Carrion Adds Nothing New To The Metroidvania Staple, But It’s Still Fun

Platform: PC
Genre: Metroidvania where you play as 1982’s The Thing
If there’s one thing Digital Devolver and Phobia Game Studio does well with its 2D Metroidvania action-adventure reverse horror title Carrion, it’s nailing the atmosphere and scale.
You’re not a helpless creature trying to claw your way out of a secret lab facility with multiple rooms, alcoves, and interconnecting military areas. You’re a weaponized biomass killing machine trying to claw your way out of a secret lab facility with multiple rooms, alcoves, and interconnecting military areas.
For the next 5 hours or so, you’ll be figuring out how to get out of the predicament you’re in, how to kill hapless scientists and soldiers without sustaining too much damage, and how to get to a certain section’s specific nodes to spread your biomass to open up a “main door” to get to the next section. Unlike most Metroidvania protagonists, you don’t have to worry about jumping or getting that one item to defy gravity: the biomass you control uses its appendages and tentacles to get around with no hassle.
You get bigger with each upgrade you get, signifying how heavily-armed the middle and later levels will be. Each of the mapped abilities you get are specific to each form you acquire: the carrion’s light mode can go invisible and use “spider webs” to push switches or incapacitate foes from a distance, while the medium mode can encase itself in keratine armour to roll through the opposition. Or just bull rush foes and break down specific barricades.

Tentacool
Just figuring out your powers, how they work, and using the semi-linear wide-open areas you’re in is just fun to do. There’s an underlying story beneath Carrion about the origin of the biomass, but the highlight here is obviously the power fantasy of being the 80s sci-fi horror attraction and committing digital human genocide. To that end, the developers did a good job.
What makes Carrion settle for what it’s aiming but not going beyond “great” and “stellar” is the pacing and level design, as well as how tough it is to confirm the creature’s “center” late in the game. For the former, the progression and scale are apparent, but the monotony does set in past the second hour while you’re still in your second form. Half the time, you’re spending more minutes figuring out if you’re on the right path or just going in circles.
It doesn’t help that the majority of the levels and underground palettes can make every stage look and feel the same, even with some moments like the underwater lab sections and the bits that showcase a jungle setting.Â Even with the echo-location ability from the get-go, Carrion needs a form of a mini-map, bad.

For the latter, the titular character gets pretty big to the point where its hurtbox is expanded and going through crawlspaces and passages can be a chore when you can’t figure out which is your biomass’ “head” and “tail”. This also means multiple playthroughs especially when you’re getting gunned down by mechas and turrets as you’re escaping to a vent.
Even with these foibles, that doesn’t change the fact that Carrion is a whole lot of atmospheric and tense fun. If you’re sick of playing victims in horror games, watching thrillers through the lens of a hapless protagonist, and instead just want to vent your frustrations on them, this role reversal of a game will sate your bloodthirst.
Pros

Good length & action.
Awesome “character” progression & “devolving” mechanics.
Lovely atmosphere & aesthetics….

Cons

…though latter half of the areas feel repetitive.
Hard to control “carrion” late in the game.
Doesn’t offer a new action-adventure experience.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100


Spider-Man No Way Home Breakdown & Post-Credits Explained

Spider-Man No Way Home is finally here. It’s arguably the biggest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2019’s Avengers Endgame, and in some ways, it might even be more significant. I’ll be discussing and breaking down some of the important points from the movie below, as well as the movie’s two post-credits scenes.
If you’re looking for a non-spoiler review, you can head on over here. One last warning; this article will be revealing all the spoilers from the movie. Now’s your last chance to leave if you haven’t watched the movie or want to avoid spoilers. If not, then read on, fellow true believer.

Matt Murdock’s First Official Appearance In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

It just goes to show how well-oiled the Marvel Studios marketing machine truly is. It was only earlier this month in December 2021 that Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige confirmed that Charlie Cox would officially reprise his role as Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil AKA the Man Without Fear. What we didn’t know then was how soon that would happen.
It’s not a coincidence either, as Vincent Dâ€™Onofrio recently reprised his role as Wilson Fisk AKA the Kingpin from Netflixâ€™s Daredevil series, making his MCU debut in Hawkeye Season 1 Episode 5. That’s already two characters from the Marvel Netflix universe officially joining the MCU. Nothing’s stopping Krysten Ritter from coming back as Jessica Jones, or Jon Bernthal as the Punisher. The possibilities are endless.
In a scene that lasts only several minutes in the living room of the Parker home, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock appears as the lawyer representing Peter Parker in the case against him (Mysterio framed him for his death and the drone attack in London). Nothing much really happens in this scene, but one highlight is when a Mysterio supporter throws a brick through a window and Matt Murdock catches it with amazing reflexes, which impresses even Peter Parker.
Tobey Maguire And Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men Assemble

The rumours were true after all. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield do reprise their roles as the Spider-Man from their respective universes. In Spider-Man No Way Home, it’s actually Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds who accidentally summons them via Doctor Strange’s magic ring portals (he intended to open a portal to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker).
In later scenes, it’s confirmed that these are both Spider-Men as they would be now. What I mean is that this much older Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man is the one after the events of Spider-Man 3, and he also confirms that he’s still with Mary Jane-Watson all these years later, which is a sweet little fact for fans to hold onto.
Meanwhile, Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man also confirms that he’s already experienced Gwen’s death, which happened in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I’m pointing this out because all the villains who appear in Spider-Man No Way Home (Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, etc.) were taken from points in the past before they died, which is not the case for both Spider-Men (who were taken as they are in present time).
For me, the best moment is when Andrew’s Spider-Man, who’s clearly still dealing with trauma from the death of Gwen Stacy, redeems himself by being the one who saves MJ from falling to her death. It’s such an emotional scene, especially for fans of this version of the web-head.
At the end of the movie, they return to their respective universes. Oh, and they also confirmed that there are no Avengers in their universes. When Tom Holland’s Peter told them that he was an Avenger, they didn’t even know what an Avenger is. Perhaps we might see them again in a live-action Spider-Verse movie? Fingers crossed.
Wong Is Now The Sorcerer Supreme

Ever since the events of Avengers Endgame, we’ve seen Wong play a more active role while we’ve seen relatively little of Doctor Strange. We saw Wong in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, taking charge of the Abomination’s training and then the investigation of the origins of the Ten Rings. Now we know why he was the one doing all that and not Doctor Strange.
In Spider-Man No Way Home, Doctor Strange himself confirms that he is no longer the Sorcerer Supreme, due to the fact that he was gone for five years after the Blip/Thanos Snap. As a result, Wong apparently officially replaced him and is now the Sorcerer Supreme. There have been several occasions in the comics where Doctor Strange momentarily or temporarily loses his title as Sorcerer Supreme, so this isn’t exactly completely unprecedented. He could always regain the title in the future, perhaps as soon as Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
The Death Of Aunt May

In a heartbreaking twist of fate, Green Goblin manages to kill Aunt May (Marisa Tomei). Before she dies, she imparts the iconic line, “With great power, there must also come great responsibility” to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, cementing this as essentially the MCU’s equivalent of the death of Uncle Ben or Gwen Stacy for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.
In A Tragic Twist, The World Forgets Who Peter Parker Is

Initially, it was Peter Parker who made Doctor Strange’s original spell to make the world forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man to go awry. That mistake led to the spell summoning everyone who knows that Peter Parker is Spider-Man into their universe, including the five antagonists of Spider-Man No Way Home (Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Lizard, Electro, and Sandman). In order to stop more beings from the multiverse from breaking into their universe, Peter agrees to let Doctor Strange make the world forget about Peter Parker.
This plan works, but unfortunately, at the end of Spider-Man No Way Home, no one in the world knows who Peter Parker is. They’ve lost all memories of Peter Parker, including MJ (Zendaya), Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon), Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), and of course, heroes like Doctor Strange as well. Not only did Tom Holland’s Peter lose his Aunt May, but he also lost all his other friends and loved ones.
Spider-Man No Way Home Ends With A Clean Slate And A Brand New Classic-Inspired Suit For Tom Holland’s Spider-Man

Even with all that pain and suffering for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, the movie ends on a somewhat hopeful note for the character. He starts life with a clean slate, as we see him renting a room for himself, and making a brand new suit without any fancy Stark suit. This is important because it means that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has finally grown worthy and independent enough not to rely on Stark’s tech or anyone else.
In the final moments of the movie, he dons a brand new suit that looks inspired by the classic red and blue theme, similar to Andrew Garfield’s version. However, this looks like it’s probably going to be the most comics-accurate live-action suit ever for Spider-Man. Unfortunately, the final scene sees him swinging across New York in a scene that’s reminiscent of the ending to the original Sam Rami Spider-Man film, but the camera never gives us a complete view of the suit in its entirety.
His new suit’s colour scheme looks sort of like this.
It looks like we’ll have to wait for the next Spider-Man movie, with a new trilogy already confirmed to be in the works by Sony Pictures producer Amy Pascal.
Spider-Man No Way Home Post-Credits Scene 1: Venom

In the first post-credits scene, we see Eddie Brock in a bar in the MCU learning about the Avengers and Thanos. Then, he suddenly gets transported back to his own universe (Sony’s Spider-Man Universe) but not without accidentally leaving behind a small piece of the Venom symbiote in the MCU.
This will probably have big ramifications for future Spider-Man films. Maybe we’ll finally have another black suit symbiote Spider-Man in Spider-Man 4, albeit a proper one this time, please. The one in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 was barely a symbiote suit; it was more like the normal Spider-Man suit simply painted black.
Spider-Man No Way Home Post-Credits Scene 2: Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Trailer

This is a huge one. The second Spider-Man No Way Home post-credits scene is a trailer of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
Surprise!
However, until the full trailer officially releases, I won’t be able to do a detailed breakdown of the Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness trailer. I’ll elaborate here on what I remember seeing from the trailer, as a lot of it were quick cuts that were too fast to properly see.
The trailer begins with a live-action version of what happened in Marvel’s What If…? Episode 4. If you don’t remember, a Doctor Strange variant destroyed his own universe by going back in time and changing the Absolute Point (a fixed point in a timeline). This Doctor Strange variant also absorbed dark magic and beings to become powerful.
He’s not entirely evil though, as he helps defeat Infinity Ultron, Killmonger and Arnim Zola in their attempt to conquer the multiverse. At the end of Marvel’s What If…? Season 1, he was in charge by keeping the pocket dimension containing Killmonger and Arnim Zola safe to keep them from escaping.
What does it mean that he’ll be in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness? Surely, that must mean another threat to the multiverse? Of course, it’s not a coincidence that we also see none other than Shuma-Gorath in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness as well.

Shuma-Gorath is an ancient force of chaos, the immortal, nigh-invincible, and godlike ruler of nearly a hundred alternate universes, capable of energy projection, shapeshifting, teleportation, levitation, altering reality, and sympathetic magic, among many other feats.
He is one of the Old Ones (or Many-Angled Ones), so heâ€™s basically like Cthulhu from Lovecraftian lore. He even looks the part with one eye and tentacles.
However, inÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Episode 1, we only see the tentacles and no eye so the monster is not confirmed to be Shuma-Gorath. Still, it could very well be. What else could it be? An octopus?
Plus, Shuma-Gorath isÂ one of several villains that I predictÂ could potentially be in 2022â€™sÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

In the Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness trailer, we see Doctor Strange asking Wanda for help with the multiverse. Perhaps to fight against Shuma-Gorath, since the MCU version of Wanda has already been confirmed to be a user of chaos magic.
The last time we saw Wanda was in WandaVision Episode 9, with Wanda somewhere in a remote location near the mountains (Wundagore Mountain?), sitting on a porch sipping a drink before we see an astral projection of the real Wanda who is reading the Darkhold. We then hear the sounds of her children screaming for her help.
However, in the trailer, she looks more ‘normal’ and less unstable. Doctor Strange does mention ‘Westview’ when he says that what he needs help with has nothing to do with that, which means that he does know what transpired in WandaVision.

In the Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness trailer, we also catch a glimpse of America Chavez (or Miss America, but she rarely goes by that superhero name). Who is she? Well, she will be played by Xochitl Gomez, and the upcoming movie will be her MCU debut. In the comics, America Chavez is from the Utopian Parallel, a reality that is out of time and in the presence of the being known as the Demiurge (who Wanda’s son, William ‘Billy’ Kaplan, is destined to become).
She later joins the Young Avengers, along with Kate Bishop and others. She is super strong and she can fly, but what makes her unique is that she can open star-shaped portals to other universes, which means that she can easily traverse the multiverse, something that even Doctor Strange finds hard to do.

Last but not least, Karl Mordo finally returns as he makes an appearance in the trailer. The last time we saw him was in 2016’s Doctor Strange, where he vowed to hunt down all magicians and sorcerers who practice unnatural magic. According to him, Doctor Strange is one of those people. However, it’s weird that it’s taken him this long to go after Doctor Strange.
In the trailer, he says this to Doctor Strange:
“I hope you understand the greatest threat to our universe is you.”
That’s actually when the trailer ends with the MCU’s Doctor Strange meeting the aforementioned Doctor Strange Supreme (see above) from Marvel’s What If…? series.
Another interesting bit in the trailer includes a scene where Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) gets married to Doctor Strange.

What Will Happen In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness?

Obviously, there’s too little and too early to say too much about what will happen in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. It is slated to release on 6 May 2022, so we still have a while yet before it comes out. Marvel will probably still have a few cards up their sleeve to reveal before and leading up to Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
We’ll probably be getting a few more Disney+ series before that movie, including Moon Knight, She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel and more. All I can say for now is that it’s a damned good time to be a comic book fan, and I’ll be there with you guys for everything Marvel-related.
Until then, Excelsior!


Genshin Impact Version 3.0 Sumeru Quests Guide & Walkthrough

Genshin Impact’s version 3.0 update is ready for playing, and with it comes a major new continent to explore: Sumeru.
Sumeru is a giant Amazon-esque forest with its own culture, enemies, and Dendro elemental powers emanating from its core. It’s a vast place to explore filled with its own waypoints, cities, and Domains. This guide will be talking about all of that and more.
This guide is still in development…
How To Get A Free 4-Star Collei

All you have to do is complete the Unappreciated Carving side quest in Sumeru (31:40 on the video walkthrough above). Head to the quest spot and you’ll be talking to a kid, his dad the storyteller, and Collei.
As you go through the quest, you’ll end up with a free 4-Star Collei, a Dendro archer whom you’ll need for your free Dendro elemental needs. You’ll also receive an Exquisite Kamera when you finish the quest: this allows you to take photos and show details about the subject it’s pointed at. Unfortunately, it can only be used in Sumeru.
Haypasia Special Cave & Courtyard Puzzle Guide

The very first quest in Sumeru involves rescuing a scientist in a cave from a never-ending sleep. You end up heading into a domain filled with gigantic flowers. Here’s a solution to the section (1:05:22 in the video above.
-Follow the path and you should see Bouncy Mushrooms. Use these to reach the higher ledges.
-In one of the small rooms, you’ll find a Primeval Rosin. You have to use three of these to open the doorway at the end.
-After picking up your first rosin, it’s as though you’d get ported to a house in Inazuma. Follow the marker to return to the main area.
-Go ahead and use the mushrooms to bounce further upward.
-Defeat the hilichurls in the next small room and interact with the glowing object. It will transform your character and cause them to fly to another chamber. Grab the second rosin here, then press “T” to grapple onto the sigil.
-Upon returning to the main area, you’ll find a couple of ledges and the third rosin down below. With it, you’ll be able to open the doorway.
-The zone will change again. This time, you’ll see a courtyard puzzle.
-To complete the special cave courtyard puzzle, you’ll want to move your camera around so that the two halves of the image are lined up properly.
-Pass through the doorway and grapple all the way to the top of the platforms. You’ll meet with an Abyss Herald.
-After the fight, you’ll wake up and return back to the cave.
-Cook the boxed lunch that was given to you earlier by Tighnari and hand it over to Haypasia to help her recover.
-With Haypasia’s situation sorted, make your way back to Gandharva Ville to speak with Tighnari and Collei.

Port Ormos & Dori’s Code Walkthrough
The second main quest in Sumeru requires you to infiltrate a secret marketplace in the region’s biggest port. Check out the walkthrough below.

To solve the Dori’s Informant Code sequence, do look at the note that Alhaitham provided.
-For the first NPC that you meet, say that you’re looking for “unripe Harra Fruits.”
-You’ll meet the informant who’s got his own trust meter. Max it out by picking the following dialogue choices.

Harra Fruits taken by mice = Congratulate him.
Pick some fruits that’ll make you dizzy = A side of tinnitus.
How to package = Port Ormos style.

-The informant claim that the guards are near. Run after him and follow the objective markers.
-Upon reaching the topmost section, someone will shout about “hiding from Rishboland Tigers.” Head to that secluded spot.

Sabzeruz Festival Quest Walkthrough

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New Scream 5 Featurette Showcases The Original Trio

United International Pictures Malaysia has unveiled a brand new featurette for the upcoming Scream, the fifth entry in the long-running horror franchise first created by the legendary Wes Craven. This new featurette focuses on the original three main protagonists; Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers and David Arquette’s Dwight ‘Dewey’ Riley.
The synopsis reads:
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the townâ€™s deadly past.
Neve Campbell (â€œSidney Prescottâ€), Courteney Cox (â€œGale Weathersâ€) and David Arquette (â€œDewey Rileyâ€) return to their iconic roles in Scream alongside Melissa Barrera, Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Marley Shelton, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sonia Ammar.

ScreamÂ is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 20 January 2022. The last instalment was 2011â€™sÂ Scream 4, which was the last to be directed byÂ ScreamÂ creator Wes Craven himself before he passed away in 2015.
In the meantime, check out the featurette below:
[videopress 82B7ZzP2]


Shuhei Yoshida Is Not Sony’s Head of Worldwide Studios Anymore

Sad day for Shuhei Yoshida fanboys all over Southeast Asia; Sony announced that its president of SCE Worldwide Studios will be stepping down to focus on a new PlayStation 5 initiative to nurture independent developers.
Who will take over? Guerrilla Games co-founder Hermen Hulst, according to a Gamesindustry.biz report. Here’sÂ  an official statement from Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEOÂ  Jim Ryan:

“I am thrilled to announce Shuhei Yoshida as head of this new initiative. Everybody knows just how passionate Shu is about independent games â€“ they are [the] lifeblood of the industry, making our content portfolio so special for our gamers.
These wildly creative experiences deserve focus and a champion like Shu at PlayStation who will ensure the entire SIE organization works together to better engage with independent developers through a culture of supporting and celebrating their contributions to PlayStation platforms.
“Hermen is one of the most effective and well-respected leaders in the video game industry. He is a passionate advocate for the teams he leads and understands how to empower creative talent to build great experiences.
Worldwide Studios is a critical part of the future success of the company, and we must deliver on the promise we have made to gamers to create imaginative and exciting content that is truly unique to PlayStation. I have no doubt Hermen can lead our teams to deliver compelling and diverse experiences at a steady cadence.”

Here’s what Hulst has to say about his newfound position.

“I have worked closely with PlayStation and the entire Worldwide Studios family since 2001, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for the creative talent and ambitious ideas within the network of studios across the US, Europe, and Japan.
I am beyond excited to have the opportunity now to lead such an inspired and talented team whose singular mission is to build amazing games for PlayStation fans.”


K/DA’s ALL/OUT EP Features Collab With TWICE, Madison Beer & More

Earlier this month, Riot Games revealed the EP album name and release date for K/DA’s ALL/OUT. It is slated to release on 6 November 2020.
To get fans of the virtual League Of Legends K-pop girl group even more hyped now, we can now reveal the collaborators on the ALL/OUT EP. Check out the list below; along with their respective track names:
THE BADDEST: (featuring SOYEON and MIYEON of (G)I-DLE, Bea Miller, Wolftyla)MORE: Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE, Lexie Liu, Jaira Burns, SeraphineVILLAIN: Madison Beer, Kim PetrasIâ€™LL SHOW YOU: TWICE, Bekuh BOOM, Annika WellsDRUM GO DUM: Aluna, Wolftyla, Bekuh BOOM

In cased you missed it, check out the EP covers below as well:

They became a mainstream sensation in 2018, with their debut single POP/STARS reaching the top of iTunes (#1 K-Pop Chart, #2 Pop Chart), Billboard (#1 World Digital), and 170M+ DSP streams. The music video for POP/STARS has reached 340 million views to date, making it the most successful debut for a K-pop group in YouTube history.
Recently, K/DAâ€™s latest single THE BADDEST also reachedÂ #1 on Billboardâ€™s World Digital Sales ChartsÂ during the week of 12 September 2020 and has reached over 20 million views on YouTube since its release.


Apex Legends’ Secret Message Teases Crypto’s Long-Lost Sister

Ah, the drama of long-lost family members. It seems like a secret message has been unearthed in one of the new Apex Legends bunkers; sent by none other than a possibly-alive Mila, long-lost sister of Crypto.
Since being introduced in Apex Legends Season 3, Crypto has been of the battle royale game’s most mysterious Legends, and much of his origins remain a secret.
According to Respawn Entertainment, Crypto actually has a sister named Mila, who “vanished under mysterious and violent circumstances”. In any story, those words usually mean that the character is usually still alive somewhere; it’s a common trope used in any medium of storytelling.
The latest teaser in Apex Legends points to exactly this as a recent new map change allowed players to open loot bunker 2 on Kings Canyon, where they discovered a message from someone who claims to be Mila, which was addressed to Crypto.
The video, which can only be played using Crypto’s drone, features the sister telling Crypto (whose real name is Tae Joon) that she thought he was dead, as well as revealing several more details about the mysterious attack that separated the two all those years ago.
The message reads:

“T, it’s Mi, I’m using the drone’s encryption protocol, only you can hear me.
They, whoever they are, they came to my place.
I got away, but they caught up with me.
I thought they were going to kill me.
I thought they killed you.”

Turns out my recording software was uber quiet so I boosted the volume of the video like mad. pic.twitter.com/c2AP4oQ1tA
â€” Shrugtal (@shrugtal) June 30, 2020
However, the message is incomplete, as the screen shows “loading message 1/3”, which clearly means that two other parts of the message remain unrevealed. There’s no telling when or where the other parts of the message will be revealed, but players might find them in other bunkers in the near future.
Shortly after the discovery of Mila’s message to Crypto, the official Apex Legends Twitter account posted a cryptic tweet showing what appears to by Crypto’s laptop confirming that it was indeed his sister, Mila, speaking in the video. Kings Canyon is also featured in the GIF, so the rest of the message might still be somewhere in the map.

Not paranoid. Prepared. pic.twitter.com/nF5YKWY0k8
â€” Apex Legends (@PlayApex) July 1, 2020
We’ll need the rest of Mila’s message to understand the full story, but rest assured that it will probably be something positively shocking. Apex Legends Season 5 went live in May 2020, and players have been learning more about the new season’s content ever since. Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for all things Apex Legends.


Overwatch’s Mei Is Coming To Blizzard’s “Dead” MOBA

A while ago, Blizzard mentioned they’re not going to be dishing out major updates to their MOBA Heroes of the Storm. My, how times have changed.
Fans of Heroes of the Storm will be elated to know that Overwatch’s Mei, one of this generation’s favourite Asian video game character, will be a playable character on Blizzard’s all-star MOBA title.
In Heroes of the Storm, Mei is a tank who has great crowd control, mobility, and survivability. She isn’t hot in dealing both siege and burst damage; she needs to rely on her teammates for that. She has moves like Snowball and Blizzard that damages enemies and slows them down. Her Heroic Abilities Avalanche and Snowball, while powerful, are meant to entrap and gather enemies for your teammates to swoop in for the kill.
Check out her sweet moves below. I feel that this tank is best as a defender who helps hinder foes while attracting aggro from foes. She does look like a ton of fun to play as.

Heroes of the Storm is available now and is free-to-play.


Open-World RPG Tower Of Fantasy Launches Next Week

Publisher Level Infinite and developer Hotta Studio have announced that the open-world RPG Tower Of Fantasy will open preload on 9 August 2022 and launch globally on PC and mobile on 10 August 2022 (PDT). To date, over three million players and counting have signed up for the game at the official Tower Of Fantasy website.
As the climax of its global release, gamers from the rest of the world will get to join in on the thrilling action set hundreds of years in the future after humanity has escaped the collapsing environment of earth and fled to a distant planet of Aida. All players will be able to experience an anime-inspired post-apocalyptic sci-fi art style, freeform character development, immersive objectives, and exciting combat through thrilling battles and exciting shared open-world exploration.
Players will have amazing opportunities to interact with the diverse cast of characters while freely exploring the gorgeous anime-inspired sci-fi open world of Aida, completing quests, mini-games and other activities through the game’s unique features including:

Immersive Open-World: Experience a vast alien world full of beautiful open vistas and imposing futuristic structures.
Localized content: “Tower of Fantasy” will support eight languages at launch.
Unique Characters: Wield the unique weapons of each character that grant different gameplay styles as you explore their compelling backstories.
Grow and Explore Together: Party up with friends online and take on new adventures in the shared open world.
Epic Combat: Engage in epic battles against enemies of all shapes and sizes as you switch weapons and gameplay styles on the fly to unlock your own personal fighting style.
Explore and Interact: Explore and interact with a vibrant living world as you discover your own journey through it.

Tower of Fantasy is still open for pre-registration at the official site, as well as on Steam, Epic Game Store, the App Store and Google Play.
For all the latest updates and information, please follow Tower Of Fantasy at the following social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tower.of.Fantasy.Official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toweroffantasy_official/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToF_EN_Official
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1NbDLZjc41RQk-pV94mu_A/about
Discord: https://discord.gg/eDgkQJ4aYe

As part of the global release, there is a special sneak peek release of the Tower Of Fantasy global theme song, Clan, from milet! “Watch me, I’m not who I used to be, used to be.”. Fans can listen to the full version of her new single, Always You, on 17 August 2022.


Path Of Exiles Still Tickin’ With Tower Defense & Fungal Update

The action RPG Path of Exiles is still alive and getting players, much like F2P loot hoarding titles these days. It’s now getting a sizeable bunch of updates to keep its lifespan a-going.
Here’s what players will be getting on the game’s future update and Blight League this 6th September.
Tower Defense
Developer Grinding Gear Games will be adding in a tower defense-esque mode called Blight. In this free update, players will be defending a small tower from a mass fungal infection outbreak. The only way to cure it is to squeeze out mushroom oils using a big siphon that you use on the growing fungal cysts and tendrils. It’ll take a few minutes, but during that moment, players will be waylaid by hordes and waves of monsters.
Just like tower defense modes, you can place towers that deal damage and dish out ailments to slow down the horde. They will be numerous, so you’ll need these to help manage crowd control, with your character swooping in for the finish. Once you’re done siphoning a tendril, you get loot and experience. The more tendrils you take on, the tougher the horde but the bigger the loot drops.
New Weaponry & Buffs
Speaking of loot, players will get to hunt for a full set of unique Blight gear. And you can even get special oils from the tendrils and extractors that you can use to anoint your jewelry for extra buffs and bonuses. Combine three oils for anointing and you get a noteworthy passive skill that you couldn’t access from any other means.
The whole Blight league will be extended all the way to PoE’s Atlas of Worlds endgame, which means more tendrils and oils to extract, and bigger batches of loot. Best of all, gilded Synthesis enemies from the game’s previous league, dubbed Synthesis, will be appearing at random during the Blight league. This means you have a chance to get unique Synthesis items as loot.
A Few Tweaks Here & There
Classes in PoE will be getting some changes here and there. Summoners will get new support gems that allow them to give Attack, Defend, or Focus orders to their skeleton and/or zombie army. The Necromancer ascendancy class gets a rebalancing too; they get to specialize in a wider range of minion types.
Poison Assassins will get new skills, a new support gem, and some tweaks to use and tinker with. Ditto for Mine Saboteurs; they now can throw mines further and faster, as well as create chain explosives that deal bigger damage the longer it lasts.
For more details on PoE’s new update, head here.Â


AMD Launches Radeon RX 6900 XT Graphics Cards

Back in October 2020, AMD announced the latest AMD Radeon 6000 Series GPUS. As of 8 December 2020, they are all now available in from global retailers and on AMD.com.
Radeon RX 6800 (US$579, roughly RM2,354 or S$772)Radeon RX 6800 XT (US$649, roughly RM2,639 or S$865)Radeon RX 6900 XT (US$999, roughly RM4,062 or S$1,332)
They’re based on AMDâ€™s latest RDNA 2 technology thatâ€™s also found inside the PS5 and Xbox Series X. They support ray tracing, as well as feature improvements in 4K and 1440p PC gaming.
Key features include:
AMD RDNA 2 Gaming Architecture: Engineered to power the next-generation of the PC desktop, laptop, console and mobile gaming, RDNA 2 offers numerous benefits to gamers including twice the overall performance and 54 percent better performance-per-watt compared to first-generation RDNA architecture on the 7nm process node.Smart Access MemoryÂ (SAM): When pairing Radeon RX 6000 Series graphics cards with AMD Ryzen 5000 Series processors and AMD B550 or X570 motherboards, SAM allows AMD Ryzen processors to directly access high-speed GDDR6 graphics memory, accelerating CPU processing and increasing performance in select titles.Â AMD Infinity Cache: A high-performance, last-level data cache suitable for 4K and 1440p gaming with the highest level of detail enabled. 128 MB of on-die cache dramatically reduces latency and power consumption, delivering higher overall gaming performance than traditional architectural designs.DirectX Raytracing (DXR): Adding a high performance, fixed-function Ray Accelerator engine to each compute unit, AMD RDNA 2-based graphics cards are optimized to deliver real-time lighting, shadow and reflection realism with DXR. When paired withÂ AMD FidelityFX, which enables hybrid rendering, developers can combine rasterized and ray-traced effects to ensure an optimal combination of image quality and performance.


The FIFA 19 FUT Champions Cup March Singapore Is Coming Soon

PGL is collaborating with the eGG Network to bring the next part of its EA SPORTS FIFA 19 Global Series here in Southeast Asia. The FUT Champions Cup March Singapore will take place from 8 to 10 March 2019.
With a whopping total prize pool of $100,000 and 20,000 Global Series Points, 64 competitors (32 PS4 players and 32 Xbox One players) will fight for the right of first place. The champion of the tournament will win $50,000 and 1,500 Global Series Points. To spice things up even further, the grand final will feature a showdown between the PS4 and Xbox One champions.
As the 5th FUT Champions Cup event of the FIFA 19 Global Series season (and the fourth out of five FIFA 19 events hosted by PGL), the FUT Champions Cup March Singapore will actually be one of the last chances for pro players to earn points on the road leading to the FIFA eWorld Cup 2019 later this year.
Catch the action on the eGG Network for those living in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Australia. Everyone else can head to PGL channels on Twitch here.


Kerbal Space Program 2 Preview: Universe Of Infinite Possibilities

Courtesy of Private Division, we were given the opportunity to get hands-on with Kerbal Space Program 2 before its release on Steam Early Access.
Developer Intercept Games and publisher Private Division’s Kerbal Space Program 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Kerbal Space Program, released in 2015. This sequel is completely redesigned to meet the demands of modern and next-gen space exploration while retaining the monumental foundation of the original game. From an expansive parts catalogue to a variety of new tools, space exploration has never been more exciting than ever.
WELCOME ABOARD
Players start with creating a campaign and selecting their desired default colours and flag before being thrust into a short introduction scene, which is the orientation to the Kerbal Space Program. You will be assigned to run the Kerbal Space Program – advancing their technology, building rockets, assisting in flying, and many more. P.A.I.G.E, a female Kerbal that will guide you throughout your interstellar space rocketry journey, is available at the Training Center.
Whether you’re new or a returning player, the Training Center is the most crucial location you will have to visit in order to grasp the whole gameplay mechanism. Four modules are available for players to learn, starting from basic rocketry concepts to mastering interplanetary manoeuvring. In addition, you’ll encounter new parts, including new procedural wings, new wheels, new command pods, various cargo parts, and upgraded engines to unleash your creativity. The modules are shown as short interactive tutorials and the interesting part is the lesson recap at the end of each tutorial, making it easy to grasp for players of all ages.

As highlights, you will encounter all the new systems to be launched online such as interstellar travel technologies, colonies, and a new star system, providing endless gameplay with each encounter. I’m talking about a whole new level of space-flight technologies like a new generation of engines, parts, fuel, improved variants, procedural parts systems, and new part colouring which allows customizing rockets like never before. Exploring new environments from the ground to celestial space will definitely take your breath away with the game’s stunning graphics and visuals. Advanced exploration tools like the time warp and manoeuvre planner to ease orbiting from one planet to another, beyond the Kerbolar System.
With all the newly upgraded tools, the possibilities are endless; from building a rocket to completing your first mission; landing on the Mun. Once you reach out of the orbit system, hints and guides will be given to keep you on track with your mission in hand. The Kerbal Space Program’s first mission is very similar to NASA’s decision to send Apollo 8 to the moon on the first manned flight of the massive Saturn V rocket, in this case, you’re experiencing it all on your gaming screen.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

As with any other Early Access title, there will be bugs and problems during the launch of the Early Access version, which I did encounter occasional crashes when playing several tutorials in a row. Nevertheless, the developer has done an amazing job with the overall gameplay performance. Intercept Games has been very open about the difficulties that players of KSP2 will be facing. The development team are actively working to fix the following issues:

Infrequent bugs that can cause highly-complex vehicles to collapse in VAB.
Trip planner occasionally displays incorrect delta-v numbers for some destinations.
Re-entry heating and thermal systems are currently disabled. These are work in-progress and are planned to be enabled in an upcoming update soon after launch.
No collision on trees or rocks due to necessary optimization that is taking place. Buildings do have collision, but destruction is not enabled at this time.
Experience various performance issues depending on location and craft complexity.
Some UI elements can have bugs causing them to be temporarily non-interactable.
This may also occur with some parts while using the part manager. Several changes are being made to the current UI, and this should improve over time.
We are investigating an occasional crash when playing several tutorials in a row.

BEFORE LIFTOFF
Before you start downloading Kerbal Space Program 2, Intercept Games recently announced the latest PC spec recommendation. The game is undergoing continuous optimization, therefore, performance will improve over the course of Early Access.

It may be a little early to make a firm call on whether or not the game deserves a place in the current crop of space exploration sandbox games. But overall, the game made its justification by offering players endless possibilities in gameplay in a way that mirrors the infinite possibilities found in outer space. I sure did learn a lot about space travel and the failures that entail if you don’t build your rocket right.
Kerbal Space Program 2 is out now on PC via Steam Early Access.


Registrations Are Now Open For The Malaysia Esports Championship 2020

Under the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS),  Esports Integrated (ESI), is launching the Malaysia Esports Championship (MEC 2020).
First introduced during the launch of ESI in October 2020, the launch of MEC is a key pillar in the esports development roadmap which serves as a springboard that will establish the esports national circuit here in Malaysia.

Esports Integrated CEO Ahmed Faris Amir said:
â€œMEC is aimed to integrate the championship into various professional and well-established leagues, where MEC acts as a platform for esports talents to have the opportunity to progress both nationally and internationally.Historically, the professional esports scene has been driven predominantly by game developers through nationwide professional leagues where grassroots talents have risen through the ranks and have made it to the international scene, most notably with superstars such as Mushi, Soloz and Xorn. To amplify this success, ESI believes that it can play the crucial role of working together with game developers to provide a wider avenue for talents to be able to showcase their talents and to be promoted into these national and international leagues. More information on these collaborations will be unveiled throughout the MEC 2020.â€
Participants of the MEC 2020 will stand a chance to win from a prize pool of RM100,000 in cash when they compete in four popular game titles featured in the championship, such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, Dota 2 and FIFA 21.

Weirdly enough, it’s hard not to notice that that the PC and console games (Dota 2 and FIFA 21) are getting considerably less prize money than the mobile games (Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile).
FIFA 21 is a solo game so that’s excusable but what about Dota 2? It doesn’t make sense that the Dota 2 winning team would only win RM5,000 while the winning teams for Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile get RM18,000 and RM15,000, respectively.
Arguably, there is more stake in the mobile games though, as the winning teams for Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile will be able to automatically qualify for the upcoming MPL MY Top 8 Qualifiers and PMNC MY/SG Qualifiers.
It looks like Esports Integrated is clearly prioritizing mobile game esports over PC and console game esports. The reason is probably simple enough; mobile games are generally more popular than PC and console games in Malaysia. Any casual user with a phone can play free-to-play games like Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile.
Registrations for the Malaysian Esports Championship 2020 (MEC 2020) are currently open. For more information on registration and tournament schedules, you can head on over to the official website here.


Ranking All The Devil May Cry Games From SSS To Dope!

Check out Nadine Pacis’ work on her blog Game Progression.
When Devil May Cry was first released, the world of gaming was straightforward. Most of the titles were single-player experiences that lasted around 10 to 20 hours, tops.
Fast forward to 18 years, and it’s a very different world now. The most popular titles are now battle royales, games-as-a-service titles, loot shooters, and other lengthy and multiplayer focused titles. Even traditionally single-player games now have multiplayer segments packaged with it. And if they don’t, the titles are often massive pieces that will take you more than 20, or even 30 hours to complete.
So the return of Devil May Cry, a hack-and-slash single player game that’s usually not even 15 hours long to complete, is one that is both unexpected and much-awaited. But much like many games brought back from the past like Resident Evil and Kingdom Hearts, Devil May Cry has left a legacy that many of the more seasoned gamers crave for in a time where games are either massive or multiplayer or both.
Let’s talk about that before getting to the meat of this piece.
A Primer On ’00 Hack & Slash Games
Devil May Cry has such a rich legacy. The series is one of the top-of-mind titles when you think about the hack-and-slash genre. While it may not be the first, its critical and mass popularity during its peak paved the way and set the bar for future hack-and-slash games. When you think of games like Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising, and even old school God of War, it’s hard not to think of or reminisce Devil May Cry.
The focus of Devil May Cry is your ability to chain combos while being as creative with them as possible. The series is considered one of the tougher games to complete not because it’s infuriatingly punishing like Dark Souls or Bloodborne, but because of the way it challenges you. Your main objective is not only to finish the game as fast as possible but also to finish the game as stylishly as possible.

Generally, the game grades you according to the moves you make. The more intricate your combos are, the higher your grade. The game also rewards you if you don’t take any healing items and if you collected a high number of orbs. Â It’s a game that’s literally all about the journey rather than the destination. The games also have increasing difficulty modes unlocked with each finish, encouraging you to keep playing even after you’ve reached the ending.
Styling & Profiling
Above all else, what also made Devil May Cry iconic was its memorable protagonist: Dante. Dante is a half-demon half-human bounty hunter of sorts who solves demonic problems with over-the-top flair. He prefers to kick down doors rather than open them like a normal person should, and doesn’t care even if it were his shop’s own doors.
He likes to taunt his biggest enemies like they don’t have the potential to crush him in battle. He also likes riding rockets as if they were surfboards. Perhaps the only trait that grounds him is his love for pizza and heavy metal. He’s the man every guy with a PS2 wanted to be.

He was gaming’s very own James Bond or Tom Cruise – except with no subtlety or ability to woo women at all.

There isn’t anyone quite like Dante, and there isn’t anything quite like Devil May Cry. Which is probably why in the eighteen years of its existence, Devil May Cry has spawned four titles, a reboot, a few cameos in other video games, an anime, two light novels, a manga series, and potentially an animated series courtesy of Adi Shankar, producer of the Castlevania series on Netflix.
And so with the impending return of the beloved yet niche franchise, let’s examine Devil May Cry’s legacy by ranking the Devil May Cry games from the worst to the best:
Devil May Cry 2

Devil May Cry 2 is arguably the weakest in the series. The infamous sequel to the original Devil May Cry just felt like it lost its soul all of a sudden both in terms of gameplay and in terms of Dante himself.
Remember when I said that gamers loved him for his cool factor and his fun personality? Capcom nixed that in this sequel. A lot of fans didn’t enjoy such a drastic change from the cocky and loud Dante to this brooding and quiet version of him. Â And his female partner, Lucia, unlike Trish, wasn’t exactly memorable either.
It didn’t help that the Lucia gameplay had you go through the same thing with very few changes. Many, including yours truly, felt that this was a very empty version of Dante and it was difficult to find any interest for him and Lucia at all.
The gameplay didn’t even make up for it. It felt lacking and less challenging from the original Devil May Cry. While it maintained the need for a smooth flow of attacks for a good score, it wasn’t exactly stylish or difficult as expected.

Dante felt slower, the enemies felt weaker, and the weapons felt awkward to wield as well. The camera angles and the more open arenas also felt off. And even the boss fights were a snooze fest.

Of all the Devil May Cry games out there, Devil May Cry 2 is the most difficult to love, even as a Devil May Cry fan. But what’s frustrating is that Capcom didn’t seem to learn not to deviate from the original formula, when they came out with the next game on the list.
DMC: Devil May Cry

The notoriety of the reboot would probably have some predict that DmC would make it to the bottom of the list. But as much as I felt violently betrayed by Ninja Theory’s vision, the end result is an okay hack-and-slash game if you strip away the DmC branding.
It’s fast, it’s brutal, smooth, and stylish. It’s got bells and whistles and flair. The level designs are fantastic and I would love to see more of it. The combat is a little more simplistic, and it doesn’t have the difficulty of most Devil May Cry games, but it definitely feels better than Devil May Cry 2.

So, yes, Ninja Theory did alright in terms of combat and gameplay. Everything else though? Yikes.

While DmC was supposed to be a reboot, the game barely felt like it was Devil May Cry game. Its entire identity felt stripped away. Capcom and Ninja Theory should have already realized from Devil May Cry 2 that a drastic change to the icon that is Dante would definitely incur overwhelming backlash. Sure he was cocky much like the original Dante, but his style and demeanour was jarring.
Fans were torn over this darker and edgier Dante. Even beloved nemesis Vergil managed to be even cornier in this game. And many of the dialogues were so bad, they were close to turning into a meme. The negative backlash gave a strong and firm message: Dante is a big old cheesy goofball, and we like him as he is.
Until this day I maintain that if they just released this with no ties or history at all to the original Devil May Cry, people would have enjoyed this a little more. Instead, Ninja Theory shipped this with a big f*** you to the fans of the original series and made things worse.
Devil May Cry 4

Why couldn’t Capcom just stick to the original formula? When Devil May Cry 4 was released, it was considered one of the better sequels in the series and much like its predecessor, it stuck to its roots. It brought back the challenge and the essence of Devil May Cry. It was fun, fast, fluid, stylish, and perhaps even more over-the-top than expected.
It brought out a new character called Nero, a younger and slightly more emotional version of Dante, with a different array of moves compared to him. With the two protagonists, there was a vast range of moves and combos that you can pull off which made the game feel fresh while maintaining its key elements. Also, the boss fights in this game were some of the best in the series.
Mind you, there were some parts of the game that also felt iffy. For example, much like Devil May Cry 2, you had to go through some of the bosses twice, once as Nero and then as Dante. The arsenal also felt a little limited.

But because of the overall gameplay coupled with scenes such as Dante and Agnus pulling a Shakespearean play out of nowhere, or Nero suddenly obtaining Yamato thanks to his devil arm (Is he really the son of Vergil?!), Devil May Cry 4 was ultimately deemed a strong Devil May Cry game that fans and critics enjoyed.

It was made more enjoyable too with the release of the Special Edition version for the new generation of consoles. The game brought out Trish, Lady, and Vergil as part of the playable characters which allowed for so many replays because you were either a fan of the three characters, or you didn’t mind pulling off a different set of moves and perfecting them on the same enemies.
Devil May Cry

There’s a reason why the first Devil May Cry sits in the second place of this list. During its time it simply was one of the best action games out there, and it brought to life the hack-and-slash genre. The original Devil May Cry started out as a Resident Evil game starring a mysteriously powerful man named Tony. (Tony Redgrave soon became a pseudonym of Dante for the manga.) But by the end of the conceptualization, the game was just too cool to be a horror game sequel.
Turns out it was good that they strayed far from the Resident Evil concept after all. It delivered some of the best, smoothest, and most ridiculous moves back then. Sure it was difficult, but the outlandish and adrenaline-fueled combos you can string together was what made it fun to play over and over again. Critics lauded Devil May Cry for having an evolved yet challenging combat system.

Fans also had a blast playing as a character that was as fun, cool, and carefree as Dante – who was a clear contrast to the demonic and gothic backdrop from which his story plays.

And so it was a formula that many wished Capcom would just stick to.
Devil May Cry 3

The most difficult Devil May Cry stands on top of all the series entries. Devil May Cry 3 took the original Devil May Cry to a whole new level. Made to serve as the prequel to Dante’s story, the Dante featured here is perhaps the flashiest and noisiest of all other versions. His younger-self prefers to be shirtless while donning his iconic red leather jacket.
But on top of the tighter and more fluid action was the proper introduction of a fan favourite, Vergil, Dante’s more reserved evil twin brother. He’s arguably one of the toughest bosses to defeat in the series and even beyond it. The emotional story between the two not only gave more weight to Nelo Angelo in Devil May Cry 1 but also proved that yes, Devil May Cry can have a great plot line as well.
In the special edition version of Devil May Cry 3, Vergil becomes playable and has an entirely different moveset from Dante. Vergil is trickier to control and is more refined than his callous twin brother.

With this sequel and its special edition, Dante and Vergil have cemented their popularity and have become a staple in Capcom’s universe. They’ve appeared in games such as Marvel vs Capcom 3. And Dante’s costume even shows up in the latest Monster Hunter.

Simply put, this was the title that had fans begging for more.
So Where Would Devil May Cry 5 Sit At?

Which all leads us to the upcoming Devil May Cry 5. Despite the hype that’s building up prior to its release, Devil May Cry 5 faces a challenge. Can it prove to stay relevant in a very different era from when it was at its peak? Can it be more than just a nostalgic trip for the followers of this franchise?

And while there will always be a demand for hack-and-slash titles, can it drive up that demand even more? Time will tell. But the reality here is that the series has already stood the test of time.

After 18 years, people are still craving for it. So if Devil May Cry 5 can evolve its original formula and provide an amazing over-the-top experience, then maybe it still won’t be as talked about as these massive multiplayer titles, but much like it has in the past, it can not only spring forth new titles but also provide unique memories that people will continue to yearn for.
You won’t remember that you got a chicken dinner one year from now on. But you’ll definitely cherish the memory of a white-haired man in a leather jacket splitting a motorbike into two and using them as chainsaws.


LoL G2 Vs SKT Worlds Semis Is The Most-Watched Esports Event Of 2019 So Far

Last weekend, two League Of Legends juggernauts clashed in the League of Legends Worlds 2019 semifinals, G2 Esports of Europe and SK Telecom T1 of South Korea. The epic match ended with G2 emerging victorious 3-1 over SKT, with a record-breaking number of concurrent viewers almost reaching four million (3,985,787).

The number of concurrent viewers was split between Twitch and YouTube, but it is still a very impressive feat, the likes of which has never been seen. The League Of Legends Worlds 2019 semifinals between G2 and SKT is now the most-watched esports event of all-time, beating even the previous record set by the Fortnite World Cup earlier this year with 2.3 million concurrent viewers.

according to EsportsCharts G2’s victory over SKT in the LoL Worlds semifinals today peaked at just under FOUR MILLION concurrent viewers (3,985,787) across Twitch and YouTube!
this makes it the most watched esports/competitive gaming event of all time not including China
â€” Rod Breslau (@Slasher) November 3, 2019

Now we’ll have to see if the upcoming League Of Legends Worlds 2019 grand finals between G2 Esports and FunPlus Phoenix of China on 10 November 2019 will be able to surpass the record achieved by the semifinals. With this year’s iteration of the event turning out to be bigger than ever before, there’s a high chance of that happening.
In comparison, Dota 2 The International 2019‘s highest concurrent viewer peak was under two million (1,968,497), which is only half of what theÂ League Of Legends Worlds 2019 semifinals between G2 and SKT managed to accrue. According to statistics provided by Esports Charts, the records for highest peak of concurrent viewers have always belonged to the LoL Worlds tournaments over the years.


Titans Season 3 Casts Its Barbara Gordon

Titans Season 3 will feature a live-action version of Barbara Gordon, and we now know who will be portraying the fan-favourite character.
According to Variety, Savannah Welch has been cast as Barbara Gordon in the upcoming HBO Max series. In Titans Season 3, the former Batgirl is now is Gotham City Police Commissioner. Her career as a vigilante was prematurely ended when she was shot and paralyzed by the Joker, leaving her wheelchair-bound.
This version of Barbara Gordon is described as having a combative relationship with Bruce Wayne, but her life gets more complicated when Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) returns to Gotham, rekindling their old romance and starting a new crime-fighting partnership.
Welch is probably best known for her role in the History Channel military drama Six; in which she played a Marine who suffered an amputation in combat. She has also appeared in smaller roles in movies like Boyhood and The Tree Of Life. She is part of the disabled community, having lost one of her legs after an accident in 2016.
This won’t be the first live-action portrayal of Barbara Gordon, but this will likely be the first time that the iconic wheelchair-bound version of the character is getting adapted for live-action. It will be interesting to see how Titans will depict the relationship between Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon.

Previously, Yvonne Craig played the character alongside the late Adam West’s Batman in the classic 1960s while Dina Meyer also played the character in the short-lived Birds Of Prey series. However, more people will likely remember the Batgirl from 1997’s Batman & Robin, though Alicia Silverstone played a character named Barbara Wilson who’s not actually related to any Gordons. This makes a different character entirely and not Barbara Gordon.
TitansÂ Season 3 is currently in production and will premiere exclusively on HBO Max, following the shutdown ofÂ the DC Universe streaming service.


Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Pro Player Arrested For Alleged Murder

The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate community was shaken today when a pro player named Colin Boldizar, also known as Sweets, was arrested by police for alleged murder following the discovery of a body in the apartment where his mother lived.
According to a report by KomoNews (via InvenGlobal), a decapitated body was discovered in the apartment after the neighbours noticed that the resident’s car was still parked at 9:20am. The neighbours also reported that Laurie Collins had been having problems with her son, Colin ‘Sweets’ Boldizar.
As a result, Sweets has been banned by Washington’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate scene and from all events until the case has been concluded.

[details removed from post]
TRIGGER WARNING: Murder, Gore
We have permanently banned Collin "Sweets" Boldizar from the Western Washington Smash Scene.
We encourage anyone impacted by this tragedy to reach out to @WASupportPanel.
More info can be found in the linked reply. pic.twitter.com/MkoZdDQc08
— Satellite Smash (@SatelliteSmash) July 1, 2022


MDEC Is Offering PRISMA Grants For Malaysian Game-Makers, Film-Makers, & Creative Content Folks

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has announced that it will be offering PRISMA grants for creative content companies and industry folks in Malaysia.
The PRISMA grants will be worth up to RM50,000 per company, with the criteria being that it has to be companies under the digital creative content sector. These include but aren’t limited to:

Video game development
Film development
Animation development & production

The total PRISMA package is worth RM89.2 million and is meant to ensure the survivability and sustainability of the 9,000-plus industry players in Malaysia. The package is split into five different platforms that dictate the type of grant a company is eligible for:

Digital Creative Content Market Access and Business Matching (2Ps)

Digital Content Enterprise Development (EDP)

Creative Content Streaming

Digital Content Technology Infrastructure Support (BATIK Digital)

Digital Content Grant PRISMA (DCG PRISMA)

Here’s a quote from MDEC CEO Surina Shukri:
“These five MDEC-led programmes are now aligned with PRISMA and updated to ensure that they can continue to meet the growing demands of the digital workforce and keep up with industry trends. In fact, some of these programmes have been industry mainstay initiatives and have enabled the animation and digital games sectors to flourish. For Malaysia, according to a MIDA Insights report, the countryâ€™s digital games sector contributed US$100 million in revenue for 2018 and will be experiencing a compound annual growth rate of 10.9% (2018 to 2023).
With the support of the Government via PRISMA, the digital creative sector can better manage its operations as they will be properly equipped to deal with the disruption that the pandemic has caused. Eventually, they will accelerate our efforts in powering this extensive growth marketplace and get us back on track towards making Malaysia the Heart of Digital ASEAN.”
If you feel like you need that extra help and you’re a company in Malaysia making games/films/animation/digital content/all of the above, why not register and help bolster the creative industry in Malaysia? You can do so here.Â
And if you’re curious, PRISMA stands for “Pakej Rangsangan Industry Kreatif Malaysia”.


You Can Now Cruise Into PUBG Mobile With A Bugatti Veyron

PUBG Mobile just partnered with Bugatti, the luxury car brand, to bring some serious heat to the game. And when we say serious, we mean some of the most exclusive and powerful cars in the world.
Starting 17 March until 30 April, players can get their hands on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the Bugatti La Voiture Noire with additional secret colour themes to unlock, as well as a themed Bugatti ornament and parachute.
The Veyron is no ordinary car. It’s one of the fastest and most powerful production roadsters in the world with a name that literally means “speed”. Originally retailing at US$2.2 million and currently sold out worldwide, players now have the chance to get behind the wheel of this world-record-setting 408.84km/h vehicle.

Players can also experience driving the one-of-a-kind Bugatti La Voiture Noire. This car was unveiled to celebrate Bugatti’s 110th anniversary and is a tribute to Bugatti’s own history, a manifesto of the Bugatti aesthetic, and a piece of automotive haute couture. With only one model in existence, this partnership is bringing PUBG Mobile players a truly unique and exclusive experience.
Bugatti is known for its pioneering spirit and passion for perfection and has established itself as the world’s most exclusive supercar brand. Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG Mobile Publishing at Tencent Games, said, “PUBG Mobile always looks for cutting-edge partners to give players the most incredible experiences. We’re very excited to bring Bugatti’s top-end and highly exclusive supercars into PUBG Mobile for players to enjoy as they tear up the battlegrounds.”


Dota Underlords Is The Official Dota 2 Auto Chess Game

Dota started off its life as a mod called Defense Of The Ancients for the RTS game, Warcraft III: Frozen Throne. It was so successful that it spawned one of the earliest forms of esports. Then Valve came in and capitalised on the name and thus, Dota 2 was born.
Sometimes the modders are offered to work on the official version, while other times they break off to create their own take. The latter happened with Dota 2 Auto Chess and developer Drodo came up with a standalone version, Auto Chess, so Valve came up with a solution.
They came up with their own standalone iteration:Â Dota Underlords.

Dota Underlords is a new stand-alone game that pits you against seven opponents in a battle of wits that will have you building, combining, and leveling-up a crew in a battle of dominance for the city of White Spire. This game is very different from the Dota 2 as it’s a strategy title and not a battle arena.
You Can Play It Now
… provided you purchased the Battle Pass. The preview phase is open to all Battle Pass owners and will feature online battles against seven other players, practice against AI ranging from easy to hardcore, and bring friends to party up against bots or players.
Battle Pass owners will find a link to add Dota Underlords to their Steam collection. The game will be in Open Beta in a weeks time.
Is It Free?
Yes! Once it hits Open Beta, the game will be free for all to play on Steam. The game will also hit mobile devices on Android and iOS. Open Beta will also introduce new features such as:

Ranked matchmaking.
Cross-play across all devices.
Rank and progression shared across all devices.

The game is in active development and is looking for feedback as it approaches its first season soon at an unannounced date. If you want the OG flavour Auto Chess on PC, you may need to get the one that’s slated for Epic Games Store.


Demon Slayer Season 3 Premieres In April 2023

Demon Slayer Season 3 AKA Kimetsu No Yaiba Season 3 AKA the Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village Arc or Kimetsu No Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc will premiere sometime in April 2023.
The third season of the anime was originally announced just before the release of the Demon Slayer Season 2 finale in February 2022, but now a new promotion reel trailer has finally confirmed a release window of April 2023 for Demon Slayer Season 3. Fuji TV will air the new season for Japanese fans, while Netflix and Crunchyroll will release it to international audiences outside of Japan.
We still don’t know how many episodes there will be in Season 2, but it’s been confirmed that the first episode would be a one-hour special. A special event called “World Tour Screening” will also take place in more than 418 theatres in Japan and 80 countries from 3 February 2022, where the 10th and 11th episodes of Season 2 and the first episode of the upcoming Season 3 will be screened.
The upcoming season will adapt the Swordsmith Village Arc from the manga, which ran from chapters 98 to 127.
The synopsis reads:
For the first time in over 100 years, the upper ranks of Muzan Kibutsuji’s Twelve Kizuki are not full. Angered, Muzan dispatches the survivors on another mission. Elsewhere, Tanjiro journeys to a village of swordsmiths and has to explain how his sword was so badly damaged to Haganezuka, the smith who made it. While Tanjiro waits for his sword to be repaired, enemies close in…
Demon Slayer Seasons 1 and 2, as well as the Mugen Train movie, are now streaming on Netflix. In the meantime, you can also check out my review of the Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Hinokami Chronicles video game by heading over here.


We Talk To Malaysia’s Current Champion Sim Racer About What’s Next, His Idols & More

Earlier this year, the E1 Championship Season Zero came to an epic close when Malaysian sim racer Naquib Azlan and his team, Stratos Motorsport, was crowned driver and team champions. The 21-year old Malaysian took home a grand prize of US$5,000.
Just several months later, the E1 Championship is counting down to the first race of its new season. 11 teams and 15 drivers from last season, including Naquib Azlan, will be making a return in Season 1. They will need to prove their skills on the track to compete for the US$15,000 prize pool.
The upcoming 8-round championship will begin on 7 April 2021 and take place every subsequent Wednesday on Astro eGG Network or their official Facebook page. The E1 Championship is powered by Axle Sports and Astro eGG Network, in partnership with ERacing GP and RaceRoom.

Thanks to Astro, we were lucky enough to secure an exclusive interview with Naquib Azlan. He answered questions on sim racing, his preparations for the upcoming new season and more. Check them out below:
Q: What is next for you now that you’ve won the inaugural season of the E1 Championship?
A: Winning such a big event like the E1 Championship of course means a lot to me and Iâ€™d like to continue building on my skills with that momentum into this new season and also other sim racing competitions too.
Q: Do you have any plans to race in actual live cars following your successful esports career?
A: That is the dream to transfer from virtual into reality.
Luckily enough, I was selected late last year to be part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Young Talent development program and just came back from my first ever real-life race weekend last week which was awesome.
Hope to be doing more real-life driving in the future.
Q: How have you been preparing for the upcoming E1 Championship Season 1?
A: No different to Season 0 really, making sure we hit the ground running, making sure we leave no coins unturned heading into race day.
And doing many laps.
Q: Who do you consider to be your fiercest rivals in this esport?
A: I wouldn’t say there’s a specific driver I find to be the fiercest against me, obviously last season I had some good battles with Mikko Nassi and who knows this season might be anyone, all I am focusing on is myself and making sure I do the best I can.
Q: How and why did you start taking part in sim racing esports?
A: I have a huge passion and love for racing and motorsports.
Itâ€™s been a part of me ever since I was like 3 years old and I always wanted to become a racing driver.
Real-life was too expensive for me so turned to sim racing and focus on building my foundation there.
Q: Who would you consider as your idol when it comes to motorsport?
A: I would say; my Dad.
His genes are ultimately why I have this passion, and without him taking me to F1 races, taking me karting, buying the games that I play now, it wouldâ€™ve never happened without him and Iâ€™m very lucky he and my whole family support my dream.
Q: Do you support any particular professional racer today?
A: I would say; Sebastian Vettel.
I love his character off and on track, he would do anything to win and his level to details of his work is inspiring.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring sim racers out there?
A: Dream big, always aim for the top, sim racing is only getting bigger.
Words that I always remember is Never Stop Believing.
As was previously mentioned, you can check out Naquib Azlan in action during the E1 Championship Season 1 by tuning into Astro eGG Network or their official Facebook page every Wednesday starting from 7 April 2021 at 9pm GMT+8.
Check out the E1 Championship Season 1 schedule and format below:

For more on the E1 Championship, head on over to the official Facebook page here or their YouTube channel here. In the meantime, you can check out a video recap of the E1 Championship Season Zero finale below:


Ghosts, Landlords, & Re-Releases Oh My: The Latest Nintendo Direct Delivers

The delayed Nintendo Direct has finally been shown a few hours ago, and boy there’s a lot to take in. We have new games, we have old games bundled up into re-releases, and we have news concerning the Nintendo Online service.
Here are the highlights:
Luigi’s Mansion 3 Announced

Scaredy cat Luigi apparently isn’t dead and instead alive and well. He’ll be busting ghosts in a mansion for the Nintendo Switch in 2019. So far, all we have is a trailer of him, well, exterminating the dead. What more do you need?
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
The fifth best Mario game in the world is getting a rerelease on the Nintendo Switch. This version of the game will pack in both the original Wii U release together with the New Super Luigi Bros. U expansion so you can play all the levels and courses you missed out. You may be one of the 80% of the gaming populace who missed out on the Wii U.
You also get to use new characters like Nabbit and Toadette, who transforms into Peachette if she acquires a mushroom. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is slated for an 11th January 2019 release.

Capcom’s Beat Em Ups Gathered For A Collection
Get ready to brawl, retro gaming fans. Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle is announced and will re-release the following classic titles in one package:

Final Fight
Captain Commando
Battle Circuit
Knights of the Round
Warriors of Fate
Armored Warriors
The King of Dragons

Sadly, there’sÂ no Aliens vs Predator in this bundle due to possible licensing issues. Still, this collection is pretty sweet since it also features a gallery mode containing all of these game’s concept artworks and promo materials. Out 18th September for the Switch (as well as for PS4, PC, and Xbox One)
Katamari Damacy Remaster Aimed For Winter

Do you like rolling random stuff up to form stars for your buffoon of a dad who happens to be the King of the Cosmos? You’ve come to the right acid trip with this port of the 2004 PlayStation 2 classic. It’s not a new game exclusively for the Switch, but it’s been eons since he played any sort of legit Katamari Damacy game. Expect this game to, ahem, roll right in later this 7th December for the Switch as well as the PC.
More News About The Nintendo Online Service

It will be out 18th September and will support online play, classic NES games with online support, and cloud saves.
The costs? It’ll be US$3.99 for one month, US$7.99 for three months, and US$19.99 for 12 months.

The Switch Is Getting Retro-Styled Controllers

These awesome controllers will cost you US$60 and are exclusive to people with paid Nintendo online accounts. Talk about a crazy paywall.
A Ton Of Final Fantasy Games Will Be On The Switch
Final Fantasy VII, World of Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2: all of them will be on Nintendo’s new platform in 2019.
Animal Crossing Coming To Switch, Isabelle On Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

For you Animal Crossing fans out there in Southeast Asia, two things:

There’s a new Animal Crossing game slated for 2019.
Isabelle is going to be a playable character in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game this December.

Watch the whole Nintendo Direct recap below:


[Report] Vanquish Remastered Edition Scheduled To Release Next Year

It’s part of the Platinum Games DNA to make games with ridiculous fast-paced combat and one of the games that best fits that description is Vanquish. If you’re one of the many people who overlooked it when it was first released, another chance to get it is coming soon.

Vanquish has been listed on the Microsoft Store with “4K graphics at 60FPS available for Xbox One X” as one of its features. It’s scheduled to be released on 17 February 2020 for the Xbox One.
In Vanquish, you play as a DARPA agent named Sam Gideon and must fight against Russian robots who are trying to take over a space colony. You’re armed with a robot suit that allows you to slide on the floor, propelled by rocket boosters, and also slow down time. It’s as awesome as it sounds.
If you don’t want to wait for the remaster, the game is a available for purchase on Steam. Here’s hoping the game will also be released for the PS4.


EVO Co-Owner Pokimane Banned From Twitch For Watching Avatar: The Last Airbender

Who knew Twitch has a new ban meta? Obviously not Pokimane.
Imane “Pokimane” Anys, a renowned Twitch streamer and co-owner and Chief Creative Officer of RTS -and by extension the co-owner of EVO– is temporarily banned from Twitch.tv while she was streaming the Western-made anime Avatar: The Last Airbender.
On 7th January 8pm EST, Pokimane was streaming to about 25,000 viewers while watching the show; she had a live shot of herself reacting to the fullscreen broadcast, to which she received a live DMCA ban midway. This was the streamer’s first-ever ban.

confirmed 48 hour suspension!see you guys monday morning for a 12 hour comeback stream ?
— pokimane ?? (@pokimanelol) January 8, 2022

Despite it being temporary, this may cause issues for both big and small Twitch streamers if they just want to do a good old-fashioned TV show reaction video or livestream via the Just Chatting category. Though to be fair, she should have just recorded her own reactions on full screen while having the show play off-screen but with the audio playing in the background (VTuber style) just to be safe. It is common sense to not livestream a full episode of a copyrighted show for the public, after all.
For now, you may want to lay off doing livestreams of Invader Zim, Rugrats, and Jimmy Neutron on Twitch for now.


[Report] Rick Fox Leaves Echo Fox Because Of Shareholder Racism

This is a crazy day for esports. Dexerto reports that former Los Angeles Lakers player and Echo Fox owner Rick Fox is severing ties with the organization.
Why? Because during an email exchange with a partner within investor Vision Esports, there was racist language used to refer to a high profile representative of their business interests. Specifically, the n-word was used to refer to Jace Hall, former CEO of Echo Fox and current head of esports website Twin Galaxies.
According to sources from Dexerto, the same shareholder previously used racial slurs in the past when referring to both Hall and Fox. The source added that most shareholders tried to ignore this issue in hopes it goes away, though this forced Fox’s hand to leave.
Fox himself wrote on a company-wide email about him leaving the company due to this incident:
All,
This is an official notification of my intention to exit the Echo Fox organization as a shareholder and participant as soon as I am able to facilitate a transaction to do so. The recent outrageous and abhorrent display of pure racism made by a significant Echo Fox shareholder as well as threats to my family have made it impossible for me to continue to remain associated with the company.
I will not support or be associated with such behaviour and attitudes displayed at the shareholder level. Racism is an anathema to what my personal brand strives for and tolerating any form of discrimination such as this is not acceptable.
This notification serves as the beginning process of exiting the company. I will be contacting all relevant and interested people. My position in the GP and the entity that owns my shares are available. Depending on the proposal there are different ways to structure a deal, acquire my entity, swap positions, etc. Interested parties can contact me. Iâ€™m moving on the first deal that sits well.
Echo Fox is renowned for housing top esports players such as Justin Wong (Street Fighter V), SonicFox (Dragon Ball FighterZ and a ton of other games), and Tokido (one of the five Japanese fighting game gods). We’re not sure if these guys may stay on board in light of this news though, though to be fair Echo Fox is handling the situation by disassociating themselves with the unnamed investor.
Official statement below:
There have been incidents in recent weeks in which a limited partner of the Echo Fox organization, who is not an employee, officer or director of Echo Fox, used a racial epithet towards individuals both verbally and via email. One such incident was detailed in media accounts today. And although that incident was not directed towards an employee, officer, member or shareholder of Echo Fox, racial intolerance connected to Echo Fox is entirely unacceptable.
There have been other reported incidents where the shareholder in question used this same vile language towards Rick Fox personally. These incidents are especially significant for us as Echo Fox boasts an unparalleled level of diversity in its principal ownership group, management, leadership and player base. Upon being made aware of the incidents, the Company has made various demands to the offending investor, including the investorâ€™s disassociation from the company and we are continuing to work diligently towards this end.


God Of War Ragnarok New Game Plus Drops In Spring 2023

Just a few days before Christmas Day 2022, Sony Santa Monica gave us one last gift for the year by confirming that God Of War Ragnarok will receive its New Game Plus mode sometime in Spring 2023, which is between 20 March 2023 to 21 June 2023. In comparison, it took around four months for New Game Plus to be released for 2018’s God Of War.

We know many of you have been asking, so we’re happy to confirm that New Game Plus will be coming to #GodofWarRagnarok in Spring 2023!
We’ll share more details once we get closer to the release!  ? ? pic.twitter.com/vmv5X2USuW
— Santa Monica Studio – God of War Ragnarök (@SonySantaMonica) December 22, 2022

However, no other details have been revealed so far. In the meantime, check out our review of the game here, or check out all of Ksavir’s poems and easter eggs contained in the game by heading over here.
In other related news, Amazon is currently working on a live-action God Of War TV series.


The Top 25 Games We Need For The Upcoming Sega Megadrive Mini

Good news, retro enthusiasts. Sega is back in the console-making market, sort of. The Japanese branch announced its upcoming Sega Megadrive Mini, which is basically a tiny emulator system that plays old Sega games stored inside in its original resolution.

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— ?????????? (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) April 14, 2018

Clearly inspired by Nintendo’s NES Mini and SNES Mini, the Sega console may also upscale its games for today’s resolutions. Honestly, there isn’t much info about the system apart from how it looks and how big it is, and the fact that it will be out this year.
Which also means it’s time to speculate what games should be on the console. Since there’s no word on what games are going to be on the platform, let’s make one up! To one-up its competitor, Sega may need to cram in 25 essential games.Â In this instance, “essential” means:

(A) these games help make the Megadrive/Genesis stand out and highlight what the system was all about back in the day. When you think of Sega’s flagship 16-bit consoles, you think of these games.
(B) they are great games that are memorable for their design and fidelity.

If they can put ALL of the Megadrive’s library in the console, all the better. But if we’re given just 25 choices, we’ll go with the following:
#25. Landstalker

Let’s start off the list with an isometric goldie. From the same folks who did the Shining series comes this charming action-packed adventure where your hero and his charming fairy Friday search for the fabled treasure of King Nole. You get a ton of tricky platforming segments, tough puzzles, and crazy boss fights. In an era where the Megadrive is light on action adventure games ala Legend of Zelda, Landstalker was a worthy competitor.
#24. Castlevania Bloodlines

This Castlevania game needs love. Period. Not only was it the last game to be true to form to its 2D stage-by-stage roots before Castlevania: Symphony of the Night changed the series’ direction, it also was the debut of series composer Michiru Yamane.
Players get to pick between two playstyles: John Morris with the whip and Eric Lecarde with the spear. Some stages split up into two different paths too, adding a tad more replayability. The action and the controls are spot-on; it’s tough but never unfair and makes sure that you’re on point with your platforming and your reflexes. And yes, Michiru Yamane’s scores help elevate the mood of the game beyond its epicness.
#23. FIFA International Soccer

Want to see where all the FIFA nonsense started? Look no further than the first-ever isometric FIFA sports game in the 90s. FIFA International Soccer was one early instance of the “timed exclusive” model, where a game comes out on one console first followed by ports the next year.
#22. Comix Zone

Before Dark Souls, there were a ton of Megadrive games that busted your balls. And none come close to what Comix Zone had to offer. You play as Sketch Turner, a slender-looking comic artist who is trapped in his own creation by his own characters. He and his pet rat need to find a way out panel by panel through a wasteland America filled with mutants and in a Chinese temple with the obligatory shaolin monk-esque ass kickers.
The fighting and the controls are fun, but don’t expect to beat this game on your first go. Apart from that selling point, Comix Zone should be included in the Sega Megadrive Mini also for its aesthetics and creativity too.
#21. Beyond Oasis

Sega’s counterpoint to The Legend of Zelda may have come in a tad too late in the Megadrive/SNES cycle, but it’s not without its merits. Beyond being a technical marvel with lovely graphics and audio, the game’s action and four elemental spirits system help spice things up in the gameplay and puzzle-solving department.
#20. Desert Strike

Any of the EA isometricÂ  Strike games are worthy picks, just because they offer a variety of missions that are beyond just blowing stuff up. Unlike its other horizontal or vertical shooter brethren on this list, Desert Strike is methodical in its approach to action. You have to take it easy and find different pathways to navigate; going headfirst into danger is a surefire way to get a “Game Over” screen.
#18. General Chaos

An isometric real-time strategy game that works on the Megadrive’s controller. Not only do you have a ton of classes to pick from to mix and match with, it’s also colourfully-animated. Sure, there was Dune 2 on the Megadrive, but General Chaos was one of the first few real-time strategy games tailor-made for the console.
#17. Pulseman

GameFreak wouldn’t get their start doing Pokemon if it wasn’t for this inventive platformer they did during their early days. You control an electric-based superhero named Pulseman who can shoot bolts and travel through cables and conduits, and also gathers energy by running fast. He can only pull off his special moves if he’s fully-charged, which means every level in the game revolves around him finding spots to gather energy while also avoiding pitfalls and traps involving water.
You can see the ingenuity of the game’s level design seeping through the minds of GameFreak, which they would then use for titles like Drill Dozer.
#16. Alisia Dragoon

Remember GameArts, those guys who did Lunar: The Silver Star? Before that breakout RPG, they created an action platformer and called it Alisia Dragoon. And it was glorious. The game stands out because of its action, its pet dragon mechanics, and how it just looks. Taking a charging mechanic, add in “auto aiming” and putting it into a platformer that is still challenging and also easy on the eyes: who would have thought?
Oh and slap on the Gainax name for added credibility in the looks department as icing on the already-rich cake.
#15. Monster World IV

Speaking of Symphony of the Night, the Sega Megadrive had its own version of Super Metroid called Monster Hunter IV. The game stars a warrior named Asha who has to explore a giant interconnected world reminiscent of those Legend of Sinbad films in the 50s alongside her trusty pet sidekick Pepelogoo. The levels and environments are creative, and the movesets of both Asha and Pepelogoo make for some inventive puzzles for players to overcome.
#14. M.U.S.H.A

One of the best top-down shooters on the system, period. With inventive levels and backdrops, simple controls, and great shooting action, you can’t go wrong with M.U.S.H.A. Plus, you get great anime cutscenes to add context to what you’re doing. While it lacks in originality, it makes it up with everything else. Sometimes that’s all you need from an essential Megadrive game.
#13. Strider

You want near-perfect arcade port? The Megadrive version of Capcom’s balls-to-the-wall action game has got you covered. In fact, this version of the game adds in better music while still managing to cram in all the action from its arcade counterpart.
That crisp Zing sound when you use Hiryu’s cipher blade. The African tribal shoutings and yelling in the fourth stage. The epic foreboding tunes that play on the fifth stage where you’re on Grandmaster Meio’s turf.
#12. Street Fighter II: Champion Edition

We’re going to have to cram a fighting game somehow, right? Why not use this Capcom gem? For historical context, this came out for the Megadrive just after SNES owners bought Street Fighter II. While they won the race, Megadrive took the gold for the marathon, opting to release the version with the four playable bosses and the ability to select the same characters for those mirror matches.
#11. Ristar

If a certain blue hedgehog speedster wasn’t’ in the picture, we would be glorifying a shooting star with elongated hands. Alas, Ristar will only live as a mascot post-Sonic, which is a fate he does not deserve. Ristar’s debut was a fun little action platformer romp filled with creative puzzles and obstacles, tons of headbutting action, and a catchy soundtrack.
#10. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
As much as we loved Revenge of Shinobi, Shinobi III purely outclasses the predecessor in gameplay and action beats alone. Plus, it’ll be a pain to get all those licenses for Spider-Man, Batman, and Godzilla (among others) for the former.
Moving on, Shinobi III expands Joe Musashi’s moveset exponentially; he can dash, walljump, and divekick. This opens up lots of new challenges like faster enemies, tricky platforming, and fun boss encounters. Plus you also get short-and-sweet horse riding and wave riding sections to break up the routine. Simply put, a masterclass in ninja action for the Megadrive.
#9.Zombies Ate My Neighbours!

LucasArts were probably taking a break from doing awesome adventure games, so they decided to branch out and do a Sega Megadrive title. What did they end up making? A rather nifty two player co-op top down shooter where you have to rescue your neighbours from zombies, aliens, and all sorts of nonsense you’d find in a B-grade scenario.
#8. Shining Force II

The quintessential strategy RPG for the Sega Megadrive, bar none. Control a bunch of ragtag heroes in turn-based combat glory featuring a guy with a huge sword (that’s you, default name Bowie), a centaur who can be promoted to a pegasus knight, an elf cleric, and a wizard. You’ll recruit a bunch of other heroes like a vampire, a phoenix, and a rat thief among many others.
The premise and gameplay might seem simple in today’s standard, but this was groundbreaking and epic stuff back then. A memorable score, a colourful swathe of graphics & character portraits, and its difficulty help push this game into the echelons of Megadrive RPGing back in the 90s.
#7. ThunderForce III or ThunderForce IV

If you want the best horizontal shooter with the fastest and most frenetic action ever, you can pick either part III or IV. Part III started the fire, while part IV arguably perfected it. Both games had a lot going for it: awesome weaponry, great soundtracks, awe-inspiring bosses to fight, and lovely areas to fly in and cause mayhem in.
A lot of people swear off with either, but much like Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3, we might as well include both entries if they’re both revolutionary in their respective genres.
#6. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium

The SNES had Final Fantasy, while the Megadrive had the Phantasy Star series. Part IV can surprisingly be played fresh since we’re dealing with a new cast, but having some background knowledge of part 1 and 2 helps a lot.
With a vast world to explore, an intriguing plot, and a colourful cast that comes and go, coupled with a ton of combat and also a cool macro system that makes grinding palatable, this RPG is one for the ages.
#5. Gain Ground

Gain Ground is a classic case where a game gets better and more recognizable with age. It’s a strategy action puzzle hybrid where you control one dude to take out a swarm of well-positioned enemies on a map. It goes straight for the jugular in terms of combat and puzzle-solving.
#4. Gunstar Heroes

Ex-Konami folks form a studio called Treasure and make, well, treasure. They started off with Gunstar Heroes, which is what happens if the basis of Contra is improved upon and its level design gets more active and varied, as well as if it had the option to combine two weapons into one super-weapon. Oh, and if you had melee attacks to defend yourself with.
And the levels do impress. From fighting a boss with 7 forms on a minecart to a board game stage, to even an aerial assault, there’s always one setpiece after another that will leave you breathless.
#3. Rocket Knight Adventures

This Konami game needs to be on the mini Megadrive. It proved that the 90s mascot-filled fad wasn’t a complete waste of time. With a rocket pack mechanic, lots of stages with fun gimmicks, and even 2d shmup segments, this mascot game is a thrill ride from start to finish, telling other mascot platformer imitators to eff off.
#2. Streets of Rage 2

The best beat-em-up of the 16-bit genre, bar none. Yes, even with all three Final Fights in play, you can’t top the intense action and the soundtrack of this fisticuffs-filled masterpiece.
Four different protagonists, 8 levels of beat em up action with a ton of enemies big and small; how can something so simple in concept be this darn good and monumental?
#1. Sonic The Hedgehog 2

We cap off this simple list with the second Sonic The Hedgehog game. Why the second one? While the first game introduced the concept, the second game perfected it while not changing way too much about it. Sonic gets a new spin dash move that becomes a staple in future games, and he gets a cool sidekick who may not be as fast, but can fly and pilot a plane for the game’s penultimate moments.
Every new level in part 2 expands upon the core principle of a Sonic game: they have to be part race courses and part expanded levels that make exploration optional. And if you’re bored with single player mode, there’s a 2player competitive mode to scratch that quick itch. It’ll be criminal to not include the one quintessential Sonic game that improved upon its predecessor while being able to stand on its own two red-and-white sneaker-wearing feet.


Mordhau Community Needs Fixing, According To Devs

Online gaming communities are often toxic, churning out sexist, racist and just plain offensive statements. Mordhau is the most recent example of this, but the biggest problem right now is how developer Triternion enables these harassers by catering to their every whim.
As an example of these offensive posts, one of Mordhau‘s most popular forum threads is titled â€˜Post your kniggas,â€™ in which players share images of their character builds. This thread started in 2017 and accumulated over 2600 comments since, with no signs of stopping or getting shut down anytime soon.
A PC Gamer story revealed that Mordhau wanted to expand its character creation roster to include women and different races/ethnicities when it previously only had white male options since launch.
That’s a progressive move on their part, except when it’s not. It turns out that the developer is worried about alienating these bigots that they were planning to add a toggle for players to filter out these additional choices so that every character can still be depicted as white males.
In the interview with PC Gamer, Mordhau artist Mike Desrosiers said:

â€œWhatever stance we take officially, some group of people are going to be upset with us.
And so, ideally weâ€™d put the power in the playersâ€™ hands, and give them the option to enable and disable different things.â€

Despite what was initially said in the PC Gamer article, Mordhau developer Triternion have recently tweeted the following:

We do not, nor have we ever, had plans to add a toggle to hide other ethnicities or “disable characters that arenâ€™t white” in Mordhau. Any claims to the contrary are false. Official statement coming soon. 2/2
â€” MORDHAU (@mordhaugame) July 2, 2019
Triternion is a small indie developer. However, that doesn’t excuse them from the responsibility of regulating the content in their game and looking out for offensive/harmful content posted by their own game’s community.