impressive attack, winning many close post-plants and taking a 7-5 lead at half-time. Their defence was even better, expertly using their utility to run down the clock and force desperate plays from Fnatic, resulting in their second straight map victory with a score of 13-8.
LOUD had all the momentum on their side, and with the support of the home crowd, they confidently stepped onto another strong Fnatic map pick on Icebox. They dominated the first half with a 9-3 scoreline, leaving Fnatic’s defence in shambles. However, Fnatic started to make an incredible comeback, winning nine straight rounds to take a 12-11 lead. LOUD managed to scrape a defensive round in the final round of regulation to force overtime.

.@Alfajervl IS A BEAST!!! #VCTLOCKIN pic.twitter.com/PLSRoKzYP9
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) March 4, 2023

Fnatic took the lead in overtime with an outstanding defensive play from Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev, who managed to secure a triple kill with the Operator. They then finished off the game with a dominant attack on the B-site, completing an incredible comeback and avoiding a devastating loss to the home team.
After two years of being a top international VALORANT team, Fnatic finally secured the trophy they had been longing for. Most of the roster lifted their first-ever trophy, but Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov made history as the first-ever VALORANT player to win two different international VCT trophies, having already lifted a trophy at Masters Berlin 2021 with Gambit. Meanwhile, LOUD fell just short of becoming the first team to win back-to-back trophies.
In the end, the VCT LOCK//IN grand finals delivered on its promise of making history, with thrilling games and outstanding performances from both teams. It was a great showcase for the game and the competitive scene, and it left fans eagerly awaiting the next big VALORANT tournament.


Overwatch’s Lucio To Pop By Malaysia Next January

Speed boost! Hope you like Overwatch supports coming down to your local conventions because that’s what’s happening during Pop-Con in Malaysia from 26 to 27 January 2019.
The voice of Overwatch’s Lucio, Jonny Cruz, will be making an appearance at the convention which will take place at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre. The tease they put up on their Facebook page is pretty obvious.

Lucio is clearly a fan favourite if these comments on the Facebook page are of any indication.

Are you hyped?


Diablo 4 New Crafting Option Codex Of Power Revealed

A recent Diablo 4 action RPG livestream showcase introduces a new way for players to power up their equipment: the Codex of Power.
This option gives players a degree of control over what kind of build they’re aiming for. See, each dungeon in the game’s world, Sanctuary, will be housing an Aspect, which is a legendary power you can obtain at the bottom of a specific dungeon. Acquiring an Aspect lets you grant a power onto your weapons and items; different dungeons house different kinds of Aspects.
Plus, they only need to be unlocked once by any class you use; it’ll be available to everyone in your game so you don’t have to unlock it twice or three times. So if you want Overwhelming Bolts for your other classes, you only need to conquer the dungeon housing it once, making subsequent grinding for said other classes easier.
Aspects from the Codex of Power will always roll at the lowest level. You’ll still need to go to different dungeons and find better versions of these Aspects. However, Codex of Power skills will not house Legendary Powers; you’ll have to find these the old-fashion way via killing elite enemies and bosses and pray to the RnG gods.
Check out one of the Codex of Power skills in action; Diablo 4 will be out on 6 June 2023 for PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4.


PlatinumGames New CEO Is Studio Head Atsushi Inaba

PlatinumGames CEO Kenichi Sato stepped down as president according to an official announcement from the company that made Bayonetta, Wonderful 101, and Vanquish.
Taking over as the new CEO is longtime director/producer Atsushi Inaba, who will also retain his second title as PlatinumGames studio head. Kenichi Sato will still be on the PlatinumGames board as an advisor. In addition, Inaba will be talking about the future of the company and also about Sol Cresta alongside chief game designer/Twitter banhammer guy Hideki Kamiya in an upcoming Asia Pacific Game Summit event on 21st January.
Here’s the full letter from the official announcement:
Create, and deliver.
Creating innovative forms of play.
That is the belief PlatinumGames was founded on.
That is something that will never change.
Games come in all different styles for all different kinds of people. At their nature, they are a true expression of liberty: thoughts come together freely to create an idea, to expand upon it, and then, to actually play it. The real enjoyment from games comes from the freedom given to both the creator and userâ€”which is why I believe them to be such an amazing form of entertainment.
Approaching â€œfunâ€ with complete sincerity has always been important to me. I believe every one of our staff takes pride that they are entertainers, always attempting the perfect balance between play and professionalism.
Creating a new, enjoyable game starts with the creator being able to enjoy the game themselves. The creator then has to continually build on their idea until they have something that communicates that sense of fun to anyone who experiences itâ€”that consideration of the user makes all the difference.
Our overarching goal for entering self-publishing has been unchanged since its conception: to invent something new and share it with the rest of the worldâ€”showing our sincerity towards creation every step of the way.
People speaking different languages, from different backgrounds, all brought together through a controller. Made to smile by a new type of game.
It connects us, and sets us free.
Itâ€™s a job that Iâ€™m extremely proud of.
As I move forward towards the new challenges of the future, I hope to provide more and more experiences for all our users to enjoy.
CEO / Studio Head
Atsushi Inaba


Kakuchopurei Best 30 Games Of 2022: #14

For the full list, head here.
#14: Rollerdrome

This entry is probably the easiest to pitch and make: Tony Hawk but rollerblades and guns. You’re put in the shoes of up-and-comer Rollerdrome competitor Kara Hassan, who has to use her skating skills to outmanoeuvre enemies, and also her gun-toting knowhow to permanently dispose of them.
You’re given a number of courses to play in, with the goal being to play hard and better. You need to survive whatever’s thrown at you, but you also need to earn as many achievements as possible to progress through the in-game tournament. That means replaying stages to do the following: getting as many tricks and medallions sorted and collected as possible. Killing enemies in style with either your dual pistols, shotguns, laser sniper, or grenade launcher. Getting the fastest time. And all other sorts of challenges that you’ll find in one of Rollerdrome’s inspiration genres.
And the *ahem* rollercoaster experience is all the more fun and exhilarating for it, especially with its unique line-drawn coloured art style and 80s Running Man-esque vibe from the soundtrack and sparse-but-effective narrative.


PC & PS5 Versions Of Uncharted 4 Are Removing Multiplayer

The Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves collection for PC and PS5 may not feature online play from the PS4 original.
According to a recent ESRB classification update, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves (which features Uncharted 4) will not include a multiplayer component and “interactive elements”. This is despite Uncharted 4 featuring a pretty fun competitive multiplayer mode and co-op survival mode for the original PS4 version of Uncharted 4 (via VG Chronicles).
So far there’s no reason stated from Sony as to why the publisher would choose not to include multiplayer in the collection. Which makes the recent humble-brag post about Uncharted’s stats for its 5th-anniversary celebration referencing its multiplayer player count a bit bizarre in retrospect.

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End's release, we want to thank the players who joined us and Nathan Drake on this wild ride. ?? Remember to play with the lemur! #SicParvisMagna pic.twitter.com/YVlmu36KOz
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) May 10, 2021

On a related note, the Uncharted movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland is going along fine with a scheduled 18th February 2022 release date.


Hawkeye Episode 1 & 2 Easter Eggs & Breakdown

The first two episodes of Hawkeye Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
Hawkeye is an original new series set in post-blip New York City where former Avenger Clint Barton aka Hawkeye has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with Kate Bishop, a 22-year-old skilled archer, and his biggest fan, to unravel a criminal conspiracy.
You can check out my previous breakdown ofÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 1,Â Episode 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7, Episode 8Â and Episode 9 here.
If you havenâ€™t, you can check out my previous breakdown and easter egg articles forÂ WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.
ForÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns forÂ Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â andÂ Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns ofÂ LokiÂ episodes, check outÂ Episode 1 here,Â Episode 2 here,Â Episode 3 here,Â Episode 4 here,Â Episode 5 hereÂ andÂ Episode 6 here.

Episode 1
Flashback To Young Kate Bishop Experiencing The Battle Of New York From 2012’s The Avengers & Seeing Hawkeye In Action

The very first thing that happens in Hawkeye is a flashback to an earlier time when a young Kate Bishop experiences the Battle Of New York from 2012’s The Avengers. During the chaos, she sees Hawkeye fighting off aliens with his bow and arrow, which is what inspires her to learn archery.
We also learn that her father dies during the Battle Of New York, leaving behind her and her mother, Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga).
Intro Inspired By David Aja’s Artstyle

After the flashback, we get our first-ever animated Hawkeye intro, and it’s a very stylized one that looks very much inspired by David Aja’s art style. David Aja worked on the iconic Hawkeye comic book run with writer Matt Fraction, which heavily influenced this live-action Marvel Studios Hawkeye series.
During the intro, we can see that she grows up learning archery, martial arts and fencing.
Clint Still Feels Guilty Over Black Widow’s Death

This is the first time we meet Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) after 2019’s Avengers Endgame. While watching the Rogers Musical with his family, he zones out when he sees the actress performing as Black Widow on stage. This prompts a sort of PTSD reaction, which means that he probably still feels survivor’s guilt over Natasha Romanoff death.
Clint Is Already Wearing Hearing Aids

Here we see that he’s already wearing hearing aids. What caused him to require hearing aids? In the comics, it was a mercenary known as the Clown who jammed two of Hawkeye’s arrows into his ears, causing him to lose his hearing. We still don’t know why this version of Clint needs hearing aids.
The Debut Of Jacques/Jack Duquesne

Tony Dalton plays the MCU version of Marvel’s Jacques Duquesne AKA the Swordsman has been renamed Jack Duquesne. Kate is angry that he’s set to marry Kate’s mother, Eleanor Bishop (Vera Farmiga). In the comics, Jacques/Jack Duquesne is known as the Swordsman and he was the one who trained Clint Barton when he was younger. He started as a villain and later became a hero (even becoming an Avenger at one point), but would often gravitate between the two over the years. However, he ultimately died a hero in the comics.
It does seem like the MCU version will start off as a villain, but it’s unclear if he will still have a past connection with Hawkeye.

Meet The Lucky The Pizza Dog

Lucky The Pizza Dog was originally introduced in David Aja and Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye run. In the MCU version, Kate picks up a stray and feeds him pizza, which earns him his ‘Pizza Dog’ moniker.

Ronin Suit And Sword Up For Auction

When the auction gets hit by an explosion, Jack Duquesne steals Ronin’s sword (the Swordsman, remember?), while Kate steals the Ronin suit.
The Tracksuit Mafia Attacks The Auction Looking For A Watch From The Avengers Compound

It turns out that the Tracksuit Mafia is the one responsible for the explosion. Just like Lucky The Pizza Dog, they were also originally introduced in David Aja and Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye run. The Avengers Compound was destroyed at the end of Avengers Endgame, and they’re auctioning off the stuff recovered from that place.
They’re looking for a watch that was recovered from the Avengers Compound but it’s unclear why it’s significant. Was it Tony Stark’s watch or something?
The Tracksuit Mafia Retains Their “Bro!” Catchphrase From The Comics

In the comics, it’s an ongoing gag that they like to repeatedly say “Bro!” a lot, so it’s fun to see that adapted into live-action.
Episode 2
Hawkeye Confirms Tracksuit Mafia Name

Yup, their name was never mentioned in the first episode, but Clint confirms it by directly saying their name.
Tony Sold Avengers Tower Prior To His Death

Clint reveals that Tony sold Avengers Tower even before Avengers Endgame. That means that the Avengers HQ is no longer at the tower.
Kate Names The Dog ‘Pizza Dog’

She directly mentions the name Pizza Dog. I assume that someone will name him Lucky before the series ends.
Hawkeye Lost His Hearing During Avengers Endgame’s Climax

When referring to his loss of hearing, Hawkeye just says that it’s “too hard to tell” what caused it. Then, we are treated to a montage of a variety of events, including the explosion destroying the Avengers Compound caused by Thanos at the end of Avengers Endgame, which is probably where he lost his hearing.
The Swordsman Shows Exactly Why He’s Called The Swordsman

Kate fights Jack in a fencing duel and it’s clear how skilful Jack’s sword-wielding skills are (the Swordsman, remember?).
The Butterscotch Proves That Jack Killed His Uncle, Armand

Jack offers butterscotch candy to Kate, which confirms her suspicions that Jack killed his own uncle Armand. In the first episode, Kate saw the same butterscotch candy near Armand’s body.
Meet Maya Lopez AKA Echo (Alaqua Cox)

At the end of the episode, Clint is kidnapped by the Tracksuit Mafia. Kate tries to save him but ends up being captured as well. The last scene reveals that it is Maya Lopez AKA Echo (Alaqua Cox) who ordered the Tracksuit Mafia to kidnap both of them. For what reason? We still don’t know.
In the comics, Maya Lopez AKA Echo is the adoptive daughter of Wilson Fisk AKA the Kingpin. She falls in love with Matt Murdock but becomes Echo to hunt down Daredevil. She turns against the Kingpin when she finds out that Matt Murdock and Daredevil is the same person.
It’s important to point out that she was the first person to become Ronin in the comics, not Clint Barton.

Stay tuned for more every week on Kakuchopurei as I break down each weekly episode. Until then, excelsior!


Sniper Elite Board Game Delays Kickstarter Campaign Launch Due To COVID-19

The Sniper Elite board game’s Kickstarter campaign launch has been delayed due to a term we’ve gotten familiar with over the past couple months: COVID-19.
However, the reason isn’t due to an infection within the development team or difficulties caused by social distancing, but something else. “We know how troubling a time this is for everyone in this unprecedented global crisis, and the huge challenges we are all set to face in the coming weeks and months,” said Rebellion Unplugged, Rebellion’s board game division.

“With all that in mind, weâ€™ve taken the difficult decision to delay launching the Sniper Elite the Board Game Kickstarter campaign,” they added.Â “Simply put, we donâ€™t want to ask you to support the project right now when there are bigger, more important things to worry about.”

Rebellion Unplugged also said that the game is progressing “really well”, and that they are now planning to launch the Kickstarter campaign later this year. In the meantime, they’ll also be working on a single-player mode and other new content, and promise more tabletop announcements in the near future.
The reason behind the Kickstarter launch delay makes sense, and it’s a pretty admirable move from the developers too. In the meantime, the Sniper Elite series is on sale on Steam, with eight-and-a-half hours left to go at the time of writing.


The Steam Game Festival Is Returning For Its Summer Edition

Just a month ago, The Steam Game Festival: Spring Edition gave us over 40 game demos to sample. While that event is now over, we’ll soon get the chance to try out dozens of other game demos again when The Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition arrives this June.
The Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition will run from 9 June to 14 June 2020; the former date happens to be the date E3 2020 was meant to kick off prior to its cancellation.
“The Steam Game Festival is an event that shines a spotlight on games set to be released within the next year,” reads Valve’s description.

“From June 9th – 14th, check out upcoming releases, try them out with time-limited demos or short playable experiences, connect with the developers behind the games, and add games to your wishlist for a reminder when they release!”

The Spring Edition of the festival was indie-oriented, and while the Summer Edition’s description doesn’t mention anything about that, it’ll likely follow the same theme. The Spring Edition had several delightful titles, some of which I’ve wish-listed already, so I’m definitely looking forward to the festival’s next iteration.
In the meantime, here’s the link to the Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition page, though there’s not much on it for now. Best you just bookmark it.


Kingdom Hearts 3 Shines Like The Brightest Light

Platform: PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Action, JRPG

Can a game live up to the unbridled level of anticipation and hype which has been slowly building over 14 years, from a franchise which initially began almost two decades ago? The Kingdom Hearts franchise merits a sense of nostalgia and furore unrivalled by arguably any other game franchise. If you’re reading this, you’re either a long-time fan or you could care less about a game that features Mickey fighting globs of black goo.
This is it. After a total of nine games (including spinoffs) across three gaming generations, it is my absolute pleasure to tell you that Kingdom Hearts 3 is indeed the epic conclusion we’ve been waiting for.
No amount of words can fully describe the cacophony of emotions and sentiment bursting in my heart from finally being able to play this game. But I’ll do so anyway.
Got It Memorized?

Ignore the franchise’s propensity for having such a convoluted mess of a story and you’ll find that Kingdom Hearts 3‘s main premise is essentially a simple one. Our Keyblade-wielding protagonist Sora needs to discover or activate the “power of waking”, which will be needed in the upcoming final battle against Master Xehanort and his 13 darknesses.
In the meantime, Sora’s other friends are either trying to gather the 7 guardians of light (Riku and Mickey) or training to become Keyblade wielders themselves (Kairi and Lea). Ultimately there’s much more to that, seeing as Kingdom Hearts 3 is still the culmination of many years’ worth of story and character development. It remains a game made for fans from the very beginning, and it clearly rewards you for that.

I guarantee that longtime fans will smirk and chuckle in glee at every little reference and easter egg to past games. I know I did. With that said, newcomers can probably still enjoy Kingdom Hearts 3, though they won’t really comprehend the nuances and details of the events that transpire throughout.

Thankfully, Square Enix has provided a five mini-movies that recap the events of the franchise up to Kingdom Hearts 3, which is called the Memory Archive. This serves a serviceable job of keeping newcomers apprised of everything that has happened to date, though I still believe there’s no substitute to actually playing the games.Â Heck, if all else fails, I completed the gargantuan task of recapping all the Kingdom Hearts titles myself, which is available for your reading pleasure here, here, and here.
Some have criticized how the Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 are just middling distractions from advancing the main plot, and that everything only picks up near the very end, making the endgame feel rushed and unsatisfying. I’m here to refute all that because the fact is that almost every game in the Kingdom Hearts franchise has followed that exact template.
The basic idea of the entire franchise began as an excuse to travel Disney worlds, and though it has developed since its conception by creator Tetsuya Nomura, almost every game has followed the same narrative formula. The player begins by travelling to multiple Disney worlds, before ending the game with the elements that Kingdom Hearts is known for (all the darkness and light stuff, original characters).

I admit that these are valid criticisms, though it seems like these critics want the game to something it’s not. The charm in Kingdom Hearts stems from its successful meshing of Disney and Final Fantasy, something that shouldn’t have worked in the first place. From that point on, the franchise has continued to be different in both tone and structure, developing independently from other JRPGs along the way.
I won’t spoil the ending for anyone, but I can safely say that I was extremely satisfied that it managed to tie up almost all the loose ends from 17 years of Kingdom Hearts lore. I appreciated the sense of closure it gave me, and I’m sure many fans will feel the same way.

Without giving anything away, the epilogue and the secret movie for Kingdom Hearts 3 do tease future installments and continuation of the franchise. Some fans might be disappointed that Kingdom Hearts 3 isn’t the definite end, but it was never meant to be in the first place. This is only the end of one saga and the beginning of the next.

Whole New Worlds

The choice of worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 has been dividing fans for quite some time. This is because Square Enix has opted for newer Disney and Pixar properties rather than the classic ones we all know and love. The problem is when some of these newer properties like Big Hero 6 and Frozen seemingly lack the rose-tinted nostalgia associated with older animated movies.

Let me tell you now that those issues might as well be non-existent. Despite what your thoughts are regarding these newer Disney Pixar properties, the Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 are some of the best in the franchise. The variety in settings and level design are apparent, and some of them function as open-worlds by themselves.

Sure, some of the Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 might be more linear and limited than others, but they’re still leaps and bounds ahead of past games. In particular, I admire the new sense of vertical freedom Sora has in Kingdom Hearts, where worlds like The Caribbean and San Fransokyo feature ample space for our protagonist to leap, glide and dash to his heart’s desire.

Like I previously mentioned, some of the worlds have side-content that could be regarded as core mechanics in other games. My favourite would have to be controlling my own pirate ship Ã  la Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Going in, I never thought a Kingdom Hearts game would ever feature a fun naval mini-game like this, but here we are.
The world-specific mini-games and side-content in other worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 are less inspired and are simply that; gimmicks. This includes piloting the mechas in Toy Story’s Toy Box, and shield-sledding in Frozen’s Arendelle. These feel less fleshed-out and therefore less deserving to return to after having to play it once via the story.
Unlike previous titles in the franchise, I also adore the fact that several worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 actually act as direct sequels or continuation of the original movie it’s based on. They’re not simply cheap rehashes of the original movie’s story anymore. For instance, Hiro and his team are already a team of superheroes when Sora meets them in San Fransokyo. It’s amazing how much creative freedom Square Enix is able to squeeze from Disney now.
Combat Perfection

Even if you’ve never been into Kingdom Hearts for its story, chances are you would still be fans of the franchise due to its gameplay, which has steadily become more fast-paced and kinetic over the years. Kingdom Hearts 3 boasts the smoothest and polished gameplay to date.

It expands on the gameplay mechanics already established with Kingdom Hearts 2‘s Situation Commands, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep‘s Deck Command system, and Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance‘s Flow Motion system by introducing new mechanics of its own.

The addition of Keyblade transformations and improvements to how magic works have made the combat flow much better in motion and action. This means that choosing the right Keyblade is more than just considering its stats (since each has its own unique form and abilities). Longtime fans will love that Sora can now move while unleashing magical attacks; back then, he had to stand still like a sitting duck and wait until his magic attack finishes.

However, I did find the new Attractions mechanic to be annoying, as it popped up too often. With its long animation (which thankfully can be cancelled) and overpowered nature, this was one gameplay mechanic that is too flashy for its own good and should have been reserved only for special occasions in the game.
All of this does come with one small caveat. Due to the improved gameplay mechanics and camera during combat, Kingdom Hearts 3 might possibly be the easiest game in the franchise. I never died once in my 30-hour Standard Mode playthrough, not even during the final boss battle. Past games were sometimes too punishable and frustratingly difficult, so I think the easier difficulty would be welcomed by many fans like myself. If you insist for a harder experience, just jack up the difficulty level and attempt a no-experience run (staying on level one for the entirety of your playthrough).
The Gummi ship mechanic also returns in Kingdom Hearts 3; now more expansive than ever by allowing players to navigate through a free-roaming 3D open world, instead of the limited by-the-rails version in past entries. While the Gummi ship might still feel tedious and a chore to play, they’re mostly optional and players only ever really have to play this section in order to reach newly-discovered worlds.

In fact, there are several new mini-games that are entirely optional. This includes the Ratatouille cooking mini-game and the many Game & Watch-style mini-games inspired by classic Disney animated shorts. These can all be avoided if the player chooses to do so (unless they’re trophy hunters), as they don’t affect story progression in any way.
All of these side-content and mini-games ensures that players will be still have a lot to occupy their time with even post-game. This is in addition to traditional Kingdom Hearts post-game content in Kingdom Hearts 3, such as secret bosses, secret reports, obtaining the Ultima Keyblade, and capping Sora’s level to 99.
For those asking if any other characters besides Sora are playable in Kingdom Hearts 3, I won’t spoil it for you, but I can advise you to lower your expectations. Only two characters will be playable, and even then, they were only playable for one or two short occasions. If you’re expecting to go through the game with another character like Riku in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, unfortunately, that won’t happen.
Am I Watching Frozen?

The biggest reason for Kingdom Hearts 3‘s long delay was its transition from an older engine to the latest Unreal Engine 4, which also powers many other recent games like Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of An Elusive Age and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. The power of this new engine has allowed the visuals and lighting in the game to rival and sometimes surpass that of its original source material.
For instance, Frozen’s Arendelle, Tangle’s Kingdom of Corona, and Big Hero 6’s San Frnasokyo are all clear examples of this. They look just like their movie counterparts, and then some. What’s even more impressive is how far the franchise has come that cinematic cutscenes are now mostly rendered using the in-game engine, instead of being pre-rendered like past entries in the franchise.
The appeal of seeing all these Disney Pixar properties coming to life and interacting with has never been more apparent than in Kingdom Hearts 3. Your friends and family will look on in disbelief and awe as they realize that they’re watching a game and not a movie. We’ve come a long way since the days of the original Kingdom Hearts.
My Kingdom Hearts

Everyone has a reason for being a fan of Kingdom Hearts, be it the exciting combat, the convoluted albeit charming story, or maybe they’re just in it for the Disney worlds. For me, it’s definitely all of the above. Kingdom Hearts is a beautiful symphony of wonderful things all smooshed together.
I believe that an excellent game is not just the sum of its parts, but also the many memorable and great moments contained within. I had a huge smile on my face as I watched Elsa belting out a full rendition of Frozen’s ‘Let It Go’ as Sora, Donald, and Goofy looked on, mesmerized.
Most of all, I praise the ending of Kingdom Hearts, which is filled with many of those aforementioned great moments. Some might say that it’s all being cramped and forcibly pushed into the final few hours of the game, but I disagree.

The ending ofÂ Kingdom Hearts 3Â overwhelmed me with a flood of emotions. What other game would have the same effect on me? It’s a testament to Tetsuya Nomura and his team that the conclusion is a such a perfect sendoff for the franchise. That finale makes up for everything. It doesn’t matter what flaws or faults you think the game might have.

Trust me, once you get to the ending, the next thing you realize will be tears streaming down your face with a silly smirk on your face, as you feel utterly satisfied and a weird emptiness at the same time, knowing that the journey has ended but that it was all worth it in the end.

Pros:

An epic conclusion well-worth the wait.
Some of the best Disney worlds in the franchise.
Most polished and satisfying combat gameplay.
Graphics and visuals on par with the original movies.

Cons:

Newbies may need help playing catch-up.
Gummi Ship sections are a chore.
Minor grievances (it can feel like a PS2 game at times).

FINAL SCORE: 80/100
Kingdom Hearts 3 was reviewed on a PS4 Pro, via a review copy courtesy of Square Enix.


[Report] New Apex Legends Leak Might Have Revealed All Upcoming Characters

He’s at it again, folks. Apex Legends data miner That1MiningGuy has struck again and this time, he’s come across something that comes straight from Respawn’s headquarters.
The1MiningGuy has tweeted a sheet of paper that shows what seems to be a list of unreleased playable characters that are being tested and developed at the studio. Check it out:

The first piece of information to be taken into consideration is the range of time. These characters have been in development since the beginning of June and, I assume, were supposed to be completed by 1 October 2019. That’s the day Season 3 dropped and we got Crypto.
Next up, we see Revenant. We already had glimpses of him, or rather, we heard some of his voice lines through another recent leak. Then, we have Loba or Rosie, as she has been known in earlier leaks and by earlier leaks, I mean from all the way back to the game’s launch in February 2019.
My money’s on Revenant being the next Legend to be revealed because his leaks suggests that he’ll tie in to the game’s Halloween event which is confirmed to be happening.
As per usual, take leaks with a grain of salt. No, a barrel of salt. For now, let’s continue having fun in Apex Legends’ new map. Still don’t know where are good places to land to get good loot? I have just the guide for you.


Viewfinder Walkthrough: How To Solve The Game’s Most Notorious Puzzles

Viewfinder is a new puzzle game from Sad Owl Studios, and it’s quite a challenging yet creative endeavour. Yes, it’s a walking simulator, but one filled with the most creative and technically-amazing puzzles you’ll see in a video game in a long, long while.
From perspective-shifting puzzles to ones where you take photos and superimpose them to make bridges and platforms, you’ll find a lot to love from Viewfinder’s visual splendour and brainteasers. Here’s the solution to the entire game (optional puzzles not included in playthrough).

Viewfinder Full Walkthrough

0:00 – Location 1
23:28 – Location 2
46:37 – Location 3
1:24:14 – Location 4
2:11:13 – Location 5 & conclusion


Ubisoft Files Lawsuit Against Hackers For Rainbow Six Siege DDoS Attacks

Four years after its initial release, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is still going strong. In December 2019, the game reached a concurrent player count of more than 138,000 on Steam alone. Like all popular multiplayer games, it’s also gained the attention of ill-intentioned people.

Ubisoft is taking the fight to those people. The company has filed a lawsuit against a group of people who allegedly ran a website called SNG.ONE. Apparently, the website allowed people to purchase access to the game’s server which would allow them to initiate distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
According to the lawsuit, users can pay around US$30 for monthly access to the server. Fork out US$299.95 and you get lifetime access instead. There’s also a screenshot of the website offering the same access for other games such as Fortnite and FIFA 20.
You can read the full lawsuit document over at PolygonPolygon. Ubisoft has asked the court to shut down the websites, and award damages and fees. It looks like the folks who operated SNG.ONE also had a Twitter account which they used to taunt Ubisoft but it is now under temporary restriction.


Resident Evil Village’s Lady Dimitrescu Joins Street Fighter 5…

The Street Fighter 5 PC modding community are very creative, to say the least. The latest endeavour is adding Resident Evil’s famous tall vampire lady to the fighting game mix.
A PC modder named mohamedelkordy129 has created a Lady Dimitrescu mod in the Capcom 2D fighting game (via EventHubs). Which character did the modder use? Find out on the video below:

Why it’s G, who is a tall and powerful President of the Earth in Street Fighter 5. It’s a perfect match, though G’s voice might break the illusion. You can check out the mod on Twitter and Facebook.


Bayonetta 3 Is “Progressing Well” Says Nintendo

The Nintendo E3 2021 presentation was great and all, but it was lacking a few key announcements for some. One of them is an update on Bayonetta 3, the sequel to the PlatinumGames action series that was announced a few years ago.
Breaking the silence is Nintendo of America, who told GameSpot in a video interview that the game is still in development. Here’s a quote from Nintendo senior product marketing manager Bill Trinen and senior director of localisation Nate Bihldorff:
“It definitely still exists. [We] will even go one further and say not only does it exist, but it’s progressing well.
We like to show things whenever weâ€™re ready to show them, and certainly we like to show things when the developerâ€™s ready to show them. So we didnâ€™t have it at E3, but stay tuned.”
That’s good to know. We are wondering what on earth happened to Bayonetta 3, which is slated for Nintendo Switch god knows when.


Demon Slayer Movie Gets New Trailer & Japanese Release Date

The popular anime by Ufotable is getting a movie later this year, which is great for fans who can’t wait for Season 2 to arrive. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (or likely-translated as Demon Slayer: Infinity Train) will be releasing in Japanese cinemas on 16 October 2020.
The film will pick up where Season 1 of the anime left viewers and adapt the Demon Train arc from the manga. The characters of Demon Slayer find themselves on a train that is said to have reported demon activity causing passengers to mysteriously disappear.
The details about the Demon Slayer movie release date were announced via its official Twitter account.

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In the trailer, we get brief glimpses of Enmu, Tanjiro, and Inosuke, along with a few flame-fueled frames of Kyojuro Rengoku, who the gang hopes to find onboard the Infinity Train.
However, there’s nothing official yet about an international or worldwide release, though due to its immense popularity, that will probably be announced sooner rather than later, depending on how the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic will be like in the near future.

Meanwhile, there are also two Demon Slayer games currently in development. Chifuu Kengeki Royal is heading to Android and iOS mobile devices, while Hinokami Kepputan is coming to the PS4 sometime in 2021.
In the meantime, check out the Demon Slayer movie trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7GqtEtE7hU&w=560&h=315]


New Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Merchandise Coming Out Next Month

Nintendo will be releasing new The Legend of Zelda merchandise on the same date as its upcoming sequel, at least in Japan.
There will be new Tears of the Kingdom merchandise which include shirts, a tie, and a water bottle.

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— Nintendo TOKYO/OSAKA (@N_Officialstore) April 14, 2023

There’s no word on whether it’ll be on sale worldwide, but at least you can start planning before 12 May, since that’s when the game is coming out for Nintendo Switch. Plus, Nintendo merchandise has always appeared on Amazon, so that’s good news if you’re in countries like Singapore. More info’s available on the official link.


A Plague Tale Requiem PC Specs Revealed

Developer Asobo Studio has revealed the official PC specs for the upcoming A Plague Tale Requiem.
Minimum

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Window 10 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i5-4690k (3.5 GHz)/AMD FX-8300 (3.3 GHz)
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GTX 970 4 GB/Radeon RX 590
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 55 GB
Additional Notes: 30fps, 1920x1080p, Low settings
DirectX 12 Level 12 and Shader Mode 6.0 are needed

Recommended

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Window 10 (64-bit)
Processor: Intel Core i7-8700k (3.7 GHz)/AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (3.6 GHz)
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB/Radeon RX 6800 XT
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 55 GB
Additional Notes: 60fps, 1920x1080p, Ultra settings
DirectX 12 Level 12 and Shader Mode 6.0 are needed
SSD Storage is recommended

The PC specs are pretty demanding so perhaps it’s best to go with the console versions to avoid performance hiccups. It’s not a surprise, considering how amazing the graphics and visuals look.
As Amicia and Hugo set out to find a mysterious island in the hope of ending the curse which runs through Hugo’s blood, they find themselves having to rely on the help of the people they meet. Walking into foreign territory, the young De Runes are unlikely to make it alone… but how much trust can they place in strangers? The answer seems as uncertain as the island is beautiful and terrifying.
A Plague Tale Requiem will launch for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch via cloud streaming on 18 October 2022. The game will also be available on Day One with Xbox Game Pass.


Xbox Series X/S Users Are Getting New Noise Suppression Feature

You no longer have to withstand annoying sounds like clicking or loud breathing noises when you play online. Xbox has just released a new Xbox Series X/S Noise Suppression feature, which is available right now after downloading the latest Xbox Series X/S system update.
According to the patch notes:
We’ve added noise suppression to parties on Xbox Series X|S consoles to help remove unwanted noises like gamepad clicks, breathing, and background noise from your parties.
If you want to keep some types of background noise in your parties, like music, you can also turn noise suppression off. Just open the guide, scroll to Parties & chats, and select Options. There you can enable or disable noise suppression.
Xbox is just the latest company to offer Noise Suppression technology after other apps like Zoom, Discord and Nvidia.
The new Xbox Series X/S update also added the ability for players to jump into a game from their friends’ shared captures. This means that you can now watch your friend’s match highlights and start playing the game immediately after that.
You can check out the full patch notes by heading over here.


BBC’s The Watch Trailer Teases Terry Pratchett’s Discworld

During New York Comic Con 2020, BBC America unveiled the first teaser trailer for their upcoming The Watch, which is a live-action TV adaptation of late Terry Pratchettâ€™s fantasy science-fiction sagaÂ Discworld.
According to BBC America (via IGN), The Watch follows:
“… an unlikely group of misfits, The City Watch, [who] find the guts to save the world, surprising even themselves in the process. The comedic yet thrilling series pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it.”
BBC’s The Watch stars:
Richard Dormer (Game Of Thrones)Lara Rossi (I May Destroy You)Adam Hugill (1917)Jo Eaton-Kent (Donâ€™t Forget The Driver)Marama Corlett (Blood Drive)
Executive producer Richard Stokes said:
“So we had to do a sort of pick and mix of the best bits across the range of books and invent our own series, invent our own world.And that’s where, with everyone’s blessing, Simon came in, who was able to do his own unique and original take on the characters and the stories. And that was attractive to BBC America, to have a show that was original, had a sort of anarchic, irreverent wit to it. You don’t need to know the books to be able to enjoy the series.The City Watch â€¦ are these kind of flawed but adorable band of magical misfits in a corrupt fantasy city that they’re kind of loitering in the margins of when we meet them.The world that [Pratchett] wrote and that we base our show in is so kind of warped and upside-down and off its axis.”
BBC’s The Watch is slated to premiere sometime in January 2021.
While I’m not familiar with the source material, many fans have commented on how terrible BBC’s The Watch looks from the trailers and clips unveiled so far. Chec it out for yourselves below:


Konami Launching Playable Contra Collectibles This Holiday

My Arcade is joining forces with Konami to launch a line of playable collectibles featuring the Japanese developer’s iconic run-and-gun franchise, Contra. The initial lineup of products is set to include the compact desktop Micro Player and handheld Pocket Player, which are slated to release sometime in holiday 2019.
Both products will feature a co-op multiplayer mode, as players can link up two of the same devices to play together. The Micro Player will only feature the original arcade version of Contra (1987) while the Pocket Player will include both the original arcade versions of Contra (1987) and Super Contra (1988).
Contra Pocket Player
Contra Pocket Player
Konami Cross Media NY Vice President of Licensing and Marketing Jennifer Coleman said:

â€œOur mission is to find unique and exciting ways to extend Konamiâ€™s iconic game franchises.
The expansion of the Contra game line into standalone, compact versions, thanks to our partners at My Arcade, provides a unique opportunity for its millions of fans around the world to show their love for the game.
We are happy to develop this new line of products with them for this popular title.â€

It’s a good time for Konami to release these nostalgic products, as the next installment in the franchise is slated to arrive soon with the release of Contra: Rogue Corps for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 24 September 2019.
Contra Micro Player
Contra Micro Player


You Can Now Use Mouthful Mode Kirby On This New Nintendo Switch Bundle

Nintendo Japan always sells the good stuff, and this bundle may be no exception.
To tie in with the release of the upcoming 3D platformer Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Nintendo in Japan will release a white Nintendo Switch (OLED version) which comes with a Mouthful Mode Kirby box. The pink box is basically just the package for the console, the charger, and the charging dock, though it is still kinda cute to have on display.

The whole package costs 37,980 yen and will ship on 24 March. Do check your local video game stores in Southeast Asia and see if they’re willing to ship this down over to your region and country.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land will be out worldwide on 25 March for Nintendo Switch, and features 3D platforming and open-world exploration, a lot of sucking and powers-absorbing, and Mouthful Mode where you absorb objects bigger than Kirby like refrigerators, soda machines, and cars. Basically nightmare fuel for creative Twitter and Deviantart artists.


Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy Season 2 Is Dropping This July

Itâ€™s more than a year since Netflix officially renewed The Umbrella Academy for a second season, but the streaming giant has finally announced the release date for the highly-anticipated second season to TV series adaptation based on Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba’s comics of the same name.
The Umbrella Academy Season 2 is slated to release on 31 July 2020. The news was announced via a special video featuring the main cast members (consisting of Tom Hopper, David CastaÃ±eda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, and Ellen Page) recreating the first seasonâ€™s iconic â€œI Think Weâ€™re Alone Nowâ€ dance scene from the comfort of their own homes.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsigH18Brs0&w=560&h=315]
The Umbrella AcademyÂ Season 1 showrunner Steve Blackman is back for the second season, as well as series creators (and co-executive producers) Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba.Â The Umbrella AcademyÂ Season 2 will feature 10 episodes just like the first season.
The Umbrella AcademyÂ was a success due to its meta nature and exploration of dysfunctional family themes, as well as offering a unique take on the superhero genre.
While we still havenâ€™t received a release date forÂ The Umbrella AcademyÂ Season 2,Â hereâ€™s what you can probably expect fromÂ The Umbrella AcademyÂ next season.
If you likedÂ The Umbrella Academy, check out some of former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Wayâ€™s other works in comicsÂ here.


Hitman’s First Season Is Currently Free To Play On Xbox One

We previously wrote that Gears 5 would be free to play for the next few days due to Xbox’s Free Play Days. If you already have it or aren’t interested in chainsaw guns, there are some other games included in the current lineup.
The other games are Hitman: The Complete First Season and Override: Mech City Brawl, which are available now till 12 April at 11.59pm PDT (13 April at 2.59pm in Malaysia). Last week’s offering, The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited, is still around too and will be available until 13 April at 11.59 pm PDT, or 14 April at 2.59pm here.
Unfortunately, Override: Mech City Brawl isn’t available in Asia on the Xbox One, so you’ll need an account from a different region to play it.
While the newer Hitman 2‘s improvements and legacy levels means that there’s not much of a reason to buy Hitman‘s first season, it’s still a fun globe-trotting sandbox assassination game that’s worth checking out for free. I thought it lacked some of Blood Money‘s flavour and was very disappointed that it didn’t feature a briefcase, but I sunk some time into it nevertheless.


Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania Is The Beginning Of The Kang-dom

Of all the heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man has always been sort of the overlooked underdog, so much so that many fans either skipped his second movie (2018’s Ant-Man And The Wasp) or don’t remember much of it even if they have; I dare you to tell me the name of the villain in that movie without looking it up.
Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania changes all of that and it’s the best Ant-Man movie yet, even if that doesn’t sound like much of a high bar.
Baskin Robbins 31

Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is the 31st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang previously worked at Baskin Robbins. I don’t know if that’s intentional or not, but it’s still a funny coincidence. I digress. Thankfully, this movie’s quality and focus feel closer to that of MCU movies from before the post-Avengers Endgame Phase Four films such as Thor Love And Thunder and Eternals, many of which have been divisive. It’s a great sign for what’s to come in the new Phase Five of the MCU if the quality of Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is any indication.
Of course, I can’t spoil the movie, but the gist of it is that the Ant-Man family (consisting of Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang, Kathryn Newton’s Cassie Lang, Evangeline Lily’s Hope Van Dyne, Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet Van Dyne and Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym) meets Kang The Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) in the Quantum Realm. I say the Ant-Man family, because unlike previous Ant-Man films, Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania features strong family elements and dynamics, specifically exploring the relationship between Scott Lang and his daughter, Cassie Lang. This results in a movie with a much more emotional tone compared to past Ant-Man films.

What makes Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania unique even amongst the plethora of MCU films is that it’s primarily a science fiction film, with elements inspired by pulp sci-fi and space operas like Flash Gordon, Star Wars and more. Overall, it feels a lot like a Jules Verne novel coming to life, sort of like a Journey To The Center Of The Earth feel to the movie. For that reason, it’s definitely a great choice to make more than 90 per cent of the movie take place in the Quantum Realm. Yeah, the movie really doesn’t waste time, since the characters spend time in the Quantum Realm for most of the movie’s two-hour-plus runtime.
The MVP of the movie is unsurprisingly Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror. He brings a level of intensity and menace to the villain, as well as being physically imposing despite being just a human in a suit. While Josh Brolin undoubtedly did a great job with Thanos, some of that can be attributed to the motion capture wizardry. Here, it’s Jonathan Majors’ charisma and presence all the way. With only a single movie appearance (well, and in the Loki Season 1 finale), he proves that he has what it takes to be the next big bad of the MCU. Avengers The Kang Dynasty can’t come soon enough.

With all that said, Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania does have its flaws. The movie is a tad too predictable in terms of its plot, especially if you’re already familiar with some of what’s already been said about the movie from cast interviews and trailers. There’s not much in regard to genuine surprises, with the exception of the two post-credits scenes, but that’s not technically part of the movie itself. There’s also a bit of a pacing issue with the film, as some parts feel draggy and drawn out, but that’s probably because there’s a fair bit of exposition in this movie (since it has the burden of introducing Kang The Conqueror).
A New Phase Begins

Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is definitely a must-watch if you’re looking forward to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even if you’re feeling fatigued from the inconsistency of Phase Four, this movie gives the MCU a shot of adrenaline that it sorely needs. Let’s hope that the MCU is able to maintain this level of focus and quality for the coming movies and TV series.
FINAL SCORE: 80/100
We attended an early screener of Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania courtesy of The Walt Disney Company Malaysia. Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 16 February 2023.


Here’s Your First Look At Rift Of The Necrodancer

In a joint-venture between Brace Yourself Games and developer, Tic Toc Games have released the first trailer and screenshots for Rift of the NecroDancer, its recently-announced standalone rhythm game in the Crypt of the NecroDancer series.
It is planned for release on PC via Steam. A release date was not announced.
The NecroDancer’s back in a brand new rhythm game spinoff. Help Cadence navigates the modern world while repairing the rifts that have torn her life apart. Do rhythmic battles via rift mode, minigames, and boss battles. All to the beat of a brand new soundtrack from Danny Baranowsky and friends.
KEY FEATURES

Rift Mode – A rhythmic battle against streams of monsters pouring out of the Rift!
Mini Game Mode – Help Cadence overcome the challenges of the modern world via rhythmic mini-games!
Boss Battles Mode – Defeat powerful bosses using a one-two punch, to the rhythm of the beat!
A brand new soundtrack from Danny Baranowsky and collaborators!
Mod support, online leaderboards, and more!


Evil Dead The Game Brings The Boomstick This May

Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games have announced that the co-op and PvP multiplayer game Evil Dead The Game will be released on 13 May 2021, after being delayed several times. It will launch for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
The official statement (via Twitter) reads:
â€œWhen we set out to create a brand new game worthy of the Evil Dead franchise, we knew it had to be groovy as hell. In order to deliver the best possible experience, Evil Dead: The Game is now coming on May 13, 2022.
This delay gives our team the time they need to get things just right, so your boomstick will be polished, fully loaded, and ready to blast Deadites on that Friday the 13th of May. We thank you for your patience and understanding.
Donâ€™t worry, you wonâ€™t have to wait too long for more news: stay tuned for pre-order info and a BRAND NEW TRAILER in February!

Hey Evil Dead fans!
When we set out to create a brand new game worthy of the Evil Dead franchise, we knew it had to be groovy as hell. In order to deliver the best possible experience, Evil Dead: The Game is now coming on May 13, 2022. pic.twitter.com/BfuaOdcFVT
— EvilDeadTheGame (@EvilDeadTheGame) January 28, 2022

Evil Dead The Game was originally announced during The Game Awards 2020. The game will feature the original cast of 1981’s Evil Dead, including Ellen Sandweiss (Cheryl), Hal Delrich (Scotty), and of course, Bruce Campbell (Ash) as playable Survivors, as well asÂ Betsy Baker (Linda) and Theresa Tilly (Shelly) in special appearances.
In the meantime, check out the previously-revealed gameplay trailer below:


Here’s Why You Won’t Be Seeing Re-Releases Of Ninja Gaiden Black & Ninja Gaiden 2

Koei Tecmo will be releasing the Ninja Gaiden trilogy for Nintendo Switch and other platforms, which is a boon for action game fans who want a high level of challenge. However, some versions of the trilogy will only include Ninja Gaiden Sigma 1 and Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, revised versions of the original Xbox title meant for other platforms like the PS3.
Why is this so? And why isn’t Ninja Gaiden Black included in the trilogy as well? According to Koei Tecmo (via Famitsu & Kotaku), developer Team Ninja could not salvage the remaining data to port the older games into the collection. Here’s what Team Ninja brand manager Fumihiko Yasuda said:
“For me personally,Â Ninja Gaiden IIÂ was my debut, and so I have aÂ deep feeling for it. But thereâ€™s another reason for this choice. To be honest, there are only fragments of the data that remain. We couldnâ€™t salvage them. However, when developingÂ Sigma PlusÂ andÂ Sigma Plus 2Â [for the PlayStation Vita], we got as much of this kind ofÂ data together as we could and organized it. Because we use utilize that is the reason why we selectedÂ Sigma.”
At the very least, you can still play Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2 on Xbox Game Pass, if they make their way onto the service again.


First Uncharted Trailer Teases Epic Origin For Nathan Drake

Sony Pictures has revealed the first full-length trailer for the upcoming Uncharted movie. This comes only a day after a few seconds of footage was leaked yesterday.
The synopsis reads:
Based on one of the best-selling, most critically acclaimed video game series of all time, Uncharted introduces audiences to the young street-smart Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) and showcases his first treasure hunting adventure with wisecracking partner Victor â€œSullyâ€ Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg). In an action-adventure epic that spans the globe, the two go in dangerous pursuit of â€œthe greatest treasure never foundâ€ while also tracking clues that may lead to Nathanâ€™s long-lost brother.
What’s interesting is that Nathan mentions his brother, Sam, in the trailer. Sam Drake is a relatively new addition to the Uncharted canon, having only been introduced in 2016’s Uncharted 4 A Thief’s End. Will we see Sam Drake in the flesh in the upcoming movie? Maybe. Maybe not.
Uncharted will premiere on 18 February 2022. It stars Tom Holland as a young Nathan Drake and Mark Wahlberg as a young Sully.
Check out the trailer below:


Lady Dimitrescu Actress Explains How She Landed The Role

Resident Evil VillageÂ launched for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC earlier this month. It was a massive success, selling over three million units to date, probably because of how good the game turned out to be (check out our review of the game here).
One of the most popular aspects of the game is Lady Dimitrescu, who has been taking the internet by storm since she was initially revealed earlier this year. The antagonist from Resident Evil Village is played by actress Maggie Robertson. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, she revealed that she wasn’t even aware of how BIG the job was until she attended the first table read for her role.
She explained:
“It’s bonkers. I do think it was luck that I found this audition.
Not luck that I booked the job, because that was a product of preparation and hard work.
But I had just moved to LA and was unrepresented.
I decided to submit myself to this audition, which was pretty unusual for projects of this magnitude.
And I kinda submitted it on a whim, as an afterthought.
Voice work wasn’t really on my radar, and I was like, “Might as well, why not?”
But it wasn’t until I got to the table read that I realised what I’d actually booked.
I walked in, and there was just this energy in the air.
The excitement was really palpable.
People were whispering excitedly to each other in corners, and I overheard someone say something along the lines of, “Oh, I’m so excited. I can’t believe I’m a part of this franchise. It’s a dream come true.”
It was then that I started to clue in and I was like: “I think I might have just booked something really big!”
I went home and furiously researched it and figured out what game I was in, and that was a big moment.
I had to sit back in my chair for a moment and process it.”
And no, she’s not actually as tall as Lady Dimitrescu, as she added:
“I am not 9 foot 6! Darn! I believe tall was in the spec for the character. I’m 6 feet tall, so that was definitely helpful to them.”
You can find Maggie Robertson on Twitter as well:

Gearing up for signings starting on 5/29. First of which is a sibling rivalry signing at https://t.co/elSbbn4kjg with the one & only Heisenberg himself, @NeilNewbon. Mark those calendars & grab your prints at https://t.co/KbJMpmY1Aw #ResidentEvilVillage #LadyDimitrescu pic.twitter.com/Z3pQBtA0SC
— Maggie Robertson (@maggiethebard) May 25, 2021


Kakuchopurei Best 30 Games Of 2022: #28

For the rest of the list, head here. For #29, head here.
#28. Horizon Forbidden West (PS5, PS4)

Guerilla Games’ Horizon franchise is fast becoming one of the PlayStation’s biggest flagship first-party titles. Even against the likes of Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West managed to impress with some of the best graphics yet on the PS5, as well as a bunch of gameplay improvements over the first game, 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn.
This game joins the likes of Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart and Returnal in being the best reason to get a PS5 right now, showcasing the next-gen console’s sheer power and potential. Horizon Forbidden West ultimately doesn’t really do much to revolutionize or innovate the open-world genre. But that’s OK, because what it delivers -open-world action and robot animal/dinosaur fighting and trapping- is given in spades and aces.
The franchise deserves that, and it deserves to be recognised more. It has the potential to be as popular as God Of War, especially as PlayStation is gearing up for more games in the franchise (like the upcoming VR game Horizon Call Of The Mountain), DLC expansions and even a live-action TV series in the making, which will make the IP even more valuable in the future.


Valorant Is Getting A New Indian-Themed Lotus Map, Alien Gun Skins, & A Shiny New Battlepass

Valorant is now going on its sixth Episode update, featuring a brand-new map for agents to fight on and an appropriate Battlepass for them to spend real money on.
The new map is called Lotus; traditional Indian stepwells, rock-cut architecture, and Dravidian-style structures inspire it. Gameplay-wise, it’s a 3-site map with high flexibility and movement for both teams according to Riot game designer Joe Lansford. New mechanics include rotating doors, a destructible door/wall, and a silent drop spot.

Alongside the new map is the Episode 6 Act 1 Battlepass, which features the Araxys skinline for all guns that’s sold separately. The game’s art lead Stefan Jevremovic said the new skinline is to embody the danger and power of an unknown alien race.
“We took inspiration from the idea of inorganic things being alive, of bodies made of metal and mineral—but breathed. The story is that these weapons were once wielded by an aggressive and dangerous alien race; large creatures, armoured in hard unpierceable scales, who wielded advanced weaponry that could vaporize their enemies in the blink of an eye. Driven only by their bloodlust, they conquered the stars and destroyed galaxies without sway, without mercy. And these guns are their legacy, weapons modelled in their form which keeps the memories of that hostile race alive, and with the threat of their return ever-looming upon the horizon of its unworthy wielders.”
The Araxys skinline bundle will cost you 8700 VP (which is as much as buying a triple-A game), and includes the following:

Araxys Vandal
Araxys Operator
Araxys Shorty
Araxys Bulldog
Araxys Bio Harvester (melee)
Araxys Gun Buddy
Araxys Card
Araxys Spray

Here’s what the Episode 6 Act 1 Battlepass for this season entails:

Free Track Highlights

9 Lives Classic Gun Skin
Big Announcement Gun Buddy
PlayZilla Dan Card
Shock Heart Spray

Paid Track Highlights

Venturi Vandal
Venturi Knife
Rift Rider Card
Perfectly Roasted Spray
Folded Wish Gun Buddy

Price: 1,000VP (US$9.99/less than RM35)

The map, Araxys skins, and Battlepass will be out on 10th January.


Victoria 3 Officially Announced More Than A Decade After Last Game

During PDXCon 2021, Paradox Interactive finally announced Victoria 3, the long-awaited new entry to the grand strategy franchise of games set in the 19th century at the height of the industrial revolution. The last game was Victoria 2, which was released 10 years ago back in 2010.
It is slated to launch for PC via Steam and the Paradox Store, as well as via Xbox Game Pass for PC. However, a release date has not been announced, which means that the game might not even release in 2021.
Here is an overview of the game, via Paradox Interactive’s official website:
The railroad and the telegraph. Steamships and the birth of flight. Mass conscription, emancipation and the campaign for womenâ€™s rights. The Victorian Age saw a world transformed by new technology, new philosophies and new ways of doing politics. This tumultuous century springs to new life inÂ Victoria 3, a grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studio.
After years of community requests and curiosity about the future of one of the companyâ€™s iconic games,Â Victoria 3Â is instantly one of the most highly anticipated grand strategy games in Paradoxâ€™s history.Â Victoria 3 is a society simulator set in a time of great change. Track the needs and desires of national populations, each group with its own political and material preferences. Conservative factions may resist political reform as growing numbers of tradespeople and intellectuals push for a greater say in how the nation is run. Trade a wide range of goods on a global scale to make sure that needs are met at home because if people are hungry and disenfranchised, revolution beckons.
Key Features

Deep Societal SimulationÂ â€“ Cultural, economic and ideological divisions compete for power and resources in one of Paradoxâ€™s most detailed historical worlds.
Tend Your National GardenÂ â€“ Nurture your population, educating it and preparing it for the future, guaranteeing their prosperity and improving their happiness.
Wonders of the Industrial AgeÂ â€“ Scientific and social progress give you the chance to improve the lives of your citizens.
Sophisticated Economic SystemÂ â€“ Import goods to keep costs low, export goods to enrich your citizens, and then tax that wealth to advance your plans.
Challenging Diplomacy â€“ Maintain harmonious relations with your neighbours or provoke a crisis to grab valuable resources or force open new markets.
Political DealmakingÂ â€“ Manage competing interests in your government, opening up new reforms but risking revolution if key voices are not heard.
Detailed and Living World â€“ Cities grow and factories darken the landscape on a beautifully drawn map of the 19th-century globe. Play any of dozens of nations from 183 and try to claim your place in the sun.

In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Ragnarok Origin Brings Velvet Creme Poring Latte To Life

HUAWEI AppGallery, the leading global app distribution platform together with ZUS Coffee esteemed high-quality coffee brand, and beloved mobile game Ragnarok Origin (ROO) are joining forces to announce a collaborative campaign revolving around the highly anticipated Velvet Crème Poring Latté. This mouth-watering limited-edition drink was carefully crafted to capture the excitement and happiness felt when starting a new adventure with a partner, while seamlessly blending elements of gaming, specialty coffee craftsmanship, and technological innovation.
You can experience the captivating Velvet Crème Poring Latté with the three-party campaign until 31 July 2023. The limited-time pink-hued drink pays tribute to the enchanting story that unites gaming, love, and technology, offering an unforgettable taste experience. Immerse yourself in this limited-time treat at any ZUS Coffee and explore the perfect blend of gaming and coffee culture. As an added bonus, customers who purchase the Velvet Crème Poring Latté will unlock exclusive user benefits that will enhance their enjoyment to the fullest.

From now until 31 July 2023, this tripartite campaign promises an array of exciting activities and exclusive rewards for participants. The enchanting Velvet Crème Poring Latté, a delightful drink boasting a pink hue and sweet flavour, is set to captivate taste buds. Coffee aficionados are encouraged to savour this limited-time, refreshing and invigorating beverage that will allow them to experience the perfect fusion of gaming and coffee culture.
In addition to the Poring Latté experience, the campaign presents exhilarating opportunities for in-app purchases and user rewards on HUAWEI AppGallery. Players of Ragnarok Origin are invited to download the game from AppGallery and get exclusive rewards. Some of the rewards that gamers are able to unlock*:

Special in-game gift packs for a total spend of RM500 and above
Limited-edition “Original Love” Tumbler for a total spend of RM1,000 and above, only on eWallets.

The in-app purchases activities will run from now until 31 July 2023. Terms and conditions apply. You can log on here to learn more: https://bit.ly/ag_roo_zus_campaign2023.
Players can download Ragnarok Origin from AppGallery at https://bit.ly/42xfq2d.
Boasting a remarkable two-decade legacy in the gaming industry, Ragnarok Origin holds a cherished place in the hearts of passionate gamers. It provides players with a nostalgic journey, allowing them to relive extraordinary adventures alongside their beloved characters while sharpening their skills on exciting battlegrounds. With visually stunning maps and the revival of beloved job classes, gamers can fully immerse themselves in the captivating and diverse world of ROO. For an enhanced gaming experience, players can indulge in the seamless and optimized gameplay offered by the HUAWEI P60 Pro.

Rei Xiao, Director of Mobile Ecosystem Business Growth, Huawei APAC Region said:
“We are thrilled to join forces with ZUS Coffee and Ragnarok Origin in this campaign. The launch of the Velvet Crème Poring Latté and the opportunity for users to download Ragnarok Origin from AppGallery epitomise our commitment to integrating technology and lifestyle. Together, we are creating a unique experience that combines the best of coffee and gaming for our users to enjoy.”
Terence Ho, Co-Founder of ZUS Coffee elaborated:
“We have created Velvet Crème Poring Latté as a tribute to the joy, adventure, and emotions that gaming evokes. We believe that this drink will become an enjoyable part of Ragnarok Origin players.”
Harry Choi, President of Gravity Game Hub added:
“The Velvet Crème Poring Latté, inspired by Poring, the iconic adorable monster in Ragnarok Origin, allows our gaming community to experience the fantasy world in a different space, and as part of their daily lives. Avid fans can also catch up over a drink and their gaming happenings. It is also an opportunity for other gamers to discover the world of Ragnarok Origin, bringing the nostalgic charm of the game to a wider audience. Join us in exploring the diverse and visually stunning world of Ragnarok Origin, available now on AppGallery.”
HUAWEI AppGallery is available for Android phone users. To download the app, follow these steps:

Go to the download link and click on “Install” to have AppGallery on your Android device.
Download HMS Core and click on “Install”.
Create a HUAWEI ID and log in.
Start downloading apps and games and enjoy AppGallery’s exclusive benefits and rewards.

You can download AppGallery now: https://bit.ly/40VRapY


No Straight Roads Encore Edition Drops On Steam Later This Month

Malaysian developer Metronomik has announced that No Straight Roads Encore Edition will launch for PC via Steam on 21 October 2021. The PC Steam version of No Straight Roads was originally announced in August 2021.
No Straight Roads Encore Edition includes the base game along with brand new exclusive content, including an expanded collection of tracks remixed by new and returning artists, a new opening cinematic, quality of life improvements and new fan-based content that celebrates the incredible enthusiasm and support from the NSR community following the gameâ€™s initial release last year.
In addition, it also includes the festive-focused â€˜Christmas Editionâ€™ content update, which remixes the game with holiday-themed music, decorations, outfits and more. In celebration of No Straight Roadsâ€™ one-year anniversary, Metronomik recently invited fans to submit their own original NSR artwork to appear in the Encore Edition. Over 500 pieces of fan art will appear in-game throughout Vinyl City and, once found, can be displayed on-screen as part of the Encore Editionâ€™s refreshed UI.
No Straight RoadsÂ is available now for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via theÂ Epic Games Store. You can check outÂ our full review ofÂ No Straight RoadsÂ here.


Oscar Nominee Jessie Buckley To Star In The Devil In Me

The latest entry to The Dark Pictures Anthology by Supermassive Games has revealed their final girl, who will be none other than Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley.
The last chapter to close off Season 1 of the horror movie inspired game series has been revealed to be Jessie Buckley, who’s nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Lost Daughter. The interactive drama game will be taking notes from iconic horror films like Saw this time around, with The Devil In Me’s story being a documentary film crew covering America’s first serial killer.
Buckley’s character was revealed as Kate Wilder, who will be part of documentary film crew after they receive a mysterious invite to a replica of the ‘Murder Castle’ of H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer. This isn’t Buckley’s first foray into the horror genre, with her performance in A24’s Men also playing the leading role.

Despite this being the season finale of The Dark Pictures Anthology, their next game has already been announced with The Quarry. The game looks to be going back to their roots with another tale of teenagers isolated in a cabin in the woods like in their first game Until Dawn. It looks like fans of Supermassive Games have a lot to be excited for. We’re curious to see how they revamp known horror tropes and see their spin on Saw.
The game has yet to announce its release date but The Devil In Me is slated to come out later this year.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c99FpQYxQnc


Action RPG Kandria Hits PC This January

Switzerland-based game developer Shirakumo Games will be releasing its 2D open-world action RPG Kandria in a few months’ time.
Kandria will be out on 11th January 2023 according to the latest trailer showcasing more about its world, its characters, and its unique 2D aesthetics. It’s pixel-heavy, but also pretty detailed in its own right. Kandria takes inspiration from 2D platformers like Celeste but with its own post-apocalyptic take on the genre.
Here’s a synopsis of the upcoming indie title:
“You are an android, awakened in a ruined future where a vast open world lies accessible to you right from the start, totaling more than 2.5 million square meters in size. However, ambition and danger go hand-in-hand as you platform and parkour your way through 250 hand-crafted rooms filled with challenging platforming. As you explore vast caverns and ancient ruins, hack and slash your way through myriad enemies, including feral animals, rogue robots, and antagonistic humans who are on the prowl in this hostile world.
Discover new settlements filled with people trying to eke out an existence in the world and offer them hope and assistance by completing 50 different quests that help shed light on the mysteries of the world around you. Or…don’t! The world of Kandria is built for both intrepid and adventurous explorers and those simply wanting to lead a quiet life in this strange world. Take up a bit of fishing, for example, and enjoy a relaxing break from the dangers of exploration. You never know, you just might catch something rare and valuable.”


Xbox Live Is Now Officially Xbox Network

Xbox Live is now officially Xbox Network. Xbox beta testers started noticing the change earlier today, and Microsoft has confirmed the name change for Xbox’s online service.
In a statement to The Verge, Microsoft said:
â€œâ€™Xbox networkâ€™ refers to the underlying Xbox online service, which was updated in the Microsoft Services Agreement.
The update from â€˜Xbox Liveâ€™ to â€˜Xbox networkâ€™ is intended to distinguish the underlying service from Xbox Live Gold memberships.â€
To be clear, Xbox Live Gold is Microsoftâ€™s long-running online subscription service, where players will have access to online gaming as well as some free monthly games through Games With Gold for the price of US$9.99 a month (similar to how Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription works).
Meanwhile, Xbox Live has been used to refer to Xbox’s online service since its original launch on the original Xbox console a whopping 18 years ago. There’s also the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which will now also include the newly-named Xbox Network as well as Xbox Game Pass access for a total of US$15 a month.
In other related news, Microsoft is also planning to drop the subscription requirement for free-to-play games on Xbox Network in the coming months. Games like Fortnite and Rocket League will no longer require Xbox Live Gold (which is a paid subscription), but Microsoft has yet to confirm when exactly this change will be implemented.

Xbox network ? https://t.co/E49QQzQFad pic.twitter.com/OQS1cRsrZ2
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) March 21, 2021