Andor Is Star Wars At Its Most Grounded

The Star Wars universe has had a very successful run with TV shows thus far on Disney+ with two seasons of The Mandalorian, a season of The Book Of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi respectively, and other content (Star Wars Visions, Star Wars The Bad Batch, etc.). Some of these have been divisive, especially the ones that aren’t The Mandalorian, but Andor might turn out to be the most divisive one yet.
Outside of the main trilogies pre-The Mandalorian, 2016’s Rogue One A Star Wars Saga is arguably the most successful Star Wars spinoff, and for good reason, the movie was great. However, developing and releasing a TV series about one of the characters from that movie, who’s not even the main protagonist or the most memorable, is definitely the riskiest move by Disney+ to date. Compare Cassian Andor to someone like Obi-Wan Kenobi (an iconic fan-favourite), and you’ll understand what I mean.
The biggest question is: does Andor make you care about Cassian Andor if you never cared about him in the first place? Read on to find out!
Why Should We Care About Andor?

Come on, no one can say with a straight face that Cassian Andor was their favourite thing about Rogue One. It’s likely either Darth Vader’s iconic and epic hallway scene at the end of the movie, or K-2SO (whose droid model has since been featured in Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order and The Book Of Boba Fett), or something else. So, I ask again; does Andor make you care about Cassian Andor if you never cared about him in the first place? After watching four episodes of Andor, I honestly can’t really say that it does, but it’s not a definite no either.
Andor takes place five years before the events of Rogue One, so we’re meeting a younger and rougher Cassian Andor who’s more of a lawless scoundrel, conman and thief. I think I understand what the showrunners were going for here; to make Andor another Han Solo of sorts. Unfortunately, Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor isn’t as instantly likeable as the legendary Han Solo was when he made his debut in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope all those years ago. Cassian Andor isn’t nearly as charismatic as Han Solo, but I think that’s probably the point of the series; that even the morally grey has what it takes to do what is right, in this case, from being a criminal to a rebel.
The setting and timeline of Andor are interesting though, in that this is before the proper birth of the Rebel Alliance. Corruption is everywhere, even in places where the Empire has yet to fully take control of and that’s what the show is trying to depict. There are elements of espionage and the spy genre in Andor, as the series begins with Cassian Andor committing a crime and that leads to an overly gung-ho inspector from the Corporate Security Forces hot on his heel. He has to find a way to escape their clutches, and all of this will somehow lead to the rise of the Rebel Alliance.
It does feel a bit cheap at first that the main antagonists of Andor aren’t even the Empire. The Corporate Security Forces feel almost exactly like Imperials but they aren’t, sort of like the Empire but with another skin and surprisingly even more incompetent than Empire. Saying more would touch on spoilers, but suffice it to say that seeing these new bad guys really makes me miss the Empire and their stormtroopers, even though we’ve seen them a million times by now.
The supporting characters don’t particularly stand out much either. Adria Arjona plays a character named Bix, who’s a potential love interest but is pretty much just eye candy. The others are typical white dudes, with the exception of the great Stellan Skarsgard, who performs as best as he can with what he’s given. Also, with the debut of a new Star Wars series, there must always be an adorable new droid companion, and Andor is no exception. B2EMO will probably be another fan-favourite, despite having a design that doesn’t really scream iconic or memorable right away. However, it’s hard to think of any of the human characters becoming anyone’s fan favourite as of the four episodes that I’ve watched.

Andor tries to make us care about Cassian Andor by delving into his past, and that means flashbacks. That’s right; Andor’s narrative is structured so that almost every episode is interspersed between what happens in the present and flashbacks to Cassian Andor’s childhood. Obviously, I can’t divulge the details, but it’s not as compelling as it should be. In fact, every time a flashback starts, I just want to get back to the present storyline as soon as possible. There’s nothing immediately engrossing about the flashbacks, and that slots into the biggest issue of Andor.
I know fans have been complaining that six or less than 10 episodes per season are not enough for a Star Wars series. Unfortunately, a 12-episode series doesn’t seem to be any better. Granted, Disney+ only gave us four episodes for the purposes of this review, but that was enough for me to conclude that Andor is much, much slower than any other Star Wars series to date. Compared to The Mandalorian, The Book Of Boba Fett or Obi-Wan Kenobi, it feels like nothing much ever happens in the episodes of Andor. It’s a slow burn.
I’m not kidding about the show’s pacing. There’s hardly any action in the first two episodes, with the first major action scene only happening at the beginning of Episode 1 and the next in Episode 3.
To put it simply, I would say the best analogy is that two or three episodes of Andor (each of which are around 35 to 45 minutes long) are the equivalent of watching one episode of The Mandalorian, The Book Of Boba Fett or Obi-Wan Kenobi. To make matters worse, Andor feels standalone in its first four episodes, with hardly anything in the way of major easter eggs that I could find. This self-contained narrative might be more appealing to newcomers and casual Star Wars fans.
It’s not all bad though. The production value in Andor is through the roof, and it’s clear a lot of resources were poured into this series. The scenes tend to be more gritty and grimy, but a lot of money was clearly poured into making Andor look good. Showrunner Tony Gilroy has invested in impressive wide environmental shots and more, which makes Andor look more cinematic than other live-action Star Wars series such as Obi-Wan Kenobi or The Book Of Boba Fett. Also, thank the Force that we’re getting a variety of settings (forests, cities, etc.) this time around, not just more sand and desert (too much Tatooine is not a good thing). I know many fans have been complaining how setting all the previous shows on desert planets has made the Star Wars universe seem smaller than it should be.
It’s Andor, Not Endor

Simply put, Andor is unlike any previous Star Wars series. It doesn’t focus on the Force or the Jedi, and there aren’t many aliens or stuff that we normally associate with the Star Wars franchise. Instead, it’s Star Wars at its most grounded and gritty. Still, I think it does have some merits in fleshing out some of the less-explored parts of Star Wars canon, but it’s too early to say for sure with only four episodes.
The problem is that will even the hardcore Star Wars fans stay long enough in Andor’s 12-episode first season to see the full vision of the showrunners, or whatever it turns out to be?
 So far, I really don’t see how Andor can justify its own existence, especially with there being so many more potential Star Wars spinoffs more deserving of getting made rather than one that focuses on a character that was introduced and killed in a single movie, and one that some Star Wars fans might not even remember the full name of.
As a Star Wars fan myself, I really hope that it continues to improve and be better in the rest of its first season.
FINAL SCORE: 50/100
We received early screeners of Andor courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. The first three episodes of Andor are slated to premiere on 21 September 2022 on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, with new episodes every subsequent Wednesday.


US$70 For Games Is Fair, Says PlayStation CEO

Next-gen games, especially on PS5, are more expensive. Games like Demon’s Souls are selling for US$70 or roughly close to RM300 for a standard edition.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said that he believes the price increase is fair.
He said:
â€œYes, yes, I do [think itâ€™s fair],If you measure the hours of entertainment provided by a video game, such as Demonâ€™s Souls compared to any other form of entertainment. I think thatâ€™s a very straightforward comparison to draw.â€
However, Ryan did not reveal whether future first-party PS5 games will also cost US$70, stating that he will be “not making any predictions about anything that might or might not happen in the future.”
He also said that they are “not hearing” about the complaints about the PS5’s meagre 665GB of storage space, so they will consider the issue only after “people unbox their PlayStations and start to start to use them.”
Last but not least, interestingly enough, when asked about whether the sequel to 2018’s God Of War will be a PS5 exclusive, Ryan replied:
“Sorry. Iâ€™ve got nothing to say about that today.”
You can take that as you will, considering that even Horizon Forbidden West will be a cross-gen title.


Genshin Impact 1.1 Content To Feature Four New Playable Characters

If you’re loving/hating the gacha system in Genshin Impact, well, this update isn’t going to change what worked. In fact, it’ll add four new characters in the already-large character gacha pool.
Genshin Impact’s 1.1 update, dubbed “A New Star Approaches”, will bring in the following heroes:

Childe from the Liyue story; he is now a 5-star hydro archer who can switch between melee and ranged attacks.
Zhongli, the funeral parlour consultant guy & the one in the story who is terrible at monetary negotiations. He is a 5-star Geo polearm wielder with petrify status attacks.
Xinyan, who has effective elemental combos & combat strategies.
Diona, who also has effective elemental combos & combat strategies.

The update will also add in a new quest which will end the Liyue chapter, an Unreconciled Stars seasonal event with its own series of quests and co-op challenges plus a 4-star Fischl reward, a new reputation system that gives region-specific rewards if you help out a particular area, new items that mark nearby Anemoculi and Geoculi collectibles, and a monster cameo based on Mihoyo company president Forrest Liu.
The update will be out on 11th November.


Check Out Torchlight 3’s Sharpshooter Class In This New Trailer

Action-RPGs aren’t just about bashing monsters up close; there’s also room for ranged attacks, and Torchlight 3‘s newly-revealed Sharpshooter class is all about ranged attacks.
While the game’s steampunk firearms are available to everyone, the Sharpshooter is the only who can equip bows. She also has an assortment of ranged-themed abilities, like the self-explanatory Scatter Shot and Heart Seeker, which fires an arrow that causes knockback and makes enemies bleed.

The class can also summon spirits, like a rat swarm or an eagle called Goose that applies damage vulnerability to enemies. There’s also her “best friend” Shasta, a wolf who doles out weapon damage and taunts.
“Whether stacking buffs that increase your powerful potential, or calling down the spirit of a great eagle you call â€œGooseâ€, the Sharpshooterâ€™s deadly capabilities are versatile,” explains the blog post. “Combining the already distinct abilities with trinkets allows players to create custom builds that speak directly to their unique ranged playstyle.”
I prefer the idea of bashing things up close in fantasy games, but the Sharpshooter does look fun. No word on when Torchlight 3 will release yet, but you can sign up for the newsletter on the website.


Streamline Studios Promotes Two Female Leaders To Support Global Expansion & Operations

Streamline Studios, a global video game and Metaverse development company, has announced two new senior leadership promotions for their internal team. Yea-Ji Oh now serves as the company’s Division Director, and Lalitha Krishnan the Director of Studio Operations.
As Division Director, Oh will oversee global strategic initiatives for growth and expansion. In her seven years at Streamline Studios, Oh progressed from a Project Manager across game dev disciplines to the General Manager of an 80+ team of 3D Artists, Localization, and QA (Quality Assurance) Developers, to build an impressive credit list including MultiVersus, Little Nightmares II, and Street Fighter V. In this new role, Oh will use this knowledge and expertise in game dev management, building professional teams, and executive leadership to oversee and guide production process and talent acquisition at Streamline’s newest studio in Bogota, Colombia.
Yea-Ji Oh, Divisions Director for Streamline Studios, said:
“The games industry is full of passionate, diverse, and resilient people. That’s what attracted me to this industry. Now I can build teams and business infrastructure that offer technical creators around the world sustainable career paths and economic stability.”
Krishnan, Director of Studio Operations for Streamline Studios Malaysia, brings her seven years of leading international HR and Operations to work side-by-side with recently announced?Managing Director, Richard Cheah, to run the company’s production headquarters in Kuala Lumpur with over 244 employees. She will be jointly responsible for strategic planning, and scaling business operations.
Lalitha Krishnan, Director of Studio Operations, Streamline Studios Malaysia, said:
“I get great satisfaction from seeing others succeed where they believed there was no opportunity. Every day, I learn from my peers. I am challenged, and I’m faced with opportunities to thrive. In my new role, I can directly shape that journey and path to success for the next generation of Streamline leaders.”
Streamline Studios and its leadership team have consistently advocated for and served as active allies to women, people of colour, and diversity in games. Streamline CEO and Co-Founder, Alexander Fernandez, is the Allyship Committee Chair for Women In Games International, and the company supports events and initiatives like HITEC, Latino Leaders, Code Maven, and Women Who Code.
Alexander Fernandez, CEO and Co-Founder of Streamline Studios, said:
“Streamline will always be committed to reflecting the world as it is with the internal growth and career progression of our teams. As we expand globally, we need skilled, confident, and ambitious people leading from the front. Yea-Ji and Lalitha reflect the very best of Streamline and our belief that great games are made with diversity.”
Streamline continues to underscore its commitment to supporting the growing demands of global game development by actively recruiting emerging talent within the gaming and tech industries. Streamline is hiring on-site and remote teams across its Colombia, Malaysia, USA, and Japan offices. For more information about job opportunities, visit Streamline Studios Careers.


New FIFA 20 Video Shows Off Liverpool Partnership

Just about two months away from the release of FIFA 20, EA Sports has announced a partnership with Liverpool FC. This comes after Konami‘s deal with Juventus for PES 2020 exclusivity.
The Liverpool FC Twitter page uploaded a short clip that, among other things, shows off some of the club’s players’ in-game models. In the video, we can see Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah.

The end of the video also showed the players playing in a cage area and this is most likely another tease of the game’s Volta mode which is a call-back to the beloved FIFA Street games.
It’s worth noting that FIFA 20 was first revealed with Christian Ronaldo on the game’s cover. Now that Juventus and all of its players can no longer be in the game, we’ll most likely see a Liverpool player take his place instead. My bet’s on Mo Salah.

FIFA 20 comes out on 27 September 2019 for the PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. The game’s E3 showcase had a lot of cool details that you should check out.


Diablo 4 Altars Of Lilith Guide: How To Find Them In Act 5 Hawezar

Diablo 4 is out now for PC and consoles. The action RPG lets you explore the grim open world of Sanctuary, which now comes with power-granting Altars of Lilith.
These altars will grant you permanent buffs and Renown points for not just your current character, but for all characters under your Account/World. You will come across some of them throughout your journey, but most of them are well-hidden and out of plain sight unless you check every nook and cranny in all of Sanctuary. Finding a good number of them will add to your Renown score for each map, with a high number granting you extra potion use, extra skill points, and even increased Obol count for in-game loot gambling. So yes, you will want to take the time to find them as they’re pretty well-hidden.

Protips On Finding Altars of Lilith
There is always one Altar of Lilith in a Stronghold. There are 3 Strongholds per region, so there are 3 you can find automatically. Also, if there are small curved path “pockets” on the map that lead to nowhere, chances are there is one nearby or in said pocket.

Diablo 4 Altars Of Lilith Locations In Hawezar (Act 5)
Check out the Altars Of Lilith we’ve found so far in Hawezar below.

Image credit: d4builds.gg, wudijo


Marvel’s Midnight Suns Is More Than Just A Superhero XCOM

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Turn-Based Tactics, Card Game, Tactical RPG, Superhero, Comics
When Marvel’s Midnight Suns was originally announced, comic book fans everywhere (including myself) were extremely happy. A game featuring the underrated magic-focused superhero team, the Midnight Sons, from Marvel Comics from Firaxis, the same developer behind the brilliant XCOM games? It was a dream come true. However, when it was later revealed that the game’s combat would be card-based, some fans (including myself) felt cautious and apprehensive.
Fortunately, Marvel’s Midnight Suns ultimate turned out to be a great Marvel game, which is a hot streak continuing from last year’s Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy from Square Enix and Eidos Montreal.
Magical Marvels

First and foremost, let’s talk about the core gameplay and combat in Marvel’s Midnight Suns. As a veteran XCOM player, I was surprised to see that Firaxis hasn’t simply copy-pasted XCOM mechanics into this game. Once you get past the opening tutorial hours of the game, the gameplay loop is like this; every day you wake up in your room (which you can customize), do miscellaneous stuff like researching or upgrading, do a mission (whether it’s a side quest or main story mission).
Then after that mission, it becomes nighttime, and this is when you get to spend the rest of the night with one of your many superhero mates in interactive dialogue interaction. This will increase your friendship points with them. It’s like a daily schedule of sorts, which feels a lot like playing Mass Effect or Persona.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Firaxis didn’t simply copy-paste XCOM mechanics into the game. The maximum number of characters you can bring into any battle or mission is only three, and each member of your three-person team has their own customizable deck of eight to ten cards.
While this may sound like a hassle to players who aren’t a fan of card games, it’s really not all that complicated since that’s only a maximum of 30 cards per battle and most of them are likely repeating ones.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is nowhere near as hard as XCOM. For one, there’s no permadeath in this game. Another is that there are literally no chances for superheroes to miss their shots; there are no RNG percentages at play here, it’s always 100 percent. Instead, the strategy here comes from how to best utilize the cards and limited moves you have in order to defeat all enemies or complete the objective as fast as possible.
There’s also a mechanic where you can utilize the environment to damage enemies without having to use up your cards. As you defeat enemies, you build up Heroism points, which can be used to unleash more powerful cards or to use the aforementioned environmental mechanics. All in all, positioning is more important in combat than anything else.
Kudos to Firaxis for making each superhero in Marvel’s Midnight Suns feel unique. Every superhero has a distinctive flavour for the way they move and attack, whether it’s flying, levitating, teleporting, or swinging. For example, mixing heroes like Magik and Ghost Rider into your squad gives you the ability to open portals on the floor (into Limbo and/or Hell) and kick enemies into it for an instant knockout.
The game does feature quite a bit of micromanagement, including various in-game currencies for upgrades, as well as relationships and other stats to manage. The Abbey is certainly a major change of pace from battles. It’s like your SSV Normandy in Mass Effect. There are side quests that don’t involve combat here, including one that involves Agatha Harkness and having to unlock specific powers to open up new areas around the Abbey.

It’s fun to interact with the superheroes, due to the extensive and great voice acting. Each character has great development and depth, and they’re great to hang out with. To that end, your character, the Hunter, feels a bit bland compared to these superheroes. I know the Hunter is supposed to be more like a self-insert protagonist but even Shepard from Mass Effect had more personality.
Oh, and there’s even a sort of Paragon system at play here, where you can choose Light or Dark options during dialogue, which will add to your tally and unlock more Light or Dark-specific powers and passives.
The worst thing I can say about Marvel’s Midnight Suns is how bad the performance is for the PC version. It’s one of the worst PC ports I’ve played for a big-budget game in recent memory, with constant framerate dips and frequent game crashes.
It’s so bad that both players and major publications have recommended that players of the game manually disable the 2K launcher for performance to dramatically improve. For now, I definitely recommend getting the console (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) versions instead of the PC version.
Midnight Suns, Assemble!

If you want a turn-based RPG with social mechanics ala Mass Effect or Persona, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is the game for you, as well as all the comic book fans out there. The combat is fun, and the interactions with the various superheroes are one of the best things about the game. It bodes well for Firaxis, who has proven that they can do more than just XCOM and Civilization games.
PROS

Fun card-based combat system with depth.
Every superhero feels distinct and is great to interact with.
A lot of easter eggs and references for comic book fans.

CONS

The PC version is bogged down with lags and issues.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100
Midnight Suns was reviewed on PC based on a review copy provided by 2K Games. It is now available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.


Bloodshot Gets A Bloody First Trailer Featuring Vin Diesel

After teasing its unveiling on Sunday, Sony Pictures and Valiant Entertainment have released the first trailer for their upcoming Bloodshot movie starring Vin Diesel as the titular superhero, adapted from Valiant Comics character of the same name.
The official description reads:

Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation.
With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, heâ€™s an unstoppable force â€“stronger than ever and able to heal instantly.
But in controlling his body, the company has sway over his mind and memories, too.
Now, Ray doesnâ€™t know whatâ€™s real and whatâ€™s not â€“ but heâ€™s on a mission to find out.

That premise sounds very similar to the comic book version, as Ray Garrison is similar to Marvel’s Wolverine in that both have amnesia of some sort (can’t remember their past) and the ability heal from anything almost instantly. His origin is also essentially identical to Robocop, as both ‘died’ while they were human and were brought back to life using bleeding-edge technology.
The Bloodshot movie was initially intended to kickstart a new Valiant Cinematic Universe. However, another movie based on Valiant Comics, Harbinger, is now reportedly slated to be produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures instead, which translates to complications for the shared universe plans.
At the time of writing, it remains unclear which studio holds the rights to which Valiant Comics properties. There are still other popular characters like X-O Manowar, Ninjak, and The Eternal Warrior (to mention a few), who are ripe for adaptation.
Look at how many Valiant Comics characters there are.
Valiant Entertainment recently rebooted the Valiant Comics universe in 2012, and they have been publishing hit after hit ever since. From personal experience, I can definitely say that the Valiant universe is just as big and expansive as Marvel’s or DC Comics’, with a lot of untapped potential waiting to be.
The Bloodshot movie will be directed by Dave Wilson in his feature film directorial debut, with a script by Eric Heisserer (who wrote 2016’s Arrival) and Jeff Wadlow (who directed Kick-Ass 2). Besides Vin Diesel as Ray Garrison AKA Bloodshot, it also stars Guy Pearce, Eiza Gonzalez, Toby Kebbell amongst others.
Bloodshot is slated to release on 21 February 2020. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOUVVDWdXbo&w=560&h=315]


Grandia & Grandia 2 HD Remasters Will Be Out On PC This October

The Grandia HD Collection is already out for Nintendo Switch, but what about the rest of us who have PCs and Steam accounts? Well, you may need to wait a few more weeks according to publisher GungHo.
The collection will be out on PC this 15th October. Here’s the company’s official message:

“Since the release of the Grandia HD Collection on the Nintendo Switch, we have been closely following your feedback and comments across all of our available channels of communication. While we continue to concentrate on creating the best experience for our audiences on both the Nintendo Switch and PC, we are taking our time to resolve these issues.
We offer our sincerest apologies for those who have been looking forward to the PC remasters, and know that we are working as quickly and carefully as possible to resolve these issues.”

And for those who already owned Grandia II on Steam, the HD update will be out for free. Three more weeks until PC gamers get to experience the “FinalÂ  Fantasy killer” of its time. Yes, that was a thing back in the late 90s when the Sega Saturn was still around.


How Hard Did We Rock In No Straight Roads’ First Two Stages?

Despite its recent delay, there’s still a lot of anticipation and hype for Metronomik’s No Straight Roads, Malaysia’s major gaming contribution for 2020 that goes beyond assets-generation. And with the recent build of the game made playable to us, it feels like a road favorably traveled.
The premise to this indie title is simple: rocking protagonists Mayday (on guitars) and Zuke (on drums with snares and its kits popping out of thin air) are launching a crusade against the injustice of No Straight Roads’ EDM-loving big boss Tatiana and her cronies. Since the bad guys hold the keys to powering up Vinyl City, they don’t seem to want their position challenged by the power of rock.
Clearly there are a lot of interesting metaphors generated from this battle between these two genres in the game’s narrative; as subtle as a sledgehammer. However, the main crux is that it’s complemented with an appropriately loud and exaggerated art style, along with some distinguishably charming voice acting.

I’ll say this: so far, NSR’s look & voice is accessible yet uniquely Malaysian for anyone who wants an easy-to-follow tale of anti-establishmentism, with some lovely rock & EDM to boot. I won’t be too shocked if main rockers Mayday and Zuke get their own fanbase in the coming months.

Block-Rocking Beats

Gameplay-wise, NSR is an action title with a huge, HUGE focus on music rhythm game mechanics. See, all enemies and obstacles follow the beat of the song when doing their attacks. So instead of paying attention to enemy telegraphs, you use the rhythm of the song to time your dodges.
Since most enemy attacks here have long reach and can semi-track Mayday and Zuke, you need to time your evades right and then attack. Mayday hits harder than Zuke, but the latter can do quick-hitting “drum beat” attacks that are easily canceleable. Both of them can also collect music notes and shoot them at airborne and unreachable enemies, usually highlighted clearly in white thin frames.

You can even use the power of rock to transform certain objects with metronomes to aid you in your fight. So far, we’ve transformed items into turrets that damage bosses and temporary barriers that protect you from homing projectiles.
It doesn’t stop there: the better you perform and fight, the higher the rank. And the higher your rank, you get more currency in the form of fans, which you can use to get upgrades. Examples of powerups include double jump and air dash for better evasion options, adding a finisher attack for Mayday and Zuke, and speeding up item transformations.
Stickers you find in the “open-world” Vinyl City bits -the parts where you talk and find MacGuffins to gain more fans- will give you buffs and stat boosts that work in one stage hijack. Guitar and drum mods will give Mayday and Zuke special attacks that can heal or deal additional hurting from afar.
There’s a lot more to unlock that is sure to beef up Mayday and Zuke’s music-making arsenal. And you’ll need it because as fantabulous as these boss fights look, they can get pretty challenging.
Play It Again, Sam

The first main stage is a duel with a space EDM DJ called DJ Subatomic Super Nova. His stage is laid out like a solar system, with rings that expand after each phase of the fight. Not only is it quite a lovely feast for the eyes with major layout and colour changes with each boss phase, but it’s a great introduction to how NSR’s fights will pan out subsequently.
The second stage, where you fight an AI idol construct not unlike Hatsune Miku -but more obnoxious- is where the kid gloves come off. We started off easy with a linear sections of a level where we clear bad guys to advance; standard approach level stuff. Then when it came to the mermaid-like AI, things got real.

From the get-go, Sayu’s stage progressively gets hard to keep track of obstacles that can actively hurt you: rectangular bars that zoom past you, Sayu’s lasers and homing “fishes”, and even a mouse cursor that occasionally hampers your rhythm. But once you get the hang of the song’s fast beat and how each obstacle moves, I was dodging everything in style while transforming objects that can help damage Sayu -or shield you from her barrage of physically-hurting “cute” beams.

You also get to see Sayu morph from cute sacharine pink mermaid to a fish-for-a-head and human-feet abomination, highlighting each stage of difficulty to humourous effect.
The uglier she gets, the more attacks she dish out.Â The only real trick to not get hit as much is to dodge according to the bass of the pop song in the background.

And just like any action game worth their salt, you can unlock harder difficulties. So far, fighting DJ Subatomic Super Nova in Hard mode equals more globes that can alter their directions mid-way and faster attacks. You can look forward to bosses having more attack patterns and additional moves if you want a steeper challenge. You can also share the love with the game’s same-screen co-op if you need some help, though be careful: if either Mayday or Zuke are KO’ed and aren’t revived on time, it’s game over.

On a scale from Jonas Bros. to The Rolling Stones, our experience with No Straight Road’s earlier stages is Led Zeppelin levels of fun. It’s not going to take it easy on you, and it may be an acquired taste in the long run.

I’m a fan of the “learn as you go” approach that NSR is dishing out here. However, I’m not sure if that applies to anyone else who assumes that this may be a breezy romp based on the vibes of its lanky art style and the sensory overload from the two major fights.

But if you come in with an open mind and a basic appreciation of action games of the Capcom Five or Platinum Games variant, we might be looking at a possible cult hit from the land of nasi lemak and Ramly burgers.
No Straight Roads will be out for PC (via Epic Games Store), PS4, Xbox One, & Nintendo Switch this 25th August on 2020. You can check the demo out here.


Oninaki Demo Is Now Live For PS4; Comes With A Bonus Feature

Tokyo RPG Factory was formed by Square Enix to create games that mirrored the look and feel of JRPGS in the 90’s. The company’s first release, I Am Setsuna, was quite well received thanks to its heartwrenching story and simplistic yet enjoyable gameplay. Oninaki is their latest game and for PS4 owners, you can start playing the demo and get something really nifty out of it.

In the Playstation Blog announcement for the demo’s release, Tokyo RPG Factory game director Atsushi Hashimoto and creative producer Takashi Tokita spilled more details on the game.

“We decided to set Oninaki in a new world which shares a common thread with our previous titles in its unique take on life and death. This time itâ€™s centered around the idea of the cycle of reincarnation. In many ways, itâ€™s a totally different kind of world compared to what most players will expect from us, so we think that should be an exciting prospect for players who have seen our last titles too.”

In the world of Oninaki, reincarnation isn’t a spiritual mystery like in ours. It’s a real occurrence and the inhabitants of the world are even told that grieving for the dead would actually make reincarnation more difficult. It’s the job of the Watchers to smooth out any issues that complicates a wandering soul’s journey to the next life. In the game, you play as Kagachi, a young Watcher.

“Itâ€™s Kagachiâ€™s role in the story to guide these lost souls into the next life, and we think players will definitely find his story interesting. On top of this really different life and death cycle within the game, players will uncover a mystery surrounding a girl called Linne and The Night Devil â€” we think thereâ€™s a lot here to keep players interested!” – Hashimoto

The “something nifty” I mentioned earlier is that you can transfer your progress from the demo to the full game, if you decide to buy it later on. You’ll be playing the opening part of the game in the demo so when you play the full game, you don’t have to sit through that part all over again.
For those of you using a Malaysian PS account, here’s what you can do if you can’t find the demo on the PS Store. Use a browser to open the game’s PS Store page here and login to “purchase” the demo. The demo will then be available in your PS4 library.
Oninaki releases on 22 August 2019 for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.


HBO’s Watchmen Season 1 Is Free To Watch This Weekend

All nine episodes of HBOâ€™s Watchmen TV series’ first season is free to watch and stream this weekend starting today from 19 June 2020 until 21 June 2020.
In fact, you can already start watching it now, even if you live outside the United States (which is great, considering free stuff like this is sometimes limited to selected regions).
Watchmen Season 1 is currently available for non-subscribers to stream on the HBO official website here, as well as through Free on Demand services. The companyâ€™s press release (via Polygon) stated that the move was inspired by the ongoing #BlackLivesMatter protests:

â€œ… an extension of the networkâ€™s content offering highlighting Black experiences, voices and storytellers.
HBO is proud to offer all nine episodes for free of this timely, poignant series that explores the legacy of systemic racism in America.â€

It’s worth pointing out that 19 June 2020 is also the date of Juneteenth, an unofficial American holiday commemorating the gradual emancipation of enslaved Black people in the American Civil War and its aftermath.
HBOâ€™s Watchmen by Damon Lindelof is a spiritual sequel to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ legendary comic book of the same name, picking up decades after the events of the source material. It’s scary how relevant the themes of the series is in light of recent events, as the TV series also touched on police brutality, white supremacy, as well as the past and present plight of Black people.


Why Star Wars The Clone Wars Revival Matters After The Last Jedi and Solo

At San Diego Comic-Con 2018 recently, Disney announced that Star Wars The Clone Wars CGI animated series would be returning for a seventh season containing 12 episodes.
This news was totally unexpected, although recent successes of animated series revivals like Samurai Jack and Young Justice must have contributed to its return. Some fans, especially newer ones who jumped on the bandwagon with 2015’s The Force Awakens, would probably be wondering why this revival matters, least of all to them.
Well, let me just say that Star Wars The Clone Wars was the pinnacle of story-telling in the franchise. Its return might restore the faith of Star Wars fans in the franchise, especially after the disasters that were The Last Jedi and Solo.
We need something to remind us why Star Wars remains one of the most beloved franchises in history, filled with the most dedicated fans.
Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 7 Official SDCC 2018 Poster
Complex and Deep Narrative, Expanding Star Wars Lore
The first 6 seasons of Star Wars The Clone Wars lasted a whopping 121 episodes. That’s going to be one heavy binge for newcomers or those seeking to rewatch the entire series again. It’s definitely worth the time and money for any self-proclaimed Star Wars fan, considering that it’s all canon.
Despite what recent movies (*cough* The Last Jedi *cough*) seems to have conveyed, it’s important for canon to be preserved and expanded upon while respecting existing lore established in the past.

The narrative of the Clone Wars series reached a level of complexity and depth that George Lucas wishes he had achieved in the movies. After watching Star Wars Episodes 1-3, Star Wars expected more of the “Clone Wars,” which was originally mentioned in Episode 4: A New Hope by Ben Kenobi.

Star Wars The Clone Wars depicted everything about the “Clone Wars” that the movies failed to convey. You wanted more Clone troopers in battles? It had them. You wanted moral ambiguity that actual devastating war would bring? You got it. You wanted more Mandalorians like Jango/Boba Fett? You wanted to delve deeper into the Jedi/Sith lore? It had all of those and more.

Expanded Universe fans should also appreciate the fact that elements like the Mandalorian War and Darth Bane were made canon. Star Wars The Clone Wars expanded the franchise’s lore more than all 8 movies combined. We also saw a more believable journey of Anakin Skywalker’s turn to the Dark Side, rather than the whiny “I hate sand” version of the character from the movies.

We never had this in the movies. All we got was one measly Mandalorian per Star Wars saga. Star Wars The Clone Wars gave us a planet of Jango/Boba Fetts.
A Definitive Conclusion To The Clone Wars Era
Season 7 of Star Wars The Clone Wars will finally provide an official and definitive conclusion to the Clone Wars. In Rogue One, we saw the events leading directly to the beginning of Episode 4: A New Hope.

It also succeeded in explaining the plot hole for why the Death Star had such an obvious design flaw. We could be seeing that in the 12 episodes we’re receiving for Season 7. We might be seeing the events leading directly to the massive Battle of Coruscant from the beginning of Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith.

The Battle of Coruscant.
Ahsoka Tano Is Already The Franchise’s Best Female Protagonist
Disney keeps trying to create new female characters to spearhead the Star Wars franchise, with characters like Rey, Jyn Erso, and Rose. We already had the perfect female protagonist with Ahsoka Tano, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that she’s the best the franchise has right now.

The chances of seeing an Ahsoka Tano movie being made is realistically low, so fans should appreciate that we’re getting more of her with Season 7.

The most badass female character in Star Wars canon.
When Is Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 7 Releasing?
No official release has been announced for Season 7 of Star Wars The Clone Wars. However, it is slated to be released on Disney’s upcoming Netflix-like exclusive streaming service, which will begin operating sometime in fall 2019. That’s the earliest timeframe for the revival to be released.
Star Wars fans have waited since 2014, another year or two would still be worth the wait. In the meantime, check out the Comic-Con trailer for the return of Star Wars The Clone Wars below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI7WyhWZkzk&w=560&h=315]


The Last Worker Delivers An Immersive Story In A World Taken Over By Capitalism

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS VR2, Meta Quest 2, PC
Genre:  Adventure, First-person, Sci-Fi, Puzzles
Once in a while, it’s nice to be genuinely surprised and get immersed in a game’s story and characters. The Last Worker from developers Oiffy and Wolf & Wood Interactive is one of those games. It’s an immersive narrative adventure about a lone worker’s last stand in an increasingly automated world, with a unique blend of work simulation and other gameplay mechanics.
Welcome To The Jüngle

In The Last Worker, you are Kurt, an old man who works for the world’s largest retailer, Jüngle. Kurt is the last human worker whose job is to make sure the packages are correctly labelled and ready to be sent to customers or recycled. It’s sort of like working in an Amazon warehouse, but one that’s been super-sized in a world that’s controlled by capitalists. Players move around in a JünglePod, so you can move in all directions as if you’re on a floating chair. As Kurt, your main device is the JüngleGun. It works sort of like a kinesis module from Dead Space. In The Last Worker, it’s used to retrieve packages from shelves, label them if they’re damaged or incorrect, and send them into their proper chutes (either ready to be sent to customers or recycled instead).
That’s where the work simulation part of the game comes in. Basically, as Kurt, you’re doing this monotonous and dreary job of simply making sure the packages are labelled correctly and checking whether they’re damaged or incorrect. At the end of the work day (which is to say after several minutes of gameplay), you’ll get evaluated for your performance (how many packages you correctly label and send). If you get too many wrong, it’s game over, but really, the main focus of the game is its narrative, so it’s not that complicated.

Labelling packages aren’t the only thing you’ll be doing in The Last Worker so don’t worry. Once the story starts moving forward, there are a lot of puzzle-solving and simple stealth sections. The puzzles can involve JüngleGun’s additional attachments, including one that hacks devices and starts a simple puzzle minigame where you have to flip boxes and make sure they match. All of these gameplay mechanics, like the packages and boxes, are surely meant to be more immersive in virtual reality (VR), but playing it conventionally using a controller is still just as fun.
While the gameplay is fun, the highlight of The Last Worker is its narrative and characters. Kurt (voiced by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) is bolstered by an interesting supporting cast, including his robot companion, Skew (Jason Isaacs), and other characters played by Clare-Hope Ashitey, David Hewlett, Zelda Williams and Tommie Earl Jenkins. Everything else in The Last Worker just adds to its immersion, including the game’s cel-shaded comic book-like visual style. That’s because the art style of the characters and environments was designed by Mick McMahon, best known for his work on Judge Dredd and 2000 AD.

The narrative and writing in The Last Worker are satirical and thought-provoking. You’ll laugh and think about a lot of the themes presented in the game’s story.
The premise of “What would you do if you were the last human left working at a nightmarish version of an Amazon warehouse?” may sound depressing. However, the writers did a great job of turning it all into snarky satire, and there are still some emotional moments as well.
The developers know that the story is the main focus, so the game has been split into various chapters. However, it’s all still pretty short, as you can finish the game in around five hours. The Last Worker may have multiple endings, but there are no major choices ala Mass Effect or the like. The ending only differs based on your final decision near the very end of the game, so you can simply experience them all by just reloading the last part of the game. Another qualm I have with the game is that while the narrative is great, the ending feels a bit too rushed and anti-climactic in a way. Still, that might just be in line with the themes of the game, so that might just be me.
Jüngle Prime

If you’re looking for an immersive but short indie game that you can perhaps play in a single weekend, The Last Worker is perfect for that. The themes explored in the game are timely, especially considering the rise of Amazon as a mega-corporation in the real world. So, in that regard, The Last Worker presents a hypothetical future where capitalism runs amok.

PROS

Immersive narrative and character acting (great performances).
Unique gameplay mechanics that adds to the immersion.

CONS

Bugs.
Rushed ending.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100
The Last Worker review copy was provided by developers.


Nintendo Switch Global Shortage Imminent Due To Coronavirus

The Coronavirus outbreak has negatively affected the games industry since it first began, causing esports and gaming events to be disrupted and delayed. Now it looks like Nintendo will be the epidemic’s next victim, as it seems likely that the company will soon suffer from a worldwide shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles.
According to sources from Bloomberg, Nintendo will struggle to meet the demand for the Nintendo Switch in the US and European markets starting from April 2020.
The company’s Nintendo Switch assembly factory in Vietnam is being hit hard by the shortage of supply and parts coming from China, thanks to the Coronavirus.
This is going to be a problem for Nintendo, especially as they gear up for upcoming highly-anticipated first-party exclusives like Animal Crossing: New Horizons on 20 March 2020.
To make matters worse, the Nintendo Switch is already currently out-of-stock in most retailers across home country Japan, not only because of the supply problems but also due to aggressive cashback campaigns by local mobile-payment providers.
Speaking with Bloomberg, a Nintendo representative said:

â€œWe do not see any major impact on the shipment to the U.S. currently, but we will remain vigilant and take steps if necessary.
Itâ€™s possible the supply would be affected by the virus if it becomes more widespread and prolonged.â€

The US accounts for a whopping 43 percent of Nintendo’s core business market, while Europe and Japan account for 27 percent and 21 percent, respectively. If the company doesn’t find a way to circumvent this, it will probably be a huge blow for them in the coming months ahead.
However, all of this doesn’t mean that shipments would completely halt. Realistically, the availability of Nintendo Switch stock would be greatly reduced. If you’re planning to buy one, it’s definitely better if you do so as soon as possible.


Former Dragon Age Creative Director Leaves Ubisoft

Veteran developer Mike Laidlaw has announced his departure from Ubisoft after just one year working at the Quebec division of the company. He was best known for being the lead designer and creative director of the first three Dragon Age games at Bioware, as well as lead story developer for Jade Empire.
He personally broke the news via his Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

Quick update from me!
Today (Jan 31st) is my last day with Ubisoft. Huge thanks to the talented and welcoming folks at Ubisoft Quebec City for my time there.
Now to take stock and figure out whatâ€™s next!
â€” Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) January 31, 2020

Laidlaw only joined Ubisoft Quebec in December 2018 to help lead a new mysterious and unannounced project at the studio. While rumours initially circulated that it was Gods & Monsters (which was originally announced during E3 2019), he already denied that he was working on that game.
On his LinkedIn account, Laidlaw stated:

“Today was my last day with Ubisoft.
Iâ€™d like to thank the talented and welcoming folks at the Ubisoft Quebec City studio for the time I spent there, and wish them all the best of luck with future ventures including the upcoming Gods and Monsters.
Iâ€™m not 100% sure what my next steps are just yet, but returning to consulting for a while seems likely. In the meantime, a chance to relax, take stock and enjoy this gorgeous city while continuing to practice my French.”

While he has yet to confirm or deny it, Laidlaw leaving Ubisoft is likely due to the recent editorial shakeups and restructuring hitting the company, especially in light of the disappointing sales of recent titles such as Ghost Recon: Breakpoint and The Division 2.
Ubisoft Quebec developed games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and For Honor. Its latest game will be Gods & Monsters, which has been delayed to release sometime before April 2021. We might never learn what game Laidlaw was working on at Ubisoft, or whether it was scrapped after his departure.


Far Cry 5’s First DLC Out This June, Set In Vietnam

Ubisoft’s Far Cry 5 is quite a wild ride with tons of chaos and replayability. Naturally the company wants to keep at it, which is why they’ve just announced their first-ever Far Cry 5 DLC to the public this morning.

Here’s the short version:

The DLC will be out June 5. That’s 2 weeks from now.
The DLC will be set during the Vietnam War, where you control a guy named Wendell “Red” Redler who has to rescue his kidnapped squad. Red sounds like a homage to B-grade action star Reb Brown.
Players will get to use new weapons like the M16 rifle, the SVD sniper rifle, and the M60 machine gun. You can use these in the main campaign of Far Cry 5 too.
Other new additions include the ability to call in bombing airstrikes and a Survival Instinct skill that gives you bonus perks when you chain stealth kills.
Once players complete the DLC campaign, they get access to new game modes. Survival Mode gives players a more authentic sneaking and stealth experience, while Action Movie Mode is basically the amped-up version of what we’ve been playing since late March.

Check out the DLC timeline for Far Cry 5 below; we’ve just received it today. We’re getting Lost On Mars on July and Dead Living Zombies on August.

Far Cry 5 came out a few months ago. We gave it a glowing review and also created a guide if you’re interested.


Beyond Good & Evil 2 Is Not Dead Yet, Thankfully…

For those waiting on for the fabled Beyond Good & Evil sequel, well, it’s still being developed despite its director Michel Ancel retiring from the games industry.
Ubisoft, a games company currently putting out its proverbial wildfire of systemic abuse and harassment, stated that Beyond Good & Evil 2 will show new gameplay next year, with the most recent internal build offering “hours of gameplay and an incredible level of freedom in a seamless online sandbox”. The game has passed important internal milestones, so hats off to the dev team. Especially with all that years of office politics and abuse noise going on.
The game’s producer Guillaume Brunier said the following:
“[The milestones success] proves our Space Pirate Fantasy and offers hours of gameplay and an incredible level of freedom in a seamless online sandbox, building upon the promise of our tech demos shown at E3. Iâ€™m incredibly proud of the teamâ€™s perseverance, dedication to each other and ongoing commitment to developing an amazing game.”

What’s next for the company? Apart from sharing the piece of artwork above, Brunier said that they’ll show the game in action “sometime next year”.

“For years, Michel imparted his creative vision and helped us remain faithful to BG&Eâ€™s incredible universe. His uncompromising passion pushed us to redefine what was possible in crafting an expansive, multicultural, and futuristic science-fiction world. As we move forward, we are all committed to remaining true to this vision.”

Good to know. Hopefully the project isn’t going to be waylaid by more internal Ubisoft drama.


E3 2019: That Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing Game Is Pushed Back To Next Year

The highly-anticipated next installment of the Animal Crossing franchise has been delayed. The Nintendo Switch exclusive, titled Animal Crossing New Horizons, will now be releasing next year on 20 March 2020.
While that’s obviously bad news for fans who’ve been waiting for a long time, the reason given for the delay is to â€œto ensure the game is the best it can be,â€ according to Nintendo deputy general manager Yoshiaki Koizumi during the Nintendo Direct E3 2019.
However, we did get a proper look at gameplay in Animal Crossing New Horizons thanks to the new trailer. This time around players will be sent to a deserted island setting, where they will have to collect materials and build a home there, just because you’re heavily indebted to a freaking raccoon.
Crafting items looks like it’s going to be significant in Animal Crossings New Horizons, as we see the player making makeshift axe from materials gathered around the island. There could also possibly be a town-visiting mechanic, where players can visit their friends’ homes on other deserted islands.
Check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3YNL0OWio0&w=560&h=315]


Tencent Now Has Ubisoft Under Its Giant Gaming Wing

Ubisoft -of FarCry, Rayman, Assassin’s Creed, and Beyond Good & Evil fame- has recently ended its financial battle with media company Vivendi. Vivendi’s Ubisoft shares have been bought up by, surprise surprise, giant Chinese gaming publisher Tencent.
According to a Forbes report, the Chinese conglomerate bought out most of the 27.3 percent stake in Ubisoft that Vivendi previously owned. Other buyers include Ubisoft themselves and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Vivendi pledged not to buy any Ubisoft stock in the next 5 years.
That’s good news for Ubisoft, since they have been staving off Vivendi from taking them over. Vivendi’s attempt was what made Ubisoft co-founder Michel Guillemot resign from Ubisoft’s affiliated mobile game publisher Gameloft in 2016.
But is it for the better, since this is Tencent we’re talking about? The company claimed that the deal is minor; the five-percent stake in Ubisoft will “likely” not disrupt decisions on a board-of-directors basis. However, there isn’t any extra information about Tencent’s future as an investor and controller deal-wise. Let’s also not forget that Tencent owns part of Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, and a few others.

What say you, fellow Kakuchopurei-ers? Is Ubisoft in a safe place? Will we see a Chinese-themed Assassin’s Creed game that’s not a 2D platformer soon enough? Voice out your opinions on Facebook.Â


Celebrate Mario’s 35th Anniversary With These Uniqlo T-Shirts

Need more Super Mario Bros. apparel to buy, collect, and own? You’re in luck: Uniqlo just announced its new line of UT Graphic t-shirts featuring the portly Nintendo plumber.
Nintendo and Uniqlo are collaborating yet again with new Mario t-shirt designs to celebrate the game series’ 35th anniversary. Check out the designs below alongside their SG prices.
Adults

Kids

This is probably one of those rare instances where the adult designs are superior to the kid designs. Having said that, the “Pink Elephants On Parade”-like design with the Yoshis on a black tee is a nifty design that should at least be available for adults.

These t-shirts will be available on 13th April in Southeast Asia Uniqlo outlets; online, at least, given the state of the world these days. Order them here.Â


Console Wars Armistice Declared To Face Common Enemy: Trump

Something unprecedented has happened. The big three in video games; namely Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have actually united and banded together for a singular purpose, and that is to counter the United States government’s proposal to increase tariffs on goods imported from China.
In its ongoing trade war with China, the US administration under Donald Trump recently proposed $300 billion in tariffs, or taxes on foreign goods, on most consumer goods, and this includes a whopping 25 percent tariff on video game consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, etc).
In the joint letter sent by three companies to the U.S. government, they argue that 96 percent of video game consoles imported by the U.S. are actually manufactured in China due in part to the custom hardware that can’t be easily obtained anywhere else in the world.
Here’s part of their argument against the tariff:

â€œThe video game console supply chain has developed in China over many years of investment by our companies and our partners.
It would cause significant supply chain disruption to shift sourcing entirely to the United States or a third country, and it would increase costsâ€”even beyond the cost of the proposed tariffsâ€”on products that are already manufactured under tight margin conditions.
Each video game console comprises dozens of complex components sourced from multiple countries.
A change in even a single supplier must be vetted carefully to mitigate risks of product quality, unreliability and consumer safety issues.
Tariffs would significantly disrupt our companiesâ€™ businesses and add significant costs that would depress sales of video game consoles and the games and services that drive the profitability of this market segment.â€

While the companies don’t exactly mention how much more consumers will have to pay if the 25 percent tariff is approved, they do argue about how the increased costs will negatively affect both larger and smaller companies in the games industry.

â€œBecause of the deep interdependence of video game consoles and game software, and due to the price sensitivity of video game console purchasers, tariffs on video game consoles would not only harm our companies, consumers, and retailers, but will also disproportionately harm the thousands of small and medium-sized software and accessory developers in the United States.
Thus, these tariffs would have a ripple effect of harm that extends throughout the video game ecosystem.â€

It looks like the argument present by the three companies are more focused on how the tariff will impact the entire games industry and the business it contains, instead of how it will affect consumers who will likely have to pay a lot more than they currently do (which is still a grossly large number even without the additional tariffs).
According to Kotaku, it’s still unconfirmed when or even if the 25 percent tariffs on goods will be implemented, especially since the U.S. and China are still in the midst of ongoing discussions.
Here’s hoping that consumers don’t have to take the brunt of the effects, whatever the decision turns out to be. The games industry is already filled with an excessive amount of spending, due to the questionable and exploitable nature of content like loot boxes and microtransactions.


PlatinumGames Releases Official Statement On Bayonetta 3 Fiasco

Bayonetta 3 developer PlatinumGames has released an official statement on the controversy surrounding the recasting of their game’s titular character after previous voice actor Hellena Taylor explained how she was offered only a small sum of money to voice Bayonetta.
In a statement posted on their official Twitter account, PlatinumGames stated the following to hopefully defuse the current situation:
“We at PlatinumGames offer our sincerest appreciation to everyone who has contributed to creating the Bayonetta series over the years, as well as the community that has served as its foundation.
We give our full support to Jennifer Hale as the new Bayonetta, and align with everything in her statement.
We ask the people to refrain from any further comments that would disrespect Jennifer or any of the other contributors to the series.”

A Message from PlatinumGames pic.twitter.com/5ym1JxtBBn
— PlatinumGames Inc. (@platinumgames) October 21, 2022

In case you missed it, this is what Jennifer Hale had to say about the matter several days ago:

About Bayonetta 3: pic.twitter.com/e4VrclEQIm
— Jennifer Hale (@jhaletweets) October 17, 2022

There were also sources that allegedly state that Hellena’s full payout would have been US$15,000 (and more) as it was going to be more than a single session’s worth of recording. Usually, it’s US$4,000 or so per VO session for a few hours.
Bayonetta 3 is slated to launch for the Nintendo Switch on 28 October 2022.


The Best PC Games To Try Out From The Steam Game Festival Autumn Edition

Valve’s Steam Game Festival returns with an Autumn edition, which runs from now until 13 October 2020 at 1am GMT+8. Players will have the opportunity to try out hundreds of game demos from indie developers all over the world.
Check out some of our picks from the massive lineup below:
Raji An Ancient Epic

Raji: An Ancient Epic is an action-adventure game set in ancient India. A young girl named Raji has been chosen by the gods to stand against the demonic invasion of the human realm. Her destiny? To rescue her younger brother and face the demon lord Mahabalasura.
This game is from Indian developer Nodding Head Games, who has incorporated the Pahari art style and hand-painted textures into the visuals of the game (even wayang kulit). That’s not even mentioning the fast-paced combat and a mythology that infuses Hindu and Balinese sources.
Head on over here to check out the free demo now. It’s slated to release on 15 October 2020.
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII

Developed by Chinese developers SOFTSTAR and DOMO Studio, Xuan-Yuan Sword VII is an ARPG rooted in Chinese history and mythology. Players take on the role of Taishi Zhao, a calm and reliable swordsman who was accidentally involved in a tragic fate. To protect his beloved family, he starts a journey in this chaotic realm to find the truth.

Head on over here to check out the free demo now. It’s slated to release on 29th October.
Superliminal

Developed by Pillow Castle, Superliminal is a first-person puzzle game based on forced perspective and optical illusions. Puzzles in this game give you a sense of the unexpected. Players need to change their perspective and think outside the box to wake up from the dream.
Head on over here to check out the free demo now. It’s slated to release on 5 November 2020.
Chinatown Detective Agency

Developed by Singaporean developer General Interactive Co., Chinatown Detective Agency is a cyber noir point and click adventure blending stunning retro design with innovative mechanics. Manage your detective agency and use real-world research to solve cases as you unravel a global conspiracy.
Head on over here to check out the free demo now. It’s slated to release sometime in early 2021.
Pumpkin Jack

Developed by Nicholas Meyssonnier, Pumpkin Jack is a spooky 3D platformer in which players embody Jack, the Mythical Pumpkin Lord. It features a colourful vibrant setting, puzzles and platform, as well as fun combat. It’s a perfect game for the Halloween season.
Head on over here to check out the free demo now. It’s slated to release on 23 October 2020.
Ghostrunner

Want to play a cyberpunk ninja-themed Mirror’s Edge first-person platformer? Then you’ll want to play Ghostrunner, coming out in 2 week’s time. The game’s at a 20% discount, so check it out if you like speedrunning. Or if you just need a sci-fi fast-paced pick-me-up.


Blizzard Honours Late StarCraft 2 Legend With Commemorative Bundle

In late July, the world lost one of the most important figures in StarCraft 2 esports history. Geoff “iNcontroL” Robinson passed away due to sudden illness, leaving many family members, friends, and people in the StarCraft 2 community heartbroken. Paying tribute to Geoff’s legacy, Blizzard has announced an iNcontroL Commemorative Bundle for StarCraft 2.

The free bundle will contain Geoff’s Announcer Pack, Portrait, and some additional items. It will be available for download starting today 22 October 2019.

Before he co-founded his weekly podcast on strategy games The Pylon Show, Geoff was a former captain and one of the founders of the Evil Geniuses StarCraft esports team. He was one of those people who had great knowledge on the game and contributed a lot in terms of popularising StarCraft esports. Blizzard ended their announcement with some very beautiful words:

“Weâ€™d like to believe that StarCraft was important to Geoff. But what we know, beyond any doubt, is that Geoff was important to StarCraft.”


Halo Infinite Gets A Technical Preview This Weekend

Good news, Spartans and would-be warriors. Halo Infinite’s multiplayer technical preview will go into full swing starting 29th July until 1st August.
The studio will unveil the first look on Twitch and YouTube on 29th July 5am GMT+8. Players will experience the game’s Bot Arenas where 4 human players will fight against 4 AI players, as well as the Academy Weapon Drills. The latter is a replayable training zone filled with bots of various skill levels, with 12 weapons to test out.
Here’s an official description of the Bot Arenas:
“To keep players on their toes and keep the experience engaging, weâ€™re planning for a daily content offering that will evolve over the course of the flight based on the overall engagement of participants. Weâ€™re going to intentionally start things off slow to help everyone get acclimated but as the community gets up to speed and slays copious amount of Bots our goal is to crank things up to provide greater challenge and variety.”
Why do this? Because developer 343 Industries want to gather data from these playtests to get info and feedback for menu UI, customization, and Battle Pass future planning.
“The release of this blog means weâ€™re getting very close but flighting itself is a fluid process, we need to ensure weâ€™ve successfully cleared our final gate before weâ€™re officially a go. That said, weâ€™ve been given the okay to say our first Bot-focused technical preview could happen as soon as next weekend.”
Halo Infinite will come out on Holiday 2021 for Xbox consoles and PC.


Iconic Horror Movie Monsters Joins Call Of Duty’s Halloween Event

To celebrate Halloween, the Haunting Of Verdansk event is coming to Call Of Duty Modern Warfare and Warzone Season 6.
For the first-ever Halloween experience inside Call Of Duty WarzoneÂ andÂ Modern Warfare, theÂ SAWÂ andÂ The Texas Chainsaw MassacreÂ universes are featured in The Haunting of Verdansk, a limited-time event set to take place from 20 October 2020 to 3 November 2020.

SAW And The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Headline The Haunting of Verdansk

In The Haunting of Verdansk, players can purchase bundles based onÂ SAWÂ andÂ The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Players can be Billy the Puppet in theÂ SAWÂ  bundle and take an enemy operatorâ€™s choice to live or die in his own hands. Along with the â€œBillyâ€ skin for Morte, the SAW Bundle features The Phlebotomozier Lethal Equipment piece, a special throwing knife will drill into your enemies upon impact.
There will also be twoÂ SAW-themed blueprint weapons; one Assault Rifle and one Shotgun, as well as a Cargo Truck skin, tricycle Charm, and four other pieces of personalization content.
The Texas Chainsaw MassacreÂ bundle features the iconic crazed killer Leatherface. This includes the Leatherface skin for Velikan, as well as the â€œFamily Heirloomâ€ LMG blueprint, complete with a unique Stock attachment that allows an operator to wield the weapon like a chainsaw.
This bundle also includes the â€œAnybody Home?â€ melee blueprint that turns this Secondary into a one-handed hammer (with a bone-breaker on one side, and a meat tenderizer on the other side, commonly used in your local slaughterhouse), which some hitchhikers claim is â€œthe better wayâ€ of slaughtering cattle, as well as an SMG blueprint weapon, a vehicle horn, and five additional Texas Chainsaw Massacre-themed items.
More Horrors

Other operators are preparing for the Haunting of Verdansk in their own ways, whether with new skins or brand-new blueprints that add a scary amount of firepower to an already massive arsenal. Leading this charge is Dr. Karlov, an infamous Verdansk urban legend that defines the regional Halloween folklore.
Driven to a point of no return after countless failures in his laboratory deep inside the Gulag, Dr. Karlov became obsessed with electricity and energy-charged weaponry, testing it often in â€œexperimentsâ€ on those who dared to wander near his hideout. His featured bundle, â€œDr. Karlov Lives,â€ will put the â€œshockâ€ in shock and awe with a new skin for Bale, two high-voltage weapon blueprints, an electric Throwing Knife, a vehicle skin, and a few other cosmetic items for your weapons and Identity.
Expect the Store to stock other bundles such as the â€œGhost: Grim Reaperâ€ bundle, featuring a new Ghost skin and two soul-stealing blueprint weapons, along with â€œMace: Dia de Los Muertosâ€ ahead of the Day of the Dead holiday.

Introducing The JAK-12 Shotgun

The JAK-12 has an open bolt blowback system, allowing it to push lead out at a fire rate that is faster than any other weapon in its category. Level it up to unlock its unique attachments, including explosive 8 Round FRAG-12 Mags that deliver explosive payloads without triggering Trophy Systems, and the 32-Round Drum Mags, the largest capacity magazine for any shotgun in the game.
This new shotgun can be unlocked via in-game challenge, or a blueprint variant can be acquired by purchasing the â€œLacedaemonâ€ Store bundle.
Warzone Trick Or Treat

All players can earn over a dozen rewards through a limited-time Trick or Treat event, experience battles against and alongside the undead, and for the first time ever, experience nighttime infiltrations in Verdansk.
Going Dark In Verdansk

Available in select Warzone modes such a Trios, Verdansk is now open for nighttime infiltrations.
Although the full moonâ€™s glow prevents total darkness, operators might want to still pack some Thermal optics in their Loadout Drops to help spot enemies lurking about in low-light areas or use Cold-Blooded to counter these high-tech tools.
All players can participate in the Trick or Treat Halloween event, the marquee scavenger hunt featured as part of The Haunting in Verdansk.
Day or night, you can find specially marked Trick or Treat Supply Boxes in specific areas of Verdansk. Open these boxes up for a chance to receive universal rewards including the Epic â€œReturn to Dustâ€ Assault Rifle blueprint, â€œThe Cleaverâ€ Legendary Melee blueprint, a holographic watch, charms, stickers, sprays, calling cards and emblems.
Collect all 16 individual rewards to unlock the ultimate treat: the â€œPumpkin Punisherâ€ Legendary Assault Rifle blueprint, which comes pre-configured with attachments that make the weapon downright terrifying inÂ Warzone.
New Limited-Time Mode: Zombie Royale

Operators can fight against and alongside powerful zombified creatures as part of Zombie Royale, a limited-time mode where death is far from permanent.
Instead of being sent to the Gulag, dead Operators will come back to life as a zombie. Although zombies cannot use weapons, they have supernatural abilities: increased speed, improved jumps, deadlier melee attacks, and thermal vision.
When a player is killed, they drop a syringe that shows up on the map. Collect two of these Syringes as a Zombie and you’ll parachute back in with your loadout on your Squad for a second chance. The last squad standing with a surviving Operator wins, even if the rest of the squad has turned undead.
Because this mode takes place at night, expect to find all the haunts that Verdansk has to offer under the bright moonlight, including those Trick or Treat Boxes that are fully loaded up with scares for the whole squad.
Modern Warfare Content

Outside of The Haunting in Verdansk, Modern Warfare owners will have two new modes to play and some Halloween-themed changes to explore inside Multiplayer.
The Spirit of All Hallowsâ€™ Eve is Alive in Multiplayer

From Gunfight to Ground War and everything in between, expect the head of any operator to turn into a jack-o-lantern upon reaching three kills in a single life. This pumpkin head will then be set aflame if that operator reaches ten kills in a single life, an intimidating sight to go along with a Specialist Bonus or a high-end Killstreak.
Donâ€™t think of this as just a spooky cosmetic change; these indicators can help you identify Operators who need to be smashed before they continue on their killstreak, especially if they are lighting up the lobby both with their flaming pumpkin head and their performance in-game.
There are also some spooky changes in specific game modes; expect scarecrows on Domination points instead of flags, skulls instead of dog tags in Kill Confirmed, and other visual effects themed around All Hallowsâ€™ Eve.
New Modes: Onslaughter And Snipers Only
There will be two new modes in Multiplayer.
Onslaughter â€“ Squads must wrest control of a Juggernaut suit that spawns somewhere on the map and advance forward into a specific goal area. Be prepared for plenty of Minigun fire and consider powerful Killstreaks to take down an opposing Juggernaut, as well as the mad scramble whenever the suit is available for the taking. Also, the Juggernaut in this mode â€“ and in all other modes during The Haunting of Verdansk â€“ will come with a pumpkin head, which is surprisingly sturdy and durable despite it being a hollowed-out squash.
Snipers Only â€“Â As the name suggests, leave all other weapons at home for this Team Deathmatch variant. Instead of custom loadouts, all operators will have a choice between five pre-built loadouts. Aim to have more kills than deaths, as the squad that hits the target score wins the match.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


WWE 2K20 Is Getting Improved Universe Mode & Online Multiplayer

Fans of the WWE franchise will be glad to learn that the upcoming WWE 2K20 will be getting an improved Universe Mode and online multiplayer capabilities. 2K announced the news in a blog post earlier today, detailing the improvements and features of the new Universe Mode.
Here are all the improvements and features coming to the WWE 2K20 Universe Mode:

Major and minor show match limits have increased from 7 to 9.
Pay-Per-View match limits have doubled from 7 to 14.
The number of championship titles per major show has increased from 6 to 7.
Simultaneous rivalries on major shows have increased from 3 to 4.
Pay-Per-Views can be co-hosted by up to 3 major shows versus the previous 2.
Players have more freedom to delete and add promos and matches.
50 of the most-used cutscenes have been reshot with female mocap actors to look more authentic when female Superstars are used.
25 new cutscenes have been added.
3,040 new promo lines are in the game.
Custom Matches can now be included in Match Tables, along with new Mixed Tag Matches.
New Championship Match setting in Match Tables can be used to make certain matches a title match.
Main Event matches in Match Tables have been tweaked so that those match types are more likely to occur on the show (Example: Royal Rumble match at the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View).
New rivalry content includes options such as low-intensity enemies making peace after a single Pay-Per-View or low to mid-intensity allies slowly falling out over several weeks instead of a sudden turn.
The overall menu flow has been streamlined to make it more accessible to those new to Universe Mode. All deeper options are still available for experienced players.

In other related news, 2K previously announced that WWE 2K20 will also be adding more focus on female wrestlers, as well as Halloween-themed preorder bonuses. WWE 2K20 is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One and PC on 22 October 2019.


The Upcoming Tony Hawk Game Might Be Worth Replaying; Here’s Why

Skateboarding games and the name, Tony Hawk, were a synonymous pair back when the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast were the prime household video game consoles. The first mainstream hit skating game to grace our consoles was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, released in 1999. Now though, Vicarious Visions together with Neversoft has brought back a golden treat from the past.
The Warehouse in 1999
I can safely say that the glorious days of skateboarding games have returned, at least when the demo is concerned. It is such a joy to see the Birdman back and flippin’ after an absence of two whole decades.
The Warehouse, two decades later.
Back In Action

The Warehouse Demo harks back to the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, which happens to be the window that introduced skateboarding to many people, including yours truly. In fact, The Warehouse is the first-ever skate park created in the Tony Hawk’s series, and this demo really did bring back some good memories.

Old-time fans are welcomed with tons of iconic nods to the source material. Check out some of these clips featuring returning signature moves as well as notable gaps and transfers from the original game.

I have to admit; I’m feeling good of the combo I pulled off. It’s smooth like a baby’s cheek. The game is indeed a treat for long-time fans as even the visuals and audio are reminiscent of the 1999 video game it was based on, giving off a very classic vibe.

				Veterans might recognize some of these tricks.

For nostalgic purposes, this demo is definitely enough to convince die-hards to consider getting the final game. Rubbing off the nostalgia-misted glasses, you will see a fresh take of the skateboarding game genre.
Each face button is attributed to a trick such as a flip, grab or a grind, making tricks accessible to the masses. The control scheme here seems to shift this game towards being a must-have for casuals of the sport. IThe devs here are aiming towards recreating timeless classic with new tricks, tighter controls, and visuals.

However, if you’re looking for something more serious, something that edges the line of being a simulator, then Skater XL might be better off for you. That game was just released on the PS4 very recently, so maybe look into that if combo-laden trick-grafting physics-defying gameplay isn’t your jam.
Beat this combo string!
Unlike Skater XL, you are playing the Birdman himself, and with all classic Tony Hawk series, you can expect the full game to have more pro skaters, parks, decks, and customizations to choose from.
Here’s hoping that the full game releasing in less than a month has all the exciting customization options. All that was teased in the Warehouse demo through the inaccessible menu tabs, as well as play modes such as Graffiti, in which players must accumulate the highest score by changing level elements into their own color via the use of tricks. If a player performs a higher-scoring trick on an element that has already been marked, the element will change to that player’s color.
Also, I do hope modes from other games of the series such as Fireball, Trick Attack, and HORSE make a return. This 2020 remastering could be a game for everyone, be it for late-90s gaming veterans or newbies who never heard of Tony Hawk but like doing crazy skateboard stunts with complicating inputs.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 ollies onto the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 4. Pre-order now to try out the Warehouse Demo!


Starfield Was Originally Planned For PS5 As Well Before Microsoft Acquired Bethesda

Starfield is the next Xbox-exclusive game from the developer of The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim and the Fallout games, Bethesda. However, the truth has been revealed; Starfield was originally planned to release for the PS5 as well.
Documents recently made public (via Twitter) as part of today’s trial between Xbox/Activision and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Starfield was in development for the PS5 alongside other platforms like Xbox Series X/S and PC, just like Redfall was recently confirmed to be as well.

Also, can't recall if they've said this before, but the FTC believes Starfield was originally planned to also release on PS5 (seems logical given time it was in development) pic.twitter.com/Ce51btTs6j
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 22, 2023

That only changed once Microsoft announced its acquisition of Bethesda in 2020. Starfield was originally announced back in 2018, but they did not reveal specific platforms back then.
Starfield will launch for the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass and PC via Steam on 26 September 2023.


Yu-Gi-Oh Creator Kazuki Takahashi Dies At 60

Kazuki Takahashi has passed away at the age of 60. Earlier today, Japanese news publication NHK reported that around 10:30 am on 6 July 2022, a body was found floating off the coast of Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, wearing snorkeling equipment. The Nago Coast Guard confirmed that the body was identified as Kazuki Takahashi.
Kazuki Takahashi is best known for creating the Yu-Gi-Oh manga, which originally ran from 1996 to 2004. There are many anime adaptations and games of the popular franchise, which focuses on a trading card game featuring monsters and more.
Rest in peace, Kazuki Takahashi.


Metaphor: ReFantazio Is Also Coming Out For PC And PlayStation

Atlus’ brand-new JRPG franchise from the creator of the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series is not only going to be on Xbox consoles.
Metaphor: ReFantazio will also be available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (Steam); these versions will be out at the same time the Xbox versions will be out: 2024.
Little else is known about Metaphor: ReFantazio apart from (a) it’s in a fantasy-slash-contemporary mashup universe, (b) it’s as stylish as all heck, and (c) the music is from Shoji Meguro. Guess we’ll find out more about the Sega and Atlus RPG in the coming months.


Malaysia Strikes First Gold In 2019 SEA Games

The 9th of December is a day to remember for Malaysian esports as we scored our first-ever gold medal for esports at a multi-sports meet.
National esports player, Dr. Yew Weng Kean – yes, you read it right, ‘Dr’ – won gold in Hearthstone after defeating his Thai opponent 3-1 in the finals. An Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University, Dr Yew who goes by the name “Wkyew” was joined on the podium by Thailand’s Werit Popan and Singapore’s Chew Khai Kiat who won bronze.
What made his achievement sweeter was that Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, YB Tuan Syed Saddiq Abd Rahman was present to witness the historic occasion and was also among the first to break the news on social media.

Dr. Yew Weng Kean adalah Professor Madya di Heriot-Watt University. Beliau juga dikenali sebagai “Wkyew” adalah pemain esports Malaysia pertama yang berjaya merangkul Emas dalam sejarah Sukan SEA negara. ðŸ¥‡ pic.twitter.com/d9zhYWzGNH
â€” Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) December 9, 2019
A perfect testament of the inclusiveness of esports, Dr Yew’s win shows that one is never too old to compete.Â
At this time of writing, the gold also propelled Malaysia to the top of the esports medal tally, having also won bronze in Mobile Legends earlier.

For more news on esports from the 2019 SEA Games in Manila, stay tuned to Kakuchopurei as we bring you daily coverage and news. And while we are at it, check out our special interview with the Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports where we talk about esports and the recently-released national esports blueprint here.

Pic Credit: Press office of YB Tuan Syed Saddiq


JRPG Demon Gaze Extra Drops This December

Clouded Leopard Entertainment Inc. (CEO: Yuen-Yuen Chen) has announced the release of KADOKAWA GAMES (CEO: Yasuda Yoshimi)â€™s dungeon RPG for Nintendo Switch andÂ  PS4, DEMON GAZE EXTRAÂ in Asia (excluding Japan), North America and Europe on 9 December 2021.
Since its release in Japan in 2013 and overseas in 2014, the original dungeon RPG DEMON GAZE was an instant hit.Â
The game takes place in the Misrid region in the west, a land now desolate and cursed due to aÂ  terrible tragedy that occurred long ago. After losing his memory and waking up at the Dragon Inn,Â  the protagonist becomes a bounty hunter using the Demon Gaze, an eye that controls Demons.
DEMON GAZE EXTRA_20210827195824
As a Demon Gazer, he is uniquely capable of taking on the Demons that dwell in the regionâ€™s labyrinths. With its innovative system, engrossing storyline and thrilling challenges, DEMON GAZE EXTRA retains its original flavour while adding enhanced graphics and a number of new elements for an even greater gameplay experience.Â
This gem is guaranteed to delight past Demon Gazers, as well as new fans of dungeon RPGs.Â  The game takes place in the Misrid region, where there are many unique labyrinths above ground,Â  underground, and even underwater. Remastered graphics give dungeon-crawling a more realistic feel!Â
When the hero returns from a labyrinth, he is greeted at the Dragon Inn by a group of characters,Â  all with unique personalities. The atmosphere here is cheerful, fun, and sometimes even serious.
Use the Demon Gaze to hunt down android-like lifeforms known as Demons! Demons are android-like creatures that suddenly appeared in Misrid, and when they unleash their true power, they reveal even more vicious abilities.Â
If you defeat these masters of the labyrinths, you will gain abilities unique to each Demonâ€™s personality. You can also use the Open Demon command to summon them to participate in battle.Â
While the original DEMON GAZE had its fans, some players may have been discouraged by its challenging gameplay style.Â
DEMON GAZE EXTRA_20210831115808
In DEMON GAZE EXTRA, various elements have been tweaked, including the addition of a high-speed battle function, a retry function, and an enhanced autopilot function. Now, even dungeonÂ
The enhanced autopilot function is a streamlined version of the revolutionary feature from the original DEMON GAZE. This, along with the addition of a high-speed battle function speeds up repeated battles in dungeons, allowing players to explore labyrinths more easily. In addition, DEMON GAZE EXTRA has a retry function that allows players to go back to the beginning of a battle and try again in the event of a defeat.Â
From the middle of the game, the all-new job category Machina unlocks. After clearing the story,Â  players can obtain unique items from subsequent playthroughs and use DEMON GAZE EXTRAâ€™s new item synthesis feature to customize legendary equipment.Â
Subtitles in 3 Languages & English Audio!Â
DEMON GAZE EXTRA offers English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean subtitles, allowing players to enjoy the game in the language of their choice. In addition to the original Japanese, English audio is also available for more global appeal.Â
*The PS4 version for Asia will be available in Traditional Chinese and Korean, while the PS4 version for North America and Europe will be available in English only.Â
First Purchase/Early Bird Bonus Includes Healing Wand and Armor Gem Assortment Set DLC The first purchase bonus for the package version and the early bird bonus for the digital version includes the Healing Wand and Armor Gem Assortment Set DLC items.Â
In addition, the Digital Deluxe Edition (Nintendo Switch) and Digital Premium Edition (PS4) will be available for download, including The Perfect Jewel Set and other essential DLC items.Â


Yoodo FV Major 2020 Qualifier Dates Revealed

Malaysia fighting game organization Flash Vision are teaming up with Yoodo to launch the Yoodo FV Major Cup 2020. Its main draw? To give the best Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 players a chance to get sponsored to go to EVO 2021.
The Yoodo FV Major Cup will consist of 5 qualifiers and 1 grand final which will feature the top 8 competitors from the qualifiers. The tournament is only eligible to Malaysians. Furthermore, if you happen to win the entire tournament and get the EVO 2021 sponsorship, you have to represent team Yoodo FV for that particular event. You also cannot change your prize to cash.
The dates for the qualifiers are as follows:

Online tournament #1, 25th -26th April = champion will get direct entry to Grand Finals.

Online tournament #2, 30th-31st May = Champion direct entry to Grand Finals.

Geek Empire #1, 27th June = Top 2 direct entry to Grand Finals.

Geek Empire #2, 25th July = Top 2 direct entry to Grand Finals.

Epicenter, 22nd August = Top 2 direct entry to Grand Finals.

In addition, registration fees for the first online qualifiers this April will be donated to the National Zoo of Malaysia. You can register on this link here.Â


Rare Celebrate Sea Of Thieves 5 Year Anniversary With A Documentary

Rare, the studio behind the beloved pirate adventure game Sea of Thieves has released a new trailer for their upcoming documentary, Sea of Thieves: Voyage of a Lifetime, to celebrate the game’s fifth anniversary.
The documentary promises to give fans an inside look at the development and release of Sea of Thieves, featuring never-before-seen footage and candid interviews with the team. Christina McGrath, head of community and communications at Rare, said that the documentary pulls back the curtain on the game’s evolution in the most detailed and raw way it’s ever been discussed.
Rare has also revealed some exciting new details for Sea of Thieves season nine. Players can expect a new high-value loot item called the Chest of Fortune, which comes with its own Commendations and cosmetics. There are also new Voyages for Captains and Pirate Legends, as well as better-balanced World Events based on crew size. And if that’s not enough, there are 100 more levels of Seasonal progression for players to work through and earn rewards by raising Renown.
In other Sea of Thieves news, it was recently announced that Lucid Games, the studio behind Destruction AllStars, has been working with Rare as a support studio on the game. While Lucid Games was originally given development duties on Sony’s Twisted Metal video game reboot, the project was later moved to PlayStation’s Firesprite studio.
All in all, it’s an exciting time to be a Sea of Thieves fan! Whether you’re a seasoned pirate or a newbie looking to set sail for the first time, there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming months. So hoist the anchor, raise the Jolly Roger, and get ready for some high-seas adventure!


This Cyberpunk 2077 Tool Can Fix Your PC FPS Woes

Cyberpunk 2077 is currently notorious not just for a botched launch period, but also for crippling high-end graphics cards and fast CPUs on the market. Yes, the game looks spectacular on the PC, but at the price of dipped frame rates.
Fortunately, programmer CodeZ1LLa has released a tool that can help boost your Cyberpunk 2077 gaming performance by up to 30 fps. Basically, it tweaks hidden developer settings that aren’t available to the end user, doing more than just cranking down image fidelity. It offers the following options when you load it up:

Max Boost:Â Provides the best possible image fidelity and a substantial boost in performance. This option is highly recommended for the GeForce GTX 1060Â and below.
Balanced:Â Provides a sensibleÂ balance between image quality and performance. Owners of theÂ GeForce GTX 1070 TiÂ up to theÂ GeForce RTX 20-seriesÂ (Turing) should use this option before trying the Max Boost preset.
Default:Â Resets the settings back to the game’s default configuration.
Disable Async Compute:Â This option helps boost performance for GeForce GTX SKUs and not recommended for Nvidia’s newer RTX models.

All you have to do is move the executable tool to the root folder of your Cyberpunk 2077 installation.

While the tool is virus-free (according to its VirusTotal report) and gets a pass from big antivirus engine names like Avast and Kasperky, it triggers certain anti-cheat systems since the tool edits game files. Your mileage may vary when it comes to performance and fidelity in this 2020 capstone game, but this tool can help if you’re using a low-end computer. Download it here.


Mobile Set To Conquer 60 Percent Of Gaming Market In 2019

Statistics have proven that mobile gaming has rapidly grown for the past years, to the point of dominating half of the global games industry revenue. 2018 marked substantial progress for mobile games, as it reached new heights and became the fastest-growing sector of the gaming market, overtaking consoles and PC.
In fact, the latest projections by App Annie Research predict that mobile games are set to conquer a whopping 60 percent of the gaming market by consumer spending in 2019, which would be an incredible 35 percent increase from 2013. Top markets include China and the US, both of which recorded a 105 percent and 45 percent growth respectively in the past two years alone.

A major determining factor in this is that mobile games are quickly closing the gap with consoles and PC by offering console/PC-quality multiplayer experiences. The booming popularity of battle royale titles in 2018 meant that mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Fortnite dominated the lists of most downloaded games. What was previously only possible on more powerful hardware like consoles and PC can now be achieved with mobile gaming.
In comparison with mobiles games in the past that only featured simple and rudimentary multiplayer mechanics, mobile games now have the potential of featuring gameplay just as deep and complex as their more powerful brethren. This will only grow with time, as mobile hardware keeps gradually improving.

Thanks to this, the distinction between hardcore and casual gamers are thinning, and that contributes to mobile even more. Amidst the influx of new mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Fortnite, older titles like Candy Crush Saga and Pokemon Go surprisingly managed to hold onto their player base in 2018, which means that these games are just as capable of sustainability as any console or PC game.

Another main factor that contributes to the meteoric rise in mobile gaming trends is the accessibility of such devices. As more and more users gain access to mobile phones, more downloads happen over time. Users would initially try out many apps before landing to their preferred apps. This is known as the Experimentation phase. The next phase is the Adoption phase. This is when the users their go-to apps, and engagements climb. The Ubiquity phase sees users engaging more and spending more time and money towards the apps.

The familiarity and accessibility would also lead to increased usage of mobile devices, further boosting the possibility of app engagement and consumer spending. It is also one of the reasons why mobile gaming is stealing the spotlight.
Based on the graph projected by App Annie, users spend a cumulative total of hours on their phones, most of which is spent playing mobile games. Other common usage includes checking their emails, browsing news articles or checking their banking accounts.

As the mobile market matures, we can expect an upgrade in the hardware of mobile devices as well as them becoming more and more affordable. This scale and grows creates a compelling platform for developers to exploit. This is inferred as mobile games are now competing with console and PC gaming.
Projections dictate that there will be a 60% increase in the mobile market share thanks to heavy mobile games such as Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile. To put into perspective, Mobile Legends was reported to be the game that consumers spend most of their money on in Malaysia.

In all intent and purposes, it looks like mobile gaming will have nowhere to go but upwards from here. Everything points to a healthy future for mobile gaming, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the downfall of console and PC gaming.