HBO’s The Time Traveler’s Wife Begins Production, From Former Doctor Who Showrunner

HBO Original drama seriesÂ The Time Travelerâ€™s Wife is in production in New York. David Nutter (Emmy-winning director for HBOâ€™s Game Of Thrones, Band Of Brothers and nominee for The Sopranos and The Pacific) joins the production as an executive producer and will direct the six-episode first season.
Starring Rose Leslie (HBOâ€™s Game Of Thrones), Theo JamesÂ (Divergent), Desmin BorgesÂ (Youâ€™re The Worst) and Natasha LopezÂ (Runner Runner), the series is an intricate and magical love story, adapted by Steven Moffat from the much-loved novel by Audrey Niffenegger.
The Time Travelerâ€™s Wife tells the story of Clare and Henry, and a marriage with a problem… time travel.
Steven Moffat said:

â€œThis is a story of loss but itâ€™s not a tragedy.
It’s about a time traveler but itâ€™s not science fiction. Despite Clare and Henryâ€™s time scrambled relationship, this is the tale of a grand, ordinary love – but not necessarily in that order.
This is a dream project for me.
I have always loved Audrey Niffeneggerâ€™s extraordinary, moving novel and it has inspired me many times, so to be adapting it for television is the thrill of a lifetime.
Working with David Nutter is a joy and an honour already, and with Rose Leslie and Theo James as Clare and Henry, and Natasha Lopez and Desmin Borges as Charisse and Gomez, this is going to be the love story we need right now.â€

Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Drama Programming said:

â€œSteven Moffat is the perfect writer to bring this beloved book and genre-bending story about marriage to life.
We also couldnâ€™t be more thrilled that David Nutter will be returning to HBO to direct all episodes of the season.”

The Time Travelerâ€™s WifeÂ is an HBO and Warner Bros. Television production based on the book by Audrey Niffenegger, is executive produced by Steven Moffat, Sue Vertue, and Brian Minchin through Hartswood Films; Joseph E. Iberti; and David Nutter.
Steven Moffat is best known for being the showrunner on the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors in the Doctor Who TV series, as well as the man behind Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Netflix’s Dracula.


Is HBO Go A Viable Netflix Substitute In Malaysia?

The HBO Go streaming service has actually been available in Malaysia for a year or so, but it’s only been exclusively available for Astro customers during that period of time. It was finally made available for everyone else to subscribe earlier in May 2020, at the price of RM35.90 per month.
With HBO Go, subscribers will be able to access original content by HBO and HBO Asia, as well as a library of movies, TV series and documentaries. That’s not even mentioning the six live TV channels, which includes HBO, HBO Hits, HBO Family, HBO Signature, Red By HBO, and Cinemax.
How To Sign Up For HBO Go
What the HBO Go front home page looks like.
Despite now being made available to non-Astro subscribers as well, it’s ridiculously weird how harder it is to subscribe to HBO Go compared to the smoother and more seamless experience of subscribing to Netflix.
To subscribe to HBO Go, you need to have access to one of three things: Google Play, iTunes or an Astro account (or alternatively with the Astro Movie Pack). For more details, you can head on over to the official FAQ here.

In the beginning, I tried simply signing up on a web browser for HBO GO (like I did with Netflix years ago), and to my surprise, it wouldn’t allow me to do so unless I already had an Astro account.
I had to go to my phone and download the HBO Go app to continue the process of signing up.
What’s even more insulting is that for some reason, the app forces me to set a parental control pin before I can even start streaming anything.

I had to go through all that before I could finally start streaming HBO Go. It’s also a bit of a hassle that my HBO Go account has to be tied with my Google Play account, when (in comparison) my Netflix account doesn’t have to be tied to anything else.
Another thing I’d like to point out is that while HBO Go’s price of RM35.90 is cheaper than Netflix’s Standard plan’s price of RM45 (both offer similar HD packages), HBO Go only offers a one-week free trial while Netflix offers significantly more value with a one-month trial.
HBO Go: What It Offers
Westworld Season 3.

The best thing about HBO Go is that you’ll be able to watch a lot of content under the umbrella of Warner Bros.
The biggest advantage of HBO Go is allowing subscribers to stream all the latest HBO Original Series, like the recently-concluded Season 3 of Westworld, His Dark Materials, Avenue 5, Watchmen, and more.

There are also a bunch of great (or at least, interesting) series that’s difficult to find or watch elsewhere, like Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone reboot, The Handmaid’s Tale, and more. All of these shows are currently not available on Netflix, and most likely never will, which translates to a powerful trump card for HBO Go to flaunt over its fiercest competitors.

Despite HBO’s reputation still being haunted and diminished by the mess that was the final season of Game Of Thrones, HBO Go can still rely on the power of its own original content, which retains that same “premium” feeling that has always been associated with the brand ever since the early days of Band Of Brothers and The Sopranos.

Speaking of those old classics, they’re also available to stream on HBO Go.
That’s right, including the aforementioned Band Of Brothers and The Sopranos, as well as previously-cancelled (but critically-acclaimed all the same) series like Rome, Deadwood, and more.

HBO’s Rome.
As a comic book fan, I was delighted to also find a healthy selection of DC Comics movies and animated films. However, the library isn’t exactly as up-to-date as I would have liked.
For example, the most recent DC Comics animated movie was Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, which was supposed to have initially launched on digital platforms on 5 May 2020. I went to the Warner Bros. official website, and I discovered that I could buy the movie digitally from various platforms.

The latest DC Comics animated series on HBO Go is Reign Of The Supermen, which initially launched in early 2019. As such, the streaming service is missing not one, but three of the latest DC Comics animated entries, including the aforementioned Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. In another similar case, Shazam! is available on HBO Go, but not Joker and Birds Of Prey.
As I previously mentioned, you can expect mostly Warner Bros. properties on HBO Go, ranging from 2019’s Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, 2018’s Bumblebee, 2019’s Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians, 2019’s Rocketman, and more.

As for older stuff, I feel like Warner Bros.’ forte has always been in the drama, horror, and science fiction genres.
The HBO Go library still isn’t really comprehensive or extensive though.
For instance, it offers the iconic 1986 James Cameron movie Aliens and the not-much-of-a-classic Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem, but none of the other movies from the same franchise.
You should expect a lot of holes if you plan to revisit any sequels or famous movies, as it’s likely that HBO Go won’t have most of them.

Aliens on HBO Go.

There’s also a disparity between the UI of the mobile and browser versions of HBO Go.
For instance, Netflix features a dedicated Continue Watching tab, where users can find everything they’re watched and just resume from where they left off from previous sessions.
The HBO Go mobile app does have the same feature right on the home page, but it’s weirdly hidden on the browser version, where you have to select the Watchlist tab to find the Continue Watching tab.

Also, while this may be a bit nitpicky, I don’t appreciate the HBO logo being on the top right corner of everything I watch on HBO Go. I know that’s always been the case for HBO channels on cable TV, but why is it still happening on the streaming service? Netflix doesn’t do it, nor does any other streaming service that I know of. It’s just annoying, that’s all.
Everything else is fine on HBO Go feature-wise. Just like Netflix, you can add series or movies into your Watchlist, rewind or fast forward 10 seconds at the click of a button, and there are several subtitle options from Mandarin, English and Malay most of the times. You can even customize the font, size and background of your subtitles on HBO Go, which you can’t do on Netflix (to my knowledge).
Is It A Worthy Rival To Netflix?

The biggest weakness of HBO Go right now is in regards to the content.
The HBO Go library isn’t as comprehensive, extensive or varied as Netflix’s.
Netflix also has a much better (and assured) constant flow of new content every month, while HBO Go will have to depend on HBO Originals and Warner Bros. properties.
Sure, one could argue that the quality of HBO Originals wins over the vastly higher quantity of Netflix Originals, but lack of steady new content could be a problem.

As of right now, Netflix is still the better streaming service option here in Malaysia in almost every way. Unless you’re a really huge fan of HBO Originals and Warner Bros. properties, I wouldn’t recommend HBO Go over Netflix anytime soon. That might change soon with the launch of HBO Max later this month, but there’s currently no indication that the new streaming service will be launching in Malaysia anytime soon.


7 Songs From The 90s That Should Replace “Gangsta’s Paradise” In That Sonic Live-Action Trailer

So what’s worst than seeing Sonic The Hedgehog’s 2019 live-action CGI incarnation, human teeth and all? Hearing how tonally mismatched the Coolio “Gangstas Paradise” song is when played on the film’s debut trailer.
Or Weird Al Yankovic’s “Amish Paradise if you want to be candid about it. I half-expected Sonic to bust a cap on James Marsden halfway through. Or Shadow the Hedgehog to make an appearance.
I feel that it’s my duty to recommend a few alternatives that help bring out the zestiness and “attitude” of the snarky fast-as-lightning anthropomorphic hedgehog. The only stipulation? I’ll only use 90s songs and hits prevalent during Sonic’s zeitgeist period – from 1991 to 1999.
And yes, these songs are mostly guilty pleasures for many, but they go well with the tempo and cheerful kid-friendly vibe this film should emanate. The cheesier and more groan-inducing, the better.
2 Unlimited – “Get Ready For This”

You can’t get any more hyper and “90s” than this earwig from The Netherlands. The synths, the high-pitch beats, and some rap to go along with it: how can it not make a comeback on a movie that is clearly tailored after SEGA fans who dabble into cheesy radio beats once in a while?
Michael Jackson – “Jam”

While we’re on the subject of basketball-inspired hard-hitting pop tunes, this ditty from Michael Jackson has all the right beats to match alongside Sonic’s ‘tude. True, “Speed Demon” is a better tune but that’s from the 80s. Plus, with all those alleged rumours of the King of Pop being involved with Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s music, it’s only natural to put one of his tunes in a Sonic adaptation.
HoleÂ  – “Celebrity Skin”

If Captain Marvel can shoehorn a “guilty pleasure-esque” 90s rock theme into its credits, I don’t see why it can’t shove in this bitchin’ tune in this trailer? The riffs and Courtney Love’s bellowing drawl just matches the pandering of the show.
S Club 7 – “Don’t Stop Movin'”

This will probably work in the British release of the film. The 90s disco-like vibe of this tune goes well with the colourful world of a Sonic live-action flick.
Spice Girls – “Stop”

The lyrics are the complete opposite of what Sonic and his “gotta get fast” mantra are portraying. However, that’s probably a lesson the film is trying to preach based on the…trailer? Life is too fast; slow down, made-up video game mascot speedster?
Seriously, I have nothing. But anything with a Spice Girls song slapped onto it will warrant some buzz for this weird-ass film.
Eiffel 65 – “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”

RM10 says this song will at least play in the actual movie. Probably on some dumbass montage of Sonic adjusting to the real world.
Vengaboys – “We like to Party! (The Vengabus)”

Sonic’s like a party animal when he’s not busy being a freedom fighter. I’m sure he has a bus full of cocaine where the blue speedster parties with the woodland animals while Tails gets his sloppy seconds. I’d say go with this for his international trailers because it’s bad enough Paramount has to taint “Gangsta’s Paradise”.
Have a better 90s suggestion than these? Let us know on the comments below or on Facebook.Â


Singapore’s First Hakken Anime Store Opens Next Week

First established in 2019 as an online shopping platform, Hakken! is opening its first physical anime store in collaboration with MUSE Communication Singapore, one of the largest Japanese animation licensors and distributors of official anime goods in Southeast Asia (SEA).
The 2200 square feet retail space will feature a completely new and exciting anime retail concept. Customers can look forward to experiential elements such as the specially curated Themed Features section, where anime lovers can enjoy immersive themed set-ups that highlight scenes from popular animes.
There will also be exclusive life-size figurines of popular anime characters in the store, including life-size figurines of Rem & Ram from the anime Re:Zero âˆ’ Starting Life in Another World.
The Hakken! physical store will officially launch next week on 15 January 2021, where visitors will be able to get hold of exclusive official goods.
These include collectibles, figurines and stationery, from more than 21 notable licensed titles in the anime industry such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Sword Art Online, Attack On Titan and many more.
The Hakken! retail shop is located at Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, #07-08. For more on what Hakken! has to offer, you can check out their online store by heading over here.


The Addams Family Is A Terrifyingly Fun Tale Of Acceptance

There are so many iterations of The Addams Family that has appeared on both TV and the silver screen that it’s really hard for me to judge the new CGI film based on any single one of them. I also have to take into account that these TV shows, cartoons, and movies existed in a time span of more than 50 years.
The Addams Family 1992 cartoon is the adaptation I grew up with. Image taken from The Addams Family Fandom Wiki.
Of course, the people who watched the first ever TV adaptation back in 1964 probably aren’t the ones who are keen to watch the new movie. I’m going to guess that the most memorable adaptations are probably the 1991 movie where Anjelica Huston was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as Morticia Addams and the 1992 cartoon which was broadcasted on Cartoon Network Malaysia, if I’m not mistaken.
So does The Addams Family 2019 reboot deserves to be the family friendly Halloween movie of your choice for this year? I believe it does.
Spooky And Kooky, In A Cute Way

Being set as a reboot means that new audiences are given a chance to acquaint themselves to the characters and The Addams Family manages to do this quite well.
As someone who hasn’t watched any cartoon channels for the past 5 years, I don’t know if kids nowadays are familiar with the eponymous family but if they aren’t, it shouldn’t be a problem because the movie introduces them in a brief but very proper manner.

For those of you who grew up watching any one of the TV or movie adaptations, you’ll be happy to know that the horribly quirky personalities of the characters have remain faithful to their original counterparts.

Gomez (Oscar Isaac) appears to be less laid-back than he usually is but still maintains his literally undying love towards his family, especially his wife Morticia (Charlize Theron). Personally, I found Morticia to be my favourite character from the movie thanks to the frightening yet endearing portrayal of her motherliness.
Accepting The Weird And Woeful
As expected of a reboot movie about a family that considers a dungeon more comfortable than a bedroom, the lessons and themes are focused on topics like “acceptance” and “fitting in”. Now that I think about it, that’s a very meta way of asking the audience to accept this new version of the beloved family. Interesting huh.

Once the premise has been established, the movie branches into two storylines that place emphasis on the development of the family’s children: Wednesday (Chloe Grace Moretz) and Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard). Wednesday desires to explore the new town that has built itself near to the Addams Family mansion while Pugsley has to prepare himself for a coming-of-age family tradition that will result in great shame if he fails to carry it out.
Of course, there’s a villain too. Margaux Needler (Allison Janney) is the interior designer who sets up the aforementioned town that Wednesday wishes to explore. She’s got a Pimp-My-Home style TV show and the season finale will focus on selling the houses she built in the town of Assimilation. Yup, that’s the name of the town. Subtle, I know. With the Addams Family mansion ruining the view, she sets her goal on driving away the Addams.

Both of the children are given ample amounts of screen time which succeeds in letting the viewers get to know them and watch them develop. Only one other major character goes through some form of development in the movie so it’s a bit disappointing that we didn’t see more of the main family members facing some form of conflict that would allow them to grow.
Terrifying Fun For The Family

Despite all the horrible and macabre portrayal of strange endearment between members of The Addams Family, I believe it’s perfectly suitable for parents to watch with their children.

The lessons centering on the value of acceptance may not exactly be relayed in the most effective way. However, it will still serve as a good topic of discussion with kids, especially when focusing on the idea that everyone is different in their own ways and those differences should be welcomed. Even if the difference is that the other kid carries around a crossbow.
FINAL SCORE: 70/100


The Final Fantasy VII Remake Honeybee Inn Scene Could Have Featured A Pole Dance Sequence…

Square Enix posted an incredibly detailed blog about how the Final Fantasy VII Remake’s infamous Honeybee Inn sequence was made, to celebrate the release of the Intergrade rerelease. According to co-director Motomu Toriyama, the dance sequence was initially going to feature a pole-dancing sequence
Yeah, we could have had a scene where Cloud gyrates onto a pole like a champ, but due to the impact it could cause to the game’s age rating, it was nixed in favour of the scene we experienced in the final product. The sequence itself had shifting dance music from composer Mitsuto Suzuki to even professional dancers who created burlesque shows and choreography. And yes, it was filmed on an elaborate set.
A lot of work was put into the elaborate sequence, including integrating a rhythm minigame into the mix. To see it in 60fps 4K is definitely a treat; you can do so in the PS5 version of the game.

Check out the full interview here.


The Callisto Protocol DLC Roadmap Includes New Story Content In Mid 2023

If you love horror games with unfair action-level design and cheap deaths, you may find The Callisto Protocol intriguing. If you want more after the game’s 10 hours, there are DLC plans in store for the game.
Developer Striking Distance Studios has detailed its DLC roadmap, starting with New Game Plus and Hardcore modes on 7 February.
The game will feature a Contagion Bundle in march, a Riot Bundle in Spring, and new story content in Summer 2023.

Outer Way Skin Collection: Bear the armor of the Outer Way, an underground insurgency pitted against the UJC, as you fight to survive the horrors of Callisto.
Contagion Bundle: Discover the ultimate survival horror experience with a new mode, Contagion. With reduced ammo and health drops, a customized difficulty and permadeath – there are no second chances to escape Black Iron Prison or the horrors lurking beneath the surface of Callisto. The Contagion Bundle also includes thirteen new Jacob death animations and the Watchtower Skin Collection.
Riot Bundle: Venture into a previously undiscovered area of Black Iron Prison and battle through waves of brutal enemies. Gather credits to upgrade your weapons, or forge new ones, and survive the onslaught as long as you can in Riot, an all-new mode. The Riot Bundle also includes twelve new enemy death animations and the Engineer Skin Collection.
Story DLC: Dig deeper into the horrifying secrets of The Callisto Protocol.

For more on The Callisto Protocol, you should go check out the Steam reviews on the game. Perhaps the devs should have focused more on optimizing the game for the platform rather than bragging about crunch and selling extra death animations as DLC.


The Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Remaster Is Very Faithful To The PSP Original

Platform(s): PS5 (version reviewed), PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Action RPG that takes place before Final Fantasy VII
You can always count on a JRPG factory like Square Enix to go back to the well and revive its past classics, as well as charge a handful for them. Look at the many ports of Final Fantasy Tactics as proof of that (PSP, mobile, etc.). But at the very least, we do get gems from decades past; this includes the Live-A-Live remake, Tactics Ogre: Reborn and the most-requested Final Fantasy VII spin-off, Dirge of Cerberus Crisis Core.
Materia World

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion’s plot is still the same as the 2008 PlayStation Portable original: you play as Zack Fair, a member of SOLDIER who is given missions from Shinra while also dealing with insurgents and traitors within the group. Yes, this is the same Zack Fair who was Cloud’s friend in the original Final Fantasy VII before he bought the Gongaga farm years before the story started. Crisis Core is a prequel, delving into plot items brought in FFVII’s past and how they happened in Zack’s point-of-view. That means you’ll see Cloud pre-SOLDIER, Sephiroth before he became FFVII’s big bad, and even other characters that help form the foundation that leads to part 7’s lore.
You’ll also get to play around and experience the very first time a Final Fantasy title takes the real-time action route with a bit of JRPG turn-based menu shenanigans in the mix. But unlike Dirge of Cerberus, this one is actually good and worth spending tons of hours on. See, Zack Fair is a one-man army with awesome special attacks with his big sword of choice and a plethora of Materia-powered spells like Fira and Blizzard. As such, he can take care of rogue soldiers from warring armies, Final Fantasy staple beasties, and the giant Bahamut or two. Speaking of Materia, you’ll get tons of these for your skills and magic, as well as the ability to fuse them for brand-new skills and spells. Need a physical and fire skill in a jiffy? Just combine a Fira material with a Power Attack and you’ll get a Fira Blade.
Next to that, he has the oblique Digital Mind Wave (DMW) system: as he fights, the top roulette machine will roll and deliver random results. Combinations of the same images or different sequences will net you random powerups ranging from passive “infinite mana/AP” buffs to special high-damage moves you can activate once prompted.

These are accompanied by good memories in Zack’s mind from past encounters and do help with the narrative without dumping walls of text to your face. But the crux is you’re really just getting random power-ups to help you with certain fights. While the DMW system is random as heck, they’re fun to watch and at least they don’t hamper you too much as you still need to rely on your action and spellcasting skills to get ahead. Plus, Square Enix removed the flow-killing modulating phases from the PSP original which speeds up the DMV effects and mini-flashbacks faster.
And you’ll get plenty of opportunities to experience the DMW system and get the hang of the simple-yet-fun-and-challenging-at-times battle system, as this then-2009 title still has the same amount of random encounters and challenges to overwhelm you. Veterans will be fine with this, but new players jumping in after the Final Fantasy VII Remake to see what the deal is about Cloud’s senpai will not be too happy with the frequency of these battles and challenges.
This being a direct remaster, it’s understandable that Square Enix wants to preserve the original while giving it a nice coat of paint and lovely quality-of-life additions (like buying items on-the-go and the aforementioned modulation phase removal). That being said, some of the game’s dialogue can feel outdated and could use a bit of modernization especially if you want to veer away from the “early 2000s” era of speaking and awkward pauses. But if you like all of that, more power to you!
Fair Of Face

True, the new VO changes for the in-game segments & the dated dialogue feel jarring, but that’s mostly for super-fans of the series who played the PSP original back in the hi-definition era of gaming. As it stands, you won’t find a more faithful remaster than the FFVII prequel here, which is responsible for the trends and genre gameplay updates that are carried forward by the likes of Final Fantasy XV and even Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Even if you somehow have access to a PSP in the year of our lord 2022, you might as well spend the extra money on this remaster as it makes the original version pretty obsolete.

Pros

Good prequel story.
Fun combat & spot-on controls reworked for consoles/PC.
Great remastering graphics-wise.
Much-needed quality-of-life changes and tweaks.

Cons

Dialogue and in-between scenes do not hold up.
Too many random battles, at least for this year’s JRPG tolerance level for old-school nonsense like this.

Final Score: 80/100


EA Says Its Not Doing In-Game Video Advertising With New Advertising Platform Partner

EA, a company renowned for charging people the same football game every year and adding in a free-to-play payment mechanic via FIFA Ultimate Team mode, is denying the recent in-game advertising rumours.
The rumours likely surfaced from an EA partnership with advertising platform PlayerWON from Simulmedia. Since the latter company is known for showcasing video advertisements inside PC and console games, people are speculating that EA will do the same with its games. This is pretty controversial especially if the ads are in US$60 games they are known for selling.
EA denies all this with the following PR statement:
“Following incorrect reports suggesting that we are looking to introduce â€˜TV-styleâ€™ commercials into our games, we wanted to clarify that in-game advertising for console games is not something weâ€™re currently looking at, or have signed any agreements to implement. Creating the best possible player experience remains our priority focus.”
Simulmedia plans to run in-game ads in 12 new games by the end of the year, with one of them being Hi-Rez Studios Smite. That game is F2P, so having ads in there that’s viewable in exchange for in-game rewards makes sense.


New Fall Guys Season 2 Trailer Showcases Knight Fever Level

Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Mediatonic have released a new trailer forÂ Fall Guys Ultimate KnockoutÂ Season 2’s new Knight Fever level.
Knight Fever is an episode-opening race for the new season, which will be the first level encountered by many players when Season 2 launches on 8 October 2020 for PS4 and PC.
As previously mentioned, players will receive double the fame points from now until Season 2 begins.

Double fame points are now in full effect until 8th October when Season 1 ends and Season 2 begins!Catch me on Level 40 ? how 'bout that?Let's goooooo ?— Fall Guys… FREE FOR ALL! ? (@FallGuysGame) October 5, 2020

In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Genshin Impact Moonlight Merriment Guide: How To Get 100% Moonlight Seeker Completion

The Genshin Impact Moonlight Merriment Event is up now. In addition to a Liyue food-themed story between heroines Xiangling and Keqing, the limited time event features a Moonlight Seeker and Trail of Delicacies questline.
These quests will reward you with Primogems and exclusive Moonlight Merriment content, so it’s worth checking out before it’s over on 11th October (12 days from now). Here are some guides for both event quests.
Genshin Impact Moonlight Seeker Event: How To Start It

You need to be at Adventure Rank 28 or higher and have completed Chapter 1 Act 3 – A New Star Approaches and Trulla Chapter: Act 1 – Mondstadt Gastronomy Trip main quests. Then, complete the Moonlight Merriment Part 1 questline and then the Many Matters of the Moonchase Festival questline to get started.
Once you have enough Moonchaser points from the Moonlight Seeker and Trail of Delicacies quests, you can access the second and final part of the Moonlight Merriment questline.

Moonlight Seeker: How To Get 100% Progress
The Moonlight Seeker will have you being tasked by Linyang in Liyue Harbor to find all the Moonchase Charms and Mystmoon Chests. We’ll start with the Path of Stalwart Stone, as the other two paths aren’t open yet until later this week and the next.
You can talk to Linyang to get some locations of the charms and chests, but you have to find the majority of them on your own. For now, you can find all of them at Qingyun Peak, around the giant-as-heck lake on the west.
Path of Stalwart Stone

Getting 100% completion will reward you with the Moonlight Seeker event-exclusive weapon, the Luxurious Sea-Lord claymore. The special claymore has the following stats:

Base ATK:Â 41
ATK:Â 12.0%
Oceanic Victory:Â Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 12%. When Elemental Burst hits opponents, there is a 100% chance of summoning a titanic tuna that charges and deals 100% ATK as AoE DMG. This effect can occur once every 15 seconds.

Path of Gentle Breeze (via Game8)

Path of Austere Frost (via Game8)

Trail of Delicacies: How To Complete

The Trail of Delicacies quest is a slew of fights against enemies in Liyue. Basically, you head to the designated area, kill off the enemies there, then proceed to the next one until all six bouts are complete.
The catch? There will be special rules in all the fights. For the Path of Stalwart Stone, the camp Leader’s HP will restore a large amount of HP after 10 seconds if its HP falls under 30%. Fortunately, you can offer delicacies to get buffs for the whole bouts per path.
The dishes you can offer are Delicious Grilled Tiger Fish, Delicious Mora Meat, Delicious Almond Tofu, Delicious Crystal Shrimp, and Delicious Golden Shrimp Balls.
Here are the buffs & rewards you can get:

Offered 2 Delicacies: During the challenge, your own party members will gain 30% ATK for 10s upon using an Elemental Burst. Max 4 stacks, each stack has an independent duration.
Offered 4 Delicacies: During the challenge, all your own party members’ Shield Strength is increased by 60%.
Offered 5 Delicacies: get 2x Hero’s Wit and 20,000 Mora.

Path of Stalwart Stone Fights


Horizon Forbidden West & Other PS5 Exclusives Get New Release Windows

Sony Interactive Entertainment has released a new promotional advertisement video for PS5 dubbed â€œNew Worlds to Explore”. What’s interesting about this ad is that it confirms new release windows for several upcoming PS5 and PS4 exclusives.
According to the ad, Gran Turismo 7, Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, and Returnal will launch sometime in the first half of 2021. while Horizon Forbidden West (which will also launch for the PS4) will release sometime in the second half of 2021.
However, these release windows may change in the future due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Right now though, they’re our clearest one yet.
In the meantime, check out allÂ our PS5-related coverage here.
Check out the promotional PS5 ad below:


Respawn Entertainment Opens Third Studio In Wisconsin, U.S.

Respawn Entertainment has announced that they have established a third studio in Madison, Wisconsin in the United States Of America, which will be led by Ryan Burnett. Burnett has almost 20 years of experience in the games industry, having previously worked at Raven Software and Epic Games.
This is their third studio after the one in Los Angeles, USA, and Vancouver, Canada. This bodes well for the developer, who has grown more successful in recent years thanks to the success of Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order. Their next game, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, is set to launch for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on 28 April 2023.
In a press release, Respawn Entertainment senior vice president of operations Daniel Suarez said:
“It’s been our belief since day one that Respawn is not a singular location but a mindset: when passionate and talented people have creative freedom, they’ll achieve the unexpected. This view helped us successfully expand to Vancouver in 2019, and as the workplace evolved, it helped us continue to work with the best that the games industry has to offer, whether at the office, remote, or hybrid.
We see that Respawn mindset reflected in Madison, which has cemented itself as one of the great game development cities not just in the United States but the entire world. That’s why we’ve worked closely with and appreciate the assistance of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to help facilitate the studio’s growth in Madison.”


Father’s Day: Why God Of War’s Kratos Is A Good/Bad Dad

Article originally published on 14th June, 2019.
Father’s Day is almost here once again, to celebrate all dads around the world for their sacrifice and love. In fact, father figures are often important characters in pop culture from movies to TV series, but they have been less prevalent in gaming. Until this generation, that is.
Games like 2012’s Telltale’s The Walking Dead, 2013’s The Last Of Us, and more have captivated us with their stories of struggling father figures who will do everything in their power to protect those under their care, often at the expense of their own lives.
The relationship between characters like Lee and Clementine (Telltale’s The Walking Dead) as well as Joel and Ellie (The Last Of Us) makes for compelling emotional stakes, the likes of which can bring even the most cynical person to tears.

Almost every character could grow up to be a father figure, but if there’s one character that no one ever expected to be a decent father figure, it’s the walking personification of rage himself, Kratos from the God Of War franchise.
If anyone were to tell me even two years ago that a God of War game would make me cry, I would’ve dismissed that notion as completely nonsensical. Now, my life wouldn’t have been the same if I hadn’t played Sony Santa Monica’s brilliant masterpiece of a game, 2018’s God Of War.

Dad Knows Best

Let’s be clear, Kratos was a crappy dad at the beginning of 2018’s God Of War, dismissive and neglectful of his son, Atreus’ feelings of grief over his mother’s death. Throughout the course of the game, it turns out that he has never truly been a father to Atreus, as he left the task of raising his son mostly to his wife while trying to get over his own dark and violent past.
I remember this one powerful and tender moment in the game when Kratos can be seen extending his hand to touch Atreus’ shoulder in what was clearly an effort to comfort his son while the latter was too preoccupied staring in awe at a wonderful view from a high vantage point off a cliff.

However, Kratos pulled his hand away at the last minute before it even touched Atreus’ shoulder, indicating a man who wants to help his son but is incapable of doing so through what should be a normal interaction conveying emotion between father and son.
At one point in the game, Atreus becomes so frustrated with Kratos’ emotional neglect that he wishes that his father was dead instead of his mother, which is a sentiment I’m sure many out there have felt at least once in their lives.
To make matters worse, Atreus falls ill halfway through the game, which is the direct result of Kratos hiding his son’s own godly nature from himself. This is where we start seeing a change in Kratos’s journey as a father, as he unearths his old weapon, the Blades of Chaos, to help him find the cure to his son’s ailment despite still being tormented by his painful past.
Later, Kratos reveals his past to Atreus when they find themselves stuck in Helheim. Kratos’ willingness to face his past in order to save his son’s life and tell his son the truth are signs that he is finally opening up and being more of a father than he ever was before.
Parental Advisory

From this point on in the game, there are more tender moments between Kratos and Atreus, which culminates in the scene where he tells his son to be better than him, echoing the often unspoken wish of every good father throughout the ages.
You can check out that heartwarming scene in this special Father and Son God Of War trailer released by PlayStation to commemorate Father’s Day in 2018.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV07cZLWIjc&w=560&h=315]
Is Kratos a good or bad father? No father is perfect, and every single dad in the world is essentially figuring it out as they go. All they can do is always to try and be better for their children. That’s why, while he definitely didn’t start out as one, Kratos ultimately turned out to be a good father by the end of the game.
Here’s to all good fathers in the world, happy Father’s Day!


WWE 2K22’s Full Roster Features 35 Superstars Who Left The Company

2K Games just revealed WWE 2K22’s roster, and it’s plentiful.
However, about 20% of the roster features wrestlers who aren’t working for WWE anymore; about 34 superstars if we’re counting. It’s sad, really: departed talent has been an issue for WWE games due to how long it takes to make these games. It also doesn’t help that the WWE organization itself frequently releases its talent.
Last year, over 100 superstars for its RAW and Smackdown brand have been released. So of course, you can expect cut wrestlers still present in the upcoming game.
Here’s the list:

AJ Styles: 91
Akira Tozawa: 75
Alexa Bliss: 84
Alexander Wolfe: 77 (released)
AndrÃ© the Giant: 88
Angel Garza: 79
Angelo Dawkins: 80
Apollo Crews: 81
Ariya Daivari: 70 (released)
Asuka: 90
Austin Theory: 80
Batista: 88
Bayley: 88
Becky Lynch: 92
Beth Phoenix: 87
Bianca Belair: 87
Big Boss Man: 81
Big E: 87
Billie Kay: 77 (released)
Bobby Lashley: 91
Booker T: 88
Braun Strowman: 90 (released)
Bret â€œThe Hitmanâ€ Hart: 91
Brock Lesnar: 94
Cameron Grimes: 79
Candice LeRae: 77
Carmella: 79
Cedric Alexander: 76
Cesaro: 84 (released)
Chad Gable: 76
Charlotte Flair: 90
Chyna: 87
Dakota Kai: 79
Damian Priest: 84
Dana Brooke: 74
Danny Burch: 77 (released)
Demon Finn BÃ¡lor: 90
Dexter Lumis: 79
Diesel: 87
Dolph Ziggler: 82
Dominik Mysterio: 79
Drew Gulak: 79
Drew McIntyre: 91
Eddie Guerrero: 90
Edge: 91
Elias: 75
Ember Moon: 81 (released)
Eric Bischoff (nWo 4-Life Edition): 69
Erik: 80
Faarooq: 88
Fabian Aichner: 80
Fandango: 77 (released)
Finn BÃ¡lor: 87
Goldberg: 88
Gran Metalik: 79 (released)
Happy Corbin: 81
Hollywood Hogan (nWo 4-Life Edition): 92
Hulk Hogan: 91
Humberto Carrillo: 77
Io Shirai: 82
Isaiah â€œSwerveâ€ Scott: 80 (released)
Ivar: 81
Jake â€œThe Snakeâ€ Roberts: 85
JBL: 88
Jeff Hardy: 85 (released)
Jerry â€œThe Kingâ€ Lawler: 86
Jey Uso: 85
Jim â€œThe Anvilâ€ Neidhart: 86
Jimmy Uso: 85
Jinder Mahal: 77
Joaquin Wilde: 79
John Cena: 92
John Morrison: 80 (released)
Johnny Gargano: 82 (released)
Jordan Devlin: 79
Kalisto: 74 (released)
Kane: 82
Karrion Kross: 84 (released)
Kay Lee Ray: 81
Keith Lee: 80 (released)
Kevin Nash (nWo 4-Life Edition): 90
Kevin Owens: 85
Kofi Kingston: 88
Kushida: 79
Kyle Oâ€™Reilly: 81 (released)
Lacey Evans: 81
Lana: 71 (released)
Lince Dorado: 75 (released)
Liv Morgan: 77
MACE: 76
â€˜Macho MAanâ€™ Randy Savage: 88
Mandy Rose: 80
Mansoor: 80
Marcel Barthel: 79
Maryse: 79
Mia Yim: 79 (released)
Mickie James: 81 (released)
â€œMillion Dollar Manâ€ Ted DiBiase: 85
Montez Ford: 82
McMahon: 76
Murphy: 77 (released)
Mustafa Ali: 77
MVP: 80
Naomi: 79
Natalya: 84
Nia Jax: 82 (released)
Nikki A.S.H.: 82
Oney Lorcan: 76 (released)
Otis: 77
Papa Shango: 79
Pete Dunne: 81
Peyton Royce: 79 (released)
R-Truth: 77
Randy Orton: 88
Raquel GonzÃ¡lez: 81
Raul Mendoza: 79
Razor Ramon: 84
RECKONING: 76
Rey Mysterio: 90
Rhea Ripley: 86
Ric Flair: 88
Ricochet: 82
Riddle: 85
Road Dogg Jesse James: 85
Robert Roode: 81
Roderick Strong: 80
Roman Reigns: 95
Rowdy Roddy Piper: 85
Sami Zayn: 80
Samoa Joe: 86 (released)
Santos Escobar: 81
Sasha Banks: 88
Scarlett (manager) (released)
Scott Hall (nWo 4-Life Edition): 90
Seth Rollins: 91
Shane McMahon: 79
Shawn Michaels: 88
Shayna Baszler: 84
Sheamus: 85
Shelton Benjamin: 81
Shinsuke Nakamura: 88
Shotzi: 77
SLAPJACK: 71 (released)
â€˜Stone Coldâ€™ Steve Austin: 92
Sonya Deville: 77
Stephanie McMahon: 77
Syxx (nWo 4-Life Edition): 88
T-BAR: 76
Tamina: 75
Tegan Nox: 79 (released)
The Brian Kendrick: 74 (released)
The Miz: 86
The Rock: 93
Timothy Thatcher: 80
Titus Oâ€™Neil: 76
Tommaso Ciampa: 84
Toni Storm: 80 (released)
Trent Seven: 77
Triple H: 91
Trish Stratus: 89
Tucker: 71 (released)
Tyler Bate: 82
Tyler Breeze: 77 (released)
Ultimate Warrior: 88
Undertaker: 90
Ministry of Darkness (Undertaker Immortal Pack): 93
Phantom Mask (Undertaker Immortal Pack): 88
Boneyard Match (Undertaker Immortal Pack): 91
WALTER: 86
William Regal: 85 (released)
X-Pac: 85
Xavier Woods: 86

WWE 2K22 will be the first WWE 2K title since the series skipped an annual release. This was due to the disastrous launch of WWE 2K20, a wrestling game with a ton of bugs and technical issues.
WWE 2K22 will be out on 8 March for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and PC.


The Second Last Telltale Walking Dead Game Episode Teases A Familiar Face

Skybound Games has released a new trailer for the upcoming third episode of The Walking Dead The Final Season, which is going to be the first episode of the franchise not to be developed by Telltale Games.
The Walking Dead The Final Season Episode 3, titled “Broken Toys,” directly follows the aftermath of the events that transpired in Episode 2, “Suffer The Children.” Things start to get even darker as the trailer begins with Clementine and young AJ torturing Abel to find out where Lily took their friends.
The rest of the episode is a sneak peek at what looks to be an epic assault on Lily’s base by using actual Walkers as distractions. In the process, Clementine also has to learn how to walk alongside the Walkers as one of them, just like the Whisperers themselves (who have adapted to living and surviving amongst hordes of Walkers).
After all the action and emotional beats, the trailer ends with what seems to be a flashback sequence from the very first season of Telltale’s The Walking Dead. In an open train ride, we can see Lee and young Clementine together again. It’s heartbreaking to hear Lee calling Clem by her nickname, “sweetpea,” after all these years.
As a reminder, the PC version of The Walking Dead The Final Season is now an Epic Games Store exclusive. However, this doesn’t apply to those who already own the PC version on other platforms like Steam, nor does it affect console owners in any way.
Check out the trailer for The Walking Dead The Final Season Episode 3 “Broken Toys” below. It releases on for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC next week on 15 January 2019.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zkWTfFCA04&w=560&h=315]


Epic And Warner Bros. Announce Fortnite Physical Bundle For Consoles

Epic Games and Warner Bros. are collaborating yet again and this time it’s for the release of another Fortnite physical bundle.
Titled Fortnite: Darkfire Bundle, the package will cost US$30 (~RM125) and contain US$80 (~RM335) worth of in-game content. A pretty sweet deal if you’re into that kind of stuff.
Of course, the bundle doesn’t come with a physical disc or card. Buyers will only get redemption codes in the physical cases which shouldn’t be surprising since Fortnite Battle Royale is an online game and if you don’t have an internet connection to download the game digitally, there’s no point in getting a disc or card anyway.

There will be 13 new items made available in the bundle including three Legendary Outfits, three Legendary Back Blings, three Rare Dual-Wielding Pickaxes, three Epic Wraps, and a new Emote. No images or videos yet though so we’ll have to wait for more news.
No release date has been announced but the bundle will start being sold at retailers as well as digitally later this year. It will be available for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.


Marvel To Publish New Ultraman Comics In 2020

Tsuburaya Productions began the Ultraman franchise more than five decades ago in 1966 and is now one of the most iconic tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan. However, compared to the likes of Super Sentai/Power Rangers, the Ultra Series has yet to find its footing in the west.
That may change soon, now that Marvel has announced a partnership with the Japanese company to publish brand new Ultraman comics and graphic novels starting in 2020. However, story and creative teams have yet to be announced at the time of writing.
Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski said:

â€œAs one of the worldâ€™s most popular franchises, Ultraman has brought together some of the most passionate fandoms in pop culture today, and we canâ€™t wait to bring his story to even more fans around the globe.
Like Marvel, Ultraman captivated generations by telling spectacular stories grounded in the real world, and it continues to be a beloved classic through its television shows, movies, toys, games, comics, and more.
We are so thrilled to introduce new chapters to the Ultraman Multiverse next year.â€

It’s interesting that Cebulski refers to the new Marvel Ultraman comics as the Ultraman Multiverse, which means that fans can probably expect all kinds of Ultramen and not just the original. Just like Kamen Rider and Super Sentai/Power Rangers, there have been many iterations of Ultraman over the years, and it’ll be great to see them all in comic book form.
Fingers crossed for Malaysia’s Ultraman Ribut and other iconic Ultramen to debut, like Ultraman Taro, Gaia and others.


Company Of Heroes 3 Final Tech Test Starts This Week; Here’s How You Can Join In

Upcoming World War 2 real-time strategy title Company of Heroes 3 is coming out this February after a short delay a few months back. Prior to that, you can jump into the multiplayer tech test for the game.
The tech test will start on 11 January and it’s slated for PC. Here’s how you can get in:

Head to the Company of Heroes 3 Steam page here.
Click the Request Access button for the playtest. It’s just below the pre-purchase options.
You’re done! You will be notified by email when the test goes live.

More info on the tech test will be shared just before the playtest goes live. For a small taste of what to expect, here’s a recent Company of Heroes 3 gameplay video we published a while back.

Company of Heroes 3 will be out on 23 February for PC.


Summer Game Fest 2021 Begins In June With Digital Showcase

Summer Game Fest 2021 will begin on 11 June 2021 at 2am GMT+8 with a live world premiere showcase event hosted by Geoff Keighley. It will also feature:

â€œMore than a dozen world premieres and announcements from select publishersâ€.
A performance by Weezer of â€œa brand new, stream safe game soundtrack song that can be freely streamedâ€ without losing monetization.
A â€œDay of the Devsâ€ showcase of new independent games with iam8bit, Double Fine Productions, and more.

According to Geoff Keighley, the premiere showcase will be around two hours long and feature more than 12 world premieres.

Probably around 2 hours? 12+ premieres I believe, prob more than that.
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) May 19, 2021

Partners for the 2021 edition of Summer Game Fest include:

2K Games
Activision
Amazon Games
Annapurna Interactive
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment
Capcom
Devolver Digital
DotEmu
Electronic Arts
Epic Games
Finji
Frontier Developments
Gearbox Software
Hi-Rez Studios
Innersloth
Koch Media
Mediatonic
Microsoft
miHoYo
Psyonix
Raw Fury
Riot Games
Saber Interactive
Sega
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Square Enix
Steam
Tencent Games
Tribeca Festival 2021
Ubisoft
Warner Bros. Games
Wizards of the Coast

You can visit the Summer Game Fest 2021 official website here. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Fortnite X Avengers Endgame Crossover Announced

Epic Games is teasing yet another crossover with Marvel and this time it’s coinciding with the highly-anticipated release of Avengers Endgame. Last year’s Fortnite Avengers Infinity War event allowed players to equip the Infinity Gauntlet and transform into Thano temporarily in what was called the Infinity Gauntlet Mode.
The official Fortnite Twitter account didn’t reveal any details about the upcoming Fortnite X Avengers Endgame crossover, besides a promo image and the tagline, “Whatever It Takes.”
The image in question depicts a female Fortnite character wielding Captain America’s iconic shield so it wouldn’t be much of stretch to think that players will somehow be able to wield the shield during combat. Perhaps the Infinity Gauntlet mode may even return, or Epic Games might introduce a bunch of Avengers Endgame skins.

Whatever it takes.
4.25.19.#FortniteXAvengers pic.twitter.com/XSXcypJZJE
â€” Fortnite (@FortniteGame) April 22, 2019
Avengers EndgameÂ releases on 24 April 2019 in Malaysia, two days earlier than in the US. In the meantime, check out our cheat sheet on what movie to watch beforeÂ Avengers EndgameÂ hereÂ orÂ our ranking of every MCU movie from worst to bestÂ here.


Ubisoft Is Making An Invincible Mobile Game

The Invincible IP based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book of the same name is getting its very first game, and it’s a mobile game called Invincible Guarding The Globe.
Invincible Guarding The Globe is an idle squad RPG for mobile devices set in the Invincible universe featuring a new storyline never seen in the comics or Amazon Prime TV series, with graphic multi-battle action, character collection, squad management, idle features and, of course, super-powered visuals.
Alongside Cecil Stedman, a government agent leading the Global Defense Agency, you must recruit, manage, and deploy heroes to defend against criminal attacks on various locations across the planet. However, it’s soon discovered that these criminals are mysteriously supported by the most unexpected of allies – clones of the heroes from Invincible…
Players can pre-register now to get rewards at launch:

Burger Mart Burger
2 Hero Dossiers
35,000 Hero XP
50,000 GDA Chips

The Invincible IP is arguably at its most popular right now, considering how successful the first season of its animated series on Amazon Prime Video is after it premiered in 2021. With Season 2 coming later this year, Kirkman also recently gave an update on the live-action Invincible movie adaptation.
Invincible Guarding The Globe launches on Android and iOS devices sometime later in 2023.


The Samsung Galaxy A14 Launches In Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy A14 has landed in Malaysia, putting incredible innovation and connected experiences into the hands of Gen MZs at an amazingly accessible price point.
Gen MZs have a symbiotic relationship with Instagram and TikTok. They take from it and they give to it, resulting in hours of hilarious, aesthetic, and trending content. To this generation of content creators, the camera is one of the most important features of a smartphone, some would say, the deciding factor. With selfies or we-fies being everybody’s favourite content, the Galaxy A14’s improved 13MP Front Camera compared to Galaxy A13 gives you a huge leap in selfie quality, so you put your best face forward for the world to see.
At the back of the phone, you’ve got the powerful 50MP Main Camera, turning each shot is an Instagram masterpiece and bringing every detail of your highest-resolution photos to life. When you want to shoot a panoramic video like at a concert or travel vlog, you can activate the 5MP Ultra Wide Camera for wide and ultra-wide landscapes. Then switch to your 2MP Macro Camera when you can capture the tiniest details like close-ups of the beauty of nature or if you’re doing a tutorial.
If binge-watching shows or playing mobile games is your thing, then you’ll enjoy a spectacular experience with Full HD+ resolution on the Galaxy A14. Images are sharper and more detailed for your viewing pleasure. On this massive 6.6” screen, you don’t have to squint hard to follow the action and you can do a movie marathon all day, every day without stressing out your eyes.
For the Gen MZ with a ton of energy who spends more time outside the home, whether you’re hitting all the social events, or just love finding adventure outdoors, you’re gonna need a phone that’s as robust are you are. The Galaxy A14’s massive 5,000mAh multi-day battery and improved adaptive power management will let keep up with your passions both day and night.
Were you voted most likely to succeed in school? Got high-flying ambitions and big plans for life? Then the Galaxy A14 is the phone to help get you there. RAM Plus enables you to launch more apps faster, so you can multitask like a champ. Large, expandable storage of up to 1TB lets the overachiever in you save more photos, videos and documents.
Eco warriors care very much about minimising their footprint on the environment and they make lifestyle choices around this ethos. The Galaxy A14 meets your everyday sustainability goals as it is designed with eco-friendly materials. Recycled plastic is used in the device’s components, while its accessories are made with bio-based TPU. Samsung also uses recycled paper for the packaging and is always exploring ways to minimise it, in order to reduce the amount of energy used in transporting the products.
Beauty is reflected both inwardly and outwardly when it comes to the Galaxy A14’s sleek uni-body and outline, a signature Galaxy design feature. Turn it over and you will appreciate the delicate lenticular texture along the back cover and the refined, polished camera deck. The Galaxy A14 comes in black, dark red and silver for every fashion personality among the Gen MZ.
Customers can enjoy a free 2-year extended warranty and 4 years of updates when they purchase the Galaxy A14 starting 9 March till 31 December 2023 in any Samsung Experience Stores, Samsung Authorised Retailers and Samsung Online Store.
You can purchase now by heading over to the official website here.


Drainus Guide & Video Walkthrough

Team Ladybug, the folks behind the lovely 2021 search action title Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth, just surprise-launched a nifty 2D shmup called Drainus. It’s a short but very action-packed shmup with a nifty counter and bullet reflecting mechanic. If you love 2D pixel art, explosions, and going left to right shooting things to death, you’ll find lots to love here.
With that said, the game can be a challenge. Here are a few tips and a video walkthrough on how to be a space ace. Note: we’ll be using Xbox One/Xbox Series controls and inputs.
Drainus Basic Tips & Tricks
Use your shots & reflects properly: pressing the B button will pull out your shield that absorbs plasma and laser attacks (purple shots and laser blasts). There’s a max amount you can absorb and unleash; the more full the meter, the more powerful the countershots when you release the B button.
The longer you hold the B button, the lower your guard meter will drain: when it’s empty, you cannot use your reflector and you need to wait a few seconds to recharge. So time your B button presses and hold properly; you can hold the button until the meter is near empty, release it, then press it again when it’s at a certain level. This is crucial in the later stages when you fight bosses that fill the entire screen with laser energy and traps.

The best upgrades we’ve bought so far on the enhance functions options: 5-Way Shot, Formation Bit (Max it out to 4), Homing Missile, Jailbreak (lets you unlock the first socket to equip whatever you want), Power-up Socket, Guard Socket (for longer Guard meter), Rear Shot (for back attacks).
You can lower your speed, or crank it up with the LB and RB buttons: It’s the only way to properly navigate the tight crawlspace in Stage 3 and beyond.
Video Walkthrough + Boss Fights


Capcom To Release Second Arcade Stadium Collection This July

Capcom will be releasing the second arcade compilation called Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium later this year.
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium will be out for PC and consoles this 22nd July. Here’s the official press release for the upcoming compilation:
“Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is bringing another 32 arcade classics to Switch, PS4, XB1, and PC.
SonSon will be a free download with this collection, and pre-orders / early purchases of Capcom Fighting Collection will also get Three Wonders as a bonus at launch.”
The other 30 games have yet to be revealed.

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (Release Date: July 22) | XBOX pic.twitter.com/6YGsWMsPBW
— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) April 8, 2022

Calling all gem-crashing fans, moonlight-loving night warriors, and full metal fighters – Capcom Fighting Collection launches on June 24, 2022.
Pre-order now to get a combo of bonuses! pic.twitter.com/XIWnI1AB0A
— Capcom Europe (@CapcomEurope) April 11, 2022


Asus ROG Ally Price & Release Date Announced

Update [19/5/2023]: Malaysian date added.
Asus has announced more details about its upcoming gaming device, the Asus ROG Ally. The device is slated to be a Steam Deck competitor, albeit with more power and a sleeker design outside and inside. And a lot of games to boot!
The Asus ROG Ally’s price tag is US$699 (roughly around RM3,200 or S$930) and will ship on 13th June worldwide. The handheld PC will be out in Malaysia on July 2023 though, with a new price exclusive to the region. There is also a cheaper version for US$599 that will be out in Q3 2023.
Not only that, the Asus ROG Ally is Windows-powered, has 7″ touchscreen (coated with Gorilla Glass Victus and DXC), 1080p resolution, and can also use Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and more.
The controller and chassis build are meant for long-term play so that your hands aren’t cramped or tired while gaming for long hours. The Asus ROG Ally also has an app called Armoury Crate SE that lets you play all games on one device, spanning many publishers and a huge library from multiple launchers.
Based on recent reviews online, ROG Ally has features that would make Steam Deck owners jealous, like easy-to-reach shoulder buttons with better clicks, not-too-tall analog sticks, an Xbox One-style concave d-pad, and custom fan curves to control noise and heat levels.

ASUS ROG Ally AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Version

Up to 8.6TFlops
512G PCle Gen 4 SSD
3 months free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
7″ FHD Display with 120hz refresh rate
ROG Intelligent Cooling Dual Fans
16GB LPDDR5
US$699 (roughly around RM3,200 or S$930)
Out 13th June

ASUS ROG Ally AMD Ryzen Z1 Version

Up to 2.8TFlops
512G PCIe Gen 4 SSD
3 months free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
7″ FHD Display with 120hz refresh rate
ROG Intelligent Cooling Dual Fans
16GB LPDDR5
US$599
Out in Q3 2023

Check out the full presentation below:

This story is developing…


Epic Games Pays Sony PlayStation For Crossplay

New confidential documents and emails have revealed that Sony is the only platform holder that requires Epic to pay compensation for crossplay, which originally happened in 2018. According to The Verge, Epic Games had to agree to pay additional fees in order to enable crossplay in Fortnite.
In 2018, Epic Games had initially pleaded with Sony to enable crossplay. In the Epic Games v. Apple case reveal, Epic Games business development vice president said:
â€œI canâ€™t think of a scenario where Epic doesnâ€™t get what we want – that possibility went out the door when FortniteÂ became the biggest game on PlayStation.”

He continued:
â€œWe announce crossplay in conjunction with Sony.
Epic goes out of its way to make Sony look like heroes.
Letâ€™s make this a huge win for us all. Epicâ€™s not changing itâ€™s mind on the issue, so letâ€™s just agree on it now.”
However, Sony didnâ€™t agree. In 2019, a document titled â€œcross-platform policy, requirements, and processâ€ reveals how Sony accepts crossplay with a caveat; by imposing a cross-platform revenue share and forcing publishers to pay Sony a royalty whenever PlayStation players contribute more than a certain percentage to the bottom line of a cross-platform game.
The purpose of this is apparently to â€œoffset the reduction in revenueâ€ from Sony enabling crossplay.

In new testimony, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said:
â€œIn certain circumstances Epic will have to pay additional revenue to Sony.
If somebody were primarily playing on PlayStation, but paying on iPhone then this might trigger compensation.â€
In the same policy, Sony demands that publishers canâ€™t transfer virtual currency to or from PlayStation and that there must be a setting to disable all cross-platform interactions.


[Exclusive] We Talk To An Employee About The Malaysia Game Store Chain HR Leak

Earlier, we reported on the recent HR issue leak concerning Malaysia’s renowned video game store chain that rhymes with “Baby’s Day Out”. We managed to talk to a current employee of the store, who will remain anonymous, to shed further light into the situation.
What does working from home entail, since the game store is primarily a brick and mortar setup?
The staff runs the online store through platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, and the official website to maintain sales. These include tasks such as logistics, audio, designing, customer services are relegated to the staff. Since that happened, everything resumed as usual.
What’s the most recent comms from the company following the HR memo leak yesterday?
Danial Ashman stated that the company made an announcement before MCO (this is the one seen on Danial Ashmanâ€™s Twitter feed) that all stores will be closed from 18th until 31st March, and all staff should take annual leave or unpaid leave.

On 23rd March, an employee asked if the ground staff can work from home. The company’s supervisor and any sales team associated with work from home will handle online sales.
Since most of the staff has already been forced to stay at home due to the MCO, which means taking the “forced unpaid leave” route, the company decides to implement all staff to “work from home” to handle online stores and sales without pay. The company is willing to pay only RM1 per listing.
A number of employees asked on 25th March if they were paid as according to contract as stipulated by the government, only to be met by a late response by the director himself.

The director said the following: “Sorry we cannot respond to this matter urgently. We will discuss this matter and get to you guys as soon as we could”.

On 31st March, Danial Ashman asked for clarification regarding the government’s FAQ regarding employers paying workers during the MCO. He asked, in verbatim, “Why are we not getting paid throughout RMO?”. The company’s Managing Director said he cannot clarify this and will resolve it as soon as possible.
No response was immediately given back to the staff. Instead, the work chat group was disbanded on the grounds that “the staff was exploiting the group chat”.

Will you get paid?
Itâ€™s hard to say. The directors havenâ€™t clarified anything with the staff in regards to payment; they are still beating around the bush. They are totally focused on online sales, and not once tried to enlighten the ground staff on payment.
(Note: at this time of writing, it was revealed that store employees are asked to sign the disclosure belowthat makes them take unpaid leave during the lockdown period)

At this point in time, is your employment status guaranteed beyond Apr 14?
We’re not sure about this, because itâ€™s been almost a month of MCO. So we may not have a place at the company.
No words of assurance were given to the staff. Their current focus is on their online stores at the moment.

Maybe business will resume as usual after the MCO ends. But if we’re talking job security, weâ€™re treading on thin ice at the moment.


Orbital Bullet Is Part 2D Shooter, Part Roguelite, & Part Roundabout

Platform: PC
Genre: 2D shooter roguelite with orbital mechanic
Publisher Assemble Entertainment & developer SmokeStab seem to be fans of the PS4 game Resogun, if its new game Orbital Bullet is of any indication.
You play as an unnamed soldier who has to make his/her way out of a sci-fi dungeon. The kicker? the whole game is a fast-shooting action-platformer with wrap-around 360-degree levels like that PS4 classic. If you die, you start over from the beginning, but you can get permanent upgrades to help you in your future runs. You also get a range of weapons like plasma ball launchers with splash damage, sniper rifles, and rapid-fire old faithfuls.
Round & Round

What makes Orbital Bullet worth spending time on is its tight controls and its levelling up system. Jumping, rolling, and the act of firing a gun just feels great. I know it’s still in Early Access, but everything here in my few hours of playthrough just felt good to the point where I just didn’t keep track of the time. You can also plan out your level-up path via the Class system. You have four different Classes to level up to, be it the armour route or the Engineer path, each with its own passive buffs and perks to help you out.
Each of these 360-degree levels are interconnected and you can warp to previously-cleared area with the game’s insta-travel. In fact, some stages have their own inner and outer lanes that you can switch back and forth in, since you need to do that to clear all the enemies in a stage to proceed.

Speaking of which, they are plentiful. Some have armoured fronts so you need to attack them from behind, while others fly around and shoot their own delayed blast projectiles. While their patterns are easy to figure out, you just have to worry about the number of foes as well as your bullet count. When all else fails, you can jump on their heads Mario style.
My favourite part of Orbital Bullet? When you clear a stage, you can press the Left Bumper to just speed straight to the level’s exit, then do a cool leap to transition to the next stage. This animation never gets old, especially with the lo-fi 2D sprite and 3D landscape combo it’s going for.
So far, Assemble Entertainment has the pick-up-and-play aspect of Orbital Bullet down pat. Now all it needs to do is add in more stages and also polish up the UI and UX; clearly it’s in need of some refinement.
Orbital Bullet is out now in Early Access form on PC via Steam.


New Dune Images Show Zendaya’s Chani And House Atreides

More images of Dennis Villeneuve’s upcoming Dune movie have emerged, courtesy of Vanity Fair.
After getting a look at TimothÃ©e Chalamet’s Paul Atreides (who looked like he was posing for an album cover), we now have images of Zendaya’s Freman character Chani and the members of House Atreides. Check them out:

Zendaya looks a bit too recognizable for me, but Oscar Isaac as Paul’s father Duke Leto Atreides makes quite the impression, though I’m not sure if his look accurately reflects the character in the book. Some of the other images obtained by Vanity Fair show Josh Brolin’s Gurney Halleck, a clean-shaven Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho, and Rebecca Ferguson’s Lady Jessica (looking a bit like a robed Sith).
There’s a grounded look to this Dune so far, which leaves me curious about Baron Harkonnen’s appearance. Villeneuve told Vanity Fair that the character is “created with full-body prosthetics, is like a rhino in human form”, but also said that he casted actor Stellan SkarsgÃ¥rd to avoid making Harkonnen too caricatural and more of a “predator”.

#DUNE FIRST LOOK: Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides is a prince mentored by two bravado warriors:
— Duncan Idaho (played by Jason Momoa)— Gurney Halleck (played by Josh Brolin)
More from @Breznican:  https://t.co/ubFGRO3FWu pic.twitter.com/mILXtVyBJw
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) April 14, 2020

Vanity Fair’s feature also revealed some interesting information about the upcoming movie’s female characters. Lady Jessica, Paul’s mother and member of the mind-reading Bene Gesserit, will have a bigger role than she did in the book. â€œSheâ€™s a mother, sheâ€™s a concubine, sheâ€™s a soldier,â€ Ferguson told the publication. â€œDenis was very respectful of Frankâ€™s work in the book, [but] the quality of the arcs for much of the women have been brought up to a new level. There were some shifts he did, and they are beautifully portrayed now.â€
An example is the character of Dr. Liet Kynes, a prominent ecologist on the planet Arrakis. Instead of being depicted as a white man, Kynes will be played by a black woman, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, in Villeneuve’s adaptation due to a lack of female characters.
Villeneuve also revealed why this Dune is only the first of two halves, like It. â€œI would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie,â€ he said. â€œThe world is too complex. Itâ€™s a world that takes its power in details.â€ We’ll see how that move pays off when the movie hits cinemas on 18 December.


Mineko’s Night Market Will Be Out This September For Switch & PC; October For Other Consoles [Update]

Love cats? Love night markets? Love all things cute? Then Mineko’s Night Market may be the indie game for you.
Mineko’s Night Market will be out on 26 September for Nintendo Switch and PC, according to Humble Games. In addition, the game will be out for PlayStation and Xbox consoles on 26 October, which is a month after.
Here’s the game’s description:
Mineko’s Night Market is a game about crafting crafts, eating eats, and catting cats. Explore a superstitious fishing town overrun by cats at the base of mysterious Mount Fugu. Discover the secrets of the town and manage your daily activities by completing various jobs, quests, and resource gathering in preparation for the weekly market. Unlock alternative modes of transportation (buses, bullet trains, and cat carts) to whisk you away to distant lands! Each location will offer special things to do and new townspeople to meet depending on the time of day and season.
Key Features

Explore the village and surrounding areas searching for rare resources and meeting new townsfolk.
Craft resources into strange items to sell at your market stall.
Shop for unique gifts and collectibles from dozens of vendors.
Play a variety of mini-games like cat racing, pachinko, and whack-a-tako.
Perform in a new stage show every week, from kabuki theatre to karaoke competitions.
Discover the mysteries of the town.


Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once & Always Trailer Reunites The Gang

Netflix has unveiled a new trailer for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once & Always 30th-anniversary special.
The trailer showcases the reunion of Power Rangers like Walter E. Jones (Zack, the Black Ranger), David Yost (Billy, the Blue Ranger), Catherine Sutherland (Kat, the second Pink Ranger), Karan Ashley (Aisha, the second Yellow Ranger), Steve Cardenas (Rocky, the second Red Ranger), and Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam, the second Black Ranger). They will also be joined by a new addition, Charlie Kersh, who will be playing the daughter of Trini (the former yellow ranger).
In the trailer, we also learn that Rita Repulsa is responsible for the death of Trini in the Power Rangers universe. In the real world, the late Thuy Trang played the original Yellow Ranger, Trini, but she passed away in a car accident in 2001. Charlie Kersch will play Minh, Trini’s daughter. It’s all a bit bittersweet considering that the legendary Jason David Frank (the original Green Ranger and White Ranger) recently passed away several months before this announcement. Let’s hope there’ll be a tribute of some sort to him in the upcoming anniversary special.
Barbara Goodson also reprises her role as the voice of their arch nemesis Rita Repulsa.
The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers were part of many childhoods, especially the 90s kids. It will premiere on Netflix on 19 April 2023.
Check out the trailer below:

Once a ranger, always a ranger!
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always premieres April 19! pic.twitter.com/kEDrEr85EO
— Netflix (@netflix) March 22, 2023


Borderlands 3 Technical Issues And How To Solve Them

That joke about how Epic Games Store users are just beta testing Borderlands 3 for next year’s Steam purchasers might not just be a joke after all.
Those of you playing Borderlands 3 on PC (like myself) will no doubt have encountered a few of the performance issues plaguing the game. To help you guys out, I’ve decided to compile a list of common problems and how to solve them.
In-Game Stuttering
For PC players, the same issue could probably stem from poor optimisation as some people have noted that they have been able to run more demanding games just fine. Here are a few things you can try to eliminate the stuttering:

Close the Epic Games Store launcher after you start the game. It doesn’t disturb online functionalities so no need to worry about that.
Set Texture Streaming to Low or Medium.
Set Overall Quality to Very Low and then fine-tune each advanced graphics options.
If you’re using a GeForce GPU, try rolling back to the previous version of your GeForce driver.

The Most Optimal Frame Rates For High-End Rigs
If you want to run Borderlands 3 with the highest frame rates possible, these recommended optimal settings will sort you out:

DX11Â > DX12

Anti-aliasing:Â Temporal AA

FidelityFX SharpeningÂ On

Motion blur:Â your choice

Texture streaming:Â Ultra

Anistropic Filtering:Â 16x

Material Complexity:Â Medium

Shadows:Â UltraÂ (mediumÂ for lower-end)

Draw distance:Â HighÂ (mediumÂ for lower-end)

Environmental Detail:Â Ultra

Terrain Detail:Â Ultra

Foliage:Â UltraÂ (mediumÂ for lower-end)

Character detail:Â Ultra

Ambient Occlusion:Â Ultra

Volumetric Fog:Â Medium. The most intensive setting according to tests.Â OffÂ if needed, but it takes away from the level’s atmosphere.

Screen space reflections:Â MediumÂ (offÂ for lower-end)

Game Won’t Load In DirectX 12 Mode
Despite Gearbox partnering with AMD to fully optimise the game for the latest AMD hardware, it still struggles to run the game on DX12. If you’re one of those people stuck at the screen where Claptrap dances, can’t start the game at all or facing frustratingly long load times, follow these steps to manually switch to DX11:

Go to My Documents
My Games
Borderlands 3
Saved
Config
WindowsNoEditor
Open GameUserSettings using Notepad
Find “PreferredGraphicsAPI“
Change ‘DX12‘ to ‘DX11‘
Save

It’s worth noting that there are some players who report that only the initial loading of the game (Claptrap dancing screen) takes a long time. After that, the loading screens are bearable.
Personally, I’d recommend running the game in DX11 until AMD and Gearbox finds a fix for the DX12 issues.
Console Issues
Some console players, even the ones playing on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, have reported serious framerate dips and freezes when it gets too frantic or when someone pauses the game to change weapons.
Hopefully, that will get fixed too.
Cutscenes And Character Selection Screen Appear Cropped, Misplaced Or Entirely Black
Issues with screen cropping are being reported by players using 21:9 displays. The only known solution so far is to simply disable FidelityFX Sharpening in the graphics settings.
Screen crop issue on 21:9 display. Image from Reddit user daronmal.
That’s all the issues I’ve found so far. Props to DSOGaming, PCGamesN, Hardware Unboxed, and PC Gaming Wiki for sharing the fixes.


How Like A Dragon: Ishin! Differs From Other Yakuza Games

SEGA’s popular game series is undergoing a significant transformation with the release of Like A Dragon: Ishin! which not only marks a name change from Yakuza to Like A Dragon but also introduces a new setting and style.

Check out the announcement piece
To familiarize yourself with one of the highly anticipated PS5 and PS4 games of 2023, here are some unique features that distinguish Like A Dragon: Ishin! from other Yakuza games.

It’s Ryoma Sakamoto, not Kazuma Kiryu

Do not let the stern expression fool you, as it may resemble Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonist of the Yakuza series and the symbol of the best action RPGs for PS5 and PS4, but it is actually a man named Ryoma Sakamoto. The game Like A Dragon: Ishin! reimagines some of your favourite Yakuza characters such as Goro Majime, Makoto Date, and Akira Nishikiyama, as historic figures from Japan during the 1860s.
The casting in Like A Dragon: Ishin! will likely go unnoticed as Sakamoto embodies Kazuma Kiryu in appearance, voice, and behaviour. He will still exhibit his characteristic inability to refuse requests from others, and his traditional “honourable criminal” moral dilemma will remain unaltered.

Confusion to Clarity

If you have played Yakuza 0 or Yakuza Kiwami, you may have felt overwhelmed by the multitude of names and groups vying for control of the criminal underworld. The reason for this complexity is that each game comes with a chart that clarifies the characters and their connections to each other.
However, Like a Dragon Ishin presents a fresh start by relocating the story to a dramatized version of historical events during the 1860s. If you ever feel bewildered, you can always refer to Wikipedia to understand who the Bakufu were or why the Shishi opposed them. Although there is still the characteristic infighting of the Yakuza series, the sides are easily recognizable by the colour-coded big blue haori.
The game remains complex, but to a lesser extent.

Konnichiwa Kyoto

Are you tired of the Tokyo and Osaka cityscapes that define the Yakuza series? How about a journey to 19th-century Kyoto instead? Like A Dragon: Ishin! offers a refreshing change of scenery for Yakuza fans, replacing the bustling streets of Kamurocho with the serene blue skies and sandy roads of Kyoto?
Although still lively, encountering a woman walking her pet shiba inu is a welcome change from encountering a man loudly shouting on his cell phone about his financial problems. Additionally, Like a Dragon Ishin introduces a first-person camera mode for players seeking an alternative to the hours-long walking videos of Tokyo on YouTube.

Kiryu Has A Gun & A Sword?

In Like A Dragon: Ishin! players will have the ability to wield both guns and swords in combat, a change from the traditional weapon use in the Yakuza series where guns were only used occasionally.
The sight of someone who resembles Kazuma Kiryu using a revolver to shoot people may seem strange at first. While Kazuma is familiar with weapons and has used guns occasionally in the series, Ryoma Sakamoto in Like A Dragon: Ishin! will have the ability to use firearms at will.
With the lead character being a historical samurai, swords are a staple in the game and can be used interchangeably with guns. The Wild Dancer style even allows for a unique combination of the two weapons, providing players with a new level of versatility in combat. So, whether you run out of ammo or not, rest assured that your trusty katana will be ready to defend you.

Farming Simulator… Kind of?

As part of the new setting in Like A Dragon: Ishin!, Ryomo Sakamoto takes on the role of a farmer and becomes deeply immersed in the farming experience. Its level of involvement rivals the popular game Animal Crossing, where players can become indebted to their landlord and must repay the debt by growing crops.
While Yakuza games have always had engaging mini-games, farming in Like A Dragon: Ishin! has the potential to be even more addictive. Many players may find themselves so invested in their farm that they completely neglect the main story. The developers of Ryu Ga Gotoku studio may not have fully considered the appeal of a good farming game, and as a result, players may miss out on learning about the rich history of Japan.

Cop Rather Than Criminal

In Like A Dragon: Ishin!, Ryoma Sakamoto embarks on a journey with the Shinsengumi, a secret police force in 19th-century Japan, to find the murderer of his mentor. However, despite being a member of the organization, he is not entirely supportive of their methods, which often involve violence to protect the interests of the ruling party.
Unlike previous Yakuza games, where the protagonist works closely with the police, in this game, Ryoma will be the one enforcing the law. This shift towards a more authoritative role is further emphasized by the inclusion of a gun in Ryoma’s arsenal, a departure from the series’ traditional weapon choices.
Like A Dragon: Ishin! releases on 21 February for PC via Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S.


Is The Lego Movie 2 Still Awesome If It’s Just More Of The Same?

The first Lego Movie was, quite simply, awesome. A stunning mix of a hilarious unpredictable script, a great cast and fun metafictional elements all wrapped up in an amazing animation style that brought the Danish construction bricks and minifigs to life like never before.
The only thing that could be more awesome would be a sequel, right? Well, there’s the problem; how do you improve upon “Awesome”?
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part picks up immediately after the first film, with the “invasion” of the “aliens” from the planet “Duplo”. No matter what Emmet, Lucy aka “Wyldstyle”, and the rest of the inhabitants of Bricksburg do, these invaders from the “Systar system” keep coming and trashing everything they try to build. 5 years later and they’ve all settled into semi-chaotic normality in “Apocalypseburg”, an angsty teenage take on Mad Max, when a new alien appears and kidnaps Lucy, Batman, Benny (spacehip!) Unikitty and MetalBeard.
With no help from the rest of the Apcocalypseberg-ians it’s up to Emmet to toughen up and journey to the Systar system to rescue his friends.
Building a Better Mousetrap

Accepting the role of director for The Lego Movie 2 must have felt like something of a poisoned chalice for Mike Mitchell, director of Trolls, Sky High and …um … Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo. If the film is a success, then the credit will most likely go to Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s input on the script. If it’s a failure, then the blame will land squarely at his feet. Lucky for him then that it’s neither. It’s…fine.
As far as sequels go it’s enjoyable but it’s hard to shake the feeling that it’s justÂ more of the same. A lot of the success of the original came from its freshness and originality and after the enjoyable Lego Batman Movie and underwhelming Lego Ninjago Movie, it’s doesn’t quite recapture the magic of that first viewing of the original.
The returning cast is all great and despite the kidnapping plot, most of them aren’t sidelined in favour of the new characters, as is often the case with sequels. Those new characters manage to hold their own too, with Tiffany Haddish relishing her role asÂ Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi and it’s a nice, if odd surprise, to see a mini Mighty Boosh reunion of sorts in the form of Noel Fielding and Richard Ayoade cropping up.Â Brooklyn 99‘s Stephanie Beatriz feels slightly wasted as General Mayhem, however. As with the first film the sequel is littered with cameos, one of which is the best joke in the movie. Twice (keep an eye out in the vents). I’d highly recommend steering well clear of any cast lists to avoid spoiling some of the better cast-based gags.
Sing When You’re Winning?

The jokes are pretty good but again, proceedings don’t quite “hum” as well as the first movie.
It seems like the filmmakers realised they needed to add something new to the sequel, as it feels like there are far more songs this time. This isn’t just the diagetic music the characters play in world like “Everything is Awesome”. At times the film goes full musical and at least one of these songs overstaying its welcome. Also filmmaker’s note: it also doesn’t matter how many times your main cast complains about someone singing or asks “Are we in a musical” if you still go ahead and have a musical number! That said “The Catchy Song” is a weaponized ear-worm that will work its way into your brain much like “Everything is Awesome” did, and the plot even manages to come up with a reason for a ridiculously catchy pop song.
For those who loved the metafictional aspects of the original, don’t worry they haven’t been ejected. Finn returns along with some new live-action characters, building on the, dare I say lore of the original in a very smart way.Â  From the synopsis above anyone with siblings will figure out where things are going very quickly and while the film does have a great message for kids about growing up, it’s yet another area where the sequel takes what the original does and just repeats it, in a slightly different fashion. There’s even a vision early on that hints where the plot is going later, just as the first film did. It’s the original but with a just little bit more of everything.
The sequel can’t quite recapture the joy of realising that the sea under Cloud Cuckoo Land is made up of individual Lego bricks, or that the fire in any scene is created using only Lego fire pieces.
When I went to see the first movie my expectations were in the toilet and I was completely blown away by the skill and care that went into every element of the film.Â  While I try to temper my expectations going into every movie, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part still felt like just more of the same. That’s not a bad thing in anyway; it’s still very enjoyable, but like eating too much sugar, once you get used to it, you need more and more and just can’t maintain that high.
Final Rating 80/100


Ghost Of Tsushima Jin Sakai Figma Is Now Available To Pre-Order

Sucker Punch’s Ghost Of Tsushima is now one of the most successful PlayStation exclusives of all time, with more than five million copies sold since its launch in July 2020.
I’m sure that a lot of players were enamoured by protagonist Jin Sakai’s heroic qualities (and his butt whenever he visits a hot spring, don’t lie to me). Now’s your chance to grab a detailed Figma figure of the famed Ghost himself.
The Good Smile Company has opened pre-orders for the Ghost Of Tsushima Jin Sakai Figma figure on their official website. Pre-orders will be open from now until 6 January 2021, and the product is expected to ship sometime in September 2021.
It comes with his iconic weapons, the Sakai Katana and Sakai Tanto, as well as his half bow, an arrow and a sword on his back. Plus, his cape is made with real fabric, so you know that this is good stuff.
For the price of US$104.99 (or roughly RM427+), this is what you’ll get:


The Suicide Squad Scores Best R-Rated Opening Weekend But Still Underwhelmed

Warner Bros’ and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad finally premiered in selected countries around the world and HBO Max on 6 August 2021.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Suicide Squad generated US$26.5 million from the domestic US market and US$45.7 million from the rest of the world, combining for a global worldwide total of US$72.2 million in its opening weekend.
While that might break the record for the best opening weekend for an R-Rated movie since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, The Suicide Squad‘s opening weekend is still lower when compared to other recent Warner Bros’ movies (domestically) like Space Jam A New Legacy (US$31 million), but it’s higher than other 2021 R-rated movies like Mortal Kombat (US$23.3 million) and The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It (US$24.1 million).
That’s not even mentioning that The Suicide Squad cost a whopping US$185 million to make. Such a shame too, considering that from start to finish, director James Gunn makes full use of the movieâ€™s R rating. It has more of a comic book vibe and itâ€™s probably the most fun DCEU movie to date thanks to Gunnâ€™s signature humour, gore, and stylistic choices.
HBO Max chief Andy Forssell said:
â€œAs the country faces new challenges due to the COVID variant, weâ€™re happy to continue to offer fans the option of viewing movies in their homes.
Many chose to do just that as The Suicide Squad emerged as the second most-viewed film over an opening weekend on HBO Max since we began day-and-date releases with theatres.â€
In the meantime, you can check out my breakdown of the ending and easter eggs in The Suicide Squad by heading over here.


Nintendo Announces New 2D Mario Game, Super Mario Bros. Wonder

During Nintendo Direct June 2023, Nintendo announced Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a brand new 2D Mario adventure.
From the trailer, it looks like multiple characters will be playable, including Mario himself, Luigi, Princess Peach and most likely for the first time ever in 2D form, Princess Daisy.
The next evolution of 2D side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. games is headed to Nintendo Switch! When you touch a Wonder Flower in the game, the wonders of the world unlock – pipes could come alive, hordes of enemies may appear, characters might change their looks, for example—transforming the gameplay in unpredictable ways.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder features Princess Peach, Princess Daisy and Yoshi as playable characters, in addition to familiar characters like Mario, Luigi and Toad. Plus, Super Mario Bros. Wonder sees the debut of Mario’s newest power-up, which allows him to transform into Elephant Mario.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder will launch for the Nintendo Switch on 20 October 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


Xbox Cloud Gaming Library Swells with Original Xbox & Xbox 360 Games

Microsoft is bringing 16 original Xbox and Xbox 360 games to the companyâ€™s Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) service today. The 16 games will be available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members and streamable to Android phones and tablets.
Microsoft has previously promised both iOS and web browser streaming for xCloud sometime in spring 2021.
The blog post on Xbox Wire states:
Weâ€™ve listened to the feedback, going all the way back to our earliest cloud gaming preview, and making games from previous generations available on mobile devices has been one of the most requested features by the community.
Check out the full list of newly-added Xbox and Xbox 360 games below:

Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Tooie
Double Dragon Neon
Fable II
Fallout: New Vegas
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Gears of War: Judgment
Jetpac Refuelled (touch controls enabled)
Kameo
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark Zero
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Viva PiÃ±ataÂ (touch controls enabled)
Viva PiÃ±ata: TIPÂ (touch controls enabled)


Nepal Lifts PUBG Ban After Just A Month

In light of the recent PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds ban in Iraq and India, the Nepali government has decided to lift the ban on the grounds of legal uncertainty.

The country’s Supreme Court has issued an interim order lifting the ban. Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada told the government that it runs the risk of violating Article 17 of Nepalâ€™s constitution, which concerns freedom of expression. According to The Himalayan, there must be enough evidence presented for the ban to take place.
The original ban took effect on 11 April due to worries on violence and addiction. ISP and mobile operators were ordered to block traffic from PUBG servers, with the police arresting 10 university students for playing the game.
The court’s decision was reportedly a response to a writ petition filed by several advocates. The advocates claimed that by banning PUBG, they are violating the people’s freedom of expression.
For now, players are free to play the game without consequences and ISPs are free to unblock PUBG. We don’t know how long this pause will last, but the public is happy that their voices were heard.


Hot Toys Reveal Comics-Accurate Iron Spider Civil War Armor

While the MCU version of the Iron Spider armor is what most people are familiar with, it will never beat the original and iconic orange and golden Iron Spider armor from the comics. Thankfully, Hot Toys know this and we have our first look at the figure in question.
While the company has yet to fully reveal the original Iron Spider 1/6th scale collectible figure, it is said to be inspired and designed based on the version that’s featured in the Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man PS4 game.
Here’s a sneak peek of the Hot Toys Iron Spider figure, courtesy of Facebook user Moises Solis.

Stay tuned for the full unveiling of the Iron Spider figure in the future.
For more onÂ Avengers Endgame, check out our spoiler-free review ofÂ Avengers: EndgameÂ here, our discussion for whatâ€™s next post-Avengers EndgameÂ here, or the upcoming movies you can look forward to in the MCU Phase Four (4) post-Avengers EndgameÂ here, or what the future holds for the MCU cast we all know and loveÂ here.