Afterimage’s Nonsensical Plot Doesn’t Get In The Way Of Its In-Depth Search Action Bliss

Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Search action game made by Chinese fans of Hollow Knight
Will indie developers decide when the 2D search action game will fade style-wise? After all, we have plenty of them in 2023 right now with no sign of them slowing down soon. At the very least, I don’t mind the influx if they’re as exceptionally built like Aurogon Shanghai and Modus Games’ Afterimage.
Visionary
Afterimage tells the tale of a white-haired warrior apprentice named Renee who is accompanied by a tiny familiar named Ifrit. She finds out her master is dead and has to find answers as to how this all happened by exploring eastward in the strange land of Afterimage. In Metroidvania fashion, you platform and fight in 2D form, defeat tons of tough enemies and bosses, gain new abilities to traverse and bypass obstacles (double-jump, slides that go through tight crawlspace, groundpounds to destroy marked ground obstacles), and collect new weapons to improve your arsenal.
Renee herself is a joy to play as and control; her movement, jumping, attacks, and animations aren’t too weighty but not too loose. There’s enough heft in her heavy weapon attacks, but she’s agile enough to jump around and dodge whatever incoming attacks and hazards she has to deal with. Renee gets to carry two different weapons and a spell for us in the game’s many, MANY combat segments. She even has a decent-sized talent tree that lets you buff up her passive stats and activate new weapon moves (and some hidden ones that are stashed all over the world), assuming you have the Talent Points and appropriate level to activate them. Fighting bosses and going through “gauntlets”, and also uncovering valuable treasure chests & hidden spots, will net you Talent Points to grow, so exploring every corner of Afterimage’s world from the undersea ruins to the hot-as-heck lava-and-igneous-terrain levels are important.

And the challenges get very tough. It’ll take beyond the 8-hour mark for the game to unveil its “Dark Souls” boss mentality after it eases you in with a few simple challenges here and there, and that’s just for the main quest storyline. Some of the game’s late-game bosses are very brutal as they deal more damage than they should despite your character reaching high levels, to the point where it can feel pretty cheap at times. Still, it’s been a while since I’ve been challenged by a search action’s group of badass gatekeepers since Metroid Dread; ones that really keep me on my toes and rely on skill and evasion than actual health potion-spamming.
The game also features a ton of late-game secrets and endgame content featuring an optional section and additional endings that let you uncover more about Renee and Ifrit’s past and predicament. These come with pretty awesome secret boss fights and challenging locations, so if you feel like you’re up to test your full abilities in a search action title, Afterimage will sort you out well.
So far, I’m doing alright with my Scythe and Blade combo, with the latter weapon reminding me of the old Castlevania titles that has weapons that come out instantly without any set startup or recovery animation frames. I’ll probably need to upgrade my weapons and change up my arsenal for future boss fights that require you to be mobile, but that just highlights Afterimage’s beauty in its combat and design; you have to adapt to what’s thrown at you if you want to experience its many conclusions and gain its rewards.
With a ton in store and to explore, Afterimage is not short on gameplay and exploration at the very least, as well as with eye candy. The game’s visuals are pretty stellar and shows off a lot of outstanding 2D-drawn areas of fantastical and mystical nature; Goliathfall and Forest Foregone are my standout favourites to explore and admire.
The character animations are solid, the colours and look of each different search action location are unique and distinct, and seeing all of it in motion is just a treat. I just wish the mid-game portion featuring a flying manta ray you can control on a map looked just as good; this particular eyesore of a section -which honestly looks like an intern’s first stab at making an overworld hub- is the only blemish in Afterimage’s graphics portfolio.
Botched Sight?
While we’re talking about flaws, the game’s story does get bogged with its terminology and mash-up of multiple fantasy tropes that really confuses its viewers more than making them intrigued. It starts off innocent enough, then you’ll be waylaid with a lot of dialogue and chatter that just amounts to “go here and found out what’s up”, followed by the usual boss fights and wandering around for the right items and Afterimage powers to proceed. The late-game ending portions and New Game+ bits does try to make sense of most of it, but your average player and game-focused search action aficionado will just tune out and skip tons of the hard work the narrative designers and writer(s) have put in.
Speaking of wandering around, the backtracking can get insane especially since one of your teleporting resources that cut down on the walking is finite in its quantity. At least until you find a late-game merchant who hangs out at the far reaches of the map. It’s pretty annoying to say the least.

Regardless of those niggling issues, you’ll have a blast with this title, even if you have no idea what most of its fantasy plot is. You have to give props to developer Aurogon Shanghai for putting a lot of secrets and areas to explore and conquer, as well as a New Game+ and a couple of extra endings to unlock that try to make sense of the plot involving an amnesiac and her tiny familiar. Afterimage is solid search action bliss that will keep you immersed and engrossed for 20+ hours on end, even if it sounds like a third-party Photoshop plug-in.

Pros

Great controls.
Plethora of weapons, special moves, and spells to experiment with.
Fun and large in-depth world to explore.
Lovely art style.
Challenging yet fair.

Cons

Plot gets incomprehensible (until New Game+ at least).
Some UI issues.
Fast backtracking options can get limited in the early and mid-parts.

Final Score: 80/100


Twitch To Retain 50/50 Revenue Split With Streamers

Twitch stirred up some drama last September when they adjusted their revenue split options, but their execs are standing firm with the 50/50 share for streamers. In the past, some Twitch streamers were lucky enough to get more than half of their subscriber revenue, but Twitch isn’t interested in suggestions like 70/30.
This news left many members of the Twitch community wondering where things were headed, especially since some of the site’s biggest names had negotiated better deals with the company. As a result, some Twitch users have migrated to YouTube or Kick, a new website that gives creators a whopping 95% cut of the profits.
However, Twitch’s Chief Product Officer Tom Verrilli and Chief Monetization Officer Mike Minton recently spoke with The Verge to confirm that the company isn’t budging on the 50/50 split. They’re not trying to screw over their most popular creators, though; in fact, they’re exploring new ways to help streamers monetize their content, and they’re open to feedback from the community.
In addition to improving Twitch’s ads, the execs are also looking at how to make them less intrusive, especially for new viewers. They acknowledged that it’s not easy to build a following as a content creator, but they encouraged aspiring streamers to give Twitch a try. According to Verrilli and Minton, Twitch is working on ways to engage viewers and turn them into active participants in the streaming experience.
It’s worth noting that while Twitch is sticking with its 50/50 split, YouTube creators can earn up to 70% of their membership revenue. If making the most money possible is your top priority, you might also want to check out Kick – although be aware that it’s been linked to online gambling.


Bunnies Be Damned. D.Va is Now A Cat

We are one day away from the yuuuuge Overwatch cosmetic update on the 23rd January (24th for Asian countries) and Blizzard pretty much saved their best reveals for last. Enter Black Cat D.Va.

Tomorrow our cosmetics update arrives in Overwatch!
Today’s reveal: BLACK CAT D.VA (Legendary Skin) pic.twitter.com/5D9jgQDnWd
â€” Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) January 22, 2018
First teased via new upcoming sprays also set to drop tomorrow, Black Cat D.Va sees our favorite esports player clad in a French Maid-like attire while her Meka gets a makeover which include huge cat ears. This is a Legendary-tier skin so expect to shell out 3000 coins for it. Otherwise you can just pray to the RNG gods to grant you a good loot drop.
Also unveiled were sweet highlight intros for four heroes; Soldier 76, Ana, Bastion and Winston. Check them out.
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Along with these cosmetic updates comes the newest map, Blizzard World which was first teased at Blizzcon 2017. For a quick rundown of all new skins that we know of, check out the slideshow below. Which is your favorite, by the way?

				Black Cat D.Va

				Oni(?) Reaper ?

				Kabuki Hanzo

				Capoeira Lucio

				7. Widowmaker – Our favorite Terran in Overwatch. How can we not spend 1000 coins for this?!

				10. Orisa – Our favorite Omnic gets a thorough makeover. We like.

				14. Torbjorn – Makes Torbjorn look like an uncredited extra from Thorin Oakenshield’s band of dwarves

				1. Pharah – Imagine pairing this skin with a golden weapon

				8. Doomfist – Not a Doomfist fan but this one ticks all the boxes for the game’s main protagonist.

				4. Zarya – The designers at Blizzard are again most kind to our favorite Russian

				5. Roadhog – The scariest hulking mass of muscle is now ten times scarier

				2. Reinhardt – Finally a skin representing Reinhardt in his (hair) prime. Glorious detail all around

				9. Mei – Our favorite Mei skin to date – also the cutest one. We knew this one was coming from her animated short.


Devil May Cry 5 Has No Planned DLC Apart From Bloody Palace

It’s only a week away until you can start pulling your Devil Trigger in the sixth Devil May Cry Game. Yeah, we’re still counting Ninja Theory’s game in the main series; deal with it. Will we be getting extra DLC and a roadmap for the game, which seems to be a goddamn growing trend these days?
Apart from the Bloody Palace, there’s nothing else. According to a quick tweet from producer Mark Walker, the Bloody Palace survival mode is the only post-game DLC that is planned for the game.

Nope! Only plans currently are for BP. ^^
— Matt Walker (@retroOtoko) February 19, 2019

Having said that, there are still plans for smaller drips of DLC and content, which includes weapons, alternate appearances, additional battle music, and live-action cutscenes because Capcom seems to miss the 90s. These will be in the deluxe edition of the game.
We’re Getting More, Aren’t We?
The fact that Matt and Capcom said “only plans currently” in this context means that there’s a chance we may be getting more content and episodes in the future depending on the game and Bloody Palace’s reception. Here’s hoping we’ll see more exploits from Dante, Nero, and V; so far it’s looking pretty good based on what we’ve played so far.Â It’s no Bayonetta 2, but it’s still a damn fine action game featuring high-flying acrobatics and motorcycle chainsaws. What more do we need?
Devil May Cry 5 will be out on 8 March for PS4, PC, and Xbox One.


How Does PS4 Backwards Compatibility Work On The PS5? Sony Explains

Just one month to go until the PS5 launches and we finally receive clarification on how backwards compatibility will work for the next-gen console.
The official PlayStation support website has detailed backwards compatibility for PS4 games on PS5, confirming that the â€œoverwhelming majorityâ€ of PS4 games are playable on the new hardware.
To play PS4 games on the PS5, it’s the same as it was on the PS4. If it’s a physical PS4 game, just insert the PS4 disc into the PS5 and install the game as usual. If it’s a digital PS4 game, simply download the game from your library.
However, Sony does warn that “some functionalities that were available on the PS4 console may not be available on PS5 consoles. In addition, some PS4 games may exhibit errors or unexpected behaviour when played on PS5 consoles”.
They also advise players to always update their PS5 console and to test the PS4 games first to ensure their playability before buying DLC or other add-ons that come with the game. Notable PS4 games compatible with the PS5 include:
God of War (2018)God of War III RemasteredThe Order: 1886Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Only 10 PS4 titles are confirmed as not playable on the PS5. These include:
DWVRAfro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume OneTT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 2Just Deal With It!Shadow Complex RemasteredRobinson: The JourneyWe SingHitman Go: Definitive EditionShadwenJoe’s Diner
The official website also detailed how to upgrade eligible PS4 games to their PS5 versions both on-disc and digitally. Some digital PS4 games can be upgraded into PS5 versions.
However, it depends on the game and its respective developer/publisher. Some might be free and incur no extra cost, while some will require additional payment.
Here are the instructions:
Upgrade A Physical PS4 game On A PS5 With A Disc Drive
To upgrade an eligible PS4 game on disc to the digital PS5 version, you will need a PS5 console with a disc drive. PS4 game discs canâ€™t be used with the PS5 Digital Edition.
Sign in to your existing account on your PS5 console (or create an account).Insert the eligible PS4 game disc.Go to the game hub for the PS4 game.Select the upgrade offer on the game hub and review the upgrade offer.Select Download (or purchase with the discount price) to download/purchase content.After the download is complete, you can play the PS5 digital game by inserting the PS4 game disc. You will need to keep the disc inserted each time to play the game.
Upgrade A Digital PS4 Game On A PS5 Console With A Disc Drive Or PS5 Digital Edition
To upgrade an eligible digital PS4 game you already own to the digital PS5 version:
Sign in to your existing account on your PS5 console.Find the PS5 game in PlayStation Store, or by Search, and go to the game hub for the PS5 game.Select the upgrade offer on the game hub and review the upgrade offer.Select Download (or purchase with the discount price) to download/purchase content.After the download is complete, you can play the PS5 game.
There you have it, folks. Backwards compatibility might be more complicated than the Xbox Series X’s, but at least now we know that most of our PS4 games will still be playable on the PS5.
In the meantime, if youâ€™re still unsure whether to buy the PS5 at launch or to wait, perhaps our guide here can help you decide.


The Outer Worlds’ First DLC Is A Star That Burns Bright

Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, PS4
Genre: DLC to last year’s spacetime adventure
Last year’s The Outer Worlds is a grand sci-fi time whether you love solving problems through diplomacy and lies, or using the barrel of the gun(s) you are allowed to carry. True to developer Obsidian’s past open world works -specifically their crown jewel Fallout: New Vegas and its DLC- The Outer Worlds follows suit with a couple of additional story missions that take place during the crew’s time on the Unreliable.
Their first effort, Peril On Gorgon, will make you want to go back to the Halcyon, if you don’t mind your DLC quests lasting as long as 6 hours or so. For better or worst, it’s what you would expect from a US$15 add-on. Just a heads up: this DLC activates right after you’re done with the main Monarch mission, when that random spaceship crashes and you have to figure out which faction on the planet is getting a piece of that.
A Rock & A Hard Space

The DLC starts out with a “50s pulp detective” intro where you are given a parcel with a recording device and a severed hand attached to it. It tells you about the planet Gorgon and following a lead to the Ambrose mansion, where your contact Minnie asks you to get a journal from the remnants of a former Spacer’s Choice factory. As you delve through the wasteland and check out the pad of the severed hand’s owner in the local space inn, you get to partake in a few sidequests that will deter you from your main one.
Yes, there’s a lot of intrigue and mystery in the main questline, and if you’re a fan of a good story involving the buried past and repairing a family legacy, you’ll find a lovely and dark-humoured tale here full of twists & turns. Expect the usual Outer Worlds weirdness involving a Canid talent show, the origins of the drugged-up marauders roaming Gorgon, disgruntled tossball players, and a receptionist robot who can be programmed as a temporary partner if you have a high-enough Engineering points. I am a fan of the latter robot, by the by.
I won’t say more than that, but Peril On Gorgon will reward you with nice story payoffs and good loot depending on your character specs. Prefer to talk a lot via your high Persuade and Lie skills? You can get by most situations without killing anyone here. Want to just blow up whatever is in front of you? Just fight specific marauder groups on Gorgon’s hostile bits, and you can score yourself new Science weapons like a heat-seeking rocket launcher.

Just like with the base game, your options are plentiful depending on your playstyle. This DLC emphasizes on the series’ flexibility to a tee, and that’s appreciative in this CRPG day and age.

Peril On Gorgon introduces new mechanics that are sure to make players respec whenever they can. For one, Virtuoso buffs open up top-tier benefits if you bring a particular skill to 150 points. Your companions also get extra level 4 and 5 character-specific perks. The Virtuoso benefits are pretty game-breaking, ranging from terrifying enemies by hitting them with crits if you have 150 points in Intimidate, to getting back a previous mod you slotted into your equipment if you have 150 points in Engineering.
Companion boons include Felix’s 50% damage increase if he uses Tossball Weapons, or Ellie’s Super ricocheting after striking the first target.Â They’re all great additions in spicing up the action and also making you tailor your current build carefully, especially if you’re tackling this at Level 20.
Adrena-Timely

Having said that, you won’t find combat much of a challenge if you enter this DLC at level 30 or so, at least if you’re on default difficulty. Even with the scaling and the level cap increase, the combat will not go beyond what it was in the later bits of the base title. You can get away with pretty subpar gun and melee skills as long as you have Tactical Time Dilation, decent level 30 gear with tweaks aplenty, and your companion special attacks handy. The new high-level weapons you find in Gorgon also contribute to how easy you can manage these situations.
The real challenge is determining where you should allocate your points. Personally, I only came across a few hurdles at the end where you need max points in the non-violent skills like Engineering, Hacking, Science, Persuasion, and so forth. If there’s a particular ending you want out of your Gorgon escapade, you’ll still get it if you work hard at it. Protip: the respec machine in The Unreliable is still there for you to fudge around with.
While Peril on Gorgon isn’t as revelatory & as grand as Obsidian’s Fallout: New Vegas DLC offerings (like the challenge-inducing Dead Money to the epic finale Lonesome Road), it’sÂ still pretty darn good. With just about 6 hours or so worth of quests and stories to unravel and be entertained by, alongside welcome additions to stats and arsenals, this should hopefully inspire the devs to go for broke and higher heights for their next few expansions and DLCs in the always-full-of-potential space of the Halcyon.
Pros

Fun & story-packed DLC-sized mission with surprises.
Lovely science weapons, perks, and Virtuoso buffs to toy with.
Caters to all playstyles.

Cons

Combat gets pretty easy.
Doesn’t shake up The Outer Worlds canon like Obsidian’s previous RPG & DLC efforts.

Final Score: 80/100


Malaysia To Host Largest Mobile Legends International Championship; US$250,000 Total Prize Pool

The Moonton Epicon 2019 has just wrapped up and a ton of great announcements for Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) were made. The biggest one is definitely the unveiling of the MLBB M1 World Championship, the first ever annual international Mobile Legends tournament.

The tournament will be happening in November with qualifiers being held from 11 November to 14 November 2019. The venue for the qualifiers has yet to be announced but the final playoffs is confirmed to be held in Malaysia at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. The three-day playoffs will start on 15 November and end on 17 November 2019.
I’m sure MLBB fans will be wondering the same question: Who can join the tournament?
The answer is pretty much anyone who loves playing Mobile Legends and has a squad. Your team must consist of five members, four main players and one substitute. There will be four regional qualifiers around the globe; Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Check out the list here for info on how many teams will be selected from each region:

The M1 will be the largest international Mobile Legends tournament and to accommodate the all the attention it’ll be getting, Moonton has decided to partner with YouTube to livestream the matches. So don’t sweat it if you can’t make it for the playoffs.
If you’re eager for more professional MLBB action, check out the upcoming MLBB Professional League (MPL) MY/SG Season 4 tournament which will have its Malaysia qualifiers start tomorrow 19 July and end on 21 July 2019. The Singapore qualifiers wiill take place from 27 July to 28 July 2019.
You can watch the full Moonton Epicon 2019 livestream here.


Baldur’s Gate 3 Will Be Out In 2022, “Hopefully”; Patch 5 Highlights Gameplay Changes

Larian has announced that its upcoming CRPG Baldur’s Gate 3 will be out in full “hopefully somewhere in 2022”. In the meantime, the game’s Patch 5 will go live on 13 July and will feature mechanical changes based on community feedback.
Here are the changes:

Dice-rolling gets a fancy interface that shows modifiers being added after the roll.
You can also cast spells to influence dice rolls.
You can have party members assist with their own spells; however they can turn you down in multiplayer mode.
Camping now requires you to use resources and supplies (like food) for long rests; no more free naps after every fight.
Camping will take place based on the surroundings you’re in, so you’re not stuck with the same forest near the beach.
Combat changes include jump being a separate action and disengage being a full action, the option to cancel spells that require spellcaster concentration, and a toggle for non-lethal attacks to knock enemies unconscious.
Secret miniquests based on each character’s background to reward them for playing to type, like in tabletop D&D.
NPC now can bark & shout specific lines for various actions.

The next patch, Patch 6, will feature new content. Check out the latest community Panel from Hell livestream below.


2D Cinematic Adventure Game Lunark Will Be Out End Of March

Publisher WayForward and developer Canari Games announced the release date of its tribute to Flashback and Another World: Lunark.
Lunark will be out on 30 March for PC (Steam), Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. The game will also receive a physical and collector’s edition for those consoles courtesy of Limited Run Games.
The game’s origin/influence trailer and key features are below:

Experience a modern 2D cinematic platformer with precision gameplay, stunning animation, and rotoscoped cutscenes!
Immerse yourself in a compelling sci-fi story of survival, revolution, and mystery
Intuitive but versatile controls: Run, jump, hang, climb, roll, and shoot your way to freedom!
Explore glorious pixel-art environments, including mysterious alien ruins, a flying penitentiary, a high-tech megalopolis, and an alien forest
Solve puzzles, overcome traps, and interact with a variety of characters
Discover hidden upgrades to expand your health and weapon capabilities
Yes, you can pet the dog (and cat)!


Sony Announces Project Leonardo, A New PS5 Accessibility Controller

During the Sony CES 2023 press conference, Sony announced Project Leonardo for the PS5. Developed with key contributions from accessibility experts, community members, and game developers, Project Leonardo is the codename for a new highly customizable controller kit that works “out of the box” to help many players with disabilities play games more easily, more comfortably, and for longer periods.
Through conversations with accessibility experts and incredible organizations like AbleGamers, SpecialEffect and Stack Up, the highly configurable controller is designed to work in tandem with many third-party accessibility accessories and integrates with the PS5 console to open up new ways of gaming. It is built to address common challenges faced by many players with limited motor control, including difficulty holding a controller for long periods, accurately pressing small clusters of buttons or triggers, or positioning thumbs and fingers optimally on a standard controller.
Project Leonardo for PS5 includes a robust kit of swappable components, including a variety of analog stick caps and buttons in different shapes and sizes.
Players can use these components to craft a wide array of control layouts. And the distance of the analog stick from the game pad can be adjusted to suit the player’s preference. These components allow players to find a configuration that works for their strength, range of motion, and particular physical needs.

On the PS5 console players have an array of options to tailor their Project Leonardo play experience:

Button mapping

The controller’s buttons can be programmed to any supported function and multiple buttons can be mapped to the same function. Conversely, players can map two functions (like “R2” + “L2”) onto the same button.

Control profiles

Players can store their programmed button settings as control profiles and easily switch between them by pressing the profile button.
Up to three control profiles can be stored and accessed by the player from their PS5 console at any time.

Project Leonardo can also be used as a standalone controller or paired with additional Project Leonardo or DualSense wireless controllers. Up to two Project Leonardo controllers and one DualSense wireless controller can be used together as a single virtual controller, allowing players to mix and match devices to fit their particular gameplay needs, or to play collaboratively with others.

For example, players can augment their DualSense controller with a Project Leonardo controller or use two Project Leonardo controllers on their own. A friend or family member can also assist by helping to control the player’s game character with a DualSense controller or a second Project Leonardo controller. The controllers can be dynamically turned on or off and used in any combination.
Project Leonardo is expandable through four 3.5mm AUX ports to support a variety of external switches and third-party accessibility accessories. This enables users to integrate specialty switches, buttons or analog sticks with the Project Leonardo controller. The external accessories can be dynamically connected or disconnected, and each can be configured to act like any other button.

Project Leonardo’s split, symmetric design allows players to reposition the analog sticks as close together or as far apart as they like. The controller lies flat and does not need to be held, so players can lay it on a tabletop or a wheelchair tray. It can be easily secured to AMPS mounts* or tripods, and can be oriented 360 degrees for the most comfortable use. Players can also program the “north” orientation on the analog sticks to match their preferred controller orientation.
Project Leonardo is currently in development, but there is no release date yet.


Latest Overwatch League ‘Heroes Born’ Episode Shows off Seagull’s Hidden Talent

The latest ‘Heroes Born’ episode which focuses on Overwatch League players decided to focus on Dallas Fuel’s flex specialist and our favorite streamer, Seagull and to surprise of many shows off his hidden talent as a driver. Showing off his drifting skills on gravel as he discusses about what he thought of the game, and how it influences his daily life, we have to tip our hats off to the folks at Overwatch League for making the already likeable Brandon Larned (yes, that’s his real name) look somewhat cool.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXdt8Hbm9k&w=560&h=315]
Responding to fans’ comparisons such as of him being the best Genji, Larned said “It’s an ego boost – it feels awesome – but I try to stay away from comparisons like that because it feels cocky. … The relationship between me and my fans are a two way street”.
Regarding the game, Larned explains “Overwatch, more than any other game I have played comes down to working well as a team because it is really tough for an individual player to carry”.
Check out the video for the his short, but insightful opinion about Overwatch and esports in general. Our favorite streamer may also be our favorite player coming into the inaugural season which kicks off December 7th 2017. For all things Overwatch League, keep it locked on to Kakuchopurei.com.


Malaysian CS:GO Female Team Is Looking For A New Member

Just a few days ago, it was announced that Malaysian CS:GO female pro team Orange Sphynx‘s former leader Ramona “GFi#” Azween was leaving to join China-based esports team TYLOO Female. The announcement came just a few weeks after the team’s early defeat at DreamHack Valencia 2019
In a recent Facebook post from the Orange Esports official account, the team is now looking for a 5th member to fill the vacancy left by Ramona’s departure. Seeing as how the team is touted as the best female CS:GO team in Malaysia, it’s good that they’ve decided to carry on and rebuild their team.

So if you’ve got reflexes and communications skills needed to be a CS:GO pro, take this opportunity to sign up and a be a part of a great team. Just send them a message on Facebook and they’ll be happy to share to guide on how you can audition for the role. Good luck!


E3 2019: Valfaris Is Contra Meets Strider Meets Heavy Metal

And the throwbacks keep on coming. First, it was Songs of Conquest with its nod to 90s strategy games. Now, we have Valfaris, an obvious tribute to 2D run-and-guns like your Contras, Turricans,Â and Midnight Resistances. Only instead of apeing Rambo, it gets its inspiration from a heavy metal album laced in airbrushes, metallic trimmings, and sharp things.
In Valfaris, you play as an ass-kicker named Therion who can shoot a lot of bullets, slices with his sword, and climb onto things real good. It combines the frenetic pace of Contra and the expansive vertical levels and mazes of the Turrican games. You’ll be filling monsters and sci-fi goons with loads of lead, lasers, and fire.
As if that wasn’t enough, Therion can also acquire legendary and exotic weapons that have different properties and even practical applications.One of them can latch onto enemies like a Bionic Commando attachment.
We have no idea when Valfaris will be out, but you might as well check out the trailer for your metal health.


Rainbow Six Operation League MY/SG/PH/ID Returns For Season 5

Ubisoft has announced that Season 5 of the Rainbow Six Operation League MY/SG/PH/ID is back again after an exciting Season 4. Registration opens from today to 14 March 2022 on the official website here.
Congratulations to the Singaporean team, Invictus Gaming International, for winning Season 4. With all the exciting feedback from the Rainbow Six Community in the region and the amazing performances from our SEA teams in 2021, Ubisoft continues to provide competitive experiences to shape professional paths for Rainbow Six players to shine on the international stage. It also continues to provide a platform to discover talents ripe with potential, like Indonesiaâ€™s The Last Dance, who successfully qualified for the APAC Southâ€™s 2022 Season, in the SEA region this year.
Ubisoft is inviting teams in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia to register to be part of this yearâ€™s Operation League. Registration for Rainbow Six Operation League MY/SG/PH/ID Season 5 will be open until 14 March 2022.Â Â
TournamentÂ Dates:Â

Registration Period: 7 March to 14 March 2022
MalaysiaÂ Qualifiers: 19 March to 20 March 2022
SingaporeÂ Qualifiers: 26 March to 27 March 2022
PhilippinesÂ Qualifiers: 2 April to 3 April 2022
IndonesiaÂ Qualifiers: 9 April to 10 April 2022
Group Stage A: 16 April to 17 April 2022
Group Stage B: 23 April to 24 April 2022
Playoff: 29 April to 1 May 2022

THE NEXT PHASE OF RAINBOW SIX OPERATION LEAGUE
To continue to improve the competitive landscape for Rainbow Six Esports in Southeast Asia, Ubisoft will be refreshing the Operation League, which is set to be back with a new format and structure after this season. This new arrangement aims to boost the competitive intensity in the region to provide opportunities for teams from Southeast Asia to compete internationally. More information will be provided soon.
You can follow the official Rainbow Six Esports Facebook page here for future updates.


New The Witcher Featurettes Shines Spotlight On Geralt, Ciri & Yennefer

Netflix has unveiled new featurettes, each of which focuses on one of the three main protagonists of the upcoming The Witcher: Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer. Each of these featurettes features the actors introducing their respective characters in brief two-minute-long videos.
The first is on Geralt Of Rivia, portrayed by Henry Cavill. He explains the broad definition of a Witcher and the characteristics of one.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ7pyG4Z7mw&w=560&h=315]
The second is on Yennefer Of Vengerberg, portrayed by Anya Chalotra. She explains the nature of her character, who is supposed to be the love interest of Henry Cavill’s Geralt and a powerful sorceress in her own right.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t-PMjMBxKw&w=560&h=315]
The third is on Ciri or Princess Cirilla, portrayed by Freya Allan. She explains who this important character is, and what circumstances Ciri will be dropped into during the series.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHY8EfIyC4A&w=560&h=315]
Netflix’s The Witcher is slated to premiere on 20 December 2019. Stay tuned for our review of the series soon. In the meantime, check out the key art for each character below.


Joker Becomes First R-Rated Movie To Join One Billion Dollar Club

Todd Phillips’ Joker has booked its place in film history, as it becomes the first-ever R-rated movie to cross US$1 billion dollars in revenue at the global box office. That’s not the only milestone achieved by the movie starring Joaquin Phoenix as the titular Clown Prince of Crime.
Warner Bros’ Joker is now also the fourth DC Comics live-action movie adaptation and the seventh movie release of 2019 (five of which are Disney movies) to reach the one billion dollar mark, as well as being only the third movie to generate that much revenue at the global box office without releasing in China, one of the world’s biggest movie markets.
According to Box Office Mojo, Joker has accumulated US$322.6 million in the domestic US box office and US$694 million in the international overseas box office, resulting in a whopping grand total of US$1.017 billion.
That number currently places Joker as the 43rd highest-grossing movie at the all-time worldwide box office, ahead of even Christopher Nolan’s iconic The Dark Knight (which grossed US$1.004 billion back in 2008).
It’s incredible to see how well-received Joker has been by both critics and normal audiences alike, as the movie is nothing like the usual popcorn blockbuster fare popularized by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If anything, Joker definitely deserves the achievement. Check out our review of the movie here, or head on over here to check out all the easter eggs we discovered in the movie.


E3 2018: Why We Are Most Excited About Ghost of Tsushima

When Ghost of Tsushima was first unveiled at Paris Game Week, the response was sort of tampered within the gaming scene perplexed with why Sucker Punch, well known for their flashy, neon-filled open-world franchise, Infamous would attempt at such a little-known period, feudal Japan during the Mongol invasion circa late 1200s.
Prior to today’s presentation at E32018, little was known about the game except for the time period it was set in – during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima. However, the biggest concern heading into E3 would be how Sucker Punch tackle the most important aspect when it comes to games depicting samurai – the sword fighting. Will it be another hack-and-slash ala Metal Gear Revengeance, or would it be more along the lines of Assassin’s Creed / Arkham games? Or will it attempt to be more realistic and punishing ala Nioh and Bloodborne?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSAvzeopPC8&w=560&h=315]
Thankfully after today’s world premiere of the game’s gameplay, our skeptical selves are sold on the game. The combat was fluid and varied enough, capturing the intensity as well as the complexity of these swordfights that rarely last more than a minute. To the uninitiated, the art of samurai sword fighting is a practice of perfection and emphasises on the minimum number of movements.
Known for their brutal efficiency, the winner of most samurai sword fights are determined within a few flicks, swings and side steps.Â In rare cases where two equally skilled swordsmen clash, the fights may be prolonged but don’t expect them to last for a lengthy period.

Just recall the scene of Beatrix Kiddo’s fight in House of Blue Leaves in Kill Bill, and narrowing down each kill as single fights.

While we didn’t see any button prompts during the E3 demo, we have a feeling that a small window for quick, single-slash kills will be presented throughout the game, rewarding quick reflexes with instant kill moves. Players will have to time their moves according to visual cues and depending on their character’s stance and direction could pull off several cool parries leading up to the killing blow or in some instances, dismemberment of some poor sod.
Of course, the game reminded us a lot of Koei Tecmo’s Nioh but with much more realism to it. A quick segue – Nioh 2 is coming out soon and we’d highly recommend you picking up the first game to prepare for both Ghost of Tsushima AND its sequel.Â As opposed to other similar games, your blade feels much deadlier now and we are pretty sure the same goes for the enemies’ weapons.

We won’t be surprised if Ghost of Tsushima being labelled as ‘the Dark Souls of Dark Souls- style games‘ once released.

Oh, have we mentioned how Ghost of Tsushima is super gorgeous? We were a tad worried as of how they would depict a 13th century Japan but just look at the lighting and over-saturation which sent our spines tingling. You have to watch the segment in full 4K to fully appreciate the amount of detail put into it.
Also, to add extra realism and to make the open world more believable, the devs, in an earlier interview claimed that there will be minimum hand-holding in the game, such as the lack of mini-maps thus encouraging players to take initiative to explore their surroundings themselves.
Almost accurate depiction of samurai sword fights? Check.
Roam feudal Japan as a samurai? Check
Quick one-slash kills? Check
Gorgeous graphics? Check
Surely sound like a game we’d be sinking our teeth in and we just can’t wait for the game to be released. Our hope is to see it before next year’s E3 and with tons of games slated for February release, our guess is that PlayStation will push Ghost of Tsushima’s release date to April.

So what’s YOUR favourite reveal from PlayStation’s E3 2018 press conference? Excited about Ghost of Tsushima as well? Then tell us why in the comments section below!


Bayern’s Bundesliga Dominance Spills Over Into FIFA 23 Ratings

Another day another list of FIFA 23 Ratings coming from EA SPORTS. This time it’s the Top 25 highest-rated in Germany’s Bundesliga.
The list features players from a total of six teams; unsurprisingly, Bayern populates most of the Top 25 list with a whopping 11 players. Dortmund is in second with only five players and RB Leipzig trails behind them with four.
To my surprise, there are a lot fewer players in the 87–89 range than expected. Obviously, if Haaland were still at Dortmund then he’d be on this list with his disappointing 88 ratings.  Lewandowski is also another name that would have made this list if he was still with Bayern.

Manuel Neuer, 90 – Bayern München
Sadio Mané, 89 – Bayern München
Joshua Kimmich, 89 – Bayern München
Thomas Müller, 87 – Bayern München
Leon Goretzka, 87 – Bayern München
Christopher Nkunku, 86 – RB Leipzig
Kevin Trapp, 86 – Eintracht Frankfurt
Kingsley Coman, 86 – Bayern München
Yann Sommer, 85 – Borussia M’gladbach
Patrik Schick, 85 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Marco Reus, 85 – Borussia Dortmund
Niklas Süle, 85 – Borussia Dortmund
Serge Gnabry, 85 – Bayern München
Matthijs de Ligt, 85 – Bayern München
Péter Gulácsi, 85 – RB Leipzig
Jude Bellingham, 84 – Borussia Dortmund
Lucas Hernández, 84 – Bayern München
Alphonso Davies, 84 – Bayern München
Mats Hummels, 84 – Borussia Dortmund
Koen Casteels, 84 – VfL Wolfsburg
Leroy Sané, 84 – Bayern München
Moussa Diaby, 84 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Konrad Laimer, 83 – RB Leipzig
Sébastien Haller, 82 – Borussia Dortmund
Timo Werner, 82 – RB Leipzig


Paladins Announces Battle Royale-Styled Gameplay

Another IP joins the battle royale hype train as developers, Hi-Rez Studios announced that their game, Paladins is adopting the battle royale mode and is calling it *drum roll*
Battlegrounds.
How original.
The new game mode, Paladins: Battlegrounds will be free-to play and see 100 players battle it out in 20-minute matches set on – as all battle royale games go – a large map. From what we gather from the trailer, expect to see several mini-maps cobbled up together to form the full map, enabling different styles of approaches throughout.Â Once on the ground, players battle and scrounge over the loot scattered over “more than four dozen outposts” and sought for “zeppelins that drop legendary gear” as encroaching fog corrals them into ever-tighter skirmishes. The last team standing wins.
According to Hi-Rez, Paladins: Battlegrounds was “designed from the ground up to be played in teams,”.Â This new mode will retain the main game’s class-based team composition and (yay!) mounts will also be available.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esVvWctfTPg&w=560&h=315]
Since release, Paladins was oft compared to Overwatch, and was even labeled as a clone to Blizzard’s highly popular hero shooter. They persevered and continued to grow but again, attracted unwanted attention recently when they introduced the highly unpopular Cards Unbound crafting system.
Battle royale-style games is the in-thing nowadays with the immensely popular PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds breaking records left and right with its unprecedented popularity. Base building survival game Fortnite was among the IPs first to jump into the battle royale hype train and other IPs have also followed suit including mods allowing similar modes on Grand Theft Auto Online as well as plans for similar modes on Counter Strike: Global Offensive.


Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night New Switch Update Has Arrived

When Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was released, gamers all over the world cheered as it finally gave them a modern game worthy of being called a Castlevania spiritual successor. It was released on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintedo Switch.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpweNG4rWIM&w=560&h=315]
The Switch port of Bloodstained was well received at launch but it was criticised for poor performance, long load times, and muddy textures. Developer ArtPlay has just released update 1.03 for the game and it introduces some much needed improvements, especially in the areas of input lag, visual quality, crashes, and load times.
According to the game’s latest Kickstarter blogpost, input lag has been eliminated throughout the game but the team believes there are still a few areas that need optimising and they are working to mitigate that through the next update.
Here are some screenshots that show off the improved visual quality:

The infamous issue of the game slowing down to almost a crawl after reading a book from the bookcase has also been addressed alongside other stability fixes implemented throughout the game. Loading times have been reduced significantly as well, by up to 70% according to the developers.
The team notes that there’s still room for improvement and they are working hard to ensure that update 1.04 will make the game much better for Switch players all around the world. The 1.03 update is now available to download for all Bloodstained Switch owners.


DanMachi: Familia Myth Battle Chronicle Launches This May

Get ready for the upcoming 3D action RPG based on the popular anime series “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?” The game, called “Familia Myth Battle Chronicle,” is set to launch on 23 May worldwide for iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play. You can even pre-register now!
Not only that but the game’s official English and Traditional Chinese websites are now live. So, what can you expect from this game? According to the developers at Aiming, you’ll get to experience the world of DanMachi in 3D with fully voiced dialogue. The story will be relived in 3D, and the characters will be brought to life via anime-style graphics. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy game-exclusive movies and scenes drawn from different angles than in the anime.
But that’s not all! You’ll also get to battle against monsters with a variety of attacking and evading methods in exhilarating battles. You’ll have simple controls to perform your favourite deadly attacks, including Firebolt and Lil Rafaga, in spectacular fashion. And, you can go adventuring with your favourite characters while taking on other adventurers in Magic Stone Contests – free-for-all battles where everyone is an enemy! These are battle royales fought between eight different players. Gather more Magic Stones than anyone else to become number one!
The game boasts a star-studded cast of voice actors for numerous characters, including Bell Cranel (voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka), Hestia (voiced by Inori Minase), Welf Crozzo (voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya), Liliruca Arde (voiced by Maaya Uchida), Yamato Mikoto (voiced by Chinatsu Akasaki), Sanjouno Haruhime (voiced by Haruka Chisuga), Ryu Lion (voiced by Saori Hayami), Ais Wallenstein (voiced by Saori Onishi), and more. Plus, the game even has a theme song called “Sajou no Hana ‘Maeterlinck’,” written by Sho Watanabe and arranged by Tatsuya Kitani. The background music is created by Basiscape (Elden Ring, Dissidia Final Fantasy).
If you’re a fan of the Danmachi series, want to adventure with cute female characters, enjoy both a single-player and multiplayer experience, enjoy RPGs or action games, are looking for a free-to-play game, want to play a game based on a popular anime, or are just looking to pick up girls in a dungeon, this game is perfect for you! So, mark your calendars for May 23 and get ready to play “Familia Myth Battle Chronicle.”


All The News At Blizzcon 2018’s Opening Ceremony

BlizzCon 2018 is underway, and so early in the morning too if you’re not in the US right now.
If you’re too tired to stay up and check it out, fret not: we’ll be recapping the latest news during the Blizzard games-filled weekend. We’ll start with the first day.
World of Warcraft Classic Out Next Summer

Folks who miss the original WoW back in 2004 can now go back to the glory days. Current WoW subscribers will get it for free.Â The goal of WoW Classic is to roll back to clock on the gameâ€™s lore and allow players to experience the beginning of the franchise all over again.
Fans will benefit from all of the back-end improvements and changes made to the game over the years. The demo is available for those who bought a Blizzard Virtual Ticket.
New WoW Update: Tides of Vengeance

Don’t worry, current WoW fans. Blizzard did not forget about you all. Tides of Vengeance, the latest major patch for WoW: Battle for Azeroth, will release on 11th December.
The game’s main plot is the Alliance hitting back the Horde hard, with the focus being on the Night Elves. The patch will also introduce the first-ever Horde vs Alliance raid where each faction tackles the raid in a different order while still leading to the same bosses.
There’s also a new Warfront where the Alliance help out Malfurion and Tyrande to fight off the Horde from pillaging their forests.
The major update will also offer players new islands to explore and a second, smaller raid coming at a later date. Alliance players will fight back later this year, and both factions will go head to head in the Battle for Dazarâ€™alor raid in early 2019. Fun!
Heroes of the Storm Introduces An Original Character; Might Be Running Out Of Heroes

HoTS fans get to play as an original new hero called Orphea, who is an heir of the Raven Court.
Orphea is the daughter of the Raven Lord, hence her moniker, Heir of Raven Court. “Rejecting the dark power her father had begun to consort with, Orphea tried to run away from the Raven Lordâ€™s influence,” saysÂ her official bio. She fights by summoning dark monster teeth and maws; kinda like Bayonetta but without the hair getting in the way.
How does she play? She’s a mid-range hero who can deal damage, control zones, sustain, and duel. She’s pretty crap at crowd control though, so use this heir wisely when going against more than one opponent.

Orphea will also have a “Slacker Orphea” alternate skin, shown here with a mop-slinging janitor Leoric in what may be teasing a future event.Â She will be free for everyone who attends BlizzCon or buying a Virtual Ticket.
Here’s A New Overwatch Animated Short Because It’s Already Tradition
It’s called Reunion and it focuses on McCree. Eating pie. And fighting a white-haired cowgirl named Ashe.

An explosive train robbery gives McCree the chance to settle some unfinished business with a few former associates.
Watch REUNION now! pic.twitter.com/n6NTRvvPMw
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) November 2, 2018

He also rescues a flying white robot named Echo. While that’s cool and all, the biggest takeaway from this is the next new hero of Overwatch.
Introducing Ashe, Your New Gunslinging Hero!
[wpvideo 1GNqaZoY]
This cowgirl of the Deadlock gang has a rifle, a shotgun that boosts her in the air, and dynamites to destroy shields. Her Ultimate is B.O.B. No, really, she calls in her robot buddy B.O.B to fight with her.
It also helps that she’s pretty badass and looks good with the white hair and all. We’re going to go out of a limb and say that she’s quick and packs a punch but can’t take it. Having an Ultimate that summons a tank to her side means that she can hide behind her robot buddy while also concentrating fire on her targets.
There’s no release date for her yet, or even a PTR date. While we wait, you should check out her skills below.

WarCraft III Reforged Coming Out

Yep, WarCraft III is going to be remastered. New animations, new graphics, newly-reworked missions and campaigns.
It’s nice to know that the game that introduced the world to Dota is getting the spotlight once again; to help remind people that before WoW, there was WarCraft III. Users who buy WarCraft III Reforged will also give WoW players a Meat Wagon mount.
It’ll be out in 2019. We may not be into WoW, but we sure as heck want to revisit Azeroth in RTS form.
Hearthstone Gets New Troll-Heavy Expansion

Called, Rastakhan’s Rumble, the expansion features a lot of Warcraft’s trolls. It features new mechanics and new Legendary spirit animals called Loas.
This Loa below is meant for Paladins; he’s expensive but cost 1 less for each Mana you’ve spent on spells.

Diablo Immortal Announced; It’s A Mobile Game

Blizzard partners up with Netease to create this new Diablo game for mobile. It’s set in-between Diablo II and Diablo III, right after the destruction of the Worldstone. So far it looks like a serious version of White Cat Chronicles, but with better graphics and a more established brand.
There seem to be some assets from Diablo III reused here, but there’s also some new monsters and demons in the mix.Â  This game will probably feature the following: F2P, microtransactions, dailies, and timed events. Not that there’s anything wrong with it though.
Blizzard Launches New Diablo III Amiibo

Where there are goblins, there is treasure to be found! Summon your own portal to untold riches with the exclusive #DiabloSwitch Loot Goblin amiibo – available Dec 2018! pic.twitter.com/jLe4vMmkcH
— Diablo (@Diablo) November 1, 2018

Guess we know what our resident Diablo fan Mr Toffee will be getting this Christmas.
New LEGO Overwatch Toys Out January 1
The recent leaks are true: LEGO is releasing new Overwatch toys early next year. Here’s a breakdown:

Tracer and Widowmakerâ€™s minifigs (with signature weapons) accompany a mannable drone satellite and checkpoint disc.Â This playset is US$14.99.

The set can be combined with the Watchpoint: Gibraltar map kit that includes Mercy, Reaper, Winston, and Pharah. That likewise gives minifigs their signature items and weapons, and features a 14-inch Overwatch rocket that separates into two vehicles. This set is US$89.99.

Hanzo and Genji face off in the Hanamura dojo, which includes a Shimada Henchman minifig. The dojo features a weapons stand, health pack, and â€œ2 hidden disc shooters that represent the dragon spirits of each brother.â€ The 197-piece kit is US$19.99.

Soldier 76, McCree, and Reaper are together in the Dorado Showdown playset, which includes a payload truck (with adjustable hover-wheels), a generator payload and a Dorado-style building with a doorway for the payload truck to pass through. Dorado Showdown is $29.99.

Reinhardt and D.Va are standalone mechs both more than five inches tall. Their minifigs can ride in the cockpit; D.Vaâ€™s mech has a shooting function. This set is US$39.99.

Once built, Bastion can be posed in recon mode (more than 10 inches tall) or sentry mode (about 6 inches tall) without rebuilding. This kit is US$49.99.


Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Is A Greek Journey Worth Taking

Some of you might groan at the idea of another Assassin’s Creed title barely a year after 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins, especially after Ubisoft promised to slow down and stop annual releases for the franchise.
However, I’m here to reassure everyone that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is definitely a better overall experience compared to its predecessor, albeit with a sense of dÃ©jÃ  vu permeating throughout the game. It improves in several aspects but unfortunately carries over several mistakes as well.
First things first, let’s clear out the popular misconception about Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. It was not developed after Origins, nor was it lazily and hastily churned out in one year. Odyssey‘s development was led by Ubisoft Quebec, best known for developing 2015’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate while Origins was led by Ubisoft Montreal, best known for 2014’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Both Origins and Odyssey were in development at the same time, concurrently.
This is Sparta!
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes place in Ancient Greece, at the height of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. Players assume the role of either Kassandra or Alexios. Regardless of whom you choose, he or she will be a ‘Misthios’ or mercenary who possesses the First Civilization artifact called the Spear of Leonidas.
The plot of Odyssey puts a special emphasis on family, as most of the story missions focus on searching for your long-lost family. Throughout your Odyssey, you will discover hidden truths about them and cross paths with the Cult of Kosmos, who are hell-bent on controlling all of Greece.
Dialogue choices.
I was more invested in Odyssey‘s main narrative and world-building in comparison to Origins. Kassandra’s/Alexios’ troubled past and search for her/his family was infinitely more compelling than Bayek’s by-the-numbers tale of revenge.

Its depiction of Ancient Greece is authentic and captivating, recreating the iconic city-states of Athens, Sparta and more.

History buffs would surely appreciate the amount of attention to detail that went into crafting Odyssey‘s rich Greek setting.Â Origins made the mistake of not going all out with its Egyptian setting, especially since it was at a time when Egypt was ruled by a Greek dynasty of all things. That made Origins already kind of proto-Greek, instead of the true Egyptian representation it could have been.
Assassin’s CreedÂ® Odyssey
Story Ain’t Half Bad Either…
I also enjoyed the characters in Odyssey more than I did in Origins. Why? To me, Origins‘ Bayek was dull and stoic, which left little room for character development. Another problem is that you can’t do anything to change that, unlike in Odyssey. Odyssey benefits from its deeper RPG elements, making it more like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (which is essentially one of the best compliments one can give a game).
The dialogue choices help you shape Kassandra or Alexios into whomever you want them to be. These conversations often end with hilarious/unpredictable outcomes. Sure, you can kill everyone you meet by choosing an answer that’s sure to end in violence, or you can choose to talk them out for a peaceful solution. That said, some of the romance options are downright cringe-worthy, but most of them are one-time flings anyways, so you can basically sleep with every possible NPC without any repercussions.

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The comparison with The Witcher 3 doesn’t end there. Odyssey has definitely derived some of the best elements from the aforementioned RPG masterpiece, and that includes sprawling, unforgettable sidequests. Remember the Bloody Baron sidequest or any of the longer branching side-quests in The Witcher 3? Odyssey has those. Quests in Odyssey are split into the main story ‘Odyssey’ quests, side ‘World’ and ‘Character’ quests, and Destiny 2-like timed ‘ Contract’ quests. The ‘World’ and ‘Character’ quests can oft-times be as big as the ‘Odyssey’ quests.

[wpvideo 1GAlnNNs]
For instance, I was pleasantly surprised by a particular sidequest storyline encountered on the island Naxos, which had me participating in a local rebellion movement against their governing oppressors. Maybe it was just me, but it felt like a littleÂ Star Wars homage, with the rebel leader Kyra even turning out to be the oppressive government leader’s daughter *cough, Darth Vader, Luke/Leia, cough*.
The relationship I developed with the Kyra was unexpectedly moving, later blooming into romance. This turned out to be one of the more serious and surprisingly touching romance options in the game.

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Gameplay Improvements
The gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey remains almost identical to that of Origins. Several mechanics have been added, at the expense of yet several others. Odyssey has removed the ability to block, along with the absence of shields of any kind. Therefore, players will have to dodge and parry their way to victory in battles.
Not to worry, the game still doesn’t go anywhere near the level of Dark Souls or Nioh levels of precise and punishing combat. Odyssey has also removed the various gadgets that Bayek had at his disposal in Origins, which I personally thought was unnecessary bloat.
Additionally, the skill tree comes with three main branches: Hunter (Bow and Arrow), Warrior (Melee), and Assassin (Stealth). What makes it even better is the ability to re-spec and re-allocate your skill points/ability points at any time in the skill tree menu by spending an insignificant amount of Drachmae (in-game currency). This allows players to change their playstyle whenever they feel like it, and experiment with different load-outs.
That’s not the only quality-of-life improvement that makes it seem like Odyssey has somewhat learned from the mistakes of Origin. Some skills, like the ability to turn day to night and vice versa, are automatically unlocked in Odyssey.
At a certain level, the player even receives the ability to completely negate any and all fall damage. Materials you collect will now be used solely to upgrade weapons or upgrade your ship. All of these subtle improvements certainly makes the Odyssey‘s gameplay that much more enjoyable.

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Another gameplay feature of note is the new Mercenary mechanic, where Bounties would be put on the player for committing crimes like murder and stealing. You read that right, stealing and looting means different things in this game.
The more crimes you do, the higher the bounty and these other mercenaries will come for you even in the middle of a story quest. There’s also a ranking system in the Mercenary mechanic, where you kill other fellow mercenaries and try to be the best Misthios. It feels pretty reminiscent of Middle Earth Shadow of War‘s innovative Nemesis system.
Besides that, the addition of Conquest battles makes for exciting large-scale Dynasty Warriors-esque 100-man skirmishes. However, siding with either Athens or Sparta in Conquests battles will often have no bearing on the story. It only changes which side is in control of a particular region at a time.
You could repeat them countless times for loot, but that’s it. Players with playstyles emphasizing bow or stealth would also have a harder time during these Conquest battles, which means a strong bias for melee players.

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Naval Battles are Back
Fans of Black Flag and Rogue can look forward to naval battles being at the forefront of gameplay once again in Odyssey, albeit lacking in cannonballs and rum. You get a massive ship early on in the game, along with the crew. You can recruit lieutenants to fight with you and your crew during boarding naval battles, as well as provide a variety of buffs like increased arrow damage and more.

While fun in its own right, the only qualm with naval battles is that the only way to upgrade your ship is by using materials since it doesn’t gain experience or abilities from battles.

Not upgrading the ship means that it will be severely outmatched, making naval battles harder than it should be, considering most naval battles have at least two or more enemy ships coming at you at the same time. This is apparent during Conquest battles fought on sea instead of on land, which happens on the island territories in the game.
On another note, I loved hearing the distinctive sea shanties sung by my crew, which would change if the crew was either male or female.

[wpvideo LbN80LPD]
Grind or Die
Despite all these welcome improvements, it looks like Odyssey can’t escape from some of the same flaws that afflicted Origins. In some cases, it remains as frustrating as Origins. Odyssey‘s main story alone takes at least 40-50 hours to complete, making it both larger in scale and longer than its predecessor.

This might be mean bang for your buck and many hours of game time, but it could also be a daunting undertaking for some. The absurd length of time it takes to complete the game is further exacerbated by the return of Origin’s grinding problem.

It’s because of this reason that even 36 hours into the game, I still haven’t completed the game’s story yet.
The story progression is gated by levels, and now there’s even forced level scaling. Quests and enemies will level up with you, which means that no matter how much you grind, you won’t be over-leveled, and enemies will still give you a relatively difficult time. The pacing can grind into a halt when the story quests suddenly require you to be a certain level and force you to level up in order to progress.
Both of these combined makes for a frustrating experience, especially for those who just want to play the game for its story. There were several moments where I died from a few hits from an enemy that’s just one or two levels above me. Those deaths felt cheap and were unfairly punishing players who don’t grind.

Is It All Greek To Me?
Despite that hurdle, I feel that it’s a testament to Ubisoft Quebec on how much Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has improved from last year’s Origins, which was itself a soft reboot of sorts for the franchise. Odyssey may play like Origins 2.0, for best and for worst, but it is still ultimately better than its predecessor.

It may not be what fans would expect from a traditional Assassin’s Creed title, but if this is a sign of things to come for the franchise, I look forward to seeing more titles like Odyssey.

Pros:
â€“ Ancient Greece comes to life like never before
â€“ Complex characters and narrative
â€“ Refined gameplay mechanics and quality-of-life improvements galore
â€“ Sprawling and branching side quests of epic proportions
â€“ Naval battles
Cons:
â€“ Gated progression and forced level scaling
Score: 90/100
Assassinâ€™s Creed Odyssey was reviewed on the PlayStation 4 Pro, via a review copy courtesy of Ubisoft Singapore.


Brazilian Fortnite Streamer RaulZito Arrested For Offense Against Minors

A Brazillian Fortnite streamer was arrested on 27 July 2021 for allegedly raping two of his fans who are under-aged children between the ages of 10 to 14 years old. Raulino de Oliveira Maciel, also known as RaulZito, has hundreds of thousands of followers across Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram.
According to the police who is handling the investigation, RaulZito used his fame and reputation as a gaming streamer to lure children, especially on Instagram. RaulZito was apprehended by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiroâ€™s Department for Child and Adolescent Victims (DCAV) in FlorianÃ³polis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
According toÂ the police reportÂ (via Dexerto), the mother of a victim revealed that her son said that he suffered from abuse at the hands of RaulZito between February and May 2021. Another child also reported being molested by RaulZito. These cases reportedly took place in NiterÃ³i, the Metropolitan Region of Rio, and in the municipality of SÃ£o Caetano do Sul, in SÃ£o Paulo. The victims are all actors by occupation.
SBT Games (who manages RaulZito) has since released a statement confirming that RaulZito is no longer part of the company and that they are â€œawaiting the elucidation of the facts and result of the investigation.â€

Segue Nota Oficial do SBT Games sobre os acontecimentos envolvendo o streamer Raulzito: pic.twitter.com/mwbAKBQAD4
— SBT Games (@SBT_Games) July 27, 2021


You Can Unlock Persona 5 Scramble Bonuses By Having Certain Game Save Files

After the game was initially announced in April 2019 earlier this year, we recently discovered more details about Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers, the upcoming action RPG musou follow-up to 2017’s JRPG hit Persona 5.
With the game nearing its Japanese release date of 20 February 2020, Atlus has revealed that Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers will feature save data bonuses. Those who have access to the save files of certain games will be able to enjoy additional content, which includes a Persona 5 Sound Set containing the original Persona 5‘s Last Surprise & Persona 5 Royal‘s Take Over battle themes.
PS4 users will need to have either the save files of the original Persona 5 or Persona 5 Royal to unlock those bonuses, while Nintendo Switch users will bizarrely require Super Smash Bros. Ultimate play history on their console. That makes sense, considering the brawler game is the only place where Switch users can play as Persona 5 protagonist Joker.

P5S will have save data bonus that will unlock Persona 5 Sound Set containing the original P5 Last Surprise & P5R’s Take Over as battle themes in P5S
PS4: Have a save data of either P5 or P5Royal
Switch: Have a play history of Super Smash Bros Ultimate in the console pic.twitter.com/hL28FzCsgL
â€” é»’å‡§ BlackKite (@bk2128) November 4, 2019

Atlus has yet to confirm when or if an international localized version of Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers will be released. In the meantime, check out the new 10-minute-long Japanese trailer with new footage for the upcoming game. If you’re still on the fence about buying the game, check out our buyer’s guide for the title.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PoJImu4TCI&w=560&h=315]


Here’s How The Nintendo NX Logo, The Switch Prototype, Looks Like

The logo and boot animation for the Nintendo NX has been leaked. For those not in the know, that’s the prototype for the Nintendo Switch. NX was the original codename that was mentioned in March 2015 as part of Nintendo’s partnership with mobile developer DeNA.
The console retained the name for a year and a half, until its announcement as the Nintendo Switch in October 2016. Nintendo has never shown the NX logo at all, at least until game preservationist Paul Kelly made this tweet.

The Nintendo Switches Codename was the NX and this was an early Logo / Boot Up animation used during development of the Console ( It was found in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Prototype ) This was never seen outside Nintendo pic.twitter.com/B1bS5zCKOu
— Paul Kelly (@PaulFelixKelly) November 20, 2022

NOTE: Made an oopsie and only realized after posting that the first screenshot is for triggering the Amiibo costumes. My bad lol.
— Trash_BDC (?SEE PINS FOR OTHER LINKS!) (@trashbandatcoot) November 21, 2022

It’s basically a white circle with “NX” in white sans serif font. So that’s something.
The Nintendo Switch is the best-selling Nintendo console of all time at this moment, surpassing the Wii’s 101.63 million units sold. It has yet to match the Nintendo DS’s 154.02 million and Game Boy/Game Boy Color’s 118.69 million.


[Rumour] Team Ninja Working On PS5 Exclusive Final Fantasy Game

Team Ninja is not making a Nioh 3 for the PS5 or Xbox Series, it seems. Instead, it’s working with Square Enix on an exclusive Final Fantasy title.
According to a Resetera rumour post by leaker Navtra, Square Enix will be announcing an exclusive PS5 Final Fantasy game this June during E3 2021 week. The game is “Souls-inspired, but not exactly what you would imagine when you hear ‘Souls-like FF'”. The game will have ties to Final Fantasy 1 on the NES/Famicom and will bear the name Final Fantasy Origin (via Fanbyte).
In fact, French leaker Souls Hunt said the Final Fantasy game is similar to Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which itself is inspired by the Dark Souls series due to its level structure, combat, and, ehem, respawn mechanic. Lots of people have speculated that the core team behind Nioh will be developing the game.
As for the game’s PS5 exclusivity? It’ll be a timed thing, so it may be out for PC and other platforms a year after being on the console. While this news is exciting, take it with a grain of salt until Square Enix and Team Ninja makes it official.
On a related note, the next Final Fantasy game for PS5 is Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, an updated version of the PS4 exclusive with new content. It’ll be out on 10th June worldwide.


Watch Death Stranding’s Mama Get Busy With Shia LaBeouf In This Music Video (NSFW)

It’s no surprise to see Hollywood and pop culture’s finest do collaborations in artsy music videos these days. Shia LaBeouf (Transformers, Peanut Butter Falcon) and Margaret Qualley (Death Stranding’s Mama) are the latest in a recent music video called “Love Me Like You Hate Me”.
With music by Rainsford, it’s an intimate look at the relationship between two lovers. The top screen’s the lonely side of things, while the bottom screen’s the more pleasant bits happening. It’s pretty cool to tune into and at least shows that these actors are beyond their typecasted roles as neurotic characters and motherly archetypes in a Kojima wankfest respectively.
Warning: there’s a bit of nudity here since we get to see Margaret Qualley’s twin Mamas on full display. You’ve been warned.

Love Me Like You Hate Me (2020) from LaBeouf, RÃ¶nkkÃ¶ & Turner on Vimeo.


You Can Join The Money Heist Korea Malaysian Branch Experience Starting This Weekend

Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area is premiering on Netflix soon (on 24 June 2022), and you can join the fun at the Malaysian Branch of the JEA starting from 25 June 2022. At that location, you have to put together clues and open the vault in a special escape room experience which is free for everyone.
All you have to do to join is to RSVP for your time slots by heading over here, since the slots and groups are limited. The Money Heist Joint Economic Area Malaysian Branch escape room experience will be available from Saturday, 25 June 2022 to Sunday, 10 July 2022. It will be open from 6PM–10PM on weekdays and 10AM–10PM on weekends.

Nak dapat the new #MoneyHeistKorea mask, jumpsuit, & a fat stack of Unified Korean cash? Good news: the #RompakDaebak gang have set up a Joint Economic Area – Cawangan Malaysia, so kita pun boleh #JoinTheHeist ? pic.twitter.com/tJvYtuDdTs
— Netflix Malaysia (@NetflixMY) June 23, 2022

The Money Heist Joint Economic Area Malaysian Branch is located at the following address: 7, Jalan Batai, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur. Before you go and join in the fun, we would like to remind that you once again that you’ll have to RSVP your specific time slots at the provided link.
In the meantime, check out my review of Money Heist Joint Economic Area. It premieres on Netflix on 24 June 2022.
Courtesy of Netflix Malaysia, we went to the Money Heist Joint Economic Area Malaysian Branch and check out what we experienced:


Werewolf: The Apocalypse â€“ Earthblood Gameplay Looks Bloody Fun

Publisher Nacon and developer Cyanide Studios have revealed the first gameplay trailer for the upcoming action RPG Werewolf: The Apocalypse â€“ Earthblood.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse â€“ EarthbloodÂ received its previous cinematic trailer during the Nacon Connect live stream in July 2020. This new gameplay trailer gives us our first extended look at actual gameplay footage, with narration by Cyanide Studios game director Julien Desourteaux.
It shows off the three forms players can take throughout the game as protagonist Cahal: human, wolf and Crinos (which is more like the iconic humanoid werewolf form everyone expects).

Werewolf: The Apocalypse â€“ EarthbloodÂ is slated to release for the PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via theÂ Epic Games StoreÂ on 4 February 2021.


Smell (& Hug) The Game Further With These Adorable Guilty Gear Strive Plushies

Ever wanted to cuddle up with Guilty Gear’s Sol Badguy just like Jack-O does off-screen? Or how about with dolphin enthusiast May when Johnny isn’t looking? Welp, you can sorta do that with this upcoming official merchandise.
Animate’s online shop is offering official Guilty Gear Strive plushies based on the following characters from the hit fighting game: Sol Badguy, Ky Kiske, May, and Ramlethal. You can pre-order them for 3,300 yen/US$33+/RM130+ each, since they’re only scheduled for shipping in late December 2021.
For now, you can gawk at how they’ll look like via the concept art below. Hopefully the actual photos of these cuties turn out spiffy.


MSI To Unleash Neon Genesis Evangelion PC Components To The World

You can (not) uninstall this next piece of news from your mind.
Laptop makers MSI are teaming up with Evangelion Project (esports brand themed with Evangelion stuff) to launch a new line of Neon Genesis Evangelion-branded PC gear. If you love combinations of purple and green, you’ll want to check these bad boys up. High-speed elevators not included, of course.

The MSI x e:Project consists of a motherboard, AIO liquid cooler, power supply, and PC case all decked in Evangelion Unit-01 colours. This set is clearly for those who are still humming Cruel Angel’s Thesis to this day. If you have the cash, here’s the list of parts you can get:

MAG B6660 Tomahawk EVA e-Project (US$219)
MAG Coreliquid C240 EVA eProject (US$160)
MAG A650BN EVA e-Project
MPG Gungnir 110R EVA e-Project (US$129)

The parts are not out in Malaysian MSI stores yet, but we’ll let you know if they are. In any case, anime fans who love to build their own PCs should consider adding a bit more purple parts into their master race gaming lives.


Call Of Duty Zombies Is Coming Back To Warzone, Here’s How To Survive

The undead is back to Call Of Duty but this time to spice up Rebirth Island as of 27 July 2022.
Developed by Beenox, Rebirth of the Dead is a limited-time mode in Warzone that allows Operators to become Zombies in a unique 40-player Quads match.
“As soon as we were asked to bring the memorable Zombie Royale to Rebirth Island, the whole team came on board with incredible enthusiasm and a great many ideas,
Our number one priority was to keep what made the original mode great while adding a few key quality of life improvements and looking for ways to make it a uniquely Rebirth Island experience.”
– Marc-André Gagné, Senior Expert System Designer at Beenox
Those who remember Zombie-based Warzone modes in the past will be familiar with this type of undead royale. But with a new Infestation mechanic and several small changes – including the exclusion of jump scares, which should be great news for scared streamers – Rebirth of the Dead is poised to be a frenetic, fun, and challenging experience for all players.
These details, as well as the unique rewards for playing this mode, are as follows:
HOW TO PLAY REBIRTH OF THE DEAD

Rebirth of the Dead is an altered Mini Royale where up to 40 players can drop in as part of a Quad — a team of four. In addition to exploring a haunted Rebirth Island under the cover of a late-day fog, Operators who perish will be brought back to life as zombies.
However, these Zombies aren’t the usual shambling cannon fodder for grinding cool camos: player-controlled Zombies have a few tools at their disposal for survival:

Charged Jump: Close distances or switch up movement patterns with this fast-recharging ability. The longer you hold down the command to make a Charged Jump, the farther and higher you’ll leap.
EMP Blast: Destroy enemy electronics — including equipment like Proximity Mines, as well as vehicles and digital optics — and disable the HUD of any Operators within the blast radius.
Gas Grenade: Damage and disorient your enemies using the Gas Grenade, which spews out toxic particles in a small radius emanating from you. Great when combined with the EMP Blast and in close quarters.

RENEWED REVIVAL MECHANIC, SUPPLY CRATES & FINISHERS
Just like in the previous Zombie Royale, eliminating Operators grants Zombies Syringes, the antidote for their undead condition. A Zombie needs four syringes to be redeployed as an Operator. New to Rebirth of the Dead, lone syringes can be found in Supply Boxes, Medical Supplies, and Buy Stations.
Zombies are now able to open Supply Boxes. Resurgence Supply Boxes, and even doors, but cannot break open those heavy, cube-shaped Drop Crates without the help of an Operator. Loose syringes will also be outlined through obstacles — walls and other cover pieces — to make them easy to spot, even in low visibility conditions.
Alternatively, a Zombie will get two syringes for eliminating a human Operator. Or, if they perform a Finishing Move on that Operator, they will get four syringes — in other words, an automatic redeploy for humiliating prey.
NEW MECHANICS: INFESTATION & MEDICAL SUPPLIES

Along with adding a new way for Zombies to become human again, Beenox had three priorities for this new twist on the previous Zombie Royale mode.
“One, we wanted to increase the opportunities for interactions between Operator and Zombies teammates,
Number two was to increase the number of opportunities for players to return to the match. We wanted to keep the party going longer. And third, we wanted to increase the number of Zombies in play at once to get that feeling of truly having your back to the wall against a horde. The last two points are what inspired us to come up with the Infestation Mechanic.”
– Marc-André Gagné, Senior Expert System Designer at Beenox
Infestation brings the spirit of a late-round Zombie rush to Warzone, as Operators may need to fight off dozens of recently respawned Zombies to survive long enough for the final circles. In Rebirth of the Dead, the player HUD includes an Infestation meter. It gets filled as zombies are killed. Once it is full, the Infestation event begins.
At the start of an Infestation, every spectator — Zombies who were KIA — will be respawned. This gives an “extra afterlife” to players who may have gotten eliminated early from the game.
The other event during Rebirth of the Dead is the Medical Supplies event. As its name implies, this event deposits Medical Supplies containing Syringes and high-rarity gear around the map. Operators can crack them open for their Zombified squadmates.
Other than these differences, the rules of Rebirth of the Dead are like a standard Mini Royale: the circle collapse waits for no Operator or Zombie, although the latter can move through the gas, and the last surviving squad wins.
TOP FIVE TIPS

Disable, Disorient, and Attack… As a zombie, using abilities is key to fighting Operators with ranged weaponry. Activate the EMP Blast to destroy nearby equipment. Follow that up with the Gas Grenade to disorient them…and try to execute a Finishing Move; you may even get a reward for hitting at least one in this mode.
Hybrid Power. If squadmates join the Zombie ranks, they can still be helpful in eliminating enemy squads. For example, they can charge an enemy head-on while human players sit back and snipe. They can also open those Medical Supplies, which have plenty of Syringes for their undead comrades.
You Got to Give Us a Shot. Eliminating Operators is not the only way to gather Syringes — open the Supply Boxes that those careless humans did not bother to check, and remember to look for red outlines of them through walls and cover.
Mind the Infestation. This new mechanic can be a game-changer, as a dozen or more extra Zombies in the lobby can cause chaos. Check the Infestation meter often to see when it is nearly full; then prepare for a siege with Field Upgrades like Portable Cover and traps such as a Proximity Mine.
To the Victor, Go the Spoils. If you win Rebirth of the Dead as a human, expect to receive the animated “Last Alive” Calling Card. Keep playing and learning from previous failed attempts to unlock what may be a rarity among all Warzone accounts.

“We also knew that we had to make some changes to the mood and atmosphere of Rebirth Island to make it a worthy playground for zombies,
For that, we came up with a brand-new Exfil sequence and had the pleasure of working with our friends at Raven in order to alter the look and feel of the island’s visuals. Stay on your toes — zombies might lurk in the heavy fog!”
– Marc-André Gagné, Senior Expert System Designer at Beenox
Be sure to drop into Rebirth of the Dead this week — the undead does not rise from their graves often in Warzone, so beat them back down before they retreat.


Cyberpunk 2077 Is Back On The PlayStation Store [Update]

(Updated on 21 June 2021):
CD Projekt Red has announced that Cyberpunk 2077 is now finally back on the PlayStation Store. However, as we mentioned last week, they still recommend that players play the game on the PS4 Pro or PS5.
In addition to that, a free next-gen upgrade will be available for all owners of the PS4 version of Cyberpunk 2077 sometime in the second half of 2021.

Users may continue to experience some performance issues with the PS4 edition while we continue to improve stability across all platforms. The PS4 Pro and PS5 versions of the game will provide the best experience on PlayStation.
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) June 21, 2021

Both CD Projekt Red and Sony PlayStation have confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 will once again be available for purchase in the PlayStation Store on PS4 and PS4 starting from next week on 21 June 2021.
However, in a statement to Polygon, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) warns users that those playing on the base PS4 will still likely experience a lot of issues.
An SIE representative said:
â€œSIE can confirm that Cyberpunk 2077 will be re-listed on PlayStation Store starting June 21, 2021.
Users will continue to experience performance issues with the PS4 edition while CD Projekt Red continues to improve stability across all platforms.
SIE recommends playing the title on PS4 Pro or PS5 for the best experience.â€
Cyberpunk 2077Â has a disastrous launch, to say the least. However, the gameÂ still sold pretty well. In December 2020, Sony delisted CD Projekt Redâ€™s open-world RPG game from the PlayStation Store and even offered full refunds for customers who purchased the digital version of Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store.
You can check out a handy recap of all the problems plaguingÂ Cyberpunk 2077Â since launch byÂ heading over hereÂ or check out ourÂ review of the game here.


Death Stranding Comes To Xbox PC Game Pass Next Week

Global publisher 505 Games in partnership with Kojima Productions have announced the upcoming arrival of Death Stranding on PC Game Pass for PC. The original version of Hideo Kojima’s critically-acclaimed and genre-defying epic lands on the Microsoft ecosystem for the first time, available to audiences who are subscribed to the PC version of Xbox Game Pass.
Death Stranding will be available on Xbox PC Game Pass at 8am GMT+8 on 23 August 2022.
According to 505 Games, the reason for this is “to provide players with greater access to Hideo Kojima’s genre-defying title, in which they’ll reconnect a fractured America, one step at a time”.
Starring renowned actor Norman Reedus as Sam “Porter” Bridges, traverse the remnants of a devastated America plagued by a series of supernatural phenomena known as the Death Stranding. Journey westward to connect those remaining after humanity’s near-extinction. Death Stranding tells a groundbreaking story of perseverance through an emotional adventure that those in the Microsoft community can now experience for the first time.
Connect with people around the world via the unique Social Strand System. Contribute hard-earned resources to improve your surroundings as well as the worlds of other players. Strategically place highways, zip-lines, safehouses and other structures to make the terrain more easily traversable and earn Likes from the community. Promote unity by Liking player-created structures appearing in your own world.
Death Stranding is currently available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PS4 and PS5.


K/DA Goes All/Out In Legends Of Runeterra & Wild Rift

The K/DA world tour comes to Legends Of Runeterra and League Of Legends Wild Rift.
Legends Of Runeterra
Exclusive K/DA Cards

For the first time in Legends Of Runeterra, players can unlock a set of special spells with unique animations. Each spell shows off a brief performance from the K/DA members the first time that theyâ€™re played in a game, and players can earn a complete playset (three copies each) of all five just by playing during the K/DA event.
For the duration of the event, The K/DA spells will only be earnable through the free portion of the event path. Once earned, the spells will be usable anywhere, and after the event ends theyâ€™ll become purchasable with Shards or Wildcards or earnable through chests like any other card.
New Lab: Star power
K/DA takes centre stage in a brand new kind of Lab: Star Power. This Lab will be live for the usual two weeks but will change its tune after the first.
Hereâ€™s how it works:
During week one, choose one of 5 preconstructed decks, each centred on one of the new K/DA spell cards. Each deck comes with a unique â€œalways-onâ€ passive ability that complements the featured spell.During week two, constructed unlocks! Youâ€™ll be able to choose from those preconstructed lineups or bring your own playlist. Pair any of the passive abilities you want with the perfect deck to make it really sing.
Quests & Hearts

Players can win games and complete quests to earn Hearts, progress along the event path, and unlock exclusive K/DA ALL OUT rewards.
Your first win of the day will earn you two Hearts, and there will be an endlessly repeatable quest of three PvP wins or five AI wins for three Hearts. Additionally, five pairs of Epic Quests (ten total) will progressively unlock as you continue playing.
The first quest will reward you with Hearts, while the second will also unlock icons foreach member of K/DA. Along with these Epic Quests, there are also a series of nine Event Quests which appear in the Event tab.
These quests unlock in a sequence and earn you more Hearts to progress along the path. Overall, the changes mean that if you do all quests, youâ€™ll make more progress than before; if you miss a day, youâ€™ll lose less progress than before; and now AI games are worth something.
Event Rewards & Event Pass

Players can pick up the K/DA ALL OUT Event Pass in the store (975 Coins) to access an upgraded event path with premium rewards and immediately unlock the new Stella Guardian.
Those that reach the end of the event pass will unlock the Signature Edition K/DA Card Backsâ€” personally signed by each member of K/DA. The K/DA All Out event ends on 24 November 2020 at 11am PT, or 25 November 2020 at 2am GMT+8 for Southeast Asian countries.
League Of Legends Wild Rift

Players can expect an expanded champion roster, story-driven missions, new decals and many more.


PlatinumGames Worked On Parts Of Final Fantasy 16

In a recent livestream of Final Fantasy 16’s pre-launch celebration show, PlatinumGames has revealed themselves to be part of the game’s development process.
PlatinumGames CEO Atsushi Inaba said in a pre-recorded video that Astral Chain director and Nier: Automata key member Takahisa Taura has led a small PlatinumGames team to work on parts of Final Fantasy 16. We’re guessing it’s the combat and fighting parts since that’s what the studio is renowned for. It’s also a key reason why the game’s action scenes are looking pretty sharp and epic in the first place.
Other key folks include Kingdom Hearts 4 co-director Tai Yasue, who also had a hand in making parts of Final Fantasy 16 with another small in-house Square Enix team.
Final Fantasy 16 will be out on 22 June, with the demo coming out at 4pm later today, 12 June. The pre-launch livestream is going on as we speak.


Capcom’s Lead For Ace Attorney Trilogy & Mega Man Star Force Games Leaves Company

The name Shinsuke Kodama may be familiar for those who loved Capcom’s visual novels and RPGs. He’s renowned for being the game designer for the Mega Man Star Force games and the director for the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, as well as designed the Professor Layton VS Phoenix Wright crossover.
Welp, turns out he left the company this February “to pursue a new challenge”. He states on Twitter that he wishes to continue supporting the Ace Attorney games from the outside.

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— ???? (@shinsuke_kodama) March 2, 2020

I can’t say I have much love for the Mega Man Star Force series, but I do love me some Ace Attorney courtroom action, even if it isn’t an accurate representation of real-life legal battles.Â All the best, Kodama-san!


Wrestlemania 36 To Be Held Without Live Audience Due To Covid-19

Wrestlemania is the biggest event in professional wrestling, sort of like the sport’s version of the World Cup or the American Super Bowl. It’s been held for 35 years in front of a live audience without fail, but it looks like 2020 will mark a change.
The WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) announced earlier today that the upcoming Wrestlemania 36 will be streamed online without a live audience or any spectators on-site at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on 5 April 2020.
It was previously slated to take place Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. In a statement to Fox News, the WWE said:

â€œIn coordination with local partners and government officials, WrestleMania and all related events in Tampa Bay will not take place.
However, WrestleMania will still stream live on Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm ET on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view.
Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWEâ€™s training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania.â€

As a non-fan, you might think that Wrestlemania events are nothing much but the fact is that more than 82,000 fans from all 50 states in the US and over 60 different countries attended WrestleMania 35 in 2019.
I was a fan of the WWE when I was a little kid, loving the drama that goes on backstage. I even used to sincerely believe that the Undertaker was Kane’s brother and burnt their house down (killing their family), but Kane survived and that’s why he wore that mask and is now on a quest of vengeance.
That was a time before the Internet was as readily available as it is now, and I was an impressionable kid. Still, the backstage drama and dramatic backstories were part of why I liked the WWE back then. Wrestlemania is just when everything is cranked up to 11.
I’m no longer a fan, but I understand why people still watch WWE. Who cares if it’s not ‘real’? It was to me when I was a kid, and it still is to many people around the world. That’s why Wrestlemania 36 is still going on.


Get Your Dose Of Cyberpunk And Supernatural Horror With ANNO: Mutationem

ANNO: Mutationem‘s latest trailer begins with a shot that strongly references a similar scene from the original Ghost in the Shell film. That alone assures me that the developers are passionate and cool folks.
The new trailer was revealed at ChinaJoy 2019 during Sony’s showcase. Check it out here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bccuhrtr4wY&w=560&h=315]
Set in the near future city of Metropolis, you play as young woman who will battle against robots, cyborgs, and monsters but the story isn’t clear yet so we’ll have to wait and see what motivates the young woman to do those things.

The game seems to be a 2.5D hack-and-slash that also includes platforming and NPC interaction.

The supernatural horror element of the game comes from the SCP side of things. For those unfamiliar with the term, SCP is a fictional organisation that locates and contains entities and objects that violate natural law. It’s basically a creepypasta wiki that leans more on the scientific side.
That huge skeletal monster we see near the end of the trailer? It fits the description of a fictional creature known as SCP-682. Being a fan of SCP stories, I’m really happy to see more games incorporate them into their world.

The game is being developed by Beijing ThinkingStars Technology Development Co. and so far no release date has been announced. The only thing confirmed is that it will be released for the PS4.


Company Of Heroes 3 Is An Epic & Modern RTS Even Newcomers Can Enjoy

Courtesy of Sega and Relic Entertainment, we were given the opportunity to play a Company Of Heroes 3 demo featuring Mission Alpha, the very first mission of the North African Operation. It takes place at the start of Operation Theseus in January 1942 in Libya, when the Afrika Korps faction (DAK) tried to entrap Allied forces in an area between the towns of Ajdabiya, Msus, and Saunna.
I had 11 different units to play with in Mission Alpha, including two Italian units. The North African Operation is a narrative driven, single-player experienceh. The North African Operation starts in early 1942 and will take players through several historical battles including Ajdabiya, Tobruk, Gazala and the first battle of El Alamein. North Africa is an environment that’s never been portrayed in a Company Of Heroes game.

At launch this 18th November, Company Of Heroes 3 will feature four playable factions, including the DAK, the US forces, the British forces and the German Wehrmacht.
The DAK is said to be a much-anticipated addition to the Company Of Heroes franchise. They rely on an arsenal of mechanized vehicles, which allow them to strike fast and keep the pressure on the enemy. These include both light vehicles and heavy support weapons.
The DAK.
The British.
The US Forces.
The German Wehrmacht.
One of the best new mechanics in Company Of Heroes 3is the Full Tactical Pause, which allows players to pause and stop the action simply by pressing the spacebar, as well as issue multiple orders simultaneously and queue them. This reminds me a lot of how Creative Assembly’s Total War franchise plays like (and I’m much more familiar with that strategy game series). This new mechanic is a welcome addition and it’s a big help for newcomers like myself to get used to the fast-paced RTS gameplay in Company Of Heroes 3.
You can use your engineers and recovery vehicles to repair damaged tanks and other vehicles. Infantry units can also repair vehicles, but at a slower rate. Positioning of attacks is also important (a common theme in RTS games), where attacking tanks or vehicles at the rear or sides will result in increased penetration and damage.

If your infantry units gets low on health, you can also just click the retreat button to send them back to HQ or the nearest outpost for reinforcements. Just like in most other strategy games, it’s more economical and beneficial to rely on existing units instead of cranking out new inexperienced ones. Speaking of experience, your units can gain experience and get stat buffs, increasing their effectiveness in combat.
Seeing as this is just a demo, there are several bugs and issues. For instance, there was one objective that warned me to keep aware of hidden mines and that I can use a specific infantry unit’s special ability to defuse them. However, there were no mines, so I simply advanced to the next objective. Fortunately, there were only minor problems like that, and the game was relatively stable for a demo, seeing as I didn’t experience a single crash.

With all the new features and improvements, Company Of Heroes 3 looks like it’ll be a great jumping point for beginners and also an amazing title for veterans of the franchise to sink their teeth into. Obviously, I’ve only scratched the surface of what this RTS game will eventually have to ultimately offer. The franchise’s return couldn’t have arrived sooner.
Company Of Heroes 3 is releasing for PC on 18 November 2022.