Horizon Forbidden West Could Be The Franchise’s Empire Strikes Back

Platform(s): PS4, PS5 (version reviewed)
Genre: Open-World Post-Apocalyptic Third-Person Adventure
Well, here we are. Back in 2017, Guerrilla Games surprised us all with what the Decima Engine could do in Horizon Zero Dawn. The action-adventure sci-fi title quickly took the world by storm and made its way to the list of best PlayStation exclusives. Horizon Forbidden West is quite possibly the most highly-anticipated PlayStation exclusive in 2022 (tied with Sony Santa Monica’s God Of War Ragnarok, of course).
Five years in the making; how does Horizon Forbidden West improve on its predecessor? Does it pave the way for the future of next-gen open-world games?
Journey To The West
Looking to the west.
Guerrilla Games knows how long it’s been. We all know how long it’s been, though it doesn’t really feel like it’s been that long. When you boot up the game, it begins with a brief recap in the form of a short cinematic movie (which you can rewatch as many times as you like from the main menu). This is already a huge help for those (like me) who last played the game in 2017, in order to bring us up to speed to the events that lead into the story of Horizon Forbidden West.
Horizon Forbidden West pretty much picks up where Horizon Zero Dawn left our protagonist, Aloy. The previous game ended on somewhat of a dangling cliffhanger of an ending, and this is where the sequel begins. I won’t spoil important plot points (like how or why Aloy has to venture into the so-called “forbidden west”), but I can say that the overall story and writing in Horizon Forbidden West is definitely an improvement over that from the first game.
I’m probably not the only one to think of Horizon Zero Dawn‘s story to be bland and unremarkable. In Horizon Zero Dawn, Aloy had to prove herself to be worthy, as everyone around her looked down on her primitive Nora tribe. It was the same old trope. It was essentially the rise of Aloy as a hero, which we’ve seen countless times before.
In Horizon Forbidden West, it’s much more interesting and fascinating to see Aloy struggling with her newfound fame and reputation as the “Savior Of Meridian”, to juggle her responsibilities and what people now expect of her, including her friends.
Despite all she’s been through in the first game, she’s used to being independent and relying on no one but herself, precisely because she had no one. In her new journey to the “forbidden west”, she has to grow to accept the help of her friends, both new and old, in order to survive.
Aloy and her friends.
Aloy herself conveys more emotional depth than she ever did in the first game. At the start of Horizon Forbidden West, she leaves alone in the middle of the night to complete her mission and abandons her friend Varl, the latter of whom already promised to go with her. She thinks she’s strong enough to do everything herself, but the development of her character in Horizon Forbidden West is about how she gradually opens up and learns to make new friends, as well as learn to trust and rely on her old ones as well.
Yes, the world-ending stakes are still there, but the personal stakes and connections are what makes players even more invested in the game, and what makes it more memorable in the end. In that regard, Horizon Forbidden West has improved on its predecessor. A lot of that can probably be attributed to experience on the developers’ part.
The Decima Engine was rough around the edges in Horizon Zero Dawn but the potential was there. Horizon Forbidden West manages to take advantage of that extremely well.
Aloy and another one of her allies.
I was impressed with how Aloy and the other characters look so much better and more natural in Horizon Forbidden West. Kudos to the team for the game’s amazing facial animations, which is probably some of the best I’ve seen, on par with the likes of 2020’s The Last Of Us Part 2. I remember how stiff Aloy and other characters looked during interactions in Horizon Zero Dawn, which lessened the immersion for me. Horizon Forbidden West doesn’t suffer from that problem, and that’s a good thing, considering how much more dialogue there is in this sequel.
In Horizon Forbidden West, there are a lot more dialogue options when interacting with NPCs. It’s a lot like Mass Effect in that regard. At one point in the game, you’ll get access to a base, which acts as a central hub of sorts for Aloy and her friends for reasons that I can’t spoil. Just like the Normandy in Mass Effect, you’ll be returning to and fro from this base/hub and Aloy’s allies will be there for you to interact with. It’s important to note that most of the dialogue is actually optional since it won’t actually affect the story in any way (there’s only one ending).
Dialogue options.
However, some of this optional dialogue can lead to additional side quests. They’re also how you’ll spend time getting to know the game’s lore and Aloy’s friends. Since they won’t affect the story, you can skip the dialogue options, but I went through them all because the writing’s good and the voice performances are excellent. I previously mentioned emotional depth and personal stakes; these dialogue options are great at adding to that. I honestly didn’t care for (or even remember much of) the supporting characters in Horizon Zero Dawn, but I definitely felt more connected to the ones in Horizon Forbidden West. I find the stories and plots in games to be best when you can emotionally connect with them, and that’s true for this game.
As good as the writing and characters are this time around, Horizon Forbidden West still ends on a cliffhanger just like Horizon Zero Dawn. Guerilla Games is clearly setting up another sequel here. The ending isn’t exactly anti-climactic, but it might be for those looking for a proper or definitive conclusion.
Still, the way the game ends makes you feel excited for what comes next, and there are actually lots of unexpected plot twists throughout Horizon Forbidden West. It’s true what they say; it’s about the journey, not (necessarily) the destination.
Dino Riders (And Killers)
Exploring Relic Ruins.
Let’s not kid ourselves. the reason why Horizon Zero Dawn became such a hit can be summed up in two words: robot dinosaurs. And boy, did the game deliver on that.
Taking down mecha dinos with only bows, arrows, a spear, and a few other additional traps/trinkets made for a fun time. The fact that these enemies had destructible components and specific body parts added more strategic and tactical layers to the combat, ensuring that it doesn’t get stale because you’re not just simply randomly whacking at enemies.
Besides that, the game followed many open-world game tropes, with special challenges, side quests, and more. One gameplay mechanic that Horizon Zero Dawn did improve on was the boring old towers you had to climb to unveil a particular area of the map (the Ubisoft template, basically). Instead of the aforementioned towers, players had to climb giant moving brachiosaurus-like robots called Tallnecks. Figuring out how to get on top of the Tallneck was like solving a fun little puzzle, and no Tallneck was ever the same.
Horizon Forbidden West still features all of that and more. Of course, you’re probably reading this review to learn about the “more”, so enough about what I’ve already said and let’s get to the new stuff. Admittedly, the core gameplay and combat in this game remain mostly the same as the first one. Aloy uses her spear for melee attacks and to override machines (take control of them momentarily), and using the bow and arrow in this game is pretty much like in every other open-world game out there (L2 to aim and R2 to fire).
The most important gameplay aspect that Horizon Forbidden West has improved on is Aloy’s mobility and ability to traverse the world. In the first game, Aloy could run, jump, crouch, sneak, climb and mount machines. In Horizon Forbidden West, the game introduces a new gear called the Pullcaster in the early game, which acts not only as a grappling hook for Aloy but also allows her to use it to solve environmental obstacles. This manifests in various ways, like using the Pullcaster to pull rubble from a blocked path or using it to bring a pillar closer so that Aloy can reach it. You can even use it to pull objects like boxes and chests towards you.
The Pullcaster in action.
Of course, there’s also the game-changing Shieldwing tool, which allows Alloy to glide like Link in The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild. However, it’s not just for gliding purposes, as Aloy can also use it to perform sneak attacks on enemies from above. Essentially, this tool makes fall damage and falling to one’s death (both annoying issues in many open-world games) a thing of the past. You can even tweak the Settings to make it so that Aloy automatically deploys the Shieldwing whenever she falls close to the ground.
Grappling using the Pullcaster.
Another newly-introduced mechanic in Horizon Forbidden West is the ability to swim underwater. It’s no secret that water levels have a sour reputation amongst gamers (no one likes water levels, no one). They’re usually so janky because it’s unavoidable that handling characters underwater would feel sluggish and slow. This is especially so when these water levels have combat in them (groan). Therefore, I thank the developers at Guerrilla Games that they have not added underwater combat.
Water sections in Horizon Forbidden West are actually rare. In my almost 60 hours of playtime (more on that later), I could probably count with my fingers how many times I actually went underwater for extended water sections. Also, Aloy will only unlock the ability to breathe underwater at a certain point in the game’s main story. Once you get that, you can pretty much stay underwater forever. All in all, Aloy handles decently in water, and she can swim fast enough when she has to.
Going swimming.
While there’s no underwater combat, you’ll still have to do a bit of sneaky stealth underwater (stealth kelp, really, Guerilla Games?), as there will be machines in the water as well. Unfortunately, there’s no way to possibly fight back in any way while Aloy is underwater. The only thing you can do once a machine spots you is to swim away and try to escape. It’s annoying, but as I said, Aloy swims fast enough that it’s not really aggravating.
I wouldn’t call the water sections in Horizon Forbidden West bad, but they’re not that much fun either. I usually just want them to be over as soon as possible, and I suspect that’ll be the case for most players as well.
Many gamers have been asking whether Horizon Forbidden West, and I can confirm that yes, it does feature a flying mount. Before you get too excited though, it comes pretty late in the game, near the very end of the main story, so you’ll be spending most of the game without it. Once you get it though, you’ll probably never fast travel again, because the draw distance on the PS5 is phenomenal (but there are a few noticeable pop-ups occasionally).
Life Finds A Way
Flying mount Sunwing.
Now let’s get to the meat of the game; the combat. Just like the first game, the main way to take down machines is by slowing down time via Concentration Mode by pressing R3 and shooting specific components/body parts of enemies until they die. Horizon Forbidden West adds a lot more variety to it all, with new weapons and a new revamped skill tree system, not to mention new triggerable special abilities called Valor Surges and special techniques tied to weapons.
What are the new weapons? The bow and arrow (multiple types), spear, slings (throws bombs), tripcasters (the ones that shoot trip lines that can trigger traps when enemies touch them), and ropecaster (the one that shoots ropes tying the enemy in one place) all make a triumphant return, so if you’re used to them, that’s all good. But trust me when I say some of the new weapons are awesome to use. The new weapons include boltblasters (it works sort of like a mini machine gun that shoots projectiles in short bursts), shredder gauntlets (which works like a frisbee of sorts, but I found it too gimmicky to use effectively) but my personal favourite is the spike thrower.
The spike thrower is one of the most powerful new weapons. It’s nothing fancy like the other, just a sharp stick that you throw at the enemy like a javelin. However, it hits damn hard, especially when you’ve unlocked more powerful ammo like explosive spikes and even drill spikes (yes, just like the anime Gurren Lagann, these spikes drill into the enemy after it makes contact, it’s glorious). The weakness of the spike thrower is that Aloy has to stand in one place to throw the javelin, which makes her vulnerable to attacks. It’s still satisfying as hell (the ammo is expensive to craft though, so don’t get too spike happy).
Using a boltblaster.
There aren’t just new weapons though, as the sequel also introduces several new elements into the mix to spice things up. The previous elemental effects are still in the game, including Burning, Frozen, Electric, and Explosive. The new ones are elements like Acid (which translates to a corrosive damaging effect), Plasma (it’s like burning but with a special effect manifests in a delayed explosion after it activates), and Purgewater (which is sort of like… poisoned water, I guess). Just like in the first game, it’s important to know which elemental attacks work best against a particular machine enemy.
The skill tree system is much more refined and well implemented in Horizon Forbidden West. There are now multiple separate skill trees, each of which corresponds to a particular playstyle. For instance, the Warrior skill tree features active and passive skills related to melee, while the Hunter skill tree features those related to bow and arrow skills (increased Concentration Mode, etc.). There’s also one skill tree each for trappers, stealth, health, and overriding machines. The advantage of separate skill trees for each category means that you can allocate skill points to whichever playstyle you want.
For example, I focused mainly on the melee and bow/arrow skill trees. By the end of the game, I basically ignored the trapper skill tree and it didn’t have much of a negative effect on my playthrough, since my playstyle doesn’t use traps. My point is that you can cater the skill points into skill trees that complement your playstyle. You can safely neglect some of the skill trees in favour of the others without having to worry too much. You can pretty much also just plan ahead because every ability on every skill tree can be seen and checked from the start (don’t you just hate it when skill trees hide later skills until after you almost unlock them?).
More new mechanics in Horizon Forbidden West that spice up the game include the introduction of Valor Surges and Weapon Techniques, both of which can be unlocked via the aforementioned skill trees. They do a lot to help spic up combat, especially Valor Surges, which are basically the game’s version of supers or ultimates. Aloy accumulates Valor by attacking or getting attacked. Once full, you can unleash a Valor Surge. There are two Valor Surges in each skill tree, but only one can be equipped at any one time. Most Valor Surges basically power up one of any combat aspect. One would increase your melee strength, one can even turn you invisible or increase the power of ranged attacks.
My favourite, and the flashiest, Valor Surge in the game, is the Radial Blast. The Radial Blast is essentially Aloy exploding in a massive surge of electric energy, which is the closest thing to an AoE (area of effect) attack that this game has.
[videopress 8PndkGMO]
Is it an unspoken rule of modern open-world games that they have to feature a board game-like mini-game? The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt had Gwent. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla had Orlog. Believe it or not, Horizon Forbidden West has its own original minigame called Machine Strike. The rules are perhaps too complicated to fully reiterate here, but the mechanics are simple enough to understand once you start playing. It plays similar to chess or checkers in a way, with pieces on a checkered board. Each piece is literally a wooden miniature of a machine enemy from the world in Horizon Forbidden West. For instance, a Ravager would have a certain way it can move across the board and unique attributes of its own.
Plus, the checkered board can feature different terrains on each checkered square, with different terrains having different effects on different pieces. This means that you really have to think about where to position your pieces to attack the opponent’s and strategically plan ahead. One mistake can cost a match. Each major settlement on the map in the game features one Machine Strike NPC to play against, each of which you’ll have to win at least three times (once on three different boards, respectively). Machine Strike is completely optional though, just like Gwent in The Witcher 3. That said, I find it quite fun, but it’s definitely harder than it seems at first, especially against the tougher opponents.
Machine Strike.
Land Of The Lost
If there’s one thing Guerrilla Games has done, it’s to add a lot more side activities into this sequel. I’ve mentioned the Machine Strike minigame above, but there are many other side activities to complete as well. Besides side quests and errands (which are also side quests but smaller in scale and named differently), there are Relic Ruins (basically environmental puzzles to solve), Vista Points (another puzzle where you have to line up a hologram image with the real world), Hunting Grounds (the special challenges involving specific weapons from the first game) Melee Pits (melee-focused challenges), races (yes, you can participate in races with mounts, which is fun but a bit janky) and last but certainly not least, Arena Challenges (bigger and difficult fighting gauntlets set in a coliseum-like arena setting).
That’s not even everything you can do. An open-world game wouldn’t be complete without collectibles, and Horizon Forbidden West has tons of them. Some of these add to the lore of the game’s world, such as black box recordings, and some, like the flying drones, are similar to the Tallnecks in that they’re like puzzles and the fun is in figuring out how to reach them. There are sunken treasure locations all over the map if you want another excuse to actually go underwater, and there are rebel enemy outposts to clear out, which is another open-world trope.
Rebel scum.
One of the issues with Horizon Zero Dawn was grinding to find the required resources to craft ammo, items and equipment. That grinding is still present in Horizon Forbidden West, and it’s arguably even tougher to find some of them, but one new mechanic has made the whole process much, much easier. Players can now create Jobs (a category of side quests) to find specific resources for specific stuff (ammo, items, equipment). It makes things less of a hassle because now the game will mark the area where you can find the resources because Jobs function as a type of side quest. In other words, they are side quests, or rather, fetch quests, you can create for yourself for anything in the game.
That said, while the ability to create Jobs for any item significantly reduces the amount of busywork that most RPGs tend to feature, it only alleviates what is still a bit of an issue. If you think the first game’s grind for resources to upgrade equipment was a hassle, Horizon Forbidden West is even worse in that regard. Let me put it like this; I could still upgrade a lot of my equipment in the first game by simply playing through the game, but that’s not the case in the sequel.
I can’t upgrade my late-game equipment past two levels because of how specific the required resources are. I reckon that the reason why the developers introduced the Jobs mechanic is to make grinding easier. Without Jobs, finding resources would be even harder than it already is.
Another big problem with Horizon Zero Dawn which spoiled the experience was the fact that your inventory could get full, forcing you to throw away stuff to make room for more stuff. Thankfully, Guerrilla Games has improved the inventory system in Horizon Forbidden West. All additional resources will automatically and directly go into your stash, which you can access anytime from various locations.
You no longer have to worry about overloading your inventory and you can be the hoarder I know you want to be; it’s not an open-world game if you don’t hoard everything, right? Being over-encumbered is a thing of the past. Take that, Skyrim!
As for the machines, all of them from the previous game return, but there’s also a whole bunch of new ones. If you think the T-rex-inspired Thunderjaw and Stormbird from Horizon Zero Dawn were terrifying, prepare to be proven wrong. Horizon Forbidden West features even more powerful machines, including a giant snake and something that’s even stronger than the Thunderjaw.
The Slitherfang.
I’ve droned on and on, but I haven’t even touched the game’s overall graphics yet. You know as well as I do from the trailers and gameplay footage out there that the game looks absolutely beautiful, and I’ve already mentioned the game’s improved facial animations and movements above. If you thought Horizon Zero Dawn and by extension, Death Stranding (since that game was also powered by the Decima Engine), looked great, Horizon Forbidden West is further proof of what the Decima Engine can really do.
Playing Horizon Forbidden West on a PS5 and a 4K HDR TV, it’s seriously the best looking game on the console yet. It looked so good that I’d rather play the game in 4K than the smoother 60 FPS performance mode (which runs at 1080p). This game is the best evidence yet of the PS5’s power and visual prowess. The game still looks great on the PS4, but if you have a PS5, then that’s obviously the way to go.
Mysterious new character played by The Matrix actress Carrie-Anne Moss.
Lastly, it would be remiss of me not to mention the game’s wealth of accessibility options. There are a lot of options here that would make the game accessible to everyone, regardless of age and ability. These include tweaking how strong the enemies are, how long your Concentration Mode can be, auto-healing (by automatically consuming medicinal berries when Aloy is low on health), auto-Shieldwing deployment (so you won’t fall to your death), and even an Easy Loot option (this means that components you normally have to tear/remove from the machine’s body will still be loot-able).
It took me almost 60 hours (around 57 hours) to reach the end of the story in Horizon Forbidden West. That might sound long, but it didn’t feel that way while I was playing the game. There’s so much to do in the game, that even after those 60 hours, I still had many side quests and collectibles on the map to complete. If I were to complete everything, it would probably take me close to at least 80 to 100 hours.
If you rush through the main story without bothering to do anything else -which I don’t recommend since you’ll probably be under-equipped by the end- you could probably finish the game in 20 to 30 hours, though you’ll be missing out on a lot of good content.
A Trilogy In The Making

Before getting Horizon Forbidden West, I bemoaned having to review another long open-world game. PlayStation is off to an amazing start in 2022, and it’s far from over. This game joins the likes of Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart and others in being the best reason to get a PS5 right now, showcasing the next-gen consoleâ€™s sheer power and potential. It’s also playable on the PS4, which you can then upgrade to a PS5 version for free, so I’d say the PS4 version is still worth playing.
Horizon Forbidden West doesn’t really do much to revolutionize or innovate the open-world genre. However, it’s a mighty exhilarating game with a great story, fun gameplay, beautiful graphics, and meaningful improvements over its predecessor, essentially adding way more to an already surefire great experience.
It’s clear from the ending of this game that there will be a third game to likely close out a trilogy, and that one will be a masterpiece if Horizon Forbidden West is any indication.
Pros

One of the most beautiful games on the PS5, especially if you have a 4K TV/monitor.
Improved facial animations and visuals showcase what the Decima Engine can do.
New weapons, skill trees and new combat mechanics (Valor Surges, Weapon Techniques, etc.) add more depth to the gameplay.
More mobility and traversal options to explore the open world.
A lot of dialogue options with better writing and characters you can be invested in.
Improved inventory system.

Cons

Still grindy when it comes to upgrading equipment and resources.
The story ends on a cliffhanger, just like the first game.

Final Score: 90/100
Review copy provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Played on PS5. Horizon Forbidden West releases for PS4 and PS5 on 18 February 2022.


Tactics Ogre Reborn Officially Announced, Coming This November

After being leaked in July 2022, Square Enix has officially announced that Tactics Ogre Reborn will launch for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on 11 November 2022.
The description of the game reads:
Based on the 2010 release, the game features improved graphics and sound, as well as updated game design, bringing to life a new Tactics Ogre that remains true to its roots.
Tactics Ogre veterans will experience a game that surpasses their fondest memories, while players new to Tactics Ogre will discover a game unlike any they’ve ever played.
Reborn and deeper than ever, the game enables players to immerse themselves in the world and intrigue of Tactics Ogre like never before.
Tactics Ogre Reborn features updated game design, fully-voiced cutscenes, improved graphics, and sound.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Abzû Developer Reveal Trailer For Sword Of The Sea

At the recent PlayStation Showcase, the studio known for creating The Pathless and Abzû, Giant Squid revealed the trailer for the brand new IP they’ve been working on, Sword of the Sea.
Now, before you get too excited, I have to say that we didn’t get much juicy info about this game, except that it’s coming out for PlayStation 5 sometime in the future. But don’t worry, if there are any updates on other platforms, we’ll make sure to keep you in the loop!

So, let’s talk about the trailer they unveiled at the event. It showcased a mysterious main character, who remained unnamed throughout the video, skillfully manoeuvring through a vast sea of sand. And let me tell you, those acrobatic moves were a sight to behold! If you’re a fan of the studio’s previous titles, you’ll definitely notice the familiar touch. It seems like the developers are aiming for an immersive and emotionally-charged experience with Sword of the Sea, incorporating some awesome platforming elements along the way.

There you have it, folks – a glimpse into the enigmatic world of Sword of the Sea. While we’re itching for more details, we’ll have to be patient and wait for the studio to spill the beans. Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you posted on any exciting updates that come our way!


Foregone’s 2D Action Platforming Reminds Me Of Dead Cells, Minus The Challenge

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Genre: 2D Action Game With Metroidvania & Diablo Hooks
Remember 2018’s Metroidvania Dark Souls wombo combo Dead Cells? Yes, that was an incredibly challenging but fun 2D action title that’s sure to influence many indie game designers to come. One can assume that Big Blue Bubble’s latest effort Foregone is doing the same thing; it even has an identical art style.
But Foregone is more focused on loot. The loot you get from killing its many mutants and sci-fi soldiers. The weaponry that’s humble but pretty fun to use like the giant falchion. Or the long-reaching spear. Or the assortment of ranged weapons that you can snipe with. Or the special powers you can use that’s mapped on your trigger buttons. Or the only weapon you need to use: the gun nunchuck. Each weapon you use has its own startup and attack timing, so you need to practice a bit before wailing them onto enemies.
This is all well and good, but one problem: Foregone is pretty easy.
Pixel Pushover?

Within my 6 hours of playtime, I rarely died in the game and managed to plough through it just fine. I had my gun nunchucks, my Nova burst, and my healing spell; short of upgrading my equipment once in a while, I got through most of Foregone with just these and my 2D platforming knowhow. The damage you take is pretty minimal as long as you frequently upgrade and change armour and gear. You will do this a lot since gear drops like hotcakes. It ain’t Crash Bandicoot 4 levels of brutality, but it can be a cakewalk.
The heroine has air dashes, a double jump, and a slide that doubles as a dodge button.Â The powerups you get for traversal and advancement, like the air dash and the ground pound, makes going from point A to B pretty fun thanks to the vast-if-linear level design. You won’t get as lost and as immersed because the road with the most resistance and enemies with “key” signs on their heads is usually the correct path. At the end of every major section is a boss that will test your skills. They’re not too challenging if you know how to dodge and when to jump, and when to strike.
Some fights get hectic, but overall you’ll get through it just fine. All these combinations above make for a smooth but ultimately overpowered feel and design for your lone super-soldier. But seeing it all in motion? Damn, that never gets old.
Foregone’s pixel art style looks just as enchanting in a different sci-fi context when compared to the fantasy-laden Dead Cells, and is all the better for it. Combat is butter smooth control and aesthetics-wise; even if you feel a tinge of monotony during your adventure, you just want to keep going because of how spectacular it looks. The devs really nail these core fundamentals to a tee.
Not All Greek To Me

There’s also a story too, but it’s pretty vague and not all meaty. You’re essentially a super soldier trying to right a wrong that’s military-related in Foregone’s world of Caligan. You have cultists, armed guards, and bad guys called the Harrowed obstructing your end goal. You’ll uncover some lore here and there, as well as get quips from your female soldier as there’s more to meet the eye than her current occupation. It’s decently paced and doesn’t get in the way of what’s important: the action and the loot & powerups you’re getting to advance.
And that’s all that matters in Foregone: the core loop gameplay. It’s just fun. Sure, it needs a bit more meat with its narrative, a slightly higher difficulty curve, and a bit more weapon variation, but the overall package is slick and entertaining. Thankfully if you need a challenge, there’s a New Game+ that lets you keep your skills in a past playthrough and enemies are of a higher level. And bosses respawn, so you can fight them over and over for better loot & gear. At least the devs got you covered replayability-wise.
Pros

Lovely pixel art and animation style.
Super-solid controls & tight gameplay.
Weapons feel great to use, from pulse rifles to giant falchions.
Gun nunchucks.
Fun boss fights.
Some semblance of replayability.

Cons

Light story.
Gets easier the more skills & better gear you have.

Final Score: 70/100


Halo 3 ODST Is Coming To PC This Summer

343 Industries has revealed the popular multiplayer mode Halo 3: ODSTÂ will be coming to Halo: The Master Chief Collection sometime in summer 2020.
Best of all, PC gamers will get multiplayer in Halo 3 ODST in the form of Firefight, a co-op mode in which up to four players must face off against waves of Covenant attackers with only seven lives to share between them. The appropriately named â€˜firefightsâ€™ features both ground and vehicular combat.
Originally releasing in 2009, Halo 3 ODST was a spinoff that didn’t feature Master Chief or any iconic characters. Instead, it focused on United Nations Space Command soldiers, known as “Orbital Drop Shock Troopers” or ODSTs, during and after the events of Halo 2.
This comes hot off the heels of Halo 2: Anniversary last month. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdSbSPR3bto&w=560&h=315]


Valorant’s New Hero Is Yoru; Here Is His Kit

Valorant’s new trailer revealed not just some cool shooting, but also a new 14th hero you can play later. Here’s what we know about him so far, based on Riot’s latest info feed and recent write-ups.
The 14th hero is called Yoru, and he’s a reality-bending Japanese duelist. Here are his skills and entire kit:

C – Fakeout:Â Equip an echo that mimics footsteps when activated. FIRE to activate and send the echo forward. ALT FIRE to place an echo in place. USE the inactive echo to send it forward.
E – Gatecrash:Â Equip to harness a rift tether. FIRE to send the tether out moving forward. ALT FIRE to place a tether in place. ACTIVATE to teleport to the tether’s location
Q – Blindside:Â Equip to rip an unstable dimensional fragment from reality. FIRE to throw the fragment, activating a flash that detonates after it collides with a hard surface.
X – Dimensional Rift:Â Equip a mask that can see between dimensions. FIRE to drift into Yoru’s dimension, unable to be affected or seen by enemies from the outside.

How do you use his kit? Simple: by relying on the art of misdirection. Yoru can use Gatecrash to mark one location, and then zap back when needed. You can create footstep sounds to fool the enemy team to fake a push to a bombsite, when in fact you’re planning on flanking them elsewhere. You can also use Dimension Rift to turn your whole team invisible and reposition, which is paramount in case your round looks terrible. He isn’t going to win fights directly, but he can get out of a jam when needed.
As Valorant relies on players picking up sound cues to position and ready themselves for an ambush, it’s only a matter of time until a hero like Yoru has a kit that forces players not to trust their ears too much. Fans can look forward to using him when Valorant Act 2 is available.


Hail To The King (Of Fighters): Looking Back At SNK’s Battle Royale

We can’t have a continuous SNK retrospective leading up to Retro DNA’sÂ showcase this October without doing a King of Fighters article now, can we? Ask and you shall receive.Â
Here are the past SNK retrospectives:Â

Why The Neo Geo Was Successful

The Top 15 SNK Games You Must Play Before You Die

The Art Of Shinkiro

Back on August 25, 1994, a company called Shin Nihon Kikaku (aka SNK) thought it was a good idea to combine characters from their Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting games, along with those from outside of their fighting games titles, into one mix-mash fighting game.
And thus, the King of Fighters series was born, with top fighting game directors and producers like Takashi Nishiyama (a former Street Fighter developer), Eikichi Kawasaki, and Masanori Kuwasashi at the helm. From its 1994 debut, it became so popular, going so far as to be a perennial favourite against the likes of Capcomâ€™s Street Fighter series.
Then again, the series also had its tragic moments as well, with the companyâ€™s bankruptcy back in 2001 it had to sell off its properties to South Korean companies like Eolith whose take on the KOF series did not do them justice. Still, it wasnâ€™t all bad as the company came back again as SNK Playmore, which then became just SNK again in April 2016.
To further celebrate SNK’s 40th anniversary, letâ€™s look back at the series and find out why itâ€™s still a favourite among old-school and new-school fighting game fans.
#1. Its Roster Is Ginormous

To say that the selection of fighters in the KOF series is huge is an understatement. Fancy a beginner type character? You have human flamethrower Kyo, purple flamethrower nemesis Iori, and American cap bearer Terry Bogard. Need someone more advanced? Try out the white-haired well-endowed brawler Angel who plays sort of like a 3D fighting game character.
SNK also dug up their old games for alternate characters. Ikari Warriors Ralf and Clarke appear in KOF as full-fledged grappler & bruiser archetypes. Athena and Kensou from arcade shooter Psycho Soldiers are your modified “shoto” fireball-tossing uppercutting teenage combatants with slight variations.
This is very noticeable in the dream match King of Fighters titles like KOF â€˜98 and KOF 2002, where they disregard story canon to bring in all the characters they can cram in for one fighting game fiesta. Players and newbies will be spoiled for choice over what their favourite team combinations are, let alone who their favourite character is.
And with KOF XIV already out, the roster now spans over 40 characters of varying styles and looks. We get to see Taekwondo expert Kim Kaphwan’s teacher and his nubile wife, as well as guest stars like Nakoruru from Samurai Shodown and Mui Mui from that one SNK pachinko game. If you want the ultimate in fighting game rosters, KOF can’t be beat.
#2. It’s Got A Long-Spanning Story Arc

Speaking of story, the King of Fighters series span a huge epic of a tale unheard of in fighting games. The only caveat is that you have to do a lot of digging from outside sources unless you can read SNKâ€™s brand of Japanese-translated English because itâ€™s a whole new level of its own.
What started out as a simple fighting tournament run by a rich and ripped German criminal escalated into a conspiracy revolving around an ancient ritual of reviving a demon god loosely based on the Yamato no Orochi folklore from Japan. Major key players change up their fighting styles based on the story, and characters get ousted because they end up dead at the end of each KOF entry.
Then it takes a 180-degree turn with the sci-fi N.E.S.T story, where secret organizations are creating their own brand of flame-throwing Kyos with one of them rebelling against his masters and â€œsiblingsâ€. It then caps off with a French guy named Ash Crimson stealing flames and sacred treasures from past characters with an agenda of his own. Pretty riveting stuff, that.
With KOF XIV, we’re also getting a new story about interdimensional travel and even some old friends like Orochi making a comeback. The fight is far from over for the KOF series, story-wise.
#3. It Revolutionized Fighting Game Mechanics

Fans and fighting game aficionados who like fast gameplay usually bring up The King of Fighters series. Every character in the roster can short hop, do a big jump, roll & dodge to avoid oncoming attacks, and run. Even if youâ€™re the slowest grappler around, every character in the series is mobile.
These are just a few of the many mechanics each KOF title introduces to set it apart from its peers. While not completely original, it was executed very well. Watching a fight between pro gamers with three fighters on their team is like watching an artful ballet of pyro kinetics and all-out beatdowns.

Even the basic character selection is an art of its own as you need to figure out which character to place first in your team so that he or she can build up the meter you want for your second and last character to use. No wonder a lot of the fighting game pros declare the KOF series a rather high-level game as compared to the Street Fighter series.
#4. It Crossed Fists With Its Major Competitor
…and we were elated it happened!
The KOF series was so big during the 90s and 2000s that fans were arguing over whether it was better than the Street Fighter series. So both SNK and Capcom were like decided to do a crossover titleâ€¦for the fun of it. Enter the SNK vs. Capcom series.

These games were awesome because they allowed fighting game fans to pit Capcom fighters against SNK fighters. Who was the better blonde: Ken or Terry Bogard? Who was the bigger boss: Geese Howard or M.Bison? Coupled with a fighting system that blends the best of both worlds, the Capcom vs. SNK series was a love letter to everyone who grew up with 2D fighting games.
#5. It Has Awesome Music & Sound

Letâ€™s compare KOFâ€™s music side-by-side with Street Fighter. Whereas Ryuâ€™s theme is still very prominent, itâ€™s been remixed far too many times.
One can argue that itâ€™s a classic theme that doesnâ€™t need much change, but somehow KOFâ€™s many themes share a cohesive sound motif and feel despite using different instruments & tempos in early entries.
These examples below are from Ioriâ€™s team. Note the dominating saxophone in each track to highlight the teamâ€™s music with each iteration. They sound different yet still similar.

While we are on sound, the SFX is also spot-on, with bone-crunching hits and slashes sounding like they really, REALLY hurt. Designer Eiichiro said in an interview on the book Insert Coin that he asked his sound guys and programmers to act out how hits are done and performed in a real fight so that they know how to transcribe that into a “mega Shock” video game.
Aesthetics-wise, the earlier entries of KOF back then, and arguably KOF XIII, also boasted detailed backdrops with personality. Every round of a match will signify a slight weather or time change from daytime to nighttime.
#6. It Has A Dedicated Fanbase
Weâ€™ve brought up our own reasons on why the series deserves its place in history. Pro gamer Xian (EVO 2013â€™s Street Fighter IV champion) got his start in fighting games with the King of Fighters series. He has mentioned time and again in various fighting game sites that the series is dear to him.

“Because the series allowed me to make many friends when I was younger. I also learned a lot of different fighting game skills that could be applied today.”

Xian said that the actual gameplay in a fighting game is more important, hence he learned a lot from starting out fighting games with the KOF series.
What did he learn best from these fighting games? “Spacing and execution,” he said. “These two techniques allowed me to understand fighting games better now as they are not as complicated.
Just this year, SNK finished its Neo Geo World Tour which features KOF 98 and KOF XIV tournaments for worldwide players to join in and fight. The finals took place in Hong Kong where thousands of fans gathered to see the best while also reminisce the fun times they had with the legacy series. So yeah, there is no shortage of KOF love anytime soon!
The Crown Jewel Of Fighters?Â
KOF isn’t a perfect diamond in the rough. SNK has made some missteps with the franchise back in the 2000s and even arguably now. Remember how broken KOF 2001 and KOF 2003 was? Remember how unnecessary KOF Neowave was in the grand scheme of things except for maybe showcasing Geese Howard in his Art of Fighter 2 getup?
Remember that KOF 98 UM mobile cash-grab of a turn-based RPG title? And remember the well-meaning-but-probably-won’t-age-well China-produced King of Fighters Destiny YouTube series?
Nonetheless, the King of Fighters series will have a special place in most fighting gamersâ€™ hearts all across Asia. Its colourful and personality-heavy cast, its fast gameplay, its lovely music & backdrops, and how it all gels together makes this fighter a king-of-the-ring material.
Here’s to a few more sequels and iterations, SNK. Don’t stop believing.


Days Gone Is As Middling A Post-Apocalyptic Action Game As You Can Get

Platform: PS4
Genre: Zombie apocalypse action-adventure game
I’ve always wanted to check out Portland, Oregon in the US. During my time studying/working in North America, I’m always curious as to how vast the woods and trails are especially when you want to arrange a road trip just to see how lush it all is. As fun as it is to drive along the rocky roads from Kuching to Sibu with nothing but green and finding longhouses/campsites to relax & bask in, it’s definitely not the same as in a lush field and highland as Oregon.
In Days Gone, the latest action adventure zombie-killing PS4 exclusive, I sort of got my wish. As former biker outlaw and drifter mercenary Deacon St. John, you ride out on your bike on the lonesome roads of the Pacific Northwest, which also contains Portland, Oregon. From four seasons weather to the rocky hills and lakes, Days Gone boasts a huge landscape for our “hero” to drive around in on his motorcycle. You’ll be doing that a lot while fending off random zombie hordes (called Freakers), cutthroat drifters and marauders, “cultists” called the Rippers, and the occasional infected zombie bear or two.

And to be frank, satiating your wanderlust in SIE Bend Studio’s version of forest-heavy America is the best part of the game.

The Lost & The Damned?

Imagine the “aimless yet free-form” gameplay of last year’s State of Decay 2, but with every aspect of combat and survival feeling polished. With tight controls, engaging action portions, and solid gunplay-slash-melee-bash, you’ll have fun traversing and exploring the great unknown. And the aforementioned bike? It’s a blast to ride around in especially when you get more upgrades.
You’ll spend lots of time ransacking abandoned houses to find crafting materials for weapons and tools you create via the Survival Wheel. Protip: you can slow down time when you whip out this feature; you can repair weapons, create pipe bombs, and put on suppressors onto your guns mid-combat.
Stealth gameplay is also rewarding too; you conserve bullets and weaponry that you can use for future battles. It’ll be useful for the lot you will face from zombie wolves to cultists. They can deal a lot of hurt, so you need to be quick with the dodge button, manage your stamina, find the best time to reload, and counterattack.
Much like an RPG, Deacon can “level up” and gain skill points that bolster his ability to fight and flee for each monster he kills. The fastest way to gain experience points is to finish side missions and main quests, of course, but unlocking most of Deacon’s skills can amp up your play style further.
So you’ll want to finish up your story bits with one of the few human camps to get that sweet ability that lets you do max damage when you switch from guns to melee. Or get that ability that lets you recover stamina quicker than usual or get it back after a kill.
Like your Zeldas and your Okamis, you can also find special permanent health/stamina/focus-boosting buffs by way of NERO injectors found in abandoned NERO border crossings and camps.

Exploration in Days Gone yields bountiful rewards, be it materials for crafting or all-out survival. The game thrives in this aspect by the boatload.

Story Days

Part of the reason why you want to be on the road all the time is because of Deacon himself. He’s not an altruistic guy and he’s not your world’s saviour. He’s a drifter who wants credit for each job he does; together with his pal Boozer you were the duo who wandered around the countryside to survive. After a particular story event early in the game, you end up going out alone to be the provider and survivor, helping out different camps and furthering the game’s story as you go.
Without spoiling the story, Deacon’s story arc and his main objective of “escaping north” is fraught with a lot of baggage and makes us feel for the guy who has gone through a lot to get to where he is. He’s not necessarily a nice human being, but he tries to be despite the circumstances. And thanks to particular spoiler-heavy revelations, he does his damnest to preserve whatever humanity he has left and fights for it in a world gone wrong.
Even his ramblings and mumblings when he’s doing a mission solo makes me pity the guy, try as I might not to laugh since it can get immersion-breaking (I’ll get to that later).

Loneliness & trust issues will do a lot to a man’s psyche, especially in a universe filled with everything trying to kill you, so I can understand why Deacon is the way he is.

All of this ties into how atmospheric the game is. When it runs fine and doesn’t stutter, your eyes will be treated with grand vistas of the Pacific Northwest’s redwoods and its lush lakesides and ponds. As you head down south in the second half of the game, you’ll be treated to a slightly-more charred locale which is still detailed and has some sense of wonder and desolation. You know, just to remind you that this is still a post-apocalyptic zombie-filled wasteland. Hell, there are even story segments where you’re riding to the next locale and an emotional acoustic piece plays on to set the dreary mood. It’s obviously cribbing off from Red Dead Redemption, but it works here.
Freak Out
As you play the game further and longer, you’ll start seeing some technical issues getting in the way. I don’t mean hard crashes; I mean just getting around, moving while the game does its best to process all of this, sounds getting clipped off a bit, and the occasional animation goof during pivotal story scenes. And also a bit of loading, though to be fair, it’s only noticeable when you start the game.
There’s also funny instances where enemies “velcro” and “snapback” to cover during gunfights. This leads to many “insta-teleport” moments where I would usually waste bullets because my target disappeared to cover in a flash.
And then there are rare instances where I cannot finish a crucial story mission because one of my Survival Wheel options is locked out unless I downloaded the game’s pre-launch patch.

Lord knows what’s going to happen in the rest of the game that feels like an open world game that can fudge up at any key moment. And that’s not even counting the frame dips when you’re running the game on a regular PS4.

I also got a bit tired with some of the mission repetition and enemy types. As fun as it is to fight and run away from hordes, I’d like to have some enemies switch up their routine instead of being bullet sponges that hit hard. Oh and you have your usual hostage-protecting and “snipe enemies in NPC’s way” type missions that we’ve seen elsewhere and arguably done better.
A New Franchise In The Making?

Somehow or other, SIE Bend Studio has taken the concept of Xbox’s State of Decay and condenses the experience into a more savvy and single-player meaty experience that I actually give a s*** about. At the same time, the game is loaded with so many technical issues that I won’t be surprised if the game’s Day One patch will be very huge. Nonetheless, it doesn’t sour the entire package.
There’s a lot to appreciate here, ambition and all, especially a game that uses the post-apocalyptic zombie survival action trope. Expect a ton of emotional twists and turns in Days Gone‘s narrative that will get you invested coupled with some great survival and exploration gameplay. Just be prepared for a 25+hour haul. And the eventual repetition disguised in different areas. And the occasional chinks in the game engine.

Days Gone may have the heart and soul of a champion. However, it still needs more spit and shine, especially in the gameplay and flow department, before it can become a big league player.

Pros
-Great open-world gameplay with its own challenge.
-Harrowing survival story with an interesting lead character.
-Some missions can be fun & challenging.
-Deacon’s bike is fun to ride on.
Cons
-Needs more enemy & story mission variety.
-Story pacing and gameplay doesn’t flow seamlessly unlike other PS4 exclusives.
-LOADS of technical immersion-breaking bugs & issues.
FINAL SCORE: 60/100


Here’s How You Can Watch The Violet Evergarden Movie In Malaysia

It’s a glorious month for anime fans in Malaysia. First with the Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba film that’s not about a train filled with 2D fighting game sprites, and now with Violet Evergarden: The Movie.
The Violet Evergarden movie, which is the finale to the 13-episode anime drama series about a soldier who becomes a specialized ghostwriter called Auto Memory Dolls, will be screened at TGV Cinemas across Malaysia starting 27th March.
Here are the date, times, and locations to watch the fan screening of the film:
27th March (4pm)
Cinemas: TGV Sunway Velocity, TGV Toppen, TGV Gurney Paragon Mall
Ticket Price: RM55 for MovieClub Members, RM65 for non-members
What You’ll Get: 1x Movie Ticket, 1x Tote Bag, 1x A4 Folder, 4x A2 Posters, 4x Postcards
28th March (4pm)
Cinemas: TGV 1Utama
Ticket Price: RM55 for MovieClub Members, RM65 for non-members
What You’ll Get: 1x Movie Ticket, 1x Tote Bag, 1x A4 Folder, 4x A2 Posters, 4x Postcards

If you can’t make it, the general screening for the film will be from 1st April onward. The following cinemas will be showing the film, with ticket prices being RM25:

TGV Sunway Velocity
TGV Toppen
TGV Gurney Paragon Mall
TGV Sunway Pyramid
TGV 1Utama
TGV Central i-City
TGV Station 18
TGV KLCC
TGV Bukit Indah
TGV Vivacity

You might want to bring tissues for this one; the series is one hell of a tear-jerker that will tug your heartstrings. No doubt the movie will elicit the same emotional response.


The Best Grapples & Command Grabs In Fighting Games

In honour of Street Fighter’s Red Cyclone wrestler man-guy Zangief’s birthday next week (on 1st June), we cherry-pick 20 of our favourite bone-crunching and damage-dealing command grabs throughout fighting game history.
Rules? It has to be a command grab that can’t be blocked. Special AND super moves apply. Enjoy the vid!


Blizzard Unveil Interesting Overwatch Stats Ahead of Its Free Weekend

Blizzard earlier today just revealed some really interesting info ahead of its free weekend event which kicks off Saturday, May 26th 2018. Highlighting the achievements Overwatch achieved in its short history where they amassed over 40million players, the game has gone a long way since its release on May 24th 2016. Check it out:
To celebrate its second anniversary, Overwatch will be free to play for all on all platforms from Saturday the 26th til Tuesday, May 29th. All progress obtained can be carried forward if you somehow choose to purchase the game, which is also on sale at a discount. For more info of the available editions, we discussed about it here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVGDAHSSboE&w=560&h=315]


Jet Grind Radio-Style Game Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Delayed To Mid-2023

Sad news for gamers looking forward to a skating/bicycling and graffiti-tagging mix of shenanigans: Team Reptile will be delaying Bomb Rush Cyberfunk.
Billed as a spiritual follow-up to Jet Set Radio/Jet Set Radio Future, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk will be pushed from its 2022 release window to Summer 2023 instead. The delay is due to additional development time for the game.
“We are convinced that releasing the game this year will not take it to a level where we would be personally satisfied with. To create a fulfilling and unique game we are extending the development time of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to summer 2023.”

About the release: We are convinced that releasing the game this year will not take it to a level where we would be personally satisfied with. To create a fulfilling and unique game we are extending the development time of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to summer 2023.
— Team Reptile (@ReptileGames) August 31, 2022

To make up for the delay, Team Reptile said it will be showing off more visuals this week as a means of progress report to the public. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk will be out for PC(Steam) and Nintendo Switch first, followed by other consoles a week later after its release.


Roller Champions Wild Ones New Season Adds New Arenas & More

Ubisoft has announced that the newest season of Roller Champions, Wild Ones, is available now. Players can discover three new arenas and unlock new customization items with an updated progression system.
Starting today, players can jump into three enchanting new arenas: Hidden Cenote, Fallen Temple, and Lost Civilization – and that’s not all. This season brings back all maps from previous seasons to be playable in-game through standard matchmaking and Custom Matches.
In addition, Wild Ones brings a game-changing progression system: Pick a Prize. This new system lets players pick the in-store item they want to earn with fans, removing the pre-defined reward system and valuing their preference.
Players can also unlock their wild sides with new customization items including a carnivorous plant, a gorilla suit, an ancient warrior, and much more earned freely through the Pick a Prize system or with Wheels.
Roller Champions is now available to play on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via the Ubisoft Store, the Epic Games Store, and Steam. Roller Champions is compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Check out the trailer below:


Star Wars’ Fennec Shand Will Return In The Bad Batch

Actress Ming-Na Wen famously appeared as the bounty hunter/assassin Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian Season 1, before apparently dying. We discovered that she was still alive recently in The Mandalorian Season 2 and it looks like we’ll see even more of her in the future.
In an interview with the Star Wars official website, Wen confirmed that she will be reprising her role as Fennec Shand in the upcoming Star Wars The Bad Batch animated series (which itself will be a spinoff of the recently-concluded Star Wars The Clone Wars animated series).
She said:
â€œDo you know how long Iâ€™ve had to keep silent about Fennec coming back?This is the first time Iâ€™ve been able to talk about it!Dave, if you wanted to keep it a secret you shouldnâ€™t have put me in the trailer!Everybody is saying they just want the confirmation. So, yes, it is Fennec! Itâ€™s a younger Fennec and she is voiced by me and Iâ€™m thrilled and beyond happy that Dave wanted to create more of a backstory for her.â€
Star Wars The Bad Batch was initially announced back in July 2020, but just last week it was revealed to be one of ten Star Wars shows being developed for Disney Plus.
The Bad Batch was originally introduced in the final season ofÂ Star Wars The Clone Wars, and they were the focus of the first major story arc in the aforementioned season.Â The Bad Batch is an elite clone commando squad consisting of four clone troopers designed with genetic mutations.
These include:
â€œTech,â€ a clone with heightened mental capacity and intelligence.Clone Sergeant â€œHunter,â€ a clone with improved sensory abilities.â€œWrecker,â€ a clone with enhanced strength.â€œCrosshair,â€ a clone with sharpshooter abilities.
Now we know that we’ll also be seeing a younger Fennec Shand as voiced by Ming-Na Wen. It’s truly a great time to be a Star Wars fan.
About the younger Fennec Shand, she described her as:
“Sheâ€™s cutting her teeth as a bounty hunter in The Bad Batch.Sheâ€™s still a loner, a drifter.Thereâ€™s just a sense of more recklessness about her, just bravado. You know, a young punk. Sheâ€™s more adventurous and willing to take greater risks because she doesnâ€™t know what the consequences are.â€
However, we still don’t have a release date for the upcoming animated series. In the meantime, check out the sizzle reel for The Bad Batch below:


There’s Going To Be A Sequel To Under Night In-Birth

Developer French Bread not only made 2D fighting game Melty Blood: Type Lumina, but also the Under Night In-Birth series. And it seems as if they’re going to announce a new entry for the latter.
According to a leak from the Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea (via Gematsu), the sequel is called Under Night In-Birth 2: Systacelles is coming. Apart from the new title which sounds just as ridiculous as Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late[cl-r], little is known about the sequel.

Other games in the leak include the PC version of Dragon Quest Treasures and a new version of River City Ransom: Rival Showdown. In any case, do expect an official announcement from French Bread soon enough.
Other new fighting game announcements on the horizon include the new Mortal Kombat, which will probably be on 12th May PST time.


Yoodo Ends Partnership With Wulf Esports After 3 Years

After many triumphs over the years, both parties in the Yoodo â€“ Yoodo Gank partnership have announced an amicable end to their three-year-long successful partnership.Â
Yoodo first signed on to back the PUBG Mobile esports team, after they swept the championship trophy at PUBG Mobile National Championship (PMNC) 2018. Yoodo was also the Official Digital Telco at the tournament.Â
Through the three years together, the Yoodo Gank team have risen high and proven their mettle repeatedly and most notably in three championships (PMNC 2018, Selangor Cyber Cup 2019, PMPL SEA 2020) emerging as a force to be reckoned with amongst the PUBG Mobile community. With Yoodoâ€™s strong support, the team expanded their influence further through the Yoodo esports community and various marketing and publicity initiatives, creating a formidable brand presence.
One of the most memorable moments for both parties includes Yoodo Gankâ€™s historic, record-setting first place win at the PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL) Southeast Asia (SEA) 2020, a first in Malaysian history that also earned the team an accolade in The Malaysia Book of Records.

Chow Tuck Mun, Head of Yoodo expressed his best wishes for the Gank team as they move forward in their new direction:
â€œAfter nearly three years of success and growth, itâ€™s time for both Yoodo and the Gank team to move on and continue to grow in our desired directions respectively.
Weâ€™re proud of everything we have achieved together throughout the years, including the teamâ€™s historic win at PMPL SEA in 2020.
Yoodo remains committed to supporting the esports community and we will continue to cheer on the Gank team from afar.”
He added that announcing the Yood Gank team was one of Yoodoâ€™s first forays into the esports world and since then Yoodo has grown into a powerhouse in the gaming segment through various initiatives – the support of Yoodo Gank being one such example.
â€œYoodo remains committed to uplifting and supporting the local esports community. Stay tuned as we unveil more exciting announcements this year.”
Commenting on the announcement, Kevin Wong, CEO of Wulf Esports said he was grateful to Yoodo for giving the team a leg up through its strong support in the last three years:
“Yoodo Gank has certainly carved a name for itself amongst gamers and won over many fans through the years.
As we set on a new journey as a team Iâ€™d like to add that weâ€™re incredibly thankful for supporters like Yoodo who have put their faith in the team.
Their relentless support have been invaluable to the development of the. We hope to continue to make the nation proud in the esports arena.”
Yoodo Gank, previously known as Gank.fty, was a strong upcoming team when spotted by Yoodo in 2018. The team is known and followed by gamers and fans of gaming alike for the teamâ€™s killer gaming instincts and down to earth personalities. Aiman Amirul, best known by his In Game Name (IGN): Manparang, team leader of Gank is a well known PUBG player both locally and regionally.Â
Manparang said:
â€œWeâ€™re very excited to grow from strength to strength over the years and I look forward to seeing how else we can make the nation proud as we go on this new journey as a team.
Weâ€™d like to thank Yoodo for being by our side through all the ups and downs in the last three years and wish them all the success as they continue to thrill and excite gamers with their on-going plans.”
Both parties are moving on amicably after three great years together. Fans can continue to watch and support both Yoodo at their website: www.yoodo.com or Yoodoâ€™s esports-dedicated platform, www.facebook.com/YoodoEsports; and Gank at https://www.facebook.com/YoodoGankOfficial/ Â for latest updates.
[videopress 09gOxkM9]


Dead By Daylight Mobile Releases New Update Along With Sadako Rising Collaboration

NetEase Games just dropped a massive update for Dead by Daylight Mobile on 15 March. The game’s got all sorts of cool new stuff like better graphics and extra content.
And that’s not all, because the update comes with a sweet Sadako Rising Collaboration event that runs from 15–18 March. That means players get to encounter the terrifying spirit from the Ringu movies in the game.
Introducing The Relic System

Dead by Daylight Mobile’s new update also brings a totally fresh feature: the Relic system! This feature is exclusive to the mobile version of the game and adds in some spooky artifacts that’ll keep you on your toes. There’s stuff like the “Knot of Binding” and the “Handy Axe” that can seriously change the game up and force players to adapt on the fly. But don’t worry, there are some sweet rewards for those willing to engage with these new tools. Collecting Relic Shards and upgrading your Relics will unlock some seriously stunning cosmetics you can show off in the game lobby and your player profile. So why not give it a try?
Dead By Daylight Mobile X Sadako Rising Collaboration

Dead by Daylight Mobile is also holding a crossover event featuring none other than Sadako, the terrifying ghost from the Ringu movies and books, from March 15th to March 28th. You know, the one who’ll get you if you watch a cursed VHS tape? Yeah, that’s the one.
In Dead by Daylight Mobile, Sadako is a killer who uses sneaky tactics to hunt down survivors. And get this, she can even teleport through TVs that show up on the map, giving her the edge she needs to take out any unsuspecting victims.

But that’s not all, because the game is also introducing a new survivor: Yoichi Asakawa, who you might remember as a child from the Ringu franchise. In Dead by Daylight Mobile, he’s all grown up and ready to take on the killers. He can stun them, support injured allies, and even increase their speed so they can escape.
Now, here’s the real kicker: during the Sadako Rising event, players can snag some seriously limited-time crossover outfits. You can get the Sleeping Blossom outfit for Sadako and the Paranormal Investigator outfit for Yoichi. And if you’re lucky enough to get the Platinum version of Sleeping Blossom, Sadako gets a totally exclusive Memento Mori animation that’ll really make your skin crawl. So, are you brave enough to try it out?
New Limited-Time Events

If you thought the Sadako Rising event was the only exciting thing coming to Dead by Daylight Mobile, you’d be dead wrong! There are tons of limited-time events in the works that are sure to keep players coming back for more. And the best part? You can earn some seriously exclusive rewards just by completing tasks and overcoming the game’s challenges.
Take, for instance, the Onry Portrait and Portrait Frame, which you can only earn by putting in the work. But that’s not all, because you can start raking in some sweet loot right now just by inviting your friends to join in on the fun. If you head over to the Cursed Tape event (https://www.dbdmobile.com/sns/sadakotape/), you can snag a Sadako Crossover Torso that’ll come in handy as you make your way through The Fog.
So what are you waiting for? Dead by Daylight Mobile is giving you all the reasons you need to jump back into the game and start grinding for those rewards. Who knows, you might even find yourself hooked!


T1 and FACEIT Teams Up To Launch First-Ever Apex Legends Esports Tournament

T1, a South Korean esports organisation, has teamed up with competitive gaming platform FACEIT to host a USD25,000 (RM101,732) invitational tournament for Apex Legends. Basically, this will be the first official time the game will have an esports showing.
T1 and FACEIT have recently announced Â their plans to organise an Apex Legends Invitational which will feature prominent names in the Apex Legends player base.

We are thrilled to share that we have teamed up with @FACEIT to host one of the first premier invitational events in @PlayApex.
Announcing the T1 x FACEIT Apex Legends Invitational, taking place on March 30!
Full event details coming soon! pic.twitter.com/hYLrzE3ymm
â€” T1 (@T1) March 19, 2019
How Do I Watch It?
The T1 and FACEIT Invitational will be played on Sunday 31 March at 5 am, local time. The streams will be available on both T1’s official Twitch channel as well as FACEIT’s Twitch channel.
Who’s Playing?
The Invitational will feature 20 streamer-led squads, which sounds quite like PUBG Global Invitational, in which one player of the squad is an established Twitch streamer.
The full lineup has not been revealed as of yet, but we will update as soon as we get a scent of it.
What’s The Format?
Aside from knowing that 20 squads are involved, there’s not much information on this one.
We know that Apex LegendsÂ do not feature custom servers, neither do Respawn. So, this tournament might be played in public matches, with teams earning points for eliminations and placements.
The two formats that T1 and FACEIT will likely look to choose from will be the ones used by Code Red and Twitch Rivals in their respective public-match-based Apex Legends competitions.
Code Red had a double elimination bracket in which teams matched up against each other and in each round, the teams try to outscore the other team over three matches. Meanwhile, the Twitch Rivals tournament used a time-based leaderboard format which scored according to how many point teams could score in a timeframe.
Prize Pool
The tournament has a prize pool of US$25,000 (RM101,732). However, there are still no announcements on how the pool will be divided amongst participating teams.

We will keep an eye out for more information in regards to this tournament. I really hope that Respawn can implement a custom server so that these kinds of tournaments could flourish in the future.


Team17 Horror Adventure Killer Frequency Unveils New Gameplay Trailer

Publisher and developer, Team17 has unveiled a brand new gameplay trailer for an 80’s slasher first-person horror adventure game, Killer Frequency.
Killer Frequency follows Forrest Nash, a washed-up radio host and presenter of the ‘Scream’ late-night show, as he tries to help callers being stalked by a mysterious killer in Gallows Greek, mid-west USA set in the 1980s. Engage with callers to the show in a variety of conversation options as you listen carefully for clues and information, solve puzzles around the studio that could save them, and keep the show moving with songs from the era. The fate is in your hands to help Nash prevent more murders, discover the killer’s true identity, and keep the show live until dawn.

Players are able to take control of an analogue switchboard and explore the 80’s studio, guiding the fate of your callers and listeners from a grizzly death. Stopping the killing by taking calls from potential victims gathering clues, solving intricate puzzles, and making decisions that could help callers to survive the gruesome night. You can choose a variety of conversation options that potentially save lives. Furthermore, the game can be play on a flatscreen and in VR at 72 frames-per-second for a latency-free experience.
Killer Frequency will launch this Summer on PC via Steam and Meta Quest 2. You can wishlist the game on Steam now.


The Barbie Movie Is A Glorious Meta Explosion That’s As Fun As Ken Be

The Barbie movie has turned out to be one of the most anticipated movies in 2023, thanks to the great marketing and promotional material out there. However, it was still easy to approach this movie with apprehensiveness and caution similar to the likes of 2014’s The Lego Movie; that this could just be another shameless product placement ad masquerading as a movie.
Thank Barbie then, that the Barbie movie is just like The Lego Movie in that way; a surprisingly fun movie that’s not only full of substance but one that could potentially be one of the best movies of 2023 and be just as fondly remembered as The Lego Movie.

The Barbie AND Ken Movie

If there’s one thing that I want to make clear in my review of the Barbie movie and that the marketing just hasn’t really done such a good job of revealing, it’s that the Barbie movie is actually more than just about Barbie. I’m not even talking about the ensemble cast of Barbie and Ken variants (who are excellent, but more on them below). Both Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken get the spotlight, and almost equally at that. Many will come out of the Barbie movie very likely with Ken as their favourite character, and I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking this. I can’t spoil what exactly Ken’s role in the movie is, but it beautifully juxtaposes Barbie’s own story arc, with both of their story arcs complementing each other. Yes, I know it’s hard to believe that in a movie about living dolls, there’s actually depth and meaningful character development not only for the titular character (Barbie) but the other lead character (Ken) as well.
Barbie and Ken’s journey to the real world becomes the setting for countless meta jokes that rivals the best from movies like The Lego Movie and Deadpool. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Barbie movie, at least for me, was how laugh-out-loud it was for a blockbuster summer tentpole movie. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced a cinematic experience where fellow audiences were laughing out loud in almost every scene, and I’m not exaggerating about that, so kudos to the writers (director Greta Gerwig herself and Noah Baumbach) for achieving just that.
Plus, some of these meta-jokes are more deep-cut than I expected, poking fun at Warner Bros. Pictures and their IP, Barbie IP owner Mattel (who is in the movie with a delightfully manic Will Ferrell as their CEO) and even the filmmakers themselves.

Best of all though, is that the Barbie movie doesn’t forget to add substance by exploring complex and controversial subject matter. Yes, there are elements of feminism, of course, and that’s a huge part of the movie, but don’t let that deter you from watching the movie (if you have anything against feminism, which you really shouldn’t be). The feminism goes hand in hand with other universal themes in the movie, including those of self-acceptance, self-discovery, self-worth, individuality, finding your own happiness, toxic masculinity, capitalism, and equality, familial relationships and dynamics, as well as the deconstruction of tropes related to the Barbie IP that’s been prevalent over the years.
It’s how the movie intertwines all these elements together that makes the movie phenomenal and smart, which contributes to how funny the jokes are and how heartfelt some moments can be.
All of those themes and elements together make for a movie that’s ultimately not exclusively just for girls or women who grew up with Barbie or feminists, but for everyone out there who can relate to being human, no matter what gender or race they are. To me, that’s just beautiful, and the best movies are always universal.

I’ve said a lot of things about the Barbie movie, but what more can I say that I haven’t already? The Barbie movie is also fun as heck due to the massive ensemble cast who all seem like they gave their all in committing to their respective roles. Listing them down here would take almost an entire paragraph, but the highlights (besides Barbie and Ken, of course), are Michael Cera’s Allan, Alexandra Shipp’s Writer Barbie, Simu Liu’s Ken, Will Ferrell’s Mattel CEO and last but certainly not least, America Ferrera as Mattel employee Gloria from the real world. Ferrera’s Gloria has one goosebump-inducing powerful monologue scene in the movie that left my cinema audience clapping and cheering.
If all of that isn’t enough to convince you how good this movie is, the Barbie movie also features several musical setpieces with elaborate dance choreography but one thing you definitely won’t expect is that the (arguably) most memorable sequence is one not performed by the Barbies, but by the Kens. Yes, you read that right, and it would be a disservice for me to spoil more details from it.
As for any flaws or negatives in the Barbie movie, the Barbie movie doesn’t really suffer from any major pacing, structure, and direction problems. The only exception is maybe the ending or resolution of the movie, which may prove to be divisive with some viewers.

Life In Plastic, It’s Fantastic

It’s an incredible feat that Greta Gerwig and the cast have managed to pull off such a meta and refreshing movie in the middle of what has so far been a middling summer season this year in 2023. When other recent blockbusters have felt stale with a few exceptions, the Barbie movie proves that even with an IP like, well, Barbie; anything is possible with a great director and a great cast (along with great writing).

FINAL SCORE: 90/100
We attended an early screening of Barbie courtesy of Warner Bros. Malaysia. Barbie is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 20 July 2023.


American Gods Season 1 Recap: Preparing For Season 2

After an excruciatingly long wait, American Gods will finally be returning with a second season on 11 March 2019. It’s been two years since the end of its first season, so I’m here for a brief recap of the events that transpired in season 1.
First things first, American Gods is a Neil Gaiman story with a complex and complicated plot but I’ll try my best to tell you what you need to know before season 2 premieres next week. Here goes:
Episode 1: The Bone Orchard

The prologue shows Vikings discovering America in the year 813, before being showered by a barrage of arrows from the native indigenous populace, forcing them to retreat.
The first episode of American Gods introduces us to the series’ protagonist, Shadow Moon. He’s in prison, but his sentence is almost over. However, he is then unexpectedly released early on account of his wife, Laura Moon’s, sudden and tragic accident.
On his way home, he meets a man named Mr. Wednesday, who wants to hire him for a job. Shadow Moon declines but later runs into Mr. Wednesday again in a bar where he gets into a fight with an Irish leprechaun named Mad Sweeney. He wins the fight and receives a gold coin from Sweeney. Shadow Moon agrees to work for Mr. Wednesday.
When Shadow Moon finally reaches the funeral of his wife, he learns that his wife died while cheating on him with his best friend. He drops the gold coin he received from Sweeney into wife’s grave before she is buried.
Shadow then finds himself into a car with someone named Technical Boy, who asks him questions about Mr. Wednesday. Technical Boy then orders his henchmen to kill and lynch Shadow Moon by stringing him up a tree. At the last moment, a mysterious figure kills all the henchmen and cuts Shadow Moon down.
The episode ends by introducing viewers to Bilquis, a goddess who remains young and powerful by seducing and devouring people (via her vagina).
Episode 2: The Secret Of Spoons

The prologue shows an intense monologue by the African Spider God, Anansi. In 1697, he convinces a bunch of slaves on a ship to rebel against their masters.
In the present day, Mr. Wednesday and Shadow Moon go on a trip to Chicago to retrieve his ‘hammer’. On the way, Shadow meets Lucille Ball from the show I Love Lucy, who interacts with him from the screen of a TV. She’s actually Media in disguise, a new god just like Technical Boy.
When they reach Chicago, viewers are introduced to Zorya Vechernyaya, a goddess from Slavic mythology who watches the skies in rotation with her two sisters, Utrennyaya and Polunochnaya, as well as Czernobog, a dark Slavic god who is the ‘hammer’ referred to by Mr. Wednesday.
Mr. Wednesday wants to recruit Czernobog for something and he is willing to follow, on the condition that Shadow wins against him in a game of checkers. If Shadow loses, Czernobog instead gets to hit Shadow in the head with his hammer once.
The episode ends with Shadow losing.
Episode 3: Head Full Of Snow

The prologue shows Anubis, the Egyptian god of death, as he guides the soul of a Muslim woman to the afterlife. He removes her heart and weighs it against a feather to check whether she was a good or bad person.
In the present day, Shadow speaks with Polunochnaya in a dream, who then gives him the Moon in the form of a silver dollar. He then challenges Czernobog to another game of checkers with the same terms and wins.
While on the road, Mr. Wednesday and Shadow rob a bank by pulling a con, in which we see proof of Shadow’s godly abilities for the first time. This happens when Mr. Wednesday tells Shadow to “think of snow”, causing the weather to actually begin snowing.
This episode also introduces Salim, who meets a taxi cab driver who’s actually an Ifrit in disguise, a fire djinn. The pair bond and engage in homosexual intercourse. The next morning, Salim wakes up to find the Ifrit gone, but finds a new ID and the key to a taxi in his place. This essentially means that the Ifrit has fulfilled Salim’s wish to start a new life.
The episode ends as Mad Sweeney laments the loss of his lucky gold coin. He visits Laura Moon’s grave to retrieve the coin but it’s missing. It turns out that Laura Moon has come back to life and is waiting for Shadow in his motel room.
Episode 4: Git Gone

This episode is dedicated to telling Laura’s backstory from before she met Shadow until the moment she comes back to life.
The flashback begins with Laura attempting suicide to find meaning in her life. She fails to kill herself but then meets Shadow for the first time in a casino where she works. They fall in love and later gets married.
However, Laura still finds life meaningless and attempts to spice it up again by convincing Shadow to help her rob the casino. Shadow gets caught and thrown into prison. Laura promises to wait for him but later succumbs to an affair with Shadow’s boss and best friend, Robbie.
Laura and Robbie die in a car accident. Laura then finds herself in a desert with Anubis, who wants to weigh her soul against a feather. She refuses and claws her way out of her grave. She comes back to life thanks to Mad Sweeney’s gold coin.
It turns out that she was the one who saved Shadow from Technical Boy’s minions at the end of the first episode, as she sees Shadow as her ‘light’. Laura then goes to meet Robbie’s wife Audrey. They then meet two old gods named Mr. Ibis and Jacquel, who are actually Thoth and Anubis in disguise.
The two old gods restore Laura’s body, but Anubis promises to reclaim her soul after all this is over. The episode ends just like it did in the previous episode, with Laura waiting for Shadow in his motel room.
Episode 5: Lemon Scented You

The prologue shows the Beringians traveling to what is now North America during the last ice age, along with a symbol of their god, Nynyunnini. They encounter new tribes and new gods in this place, and they soon started forgetting their own god, abandoning Nynyunnini’s symbol on the ground.
In the present day, Technical Boy is confronted by Media (in the form of David Bowie) who warns him that Mr. World (the god of globalization and leader of the new gods) wants him to apologize to Shadow and Mr. Wednesday for his actions in the first episode.
Meanwhile, just as Shadow is about to get re-acquainted with Laura, both he and Mr. Wednesday get apprehended by police for their bank robbery. Media (in the form of Marilyn Monroe) and Mr. World enters the interrogation room where they are held, forcing Technical Boy to apologize to them.
The new gods propose an alliance with Mr. Wednesday, by offering him a nuclear missile with the name ‘Odin’ slapped onto it and sending it to North Korea. He refuses, and they proceed to kill all the police there, allowing both him and Shadow to escape.
The episode ends with Mad Sweeney confronting Laura for his gold coin, and warning her not to trust Mr. Wednesday.
Episode 6: A Murder Of Gods

The prologue shows a group of illegal immigrants from Mexico attempting to cross the border into the U.S. Rangers catch them in the act, but a Mexican Jesus Christ sacrifices his life for them. However, all of them still got killed regardless.
Mad Sweeney and Laura team up to find Shadow and Mr. Wednesday. They meet Salim, who becomes their taxi cab driver. Sweeney mentions that he knows the djinn that Salim is referring to.
Meanwhile, Shadow and Mr. Wednesday arrive in Vulcan, Virginia, where everyone has a firearm. They meet Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and volcanoes, who is now a manufacturer of weapons so that people still worship him whenever they use his bullets.
Vulca helps Mr. Wednesday by forging him a sword capable of killing gods but then betrays them by revealing their location to the new gods. In retaliation, Mr. Wednesday decapitates Vulcan with his new sword and pushes him into a vat of molten lava, before urinating into it and cursing his worshippers.
Episode 7: A Prayer For Mad Sweeney

The prologue shows Mr. Ibis recounting the story of Essie, an Irish girl 18th century Ireland who often gives offerings to fairy folk and leprechauns, one of which is actually Mad Sweeney himself. Essie then falls in love with the young man of her household, who gives her a necklace.
The necklace was believed stolen by the lady of the house, who reports her to the authorities. She seduces the ship’s captain that was transporting her to America, convincing him to bring her to London instead. She marries the captain but then was caught stealing.
She is then transported to Virginia, where she becomes a wet-nurse. She marries her master and has children. One day, Mad Sweeney visits her on her deathbed, thanking her for her constant offerings and belief, which enabled him to start a new life in America.
In the present day, the truck that Sweeney and Laura are driving overturns, causing the coin to fall out of her. Sweeney considered taking the coin, but due to guilt, he returns the coin to Laura. It’s revealed that Mr. Wednesday hired Sweeney to cause the accident that killed Laura in the first place.
Episode 8: Come To Jesus

The prologue shows Mr. Nancy (Anansi) recounting the story of Bilquis, which began in the year 834 when she was still a god worshipped by many naked believers. She begins to lose both her powers and her looks when she travels to America in the 70s. She is then approached by Technical Boy, who introduces her to online dating, allowing her to regain her godly status.
Shadow and Mr. Wednesday meets an old pagan god named Ostara or Easter, along with multiple versions of Jesus. Sweeney and Laura track them down to the same location. Easter later reveals to Laura that she can’t be resurrected because she was killed by a god.
The new gods arrive as Media (in the form of Judy Garland), Technical Boy, and Mr. World face off against Mr. Wednesday. He reveals that he’s actually the Norse god, Odin, and proceeds to kill all of the new gods’ henchmen with lightning.
The episode ends just as Shadow admits his newfound belief in the gods, with Laura arriving to tell him the truth.

Now that you’re all caught up on the events of American Gods season 1, you’re ready to continue the war between the old gods and the new in the upcoming new season.
American Gods Season 2 will premiere on 11 March 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lFt4WlB_Qc&w=560&h=315]


Celebrating Top Gun Maverick, Here Are Tom Cruise’s Most Iconic Roles

The legendary Tom Cruise is a whopping 60 years old this year. Yes, he’s 60 and and he’s not slowing down.
When most people are retired or thinking of retirement, this guy is still out there doing crazy stunts and running on movie sets like he’s still in his 20s. His more recent movie, Top Gun: Maverick, is now out in cinemas (check out our review here), showcasing just how awesome he still is.
We have to admire his dedication to his craft and in this article, we’ll list down some of his most iconic roles over the years. Tom Cruise’s filmography extends all the way from 1981’s Endless Love all the way to 2022’s Top Gun Maverick, so we might miss some. That’s okay, everyone has their favourites, so let us know in the comments what yours are.
Top Gun (1986)

There’s a good reason why Top Gun is getting a sequel a few decades later with 2022’s Top Gun Maverick; it remains one of his best films and it was also arguably the movie that made him a bonafide movie star. I wasn’t even born when the movie came out, so I watched it for the first time recently in order to prepare for Top Gun Maverick. I was pleasantly surprised to find a movie that still holds up as a great movie all these years later, no wonder it’s a classic.
Also, that Top Gun Anthem is epic as hell. Wait here while I go boot up Ace Combat 7 Skies Unknown again…
This movie is currently available on HBO GO.

A Few Good Men (1992)

Even if you’ve never seen this movie, you’ll probably have seen or at least heard the famous “You can’t handle the truth!” line uttered by Jack Nicholson’s Colonel Nathan R. Jessup. Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson are joined by an all-star cast that includes Kevin Bacon, Demi Moore, and Kiefer Sutherland.
This movie was written by Aaron Sorkin in his feature film screenplay debut. He would later go on to write 2010’s The Social Network and 2020’s The Trial Of The Chicago 7. If you haven’t, you should definitely check out this compelling courtroom drama, which Tom Cruise was nominated for Best Actor at the 50th Golden Globe awards in 1993.

Interview With The Vampire (1992)

Like I previously mentioned, Tom Cruise is already 60 but still doing crazy and dangerous stunts in his movies. Is he a vampire? Probably not, but if you’ve ever wanted to see Tom Cruise as a vampire, this movie is an iconic one with a bunch of other great performances from his co-stars, including Brad Pitt and a very young Kirsten Dunst.
This movie is currently available on Netflix.
Mission Impossible (1996)

If you know Tom Cruise, you’ll know Mission Impossible. He’s probably the most synonymously known with this franchise, which now boasts a whopping six movies. He even has two more Mission Impossible movies coming in 2023 and 2024. There’s no doubt that this franchise will be his most enduring legacy in cinematic history.
All Mission Impossible movies are available on Amazon Prime Video.
Minority Report (2002)

This is one of my personal favourite Tom Cruise films, and also one of his most underrated. This movie is a must-watch for sci-fi fans, with a story that involves Tom Cruise’s character being hunted down for a crime he has yet to commit. This movie should really be more popular that it is, considering that it’s a Steven Spielberg movie and it’s a sci-fi film that has both style and substance.
This movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Austin Powers In Goldmember (2002)

This may be a bit of a cheat, since it’s only really just a cameo. Still, this was funny as heck, and the fact that he would do this is probably one of the reasons why he also delved into similar territory in another movie years later (that movie is also in this list).
This movie is currently available on Netflix.
The Last Samurai (2003)

If you like a more serious Tom Cruise and epic historical films, you should definitely check out The Last Samurai.
This movie is currently available on Netflix.
War Of The Worlds (2005)

This is Tom Cruise working together again with Steven Spielberg on another sci-fi movie, so you know that’s going to be a great time.
This movie is currently available on Amazon Prime Video.
Tropic Thunder (2008)

Yeah, Austin Powers was just the start. Tom Cruise as Les Grossman was hilarious as heck.
This movie is currently available on HBO GO.
Rock Of Ages (2012)

This musical film was actually just average, but if you ever wanted to hear Tom Cruise sing and perform as a rock star, this is it. He actually took vocal lessons for this movie, and that’s actually his own voice singing.
Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)

This movie had a generic title, but it turned out to be much better than expected. Tom Cruise is awesome in this movie that’s Groundhog Day meets any sci-fi alien movie, playing a guy who has to replay the same day over and over again. Which also means dying over and over again in various (and sometimes humourous) ways.
This movie is currently available on HBO GO.


Sentinels Sign Shroud For Valorant Team

Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek comes out of retirement to play for Sentinels’ VALORANT team.
No it’s not a prank, announced by Sentinels earlier today, Shroud is actually coming out of retirement to compete in the North American Last Chance Qualifier for VCT Champions.

The legend returns, and he's here to win@shroud joins the Sentinels Valorant roster pic.twitter.com/VaIYTeR2nq
— Sentinels (@Sentinels) July 8, 2022

Shroud is an extremely decorated Counter-Strike: Global Offensive professional player most famous for his time on Cloud9. He retired in 2017 to become a streamer for Cloud9 and blew up in popularity for his raw skill and highlights that come from his streams.
2019 saw Shroud at his peak and was signed to Microsoft’s streaming platform Mixer for a reported US$10 million deal. After Mixer shut down, Shroud returned to Twitch where he originally started out. The monumental part of this was that Microsoft were still obligated to pay Shroud for the entirety of his contract.
Sentinels announced the signing on their Twitter while Shroud was streaming. Clips have surfaced on YouTube as Shroud reacts to the announcement and also gives a little bit of insight as to what his plans are going forward and how he’s going to prepare.

For those who may be unfamiliar with Sentinels’ current roster situation, having done poorly over the past couple of tournaments and recently picked up Eric “Kanpeki” Xu as their newest addition. Since then, Sentinels’ flex player Hunter “SicK” Mims has come out and said that he’s been dealing with his mental health and does not want to burden the team, hence he will not be participating in the LCQ.

I've been struggling with my mental health over the past month or so. But I'm feeling much better now, thank you everyone for the support. I will hopefully return to competitive play soon. Also of course there will be monthly streams!!
— Hunter Mims (@SicK_cs) June 20, 2022

As a result Sentinels have picked up Shroud in place of SicK for the VCT Champions NA LCQ. On stream he elaborated that he will be playing controller for most maps and that he will be grinding everyday to make sure his skills are up-to-par. Shroud also went on to mention that Sentinels will also be attending a boot camp. A boot camp is essentially when a team will go to a designated location to train and build team cohesion.
Sentinels did also do an interview with Shroud following the announcement where a lot of questions are answered so feel free to check that out below. As for the LCQ itself, I know many of you will be itching to see Shroud play on the main stage again. We currently don’t know much about the LCQ other than the teams participating and that it will take place sometime next month in August. Once we get more information be sure to check us out as we will be covering everything leading up to the VCT Champions.


Optimus Primal Gets Called ‘Donkey Kong’ In New Transformers Rise Of The Beasts Clip

United International Pictures Malaysia has unveiled a special new clip from the upcoming Transformers Rise Of The Beasts.
It features the first meeting between the Autobots and the Maximals, with Mirage hilariously calling Optimus Primal “Donkey Kong” due to his gorilla form.
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers Rise Of The Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.
The new film will be the first new live-action Transformers film since 2018’s Bumblebee and is set to be a sequel to that film as well as a soft reboot of the franchise, while also beginning a new trilogy of films. The film stars Anthony Ramos as Noah Diaz who teams up with the Transformer Mirage (Pete Davidson). Additional cast members joining Ramos in live-action roles include Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez, and Tobe Nwigwe.
As for the voices of the Transformers, the film has an all-star ensemble of voice talent that will see Peter Cullen once again return to provide the iconic voice for Optimus Prime with Ron Perlman voicing the leader of the Maximals, Optimus Primal. Other starring voice talent includes Peter Dinklage, Liza Koshy, Michelle Yeoh, Cristo Fernández, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez. The film is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Michael Bay, Mark Vahradian, and Duncan Henderson and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Brian Goldner, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Brian Oliver, Bradley J. Fischer, and Valerii An.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr., Transformers Rise Of The Beasts premieres in cinemas on 8 June 2023.
Check out the new video clip below: