Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore Is A New Adventure Game Hugely Inspired By The Infamous CDI Zelda Games

Many The Legend of Zelda fans are quick to forget about the infamous CDI titles from Nintendo like Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon. They were made with the best of intentions, but their execution left little to the imagination.
Naturally, 30 years later, someone had the bright idea of paying tribute to such a legacy with a game inspired by it. Enter Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, published by Limited Run Games, an upcoming interactive animated adventure game purposefully tailored to look like the long-lost sequel to the CDI games. Obviously without the Zelda and Link license, of course, since Nintendo own those and would strike down anyone using them without its permission.
Here’s the description and trailer for the upcoming 2D game, terribly-made cutscenes and all:
As revealed during Limited Run Games’ digital showcase LRG3 2023, watch the announcement trailer for Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, an upcoming interactive animated adventure game inspired by and featuring talent from the infamous Zelda CD-i games of the 1990s. Check it out to see gameplay and more.
The Kingdom of Faramore is beautifully realized by Rob Dunlavey, the artist behind the world map paintings from the games that inspired Arzette. Additionally, voiceover talent from the games that inspired Arzette will be featured in the game, including Jeffrey Rath and Bonniejean Wilbur.

Among all the Limited Run Games titles that aren’t re-releases or remasters, this official trailer has the most views. This means yes, there is demand for a tribute title to an infamously-made dank series of games from a renowned title.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC in 2023.


Shin Kamen Rider Premieres In Malaysia, Singapore & Philippines Next Month

Neofilms Southeast Asia has announced the release dates for Shin Kamen Rider in Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The movie will premiere in Malaysia and the Philippines on 6 July 2023, and on 28 June 2023 in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Singapore will be getting it in July 2023 as well; fans screening on 8 July 2023 and general screenings on 20 July 2023.

Shin Kamen Rider is a 2023 Japanese tokusatsu superhero film directed and written by Hideaki Anno. Produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kamen Rider, it is the third reboot of a tokusatsu series to be adapted by Anno, following Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman.
The synopsis reads:
Hongo Takeshi awakens to discover he has been transformed into a grasshopper-hybrid cyborg. Becoming the Masked Rider, he must fight the mysterious evil organization SHOCKER to protect all of mankind. “SHIN KAMEN RIDER” is Anno Hideaki’s ode to the legendary Tokusatsu franchise, Japan’s biggest hero, and his dearest childhood icon. Go! Go! Let’s go!
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


The Overwatch World Cup Returns In 2023

After three years away, Blizzard has announced that the Overwatch World Cup is returning for 2023, and the competition will be bigger than ever; new game, new players, and new ways of spotlighting your country and region on a global scale. Additional program details will be revealed in the coming months.
In January, Blizzard will announce the 36 countries and regions competing in the 2023 Overwatch World Cup, and that’s also when competition committee applications will open. Each competition committee will be responsible for organizing tryouts for their country and region, following Blizzard guidelines.

Alongside regular tryouts, Blizzard is also introducing a new avenue for players to compete for a spot on their team. This comes in the form of an open tournament format: World Cup Trials. In February, the World Cup Trials competition will earn winning players a direct spot in the tryouts for their team. Players will still be able to sign up for regular tryouts taking place in March. Regular tryouts will have a Competitive Rank requirement of Diamond and above. In addition, Blizzard will also be offering some challenges and rewards for all players to help celebrate the return of the Overwatch World Cup.
In June 2023, after the team rosters are finalized, the Overwatch World Cup qualifiers are planned to take place through a regional online competition, narrowing down 36 teams to 16 for the next phase of the tournament. Those 16 teams will then battle it out in a LAN environment in the fall of 2023 to determine our first World Cup champion since 2019.


Telltale Games Studio Closure Saga: What Happens Next, & That Stranger Things Game

A while ago, Kakuchopurei reported the massive layoffs of Telltale Games and the company keeping 25 remaining staff members as a skeleton crew to finish up the company’s outstanding projects. So what happens next?
Turns out, a lot. Let’s put it in bullet points because there’s still hope for narrative-controlled gaming fans out there who want to see Telltale Games’ final efforts pushed out in the open:

Telltale Games will be courting multiple business partners to help produce the final two episodes of the Walking Dead games they created. The episodes will put to rest the story of Clementine.

pic.twitter.com/Mw97tRsGGY
— Telltale Games (@telltalegames) September 24, 2018

As for the 250 folks who were laid off with no severance pay, the internet and Twitter was up in arms about it. Cory Barlog, the man responsible for leading a team to create one of this year’s best games had something to say about the matter.

I would hope this means that you will first pay your entire team their severance, and then proceed to finish the final episodes. I would be fine waiting however long it took to ensure we first treated those who worked so hard with the humanity and respect they deserve.??
— cory barlog (@corybarlog) September 25, 2018

A number of ex-Telltale Games employees were also vocal on the matter.

As the person that created the hashtag #ForClementine –I say #ForTheTelltale250 is FAR more important for #TheWalkingDead fans right now. Our friends & families health & well-being comes FIRST. Developers need to be paid, not abused. @petehawley gambled, and the team lost. https://t.co/rXLymeRRnA
— Job Stauffer is pioneering in Immersive Healthcare (@jobjstauffer) September 25, 2018

https://twitter.com/emilybuckshot/status/1044451834876686336

In other news, the Stranger Things game will still be produced by Netflix. “We are in the process of evaluating other options for bringing the Stranger Things universe to life in an interactive medium.”
Oh, and down below you’ll see how the Stranger Things game would look like; these are actual builds of the game featuring a different art style, Will and Joyce talking, and a Demigorgon(?) hide-and-seek horror sequence.

https://gfycat.com/shabbyagileantelopegroundsquirrel


Smash Is Getting A Warframe Character

Unexpected events have been rocking Malaysia recently, so here’s some unexpected news of a more positive sort: the Lotus from Warframe is coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Wake up, Tenno! Lotus is joining #SmashBrosUltimate as a Spirit!
Unlock her during the “Spirits in Black” event starting Feb. 28. pic.twitter.com/8oXzY1t4jg
— WARFRAME (@PlayWarframe) February 26, 2020

That’s right, the mysterious NPC from the space ninja game is the latest crossover character to join Nintendo’s game, although she’ll be a Spirit rather than a fighter.
According toÂ Eurogamer, the Lotus is “a two-star Advanced, Neutral, Primary unit”. She is also an Enhanceable Spirit that transforms after reaching level 99 and has three open slots. Players will have to battle Bayonetta to get her.
Eurogamer notes that you’ll be able to not just unlock the Lotus, but her Natah form (it’s spoilery if you haven’t played the relevant Warframe quests).

Spirits with a black motif will appear in the five-day #SmashBrosUltimate spirit event "Spirits in Black", starting on 28/02! For this event only, the new enhanceable spirit Lotus from Warframe will be available. Don't miss out! pic.twitter.com/ryEG35vnCU
— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) February 26, 2020

The Lotus’ addition comes thanks to Nintendo’s Spirits in Black event, which starts on Friday. The event will run for five days, and aside from the Lotus, will feature the appearances of “spirits with a black motif”, hence the event name.


THQ Nordic Announce New Real-Time Strategy Game Tempest Rising

Set to launch in 2023, Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Slipgate Ironworks have announced a new real-time strategy game for PC via Steam, dubbed Tempest Rising.
The game is described to be a classic real-time strategy that meets modern production and performance that is heavily inspired by the real-time strategy greats of the 90s and 2000s, Tempest Rising is a classic, base-building real-time strategy game set in a modern-day alternative history war scenario.
The game features three unique factions, each with its own approach to combat and economy and offering a variety of strategies for players of all stripes, maps with neutral structures to contest and neutral populations to contend.
It has also been described as having ‘deep and rewarding gameplay’ that keeps a focus on strategy while rewarding skill, and built-in customization options that allow players to approach the game their way in both single player and multiplayer game modes.

KEY FEATURES

Classic real-time strategy gameplay with multiple twists.
Base building.
Reminiscence to the Command & Conquer franchise but improving and rethinking some aspects.
Three asymmetrical playable factions each feature a distinct playstyle.
Two single-player campaigns.
Skirmish and Multiplayer game modes with ranked matchmaking and ELO.


Balan Wonderworld Is Getting Positive-Bombed On Metacritic

For some reason, Balan Wonderworld is getting review-bombed on Metacritic. Surprisingly, instead of getting a bunch of negative reviews (like games getting review-bombed usually do), it’s actually getting tons of positive ones. This is particularly weird because not only did we give Balan Wonderworld a pretty bad review (check it out here), it’s also currently showing a Mixed rating on Steam as well.
Over the past few days, a suspicious number of 10/10 scores have been pouring in from Metacritic users, bumping Balan Wonderworld‘s user score up to an overall positive average of 76 (compared to its critic score of 27). The reviews are mostly in single sentences written in broken English, with weird names. Check out some of them below:
“Live this game as an adventure And you will be rewarded with the best platform ever” – Larryor
“Overall, I’m feel satisfied by this Balan Wonderworld” – Ukaty
“Best game of this decade” – Omono
“A really shiny experience to live for just have some good moments of fun, with a nice platform” – Beryph
“This is the greatest platform game made in the whole gen” – Okuman
“Egregious and absolutely stunning game” – Uqln
“This Balan Wonderworld became one of my favorite platforming games after hitting the credits” – Ezynu
“If you love games likeÂ NiGHTSÂ orÂ Croc, you will also love this Balan Wonderworld” – Olony
“It’s just like playing the old good platform games, like NiGTHS or Croc, and I love this” – Whastym
“I’m like it” – Klroph
What’s happening here? Are bots doing this for some reason? It probably won’t encourage more people to buy Balan Wonderworld, so what’s the point? It remains a mystery.

Is Yuji Naka personally writing the user reviews for Balan Wonderwold what the fuck pic.twitter.com/NAHKiFjYEP
— Pat Stares At 2×0=1 (@PatStaresAt) March 31, 2021


Balan Wonderworld Demo Launches Next Week

Square Enix has announced that the Balan Wonderworld demo will launch next week on 28 January 2021. It will offer roughly two hours worth of gameplay, featuring Acts 1 and 2 of Chapter 1, Act 1 of Chapter 4, and Act 1 of Chapter 6, as well as access to the Isle of Tims, the hub area where players can also raise mysterious creatures called Tims.
In addition, the Balan Wonderworld demo also supports local co-op; where two players can explore the game as the stars of the show Leo and Emma. Together, they can combine abilities from different costumes to access new paths that are unavailable in solo play.
Using a range of costume abilities, players will be able to collect Balan Statues in each stage as well as access the hidden Balanâ€™s Bout mini-games. The demo will feature three of Balan Wonderworldâ€˜s twelve magical worlds, including the following:
World 1 â€“ The Man Who Rages Against the Storm

Playable Areas:Â Act 1, Act 2, Boss Battle

World One is set in a beautiful farm, made up of rolling hills and giant crops. This mysterious world is woven from the memories inside Jose Gallardâ€™s heart, a farmer whose beautiful cornfield is struck by a storm. The boss lurking in the depths of Joseâ€™s world is Barktholomew, the embodiment of Joseâ€™s despair after seeing his cornfield being destroyed.
Make use of a range of costumes to successfully complete this level, including the Jumping Jack costume that allows players to jump to places they just canâ€™t quite reach and the Dainty Dragon costume that uses its fiery breath to clear obstacles in its path!
World 4 â€“ The Boy Who Would be One with the Wind

Playable Areas:Â Act 1

World Four takes place in a fantastical setting born from the heart of Chang Haoyu and his love of the open sky, where bicycle parts and floating islands of all sizes are scattered through the sky.
Costumes in this world that could come in handy include the Soaring Sheep costume that can float away by puffing up its fluffy fleece, and the Aero Acrobat costume that can soar through the sky and aim kicks at balloons and enemies!
World 6 â€“ The Girl and the Kitten

Playable Areas:Â Act 1

World Six follows the story of Cass Milligan, depicting the town where she meets a cute kitten. In this magical world built from Cass Milliganâ€™s fond memories, candy pieces and books float in the air and there are mysterious buildings full of moving gears.
Costumes that will help players solve mysteries and perform powerful attacks include the Gear Prince costume that can spin switches with the gear on its stomach to operate machinery, and the Pumpkin Puncher costume that can shoot a rocket punch!
Isle of Tims
Players will also be granted access to the Isle of Timsâ€”a base area and gateway to the three mysterious worlds. Here, players will meet the magical creatures called Tims; whose powerful abilities can help Leo and Emma as they explore each world and battle Negati! On the Isle of Tims, players can also harvest magical droplets from the colourful flower patches found around the island. These droplets can be fed to Tims in order to evolve their abilities.
Balan Wonderworld is an all-new 3D action platformer created by the legendary creators Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima, under Square Enixâ€™s new Balan Company. It is slated to release for the PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on 26 March 2021.


Disney Content Showcase APAC Reveals 2023 Streaming Content Slate

At a star-studded press and partner event at Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands today, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific will showcase its upcoming slate of movies from its major studios and unveil an expanding collection of APAC Originals for its streaming service, told by some of the world’s best storytellers.
Over 50 shows from Disney’s 2023 theatrical and streaming content slate will be presented to over 400 international press and partners. Some of the celebrities in attendance include the cast and creative minds behind Disney’s APAC Originals — Japanese director Miike Takashi, Korean stars Jung Haein, Ko Kyungpyo and Kim Hyejun from the crime fantasy thriller Connect; Lee Donghwi, Heo Sungtae and acclaimed director Kang Yunsung from Big Bet; Yuya Yagira, Riho Yoshioka and director Shinzo Katayama from Japanese drama series Gannibal; and Chelsea Islan from the upcoming Indonesian superhero series Tira. Pixar’s director/animator/storyboard artist/voice actor Peter Sohn, director of the all-new, original feature film, Elemental, will also be at the event.
Luke Kang, President, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific in his opening remarks, said:
“Last October, at our first APAC Content Showcase, we made our first step into local content production with an ambitious, long-term plan to uncover the world’s best stories from this region, and to showcase creative excellence that can shine on the world stage. This year, it was important for us to showcase the breadth of our global branded content from our award-winning studios and iconic franchises, as well as our APAC content slate for 2023.”
Over the last year, over 45 new APAC titles have released on Disney’s streaming service, with several shows gaining commercial and critical success. Big Mouth, Soundtrack #1 and IN THE SOOP: Friendcation were among the top three most-watched titles in the majority of APAC markets in their premiere week. The total hours of locally-produced Asian content streamed on Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar is eight times more than it was a year ago.
Kang added:
“We are focusing our content development on what we refer to as our content whitespace. Investing in areas that require more local specificity – either due to high popularity in select markets, like Japanese Anime, K-Dramas or Indonesia rom-coms and horror, or the need for local storytelling with talent that are familiar to our local audiences. We want to serve our viewers in every market with globally branded content like Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar, as well as locally produced stories that resonate with them – while also taking the best of those stories global.”
The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific also announced today an expansion of its long-standing collaboration with leading publishing house Kodansha to include Japanese anime. For 70 years, Disney and Kodansha have worked together in the publishing space, and will now venture into the world of anime. This expanded collaboration will include licensing exclusive SVOD anime titles based on manga produced by Kodansha, starting with Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown Arc that will launch exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar in January 2023. Disney’s streaming services now reach over 235 million subscribers across 154 markets worldwide.
Yoshinobu Noma, Kodansha Representative Director and President, said:
“The special relationship between Kodansha and Disney stretches back over 70 years, and has seen us bring to life many Disney licensed publications. With today’s announcement, we are thrilled to be able to further diversify and elevate the relationship between our two companies and share even more of our beloved anime titles with the world on Disney+ and its streaming platforms.”
Carol Choi, Executive Vice President of Original Content Strategy, The Walt Disney Company APAC, said:
“We are thrilled to deepen our strategic collaboration with our long standing partner Kodansha on such an exciting genre. Japanese anime fills the white space in our content development plans and we believe this expanded collaboration will be a game changer in Disney’s future animation strategy in Japan. We look forward to bringing the anime titles and prized IP by Kodansha to the world stage.”
As part of Disney’s International Content & Operations, the new APAC projects that will be unveiled today will include original productions by leading content creators. The slate will feature star-studded scripted live action tent-pole series including drama, comedy, fantasy, romance, science-fiction, crime, horror; to variety shows, documentaries and anime from several markets including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Australia. The new projects unveiled today are part of Disney’s ambition to greenlight over 50 APAC Originals by 2023.


Top 5 Things To Watch Out For In The Upcoming Comic Art Festival KL

The annually-held Comic Art Festival Kuala Lumpur event, otherwise affectionately known as CAFKL is back for another weekend of awesomeness. Now in its fifth instalment, this local art fest is pretty popular among many Malaysians thanks to its main draw (heh): celebrating indie comic art and artists.
For its 2018 edition, CAFKL will be held at the Atria Shopping Gallery from 30th June until 1st July, this weekend. The entry fee is RM15/SG$5.08 per person.

If youâ€™re a regular attendee like yours truly, you may already have a good idea about whatâ€™s on the menu for CAFKL. But if this upcoming one is your first, here are five cool things to look out for.
Artist Booth’s Galore

The main highlight of any art/comic convention is the artist booths and I can promise you that CAFKL never disappoints in this department by featuring many local and overseas talents. Make sure your wallets and purses are heavy because you can get your hands on various artsy masterpieces, ranging from postcards, zines, comics, prints, keychains, badges, fanart to on-the-spot commissions!
For more information on all the artist booths, click here.
Life Drawing Activities

Ever want to see what goes on during a live drawing session but never had the chance? Well, CAFKL is presenting this opportunity to you. Whether youâ€™re the drawing type or the spectator (read: busybody) type, this activity doesnâ€™t discriminate so all are welcomed to participate!
This live drawing session will be held on Sunday, 1st July at 4pm.
Informative Panels & Demos

With great talent, comes great responsibility to nurture and guide others! The aforementioned quote was totally made up by me but it does ring true when it comes to CAFKLâ€™s panels and demos.
Conducted by industry players, these knowledge-sharing sessions (with topics ranging from Southeast Asiaâ€™s comic scene to crowdfunding, audience building etc.) should not be missed by aspiring creatives. Also, all these are completely free.
Comic Worm!

Living up to its namesake, CAFKL is bringing back the comic worm. This is an interactive activity that anyone can join in. Just grab an artsy weapon of your choice and draw!
Just donâ€™t ruin everyoneâ€™s fun by drawing some unsolicited illustrations.
Community Love. Lots Of It!
Catching up with your artist friends/peers/sempais and making new friends are part of CAFKL. The sense of community in CAFKL is incredibly strong with mutual respect all around. Regardless of whether youâ€™re an attendee or an artist, everyoneâ€™s excited and hyped up. Much talking, walking and spending are expected and embraced with gleeful smiles!
So, will you be paying a visit to CAFKL aka one of the most highly recommended local conventions around? Also, stay tuned to our site as we may be cooking up a post-CAFKL write-up next week!
Donâ€™t forget to follow us onÂ FacebookÂ andÂ TwitterÂ for more stories!Â All images are courtesy of CAFKLâ€™s official Facebook page.


New Esports Merger Aims to Shake Up Local Esports Scene

The Esports Business Network (EBN) is an organization consisting of merging Orange Esports, The Gaming Company dan TGC Productions. They have announced a new Esports City located at Quill City Mall, Kuala Lumpur.

The EBN Esports City also has a special partnership with League Of Legends developer Riot Games, the first of which will be hosting the Valorant Challenger competitions for Malaysia and Singapore. It’s all part of the Valorant Champions Tour in 2021.
The main attractions of the EBN Esports City include the EBN Esports Arena; a massive event hall that can accomodate up to a thousand people, and the Orange Esports Club; a premium esports cafe. There are also three fully-equipped live broadcasting studios under the same roof.

It’s sort of weird that they’re opening an esports arena in these tumultuous COVID-19 times, but perhaps it was already in the works for a while.
The EBN Esports City will begin operating in early 2021. Stay tuned on their official Facebook page.


Here’s When You’ll See The First Wonder Woman 1984 Trailer

While the next DC Extended Universe movie will be Birds Of Prey in February 2020, Wonder Woman 1984 was initially supposed to have arrived first in December 2019 first, before it was ultimately being delayed to 5 June 2020.
Now fans don’t have to wait much longer for their first official glimpse at the upcoming movie, as Warner Bros has announced (via IGN) that the first Wonder Woman 1984 trailer will debut on 8 December 2019 at the Comic-Con Experience in SÃ£o Paulo, Brazil, during a presentation in CCXP’s Thunder Hall, which will be streamed live via the official Wonder Woman Twitter account.

Celebrate the release of WONDER WOMAN VOL. 1: THE JUST WAR on 10/29 with writer @GWillowWilson at @BNSeattle! pic.twitter.com/5e2nMaRMXz
â€” Wonder Woman (@DCWonderWoman) October 23, 2019
Both Wonder Woman 1984 star Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins will be attending the panel presentation, as well as participate in a Q&A session. Warner Bros also teased that other big surprises will be revealed during the panel presentation.
Wonder Woman 1984 also stars Kristen Wiig as Barbara Ann Minerva / Cheetah, Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord, and more. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the amazing Wonder Woman 1984 poster below that was originally unveiled during San Diego Comic-Con 2019.


This Recent Change Managed To Piss Off ALL Fortnite Players

Fortnite was the first battle royale game to implement cross-platform play (crossplay) between its mobile, consoles, and PC players. It’s been in place for quite a while now but a recent change in the matchmaking system is making console and mobile players very unhappy.
In the game’s latest update (V10.40), Epic introduced “improvements” to the matchmaking system in order to ensure that players will be accurately matched with those possessing similar skill levels. It would do this without filtering platforms so regardless if you’re a PC, console, or mobile player, the system matches you purely based on your performance in the game.
Prior to this, the system was only implemented in the game’s Arena mode which is basically a ranked competitive mode. Now it’s being done for the core modes as well so a majority of the playerbase who play on consoles and mobiles are being matched up with PC players regardless of whether they want it or not. You can’t turn off the crossplay function.
Fortnite Redditors and Twitter users have been expressing their frustrations towards the new skill-based matchmaking system which puts them at a severe disadvantage due to the difference in hardware, connection lag, and input lag found in consoles and mobiles.
 What the actual fuck he is on mobile in pc lobbies I checked his stats and he is actually on mobile from      FortniteCompetitive

From u/Pyrtec.

Sbmm is the dumbest thing they could ever add to fortnite I don’t wanna be playing world cup every game and coming out of every gun fight with under 70 hp, and why is it queueing me with PC players? I thought console was seperate matchmaking, it’s just dumb.
â€” Zoidy (@xZoidy) September 29, 2019

With some PC players having the hardware to play the game at higher framerates and also access to smoother Internet connection, it’s obviously very unfair to console and mobile players. It’d be fine if the system at least informs players about the difference in platform but it doesn’t do that anymore. Players are just told which server they’re in.
Epic really needs to rethink this decision and listen to the community. It’s one thing to be matched with other players based on skills but it’s another to have to go against people who simply have better hardware than you do.


Dying Light 2 Will Be Out End Of This Year

After much silence & delays from Techland, the developer of Dying Light 2 has spoken.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human will be out on 7th December for Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, and PC. The sequel will send players to the City, the last stronghold of mankind, as you play a drifter named Aidan who has to discover his past and find a certain person of interest in a post-apocalyptic “modern dark ages” setting.
Like in the first game, players will fight zombies and will have to parkour their way around the city to help people (or hinder them), and also avoid dying. In the day, you can do quests for the faction you want to help out who can eventually lead you to your main goal.
When night falls, zombies are stronger and come in hordes, so you have no choice but to run and be quick. However, their lairs are empty which means you can find awesome and powerful loot provided you’re crafty and are able to sneak in and out of the place.

If you need a recap of Dying Light, Techland is selling the first game with all of its DLC in a Dying Light Platinum Edition bundle. This version is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.


World War Z Is Getting A GOTY Edition

The World War Z video game is getting a Game of the Year Edition for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, with new content included.
According to a post in the Focus Home Interactive forums, the GOTY Edition will come with a new location, Marseille, which will have three missions. Like the other locations, it will have unique maps, story, and characters. The season pass content will also be included, allowing buyers access to the weapon and character packs.
World War Z GOTY Edition is set for a 5 May 2020 release, although a price hasn’t been announced yet. I had some fun with the base game and its third-person Left 4 Dead-esque gameplay after getting it via the Epic Game Store’s now-over free giveaway, but I’d hesitate to recommend getting that a full price, much less this GOTY version. That said, the base game sold well when it came out, so it’s not a surprise that this new version exists.
More surprising is that developer Saber Interactive told IGN that a Switch version is in the works. There’ll likely be resolution and framerate sacrifices, like Doom and The Witcher 3‘s Switch versions, but the idea of seeing World War Z‘s zombie hordes on the Switch still sounds impressive.


Free-To-Play Mega Man X DiVE Is Shutting Down This September

Capcom has announced that the free-to-play side-scrolling action game Mega Man X DiVE will shut down and end its service on 27 September 2023. However, the iOS and Android versions distributed by Nebulajoy in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Korea will remain online indefinitely. For now, the shutdown will only affect the iOS and Android versions operated by Capcom Taiwan, as well as the PC version of the game globally.
Mega Man X DiVE was originally launched for iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play in March 2020, followed by PC via Steam in September 2021.
Check out the full statement from Capcom below:
Dear Players,
We would like to thank you all for your continued support and love for Mega Man X DiVE.
It has been more than three years since Mega Man X DiVE was released and we have had many exciting adventures with you in the Deep Log, reunited with many old friends and met many new ones such as RiCO and ViA.
We regret to inform you that Mega Man X DiVE will be ceasing operations on September 27, 2023.
We are very sorry for this decision and would like to thank all players for your love and support over the years.
There are still events and stages for you to enjoy before the service closes.
In appreciation of your support, the Operations Team has prepared the following series of events to ensure that you enjoy the final moments of the Mega Man X DiVE Deep Log world.

Daily logins will earn you Elemental Metal Supply Box and Dark Code Coin.
True. Favorite Capsule introduced.

One free draw per day and you are guaranteed to get an S-rank character.

Armaments Factory event will be held regularly.

Redeemable weapons will no longer be rotate and popular items such as limited weapons will be added.
Armaments Factory – Mission will be renewed every two weeks.

Dark Code Store event will be held regularly.
The Dark Code Coins that come with the Dark Code capsule will be increased significantly.

With the announcement of the end of operations on June 7, 2023, all direct purchase products such as “Element Metal” will be removed.
*This includes all versions such as Google Play, Apple App Store, Mycard, Steam, etc.
The follow-up schedule is as follows:

June 7, 2023 at 16:00

Announcement of closing operations.
Removal of all direct purchase items. All the following versions are included: Google Play, Apple App Store, Mycard, Huawei AppGallery, Steam.

September 27, 2023 at 12:00

Game server shutdown.

To Be Announced

Treatment of the remaining paid Element Metals.

Check out the video message below as well:


Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse Trailer Teases Rainbow Six Leader Origins

Michael B. Jordan will take on the role of U.S. Navy SEAL John Clark in Tom Clancyâ€™s Without Remorse.
What’s interesting is that John Clark is the future leader of Rainbow Six, the secret multinational counter-terrorist unit that is the focus of Ubisoftâ€™s Rainbow Six franchise, andÂ Without Remorse serves as an origin story for the character.
Without Remorse is based on the 1993 novel of the same name. John Clark has been featured in many books, games, TV series, and movies ever since. He was previously portrayed by actors Willem Dafoe in 1994’s Clear And Present Danger and Liev Schreiber in 2002’s The Sum Of All Fears.
Check out the official synopsis for Without Remorse:

When a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret op, Sr. Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan) pursues the assassins at all costs.
Joining forces with a fellow SEAL (Jodie Turner-Smith) and a shadowy CIA agent (Jamie Bell), Kellyâ€™s mission unwittingly exposes a covert plot that threatens to engulf the U.S. and Russia in an all-out war.
Torn between personal honor and loyalty to his country, Kelly must fight his enemies without remorse if he hopes to avert disaster and reveal the powerful figures behind the conspiracy.
Without RemorseÂ is directed byÂ Stefano Sollima, who directed HBOâ€™sÂ GomorrahÂ andÂ Sicario Day Of The Soldado. It is slated to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 30 April 2021.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


The Persona Franchise Surpasses 13 Million In Sales

Atlus has announced that the total sales for Persona 5 Royal have surpassed 1.4 million units worldwide, while total sales for Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers have surpassed 480,000 units in Asia.
The Japanese developer has also confirmed that the PC version of Persona 4 Golden has managed to sell a whopping 500,000 units since it launched on Steam on 13 June 2020. However, that’s not even the most incredible milestone.
The Persona franchise has now sold a total of 13 million units worldwide, which is an impressive achievement for the long-running JRPG franchise. The series remained pretty niche until the release of Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 onwards.
All of this bodes well for Atlus and fans of the company, especially considering that they have announced (during the recent Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase July 2020) several exciting stuff coming next year, including a Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster and the release date/window for Shin Megami Tensei V.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHyt_-Rz0h4&w=560&h=315]


Fate/Stay Night Director Yuji Yamaguchi Dies

In a post on Twitter earlier today, artist Tomomi Mochizuki announced the death of anime director Yuji Yamaguchi. Mochizuki worked with the late Yamaguchi on several anime series in the past, and he expresses his grief over Yamaguchi’s shocking death.
Yamaguchi was best known for directing Studio Deen’s Fate/Stay Night anime in 2006, along with the anime movie Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works in 2010. He has also worked on other anime such as Outlaw Star and Angel Links.

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Yamaguchi’s passing is a loss for anime fans and the industry as a whole. I personally fell in love with Type/Moon’s Fate franchise thanks to the Yamaguchi’s Fate/Stay Night series, and it will always have a special place in the hearts of many anime fans.
Rewatch one of the most epic moments from Yamaguchi’s Fate/Stay Night below. Say what you will about Studio Deen’s adaptation when compared with ufotable’s (which many consider superior), but it was still pretty good in its own right.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvujkuaD02Y&w=560&h=315]


Fallout 76 Wastelanders Trailer Unveils April Release Date

Bethesda wasn’t exactly impressing anyone when they announced at E3 2019 that the much-maligned Fallout 76 was going to receive a massive expansion update in the form of Wastelanders. Well, it’s coming anyway, and pretty soon at that; with a release date of 14 April 2020.
The Fallout 76 Wastelanders update will add human NPCs (not just robotic ones), new main questlines, choices and consequences (in the form of dialogue trees), as well as new weapons and gear.
According to the new trailer, there’s also more story content, with two opposing factions fighting for the upper hand for the secrets of West Virginia are revealed, including The Settlers (who have come to find a new home), and the Raiders (who have come to exploit them).
Regardless of what you think about the game (or my opinions on it, check out my full review here), at least the Wastelanders update will be free for anyone who owns Fallout 76. Plus, it will be releasing on the same day that the game will officially be launching on Steam.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6gKivqVPdA&w=560&h=315]


Overwatch Contenders 2019 Season Live Events Announced

Exciting live events are coming to the 2019 season of Overwatch Contenders, as the program’s eight regions take part in inter-regional tournaments in two separate live Showdown events featuring double-elimination-style brackets.
Pacific Showdown

Teams: Contenders from Australia, China, Korea, and Pacific regions
When: 24 – 26 May 2019

Atlantic Showdown

Teams: Contenders from the two North America regions, as well as Europe and South America
When: 31 May – 2 June 2019

The top-performing teams will secure spots for their region to compete in the Contenders Gauntlet live event later in the year, which takes place from 10 to 13 October 2019 following the conclusion of the 2019 Overwatch League season. The location and format for the Gauntlet will be announced at a later date.

In other related news, teams Cyclone Coupling, Hong Kong Attitude, Nova Esports, and Phoenix have advanced to the Contenders Pacific playoffs semifinals. Catch the blistering hot action tonight on Twitch at 7pm GMT+8, with the Grand Finals happening tomorrow at the very same time.


Sonic Frontiers & More Get Big Discounts In The Sega Lunar New Year Sale

SEGA has announced that select PS5 and PS4 titles will be available at discounted prices on PlayStation Store as part of the SEGA Lunar New Year Sale 2023.
This promotion will feature more than 85 titles, including Sonic Frontiers Digital Deluxe Edition, the PS5 edition of Persona 5 Royal, and Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix. The sale will last until 1 February 2023. Don’t miss this opportunity and head over to the official website now to check out the full list of games on sale.
In the meantime, head on over here for my review of Sonic Frontiers or check out my guide on how to be a supersonic hedgehog.


No Man’s Sky Update Lets You Hatch Living Spaceships

No Man’s Sky, the ever-growing open-world space game, has a new update, and it’s one that lets you hatch, grow, and pilot a living spaceship. It’s weird enough that I’m feeling the urge to try the game.
The Living Ship update introduces ships that are also “strange and beautiful creatures with lives of their own”. To get them, players will have to visit the Space Anomaly and go after something called the Void Egg. There are also new missions that explain the Korvax experiments that resulted in the creation of your living ship.

These living ships are “uniquely grown” and procedurally-generated, so whatever you hatch will be different from what your friend hatches. Instead of getting upgrades like non-living ships, these ones get unique internal organs that grant them abilities.
Hello Games’ enthusiasm for the living aspect doesn’t stop there. They’ve ensured that players have to pilot their living ships with “vein-covered tendrils”, and promised that it looks “unsettling” in VR. I’m utterly fascinated now.

Living ships aside, the update will add new space encounters and new space lifeforms and objects to No Man’s Sky. Hello Games also revealed long-term efforts in developing “more radical things”.
Something more radical than “vein-covered tendrils”? I can’t wait to find out what they are.


Filipino MLBB community mourns the passing of Navi & Chad

The esports community in the Philippines is feeling a great loss as they grieve the passing of Ivan Emmanuel “Navi” Gacho and Charles Dave “Chad” Dela Pena. Both of these individuals were well-known personalities in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports scene.
Navi was the head coach of RSG Ignite during the first season of MDL, and his team managed to reach the quarterfinals before losing to Blacklist Academy. Prior to coaching, he used to play in MPL, where he teamed up with Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno and Salic “Hadji” Imam in Season 4. Navi passed away on 24 April, which is just a month before his 25th birthday.
Chad, on the other hand, used to manage Nexplay EVOS boot camp and was like an older brother to Renejay “Renejay” Barcarse and John Paul “H2Wo” Salonga in and out of the MPL scene. He passed away on 23 April, and he was 27.
MPL released a statement expressing their deep sadness over the loss of both Chad and Coach Navi. They extend their sympathies and thoughts to their families and friends. Rest in peace, Chad and Navi.
https://www.facebook.com/mplph.official/posts/pfbid02oUt55cP4MH26MH5tgSYZ8Wu7hyH3oY3GeoqqRM8xaNzA8swqX6LNhykrfni2cMrul
The MPL is also raising donations to assist Chad and Coach Navi’s families with their loss.
Donations for Coach Ivan:

GCash Name: Isidro Erickson G.
GCash Number: 09563501696

Donations for Chad:

GCash Name: Charmaine Dela Peña (Sister of Chad)
GCash Number: 09394710374

Charmaine Dela Peña
Union Bank
109655816215


Here’s A Sneak Listen At Frozen 2’s New Songs

Just like the first movie in 2013, Frozen 2 is set to be a massive musical extravaganza, especially as it strives to be bigger and darker than its predecessor by going the Empire Strikes Back route of sequels. Disney has revealed the soundtrack for the upcoming movie, which includes seven brand new songs.
Anna is still best waifu.
Check out the Frozen 2 original soundtrack listing below, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter:
1. “All Is Found,” performed by Evan Rachel Wood
2. “Some Things Never Change,” performed by Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and Jonathan Groff
3. “Into the Unknown,” performed by Idina Menzel (feat. AURORA)
4. “When I Am Older,” performed by Josh Gad
5. “Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People (Cont.),” performed by Jonathan Groff
6. “Lost in the Woods,” performed by Jonathan Groff
7. “Show Yourself,” performed by Idina Menzel and Evan Rachel Wood
8. “The Next Right Thing,” performed by Kristen Bell
9. “Into the Unknown,” performed by Panic! At the Disco (end credits)
10. “All Is Found,” performed by Kacey Musgraves (end credits)
11. “Lost in the Woods,” performed by Weezer (end credits)
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and Christophe Beck return to bring the musical magic of the first movie in Frozen 2. While it hasn’t been officially confirmed,Â  the track ‘Into The Unknown’ will likely be the sequel’s follow-up to the iconic ‘Let It Go’ from the first movie, as it sounds like another Elsa (Idina Menzel) power ballad.
Listen to a sneak peek of the song ‘Into The Unknown’ below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVKr3FYhVEY&w=560&h=315]
Not to be upstaged by her sister, Anna (Kristen Bell) will also have her own inspiring power ballad song in Frozen 2, which you can check out the sneak peek of below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlX6k1LiL2Q&w=560&h=315]
Olaf (Josh Gad) gets another chance to belt it out in a new song as well, which you can check out the sneak peek of below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHCESoJu5AM&w=560&h=315]
Frozen 2Â is slated to release on 22 November 2019. In the meantime, check out the latest trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwzLiQZDw2I&w=560&h=315]


Death Stranding Sam Nendoroid Delivers The Full Package

Despite the divisive opinions regarding Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding late last year, no one can deny that it was a phenomenon at launch. Now, Good Smile Company has announced two Nendoroid figures of the game’s protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges (portrayed by Norman Reedus).
The standard version is priced at 5,200 yen (or roughly RM194+) while the Great Deliverer version comes with many more accessories for 8,800 yen (or roughly RM329+). Both versions of the Nendoroid are fully articulated, featuring detailed recreations of Sam’s equipment from the game.
With the use of special modelling techniques, a tiny version of BB has been faithfully recreated within Sam’s BB Pod, as well as an Odradek Terrain Scanner that features several points of articulation, making it easy to change its position. Sam can also be posed holding a Cryptobiote, which he eats in the game to restore his blood gauge.
Meanwhile, the Great Deliverer version includes an additional four small silver cargo cases, four large silver cargo cases, four small gold cargo cases, four large gold cargo cases and four navy cargo cases. That’s a whopping total of 21 cargo cases. Just like in the game, these cases can be loaded onto Sam’s back, attached to his suit or held in his hands.
It also includes additional head parts for Sam, including one with his hair down and another with his hood up. The former can even be further customized with a pair of sunglasses.
You can already pre-order any of the two Nendoroid Sam Porter Bridges from now until 19 March 2020, but it is only expected to release sometime in August 2020. In the meantime, check it out below:


The PlayStation Forums Are Shutting Down; Here’s How Twitter Reacts

In case you missed the announcement, the PlayStation community forums are closing.
From February 27, PlayStation users will have to make do with the PlayStation Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for PlayStation-related discourse, while those seeking product support have the Playstation.com/help/ support site.
Not being a PlayStation forum user myself, I don’t have any memories or feelings of attachment to the forums. So, I headed off to Twitter to see what soon-to-be-former PlayStation forum users have to say about the closure.
Some of them are deliberative, wondering about what the move entails.

So @PlayStation is closing its once thriving online forum.
With communities a core part of the #PS5 strategy, it'll be interesting to see if there's a new digital engagement solution on the way.
Or does this signal a wider industry move away from #forums towards social media?
— Patrick Steen (@PaddySteen) February 17, 2020

Many are sad to see them go.

I am impossibly sad to hear that the PlayStation Community forums are closing down for good.
I learned my trade there, met some amazing (and now very great) friends there and smiled so much because of the amazing people and content that it brought to the internet.
??????
— Michael Shillingford (@MusterBuster) February 14, 2020

Going to chime in with the sadness of the PlayStation forums closing. Whilst I haven't touched any console in a considerable amount of years, the memories and friends I've met through the community in particular are forever. Love you all… well most of you anyway ?
— Julian Harris (@Pacman_Ownage) February 15, 2020

Since PlayStation announced the global closure of the community forums. I've seen so many familiar faces return. And had a few messages sent to me which has made me smile. It was more than a community for some. And that spirit lives on through us all ?
— Ren ? ??????? (@RenegadEuphoriX) February 17, 2020

Just saw the PlayStation Forums are closing, sad times. Some good memories from that place!
— Lee Reid – ReidoBaggins ? (@ReidoBaggins) February 17, 2020

Others noted that the forums weren’t exactly thriving before the closure announcement.

Same. After the PlayStation MVP program/forums went under, that was pretty much it for me.
— JRico_32 (@JRico_32) February 16, 2020

Sad to see the PlayStation forums closing ? Not much of a surprise though. They've been slowly killing it for the past couple of years. Don't know why they bothered with the new one less than a year ago https://t.co/HNWxB4Ry6Q
— Monkey (Chris) (@White__Monkey) February 15, 2020

Once again, I used to be Yaster.  it's always funny how people didn't notice I changed, hah.  But yeah, I've been a member of these forums since 2003, it's sad to see them go, but things have been real quiet on there for a while now.
— Radge (@TehRadge) February 14, 2020

Whatever the case, it feels like the end of an era regardless. We’ve got the PS5 due late this year too, which again delivers the feeling that the times are changing, and nothing stays the same.
What are your thoughts on the PlayStation forum closure? Let us know!


Sega & Atlus Announces Their TGS 2021 Online Lineup & Schedule

Sega and Atlus will be showcasing its lineup of new and upcoming games for Tokyo Game Show 2021 Online, starting 1st October. Here’s the list & schedule; all times are in GMT+8:
Sega & Atlus Titles

Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVEÂ (iOS, Android)
Hatsune Miku: COLORFUL STAGE!Â (iOS, Android)
Lost JudgmentÂ (PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One)
Mega Drive Tower Mini ZERO
Phantasy Star Online 2: New GenesisÂ (PS4, Switch, PC)
Sega NET Mahjong MJÂ (PC, iOS, Android)
Sonic Colors: UltimateÂ (PS4, Switch, PC)
Super Monkey Ball: Banana ManiaÂ (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC)
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate ShowdownÂ (PS4)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020Â (Switch)
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video GameÂ (PS4, Switch, PC)
Shin Megami Tensei VÂ (Switch)

Schedule
1st October

9pm – Sega New Tokyo Game Show 2021 Online Special â€“ Sega New, the Sega game news variety show, is included as a special Tokyo Game Show 2021 Online program that is filled with the latest info on the newest Sega and Atlus titles! A new Sega RPG is also set to be announced!
2nd October

5pm â€“ #LOVE_SEGA TalkÂ â€“ We will be presenting your #LOVE_SEGA posts and comments here! Make sure to send us your posts that show off your love of Sega / Atlus games and characters, as well as any thoughts about our program!
5:10pmÂ  â€“ Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba â€“ The Hinokami ChroniclesÂ â€“ Description coming soon.
5:40pm â€“ Sega News Special: Makuhari Messe Sega / Atlus Goods PresentationÂ â€“ Our Sega employee MC will be introducing the various demo areas and exhibits that are available to press and influencers at Makuhari Messe.
6pmâ€“ Nippon Ichi Software New Strategy RPG AnnouncementÂ â€“ The announcement of a new strategy RP from Nippon Ichi Software. Featuring MC Mika Nonomiya (talent) and guest Sohei Niikawa (Nippon Ichi Software president).
6:20pm â€“ Phantasy Star Online 2: New GenesisÂ Letsâ€™ Play: Hunting the RappyÂ â€“ This program is a â€œLetâ€™s Playâ€ that brings the fun ofÂ Phantasy Star Online 2: New GenesisÂ to thoes who have yet to play or are interested in Segaâ€™s online RPG. (There will not be any new information about the game.)
6:40pm – Hatsune Miku: COLORFUL STAGE!Â â€“ A look back atÂ Hatsune Miku: COLORFUL STAGE!Â Anniversary Festa 2021 and introduction to the appeal of the game with guest Daisuke Hirose (voice actor for Tsukasa Tenma). In addition to some remarkable gameplay from tournament participants, new information will also be announced. Featuring MC Kuno, Daisuke Hirose (voice actor), andÂ Hatsune Miku: COLORFUL STAGE!Â Championship 2021 Autumn participants.
7:10pm â€“ Iron Harvest: Complete EditionÂ + New TitleÂ â€“Â Iron Harvest: Complete EditionÂ is a real-time strategy game set in fictional 1920s Europe immediately after the end of World War I. Plus a new life simulation game. DMM Games producer Yuichi Ikumoto introduces two new titles from the company. Featuring MIC Mika Nonomiya (talent) and guest Yuichi Ikumoto (producer).
7:30pmÂ  â€“ Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate ShowodownÂ â€“ The highlights of the upcomingÂ Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate ShowdownÂ Challenge Cup Final on October 10. Featuring MC Erika Ishitobi (voice actor) and guest Seiji Aoki (Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate ShowdownÂ chief producer).
7:50pmÂ  â€“ Ryu Studio TV #4 Live from Tokyo Game Show 2021 OnlineÂ â€“ Developers and those close to the Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will be holding a free talk panel on Ryu Studio TV live from TGS 2021! Theyâ€™ll even be playingÂ Lost JudgmentÂ live on stage to show off this gameâ€™s allure. Featuring MC Saito (Sega marketing lead) and guests Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio development staff.
8:10pm â€“ Battlefield 2042Â â€“ The latest blockbuster in the 94 million players-strong first-person shooter series from Electronic Arts. An introduction of the first-person shooterÂ Battlefield 2042, which returns to the seriesâ€™ staple all-out war battles. Featuring MC Mika Nonomiya (talent) and guest to be announced.
8:40pm – Shin Megami Tensei VÂ Part 1Â â€“ We will be bringing you the latest info onÂ Shin Megami Tensei V, which is set to release on November 11, withÂ Shin Megami TenseiÂ fanatic, Mafia Kajita, and Chiaki Matsuzawa. Part 1 includes unreleased footage that shows off this gameâ€™s allure. Featuring MC Chiaki Matsuzawa (freelance announcer) and guest Mafia Kajita (freelance writer).
9pm – Shin Megami Tensei VÂ Part 2Â â€“ We will be bringing you the latest info onÂ Shin Megami Tensei V, which is set to release on November 11, withÂ Shin Megami TenseiÂ fanatic, Mafia Kajita, and Chiaki Matsuzawa. Part 2 will feature live gameplay for the first time! Featuring MC Chiaki Matsuzawa (freelance announcer) and guest Mafia Kajita (freelance writer).
9:20pm – #LOVE_SEGA Special Project #1Â â€“ Makeup artist YouTuber Suurero recreates game characters using her makeup artistry skills.
9:50pm â€“ Back 4 BloodÂ â€“Â Back 4 BloodÂ is a new and thrilling cooperative zombie first-person shooter from the creators of theÂ Left 4 DeadÂ series due out on October 12. Who will survive? The humans? Or the zombies? An introduction to the appeal of the chaotic survival multiplayer game. Featuring MC Mika Nonomiya (talent) and guest to be announced.
10:10pm- Mega Drive Tower Mini ZEROÂ â€“ Commemorating the second anniversary of Mega Drive Miniâ€™s release and the release ofÂ Lost Judgment. Sega employee Yosuke Okunari unboxes and introduces the new Mega Drive Mini accessory Mega Drive Tower Mini ZERO. There will also be some information on a Tokyo Game Show 2021 Online-exclusive super bargain grab bag. Featuring MC Kan-chan (Sega employee) and guest Yosuke Okunari (producer).
10:40pm â€“ Sega NET Mahjong MJÂ â€“ In commemoration of the collaboration between Yoshimoto Kogyo andÂ MJ, four Yoshimoto talents realize their dream games inÂ MJ. Heated battles with live commentary by professional player Hirokazu Baba. Featuring MCs Hirokazu Baba (professional mahjong player, commentary), Shinichi Yoshino (MJÂ series producer), Aya Hazuki (gravure idol, assistant), and Saitou (Sega employee), and guests Total Tenbosch Oomura (talent), Impulse Itakura (talent), Trendy Energy Takashi (talent), and Onigoe Tomahawk Kinchan (talent).
3rd October

6pm â€“ #LOVE_SEGA TalkÂ â€“ We will be presenting your #LOVE_SEGA posts and comments here! Make sure to send us your posts that show off your love of Sega / Atlus games and characters, as well as any thoughts about our program!
6:10pm â€“ Segaâ€™s New SHow â€“ Live from TGS 2021 SpecialÂ â€“ Segaâ€™s employee MCs take on various challenges in Segaâ€™s new YouTube program! â€œYou can meet all sorts of famous people at Tokyo Game Show,â€ it seems, so our two MCs will see how many influencers they can each reel in! The one who lures the most to the Sega booth will be the winner! But the loser will have toâ€¦!? Featuring MCs Mocco Mama (Sega employee) and Kan-chan (SEGA employee).
6:30pm â€“ Sega Partner TitlesÂ â€“ New titles by partner developers that are sold through Sega can be seen here! Lineup includesÂ Melty Blood: Type LuminaÂ by Delightworks,Â Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral TownÂ by Marvelous, andÂ Cotton Guardian Force Saturn TributeÂ by City COnnection. Featuring MC Honoka Nishimura (talent).
7pm â€“ Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video GameÂ andÂ Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020Â â€“ Nasu Nakanishi takes onÂ Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game! Can he be a medalist!? Featuring MC Mocco Mama (Sega employee) and guest Nasu Nakanishi (comedian).
7:20pm â€“ #LOVE_SEGA Special Project #2Â â€“ Makeup artist YouTuber Suurero recreates game characters using her makeup artistry skills.
7:40pm â€“ Sega Partner TitlesÂ â€“ New titles by partner developers that are sold through Sega can be seen here! Lineup includesÂ Laid-Back Camp: Have a nice day!Â by Mages.,Â Sangoku Rensenki ~Omoide Gaeshi~ + Gakuen RensenkiÂ by Prototype,Â Luckydog1Â by Prototype,Â Hashihime of the Old Book Town AppendÂ by HuneX, andÂ Archetype ArcadiaÂ by Kotobuki Solution. Featuring MC Honoka Nishimura (talent).
8pm â€“ Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVEÂ â€“ The latest information and second year anniversary character popularity poll forÂ Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVE. Featuring MC Kan-chan (Sega employee) and guests Nasu Nakanishi (comedian), Kouhei Iwamoto (producer), and Tomoyuki Fujita (director).
8:30pm â€“ FIFA 22Â â€“ The latest entry in the monster sports game brandÂ FIFA, which has sold over 320 million copies worldwide. An introduction toÂ FIFA 22, which is due out on October 1 worldwide. Featuring MC Honoka Nishimura (talent) and guest to be announced.
8:50pm â€“ Sonic Station LIVE! Tokyo Game Show 2021 Online SpecialÂ â€“ Sound director Tomoya Ohtani joins as a guest to show us whatÂ Sonic Colors: UltimateÂ has to offer in this TGS 2021 special event, Sonic Station LIVE! Featuring MCs Hoshino (SonicÂ creative director) and Inoue (production assistant in-training), and guest Tomoya Ohtani (SonicÂ series sound director).
9:10pm â€“ Super Monkey Ball: Banana ManiaÂ â€“ A lineup of legendary actors, who provided character voices and helped create the theme song, join to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this series! â€œHello Banana!!â€ makes its world debut with Koichi Yamadera, Noriko Hidaka, and Toshihiko Seki here to kick things off! Featuring MCs Masao Shirosaki (Super Monkey Ball: Banana ManiaÂ producer) and guests Banana Fritters (Koichi Yamadera, Noriko Hidaka, and Toshihiko Seki).
9:40pm â€“ #LOVE_SEGA Special LiveÂ â€“ Sega and Atlus sound designers join together! Featuring a special #LOVE_SEGA set list for Tokyo Game Show 2021 Online. Featuring guests June Senoue (Sega Sound Team), Tomoya Ohtani (Sega Sound Team), Toshiki Konishi (Atlus Sound Team), and more.


How To Make Avatar: The Last Airbender Live Action Great

This post is brought to you by The Last King Podcast. Follow their antics on SoundCloud.Â
As I’ve said time and again, Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest TV shows of all time. The live-action film adaptation from M.Night Shyamalan? Not so much.
With the news of an Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series coming to Netflix that is being overseen by the original showrunners, there’s some semblance of hope that this might turn out golden. At the same time, I do have my reservations, so here are the list of things that should be improved in this next live-action adaptation of a classic show.
Keep Sokka and Katara’s Personalities Intact
In the cartoon, Sokka was a smart if goofy non-bending hero of Team Avatar. Katara is the moral compass, mother figure, and stern caretaker archetype all in one.
In the live-action film, Sokka was a bland angry guy who is at odds with Aang while Katara…well, she doesn’t even know Aang’s name until later in the film. And she got her ass kicked in the last third of the film.

[wpvideo 9hEZsvck]
Long story short: please maintain Sokka and Katara’s original personalities and work around them. Add in more exclusive live-action moments to make it stand out from the animated series. Just not too much to the point that they’re unrecognizable.
Focus On Aang And Zuko’s Bond
While Aang and Zuko started out as enemies early on before the halfway point of Book Three, there was at least some form of kinmanship between the two. The episode “The Storm” established that clear bond long before they became allies. The live action film did not do this part justice, which made the eventual team-upÂ  of Aang and “Blue Spirit” Prince Zuko more of a fan service moment falling flat than actual plot development.
Perhaps the Netflix series can expand and adapt this plot thread further.
Expand The Princess Yue Romance
Adapting a few episode’s worth of romance between Sokka and Princess Yue (a princess of a water tribe who has moon spirit in her) in movie format is tough, so why not take it away and write up something new that makes sense? The live movie version was like a drive-by that didn’t need to happen.
What the Netflix show can do is have one or two episodes dedicated to the blossoming of the relationship, complete with the involvement of Princess Yue’s betrothed just like in the animated show. Just make it a tad different so that the eventual part where she leaves the realm all the more heartbreaking. Kinda like how the Game of Thrones adaptation handled the Red Wedding, but with way less red. And stabbed pregnant women.
Make The Bending Great
The 2010 Shyamalan adaptation had a US$150 million budget that clearly went to everything else except the source material’s main draw: the elemental bending.
Here’s what one earth bender can do in the animated show.

And here’s what a couple of earth benders can accomplish in the live film.

[wpvideo jT3M9gOx]
Pretty embarrassing, yes? The Netflix adaptation should have Netflix money and a sizeable budget to make the key feature of an Avatar episode shine. We want to see the pyrotechnics from a group of firebending soldiers. We want to see Katara go nuts with her waterbending, tidal waves and ice attacks and all. And we want to see a climactic battle where Aang goes into the avatar state.


The Witcher Nightmare Of The Wolf Unveils New Character Posters

Ahead of the premiere of The Witcher Nightmare Of The Wolf on 23 August 2021, Netflix has revealed brand new character posters, bios, and the additional voice cast for the highly anticipated anime prequel to the successful The Witcher series.
The world of The Witcher expands in this anime origin story: Before Geralt, there was his mentor Vesemir; a swashbuckling young witcher who escaped a life of poverty to slay monsters for coin. But when a strange new monster begins terrorizing a politically fraught kingdom, Vesemir finds himself on a frightening adventure that forces him to confront the demons of his pastâ€¦
Meet The Characters
Vesemir grew up as a servant on a noblemanâ€™s estate, working long days for too little coin. He yearns to break free of his social standing and to explore the Continent to find his destiny.

Tetra Gilcrest is a powerful sorceress who is descended from one of the Continentâ€™s first mages, Tetra believes magic connects all things of beauty. She and her followers work to keep peace on the Continent by ensuring that magic is not abused.

Lady Zerbst is a Kaedwen noblewoman who inherited her husbandâ€™s seat on the kingâ€™s advisory council after he passed at an early age. She has since risen to become one of the kingâ€™s most trusted advisors, and a fierce supporter of the witchers.

Deglan was raised on the harsh, unforgiving Skellige Isles and is the hardened warrior-leader of the witchers. He is fiercely loyal to his â€œboys,â€ and committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect them.

Filavandrel is a fallen elf king from the Blue Mountains and an old friend to Vesemir. He is also known as Filavandrel of the Silver Towers.

Luka is a pessimistic witcher who resents his profession and trained with Vesemir and Sven. Unlike other witchers, Luka never quite learned to love his profession. Maybe his pessimism is merely a shield, maybe it is really how he feels, either way: Luka is vocal about nearly everything â€” and that gets him in trouble more than once.

The Witcher Nightmare Of The Wolf Voice Cast
ENGLISH:
Vesemir – Theo James
Tetra – Lara Pulver
Deglan – Graham McTavish
Lady Zerbst – Mary McDonnell
Young Vesemir – David Errigo Jr.
Filavandrel – Tom Canton
Luka Matt – Yang King
JAPANESE:
Vesemir – Yuuya Uchida
Tetra – Mie Sonozaki
Deglan – Masafumi Kimura
Lady Zerbst – Yukari Nozawa
Young Vesemir – Daiki Yamashita
Filavandrel – Motoyuki Kawahara
The Witcher Nightmare Of The Wolf is written and produced by Beau DeMayo, and co-produced by The Witcher Showrunner and Executive Producer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Studio Mirâ€™s Kwang Il Han, who is also directing.
You canÂ head on over hereÂ for my spoiler-free review forÂ The Witcher Nightmare Of The Wolf, and check out the trailer below:


Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Guide: How To Be The Best Galactic Heroes

Square Enix and Eidos Montreal’s Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy is finally out on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC and Nintendo Switch. If you like Mass Effect‘s choice-driven and dialogue-heavy narrative with a lot more action along with some great comic book fun, this game is definitely for you.
The game actually has a bunch of accessibility options to tweak to the difficulty do that even the most inexperienced gamer can play Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy. That said, if you prefer to play on Normal or higher difficulties, check out the tips below:
Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Best Perks To Get First

There’s not much of a progression system in this game. Besides getting new Abilities by accumulating experience in battle, you should also be picking up those Components that you find in the game’s world. Components can be used to upgrade Star-Lord and unlock Perks.
There are a total of 15 Perks in the game, but here’s what you should be getting as early as possible:
Components Localizer

This should be the very first Perk that you unlock. Why? Because you need Components to unlock Perks and this Perk will allow you to easily locate any Components strewn around by using Visor Mode. The Components will be highlighted in Visor Mode.
Rapid Reload

You’ll be doing a lot of shooting, so this Perk helps you reload faster. Trust me, you’ll be doing A LOT OF SHOOTING.
Charge Consumption

Element Guns are extremely useful in battle for exploiting the weaknesses of enemies. Some enemies can freeze when you blast them with ice, while you can use the wind element to hook an enemy and bring them to you from a ledge or a far away position. This Perk makes it so the Element Guns needs to reload less often, as you’ll be consuming less Charge with each shot.
Perfect Dodge

The game likes to send wave after wave of enemies, so it’s easy for them to swarm you. You’ll be dodging a lot as Star-Lord, and this Perk slows down time after dodging at the last second, which gives you time to call upon the abilities of another Guardian or give them some shots of your own.
Extra Health / Extra Shield

These are actually two separate Perks. They just increase your max Health and max Shield, but you’ll need those for the later parts of the game when you’ll be fighting wave after wave of enemies.
Try To Get Marvelous In Each Battle
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy_20211020033922
This game features a Devil May Cry-like combo meter. The better result you get, the more experience points you’ll get at the end. It has several tiers like Uncanny, Amazing and Marvelous. The highest tier is Marvelous, which nets you the most experience points.
How do you get Marvelous? Just keep spicing up combat by exploiting enemy weakness with your Element Gun, constantly using the Abilities of the other Guardians according to the situation, and don’t get hit. Getting hit will lower the combo meter, just like Devil May Cry.
Explore By Finding Secret Paths And Rooms To Find Outfits And Collectibles
This is what an outfit chest looks like.
Don’t just go in the straight line. The game’s levels have secret paths and rooms that you can find by exploring. These will have Components, and sometimes even outfits and collectibles.
You’ll have to keep an eye out for these and collectibles yourselves. Why? Because the Components Localizer Perk only shows you the locations of Components. However, I noticed that since outfits and collectibles are almost always near Components, you can still somewhat rely on the Perk a little bit.
You Can Visit The Collector’s Emporium On Knowhere In Chapter 6 For Some Comic Book Easter Eggs

Yes, in Chapter 6, you’ll head to Knowhere for the first time in the game. The Collector’s Emporium is located there and it’s totally optional. There are two ways to get inside the museum. One is to simply pay your way in, but it requires a whopping 5000 Galactic Credits.
The second way will let you in for free, but for that, you’ll need to have successfully “salvaged the friendship you don’t remember” with Lipless by choosing the correct dialogue options earlier on in Chapter 6.
This is what Lipless looks like.

Video Walkthroughs For The Later Portions Of The Game


Granblue Fantasy Versus’ RPG Mode Is A Throwback To The 2D Tales Of Games

The upcoming Arc System Works and Cygames 2D fighting game Granblue Fantasy Versus is going to be packed with features. In addition to modes like arcade, versus, practice, and online, the title will feature a full-blown RPG mode which is sure to blow every other fighting game’s “RPG mode” since, well, the 90s.

This mode will tell a revised tale from the original Granblue Fantasy for mobile platforms, and offer a side-scrolling beat-em-up style gameplay reminiscent of the past SNES Tales Of games; well, just the one. You’ll be customizing your character’s look and equipment, fight a ton of big enemies and engage in a LOT of text and dialogue with talking heads. The RPG mode also offers co-op mode, online or offline.
So what else is new in the land of Granblue Fantasy Versus? The game will only have 11 playable characters, with 3 of them coming soon. Here are the characters revealed so far:

Gran
Katalina
Charlotta
Lancelot
Ferry
Lowain
Ladiva
Percival

Also, the game will be out on 6th February 2020, which means it was delayed out of its 2019 release window. Boo! To stave your excitement, here are a few high-level videos of the game featuring the recently-revealed Percival (via Gematsu).


Street Fighter V’s Latest Characters Include E.Honda, Poison, And Final Fight 3’s Lucia

In the latest of Capcom’s many “leaks” ahead of their big reveal, the company’s marquee fighting title Street Fighter V will be getting new Season 4 characters. And they’ll be playable soon enough.
World warrior sumo masterclass E.Honda, Final Fight’s Poison, and Final Fight 3’s Lucia(?) will be in the SFV roster on 4th August (PST). The character’s Summer 2019 costume bundle will be available on 5th August (PST). These dates coincide with the upcoming fighting game tournament EVO 2019.
So Who The Heck Are These Guys & Gals Again?
E.Honda

Veteran Street Fighter II and Street Fighter IV players may remember E.Honda as the hundred hand slap and “DOSUKOI” flying headbutt sumo wrestler extraordinaire. Fun fact: he’s also legendary fighting game player Mike Ross’ main.
Here’s how he plays in SFV (via Wario64). It’s frightening to see a heavy-hitter like him have juggles. His V-Trigger 1 lets him charge his sumo headbutt ala Abigail’s V-Trigger 2 juggernaut charge, which means unblockable/blockable shenanigans. His V-Trigger 2 pushes his opponent into the corner of the map if it connects, and gives his command grab more “oomph”.

Poison

Retro gamers should be familiar with Final Fight‘s Poison as one of the “female” enemies players beat up. She’s also the manager for Hugo as well as a fan-favourite for some, especially for those who play a ton of Street Fighter IV.
Here’s how she fights in SFV. She’s gonna be spacing and footsieing a lot of people out with her whip. Her V-Trigger 1 gives her command grab options, while her V-Trigger 2 molotov cocktails that deal damage-over-time effects. Dhalsim isn’t the only one with fire carpet moves now!

Lucia

A Final Fight 3 character who favours hot pants and a leather jacket back in the 90s. Also known for doing a spin kick as a crowd control move just like most female fighters do at the time. And police batons; can’t forget about the batons.

She’s a detective for the Metro City Police Department and may be working closely with Mayor Cody in the SFV lore. She can now conjure fire from her feet and legs, as well as speak with a rather over-the-top Brooklyn accent. Her V-Trigger 1 makes her kicks have fiery juggling properties, while her V-Trigger 2 gives her a baton that can probably be cancelled from any of her moves.

Among all the three, I’ll probably play as Lucia first since her fire moves remind me of a certain King of Fighters character’s Eins Trigger. Guess I won’t have to wait too long. Also, it’ll be cool to speculate who the remaining two characters in Season 4 will be. Can we get a Rolento and a Sodom/Katana, or even a Maki, to round up the Final Fight-laden SFV season? Pretty please?


The Last Case Of Benedict Fox’s Setting Isn’t Enough To Hide Its Janky & Awkward Experience

Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One
Genre: Search action game set in 1930s and features Cthulu-like vibes
I do love a good murder mystery-type game mixed in with the supernatural stemming out of H.P. Lovecraft’s scribe work. On the surface, The Last Case of Benedict Fox seems to do it for me with its mansion setting, the inner minds of the denizens involved in the case and the hauntings that follow, and the potential search action gaming and exploration going on, coupled with some brain teasers.
Unfortunately, that’s all there is right in the package: potential. The execution of it all is severely lacking and makes for an underwhelming mystery that would frustrate you away from solving it.
Not That Foxy

From the constant load screens that pop up (while I’m running the game on an SSD) to the incredibly janky controls and default excessive screen-shaking during combat when I get hit, and even the lack of feedback, this case is knee-deep in the same murky plague that’s befallen our hero.
Benedict Fox himself gets aid from his gooey tentacle spirit friend in the form of double-jumping, parrying, ground pounds to open bottom passages, and more to open up the giant sprawling map and mind palaces. However, the game doesn’t give enough information for players to figure out the next path of action, leaving you blindly to get lost and figure out the next best direction. And even if you already figured out the pathway, the traversing is pretty mediocre. There isn’t a single moment in Benedict Fox’s case where its platforming segments stood out to me.
Only the combat and boss fights, but only because of how jerky it handles. It’s not quite the worst thing in the world, but there are some moments where some moves need to be snappy, your attacks need to be faster than they really are, and some bosses need to be less tanky.
Black All Over
For all the kitsh 2010s-style graphics and vibe this game is giving me, I honestly can’t stand going through more of The Last Case of Benedict Fox. Even if its puzzles can be fun to solve, most of the time revolves me exploring the search action landscape with awkward controls and stifled combat controls. Half the time, I feel like I made it out through blind luck than actual skill, with the tools given to me feeling half-baked. At the very least, fast travel options are plentiful, and you can turn on invincibility mode and simple puzzle mode (just find the items to progress) to get through the game without thinking too much. Then again, if the developers are confident about the design of their game, why put these in? It’s clear as day that they don’t.
If you can somehow stomach all that along with some odd production choices like ho-hum voice acting, you’ll at least find something to love in this potential cult hit that misses the mark. The Last Case of Benedict Fox isn’t a complete failure, but it’s hard to experience when there are other better Metroidvania-style titles out there these past few months, like the Dead Cells DLC and Afterimage.
Final Score: 50/100


The World Video Game Hall Of Fame Adds The Last Of Us & More

The World Video Game Hall Of Fame was originally opened in 2015 and has added some of the biggest video games ever made, including classics like The Legend Of Zelda Ocarina of Time, Super Mario Bros., and Tetris. For 2023, they have announced that they have added four more games, including Barbie Fashion Designer, Computer Space, The Last Of Us and Wii Sports.
These four games emerged from a field of finalists that also included Age Of Empires, Angry Birds, Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare, FIFA International Soccer, Goldeneye 007, NBA 2K, Quake, and Wizardry. The games will be enshrined and on display in a new home for the World Video Game Hall of Fame slated to open on 30 June 2023 as part of a 90,000-square-foot expansion of The Strong, one of the largest museums in the US.
The World Video Game Hall Of Fame at The Strong was established in 2015 to recognize individual electronic games of all types, including arcade, console, computer, handheld, and mobile, that have enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general. Anyone may nominate a game to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Final selections are made on the advice of journalists, scholars, and other individuals familiar with the history of video games and their role in society.
In other related content, courtesy of HBO Asia, we were also lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in interviews with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, Merle Dandridge and Gabriel Luna. You can also check out our spoiler-free review of The Last Of Us Season 1 by heading over here.
The Last Of Us Part 1 is currently available on PS4, PS5 and PC.


Raya Is The Best Disney Princess Since The Original Mulan

The first-ever Southeast Asian Disney princess has arrived, and she’s ready to join the House Of Mouse’s iconic pantheon. Raya And The Last Dragon is written by Malaysian-born screenwriter Adele Lim and it shows. Even without the novelty of its Southeast Asian elements, this is a brilliant animated movie by its own merits.
Southeast Asian Pride

As a Malaysian and Southeast Asian, the novelty of a movie like Raya And The Last Dragon is simply unavoidable. Yes, the movie takes place in a fictional world, but it clearly borrows elements from many Southeast Asian countries and cultures without specifically mentioning any single one.
You’ll recognise local foods, clothing and weapons like satay, what appears to be tom yam, batik, shadow puppets (wayang kulit) and the keris. Those are just several that I personally noticed and identified, but I’m sure my fellow Malaysians and Southeast Asians from other countries will be able to find even more easter eggs and references hidden in the minute details of this movie. Proper representation matters. Seeing the characters in skin tones and traditional clothing similar to ours gave me a warm feeling all around.
In terms of the plot and story, Raya And The Last Dragon reminds me a lot like Avatar The Last Airbender (or The Legend Of Aang) and that’s no coincidence. Raya And The Last Dragon was probably inspired in some way by the aforementioned legendary animated series. They both share similar worldbuilding and themes (like a world split into five lands/nations, and just replace the Avatar with the dragon Sisu).
Raya lives in a fictional land once known as Kumandra; a unified nation where humans and dragons co-existed in harmony. Five hundred years ago, a monster called the Druun arrived and terrorized Kumandra, turning people and dragons to stone. The dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity using the Dragon Gem. When humanity fought amongst themselves over who would hold the Dragon Gem, Kumandra broke into five different lands, each of which is named after a different part of the dragon: Heart, Tail, Spine, Talon, and Fang.

While the central plot is predictable and somewhat formulaic, the themes explored in this movie are not. It’s certainly ambitious at times, dealing with the concept of trust and enmity between different cultures, as well as issues relating to grief, loss, forgiveness and death. The enmity between the different lands and culture of Kumandra is timely and scarily reminiscent of today’s world, where societies around the world are dominated by fear and paranoia.
No one trusts each other anymore; not even the different countries in Southeast Asia like Malaysia, Singapore, and the like. Kumandra mirrors that situation and while children won’t notice it, the lesson will definitely hit harder for older viewers who may have forgotten what it’s like to trust and forgive again.
For instance, Raya isn’t your typical upbeat and optimistic Disney princess. She’s cynical and suffers from severe trust issues. Still, this is a Disney animated movie. That doesn’t stop her from being good at martial arts and being a strong role model for young girls. In fact, she’s actually better for it, as her issues make her more relatable, especially to older viewers. Unlike other Disney princesses, she’s not here to find love or discover her true self. In line with the Southeast Asian theme, she strives to save the collective (humanity), not for her own personal benefit or gratification.

Also, Raya and her companions are together with shared grief or trauma. You don’t often see that in western animated movies. They’re all doing this not just for themselves, but for the good of everyone else. Because there’s no romance, it makes the relationships between the characters more meaningful and stronger.
I’ll have to praise Kelly Marie Tran for an excellently emotional performance as Raya. Some of you might not even recognise her voice, especially if you’ve only seen her in the Star Wars sequels. Trust me, she’s capable of so much more than Rose and she proves it here. It may be fair (or unfair, depending on your opinion) to point out that the voice cast largely consists of those with East Asian ancestry and not actual Southeast Asian. Fortunately, they all do a good enough job, including Gemma Chan as Princess Namaari and Awkwafina as the dragon Sisu.
Last but not least, the animation (as usual) is stellar. The fight scenes and choreography are highlights of the movie. Where else can you see a Disney princess wielding a keris and engaging in a fighting style similar to silat? We love to see it.
Not Perfect

One of the biggest flaws in Raya And The Last Dragon is its music. As a whole, the soundtrack by James Newton Howard isn’t terrible, but none of the tracks really stand out. Compared to the likes of Moana or Frozen 2, you won’t leave the cinemas humming your favourite tune from the movie.
The reason for Raya And The Last Dragon‘s middling soundtrack is likely because it’s less of a musical and more of a fantasy epic. None of the characters here go into song or suddenly start singing spontaneously.
Another criticism that I can point out is the pacing of the movie. Raya And The Last Dragon sometimes moves at a pace that’s too fast, spouting exposition that doesn’t feel as natural. It’s not a glaring problem, but some younger viewers may find the movie a bit harder to follow and keep up with (especially since there are no songs to break up the movie’s acts).
The Best Disney Princess Since The Original Mulan

Raya And The Last Dragon is vibrant and amazing, not just for its Southeast Asian elements, but for being a good fantasy epic animated movie that introduces what might be the best Disney princess since 1998’s Mulan. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially for my fellow Malaysians and Southeast Asians.
FINAL SCORE: 90/100
We received an early access screener of Raya And The Last Dragon courtesy of The Walt Disney Company Malaysia. It is now showing in Malaysia cinemas.


[Report] Final Fantasy 9 Remake Will Be Similar To Crisis Core In Scale

The Final Fantasy 9 remake has been this year’s worst-kept secret from Square Enix, with rumours swirling about since the GeForce Now gaming database leak a while back. And now we have some more tidbits about how the game will be like scope-wise.
According to gaming insider Jeff Grubb, there are now claims that Final Fantasy 9 Remake is in active development and will be on the scale of Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core, not so much Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The game will use the ATB turn-based system like in the original, with the classic gameplay still being more or less the same. The game won’t be a simple HD remaster, however.
Personally? We definitely want to ditch random battles and want to see enemies approachable or on-screen on the world map/dungeons. Other than that, FF9 is an immaculate RPG that pays massive tribute to the past classic Hironobu Sakaguchi-developed FF titles. For more FF9 goodness, do check out the Memoria Project below. It’s a fan project that envisions what a remake of the classic RPG would look like.


Final Ace Combat 7 Story DLC Takes Flight In New Gameplay Trailer

Bandai Namco has released a new gameplay trailer for the final Ace Combat 7 Skies Unknown DLC story expansion â€œTen Million Relief Planâ€, which is slated to release on 27 November 2019.
The trailer features the entire briefing of the mission and approximately five minutes of the mission itself. This time around players will be tasked to hunt down the Alicorn super-submarine.
Ace Combat 7 Skies Unknown is now available for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. In the meantime, head on over here to read my review of the game, or check out the trailer of the final story DLC below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdRQl-Q7p0I&w=560&h=315]


Firewatch Devs Puts In The Valley Of Gods On Hold; Focusing On Valve Projects

In 2016, the Campo Santo game studio released its first game Firewatch. It went on to becoming a very successful title, bagging many awards along the way. The studio announced their next project about two years ago but it looks like it won’t be out anytime soon.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFOXIGzdMv8&w=560&h=315]
Speaking to Polygon, Campo Santo co-founder Jake Rodkin confirmed that the game they’re currently working on, In The Valley of Gods, is being put on hold so that the studio can focus on other Valve projects. The studio was acquired by Valve last year and have been working on games such as Dota Underlords and the upcoming VR title Half-Life: Alyx.

“So to answer your question as of today, In the Valley of Gods development is on holdâ€”but it certainly feels like a project people can and may return to. And when that happens, weâ€™ll find an exciting way to let fans know.”
– Jake Rodkin, speaking to Polygon.
In The Valley of Gods premiered its first trailer at The Game Awards 2017. At the end of trailer, it was shown that the game would come out sometime in 2019. Rodkin has clarified that the 2019 release window “isn’t going to be accurate” due to the team being split in different projects across Valve.
Seeing as how Rodkin uses the phrase “a project people can and may return to” to describe the current state of In The Valley of Gods, there’s a high chance the game will be abandoned for a very long time.


The Sandman Netflix Series Trailer Breakdown

Netflix just announced the date of its upcoming TV show adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s epic fantasy-for-adults series The Sandman for the DC/Vertigo line: 5th August. And it came with a pretty bangin’ trailer.

The first season of the show will most likely touch on Sandman’s first book (out of 10), issues #1 to #8, with some additions and extra appearances. Let’s take a look at what’s present, with some panels from the 90s comic book series for comparison.
The Sandman
We can’t have a Sandman show without our title character Morpheus (Tom Sturridge). Here’s him in his fully decked-out garb, wearing his Dream Mask and clutching onto his dream sand pouch.

Death
The other popular character from The Sandman. Morpheus’ sister Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) is seen wandering on a field in a quick clip. We believe Morpheus will meet up with his sister at the end of his item quest for some heart-to-heart talk, just like in the comics. And will tag along with his sister as she does her duty of ferrying new souls to the afterlife.

Dream’s Castle & Lucienne
Dream’s abode in The Dreaming is a little brighter than in the comics, but it still remains very run-down due to Dream’s absence when he was imprisoned by cultist Roderick Burgess.

The trailer also shows Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) in action; she’s talking to Dream about the state of the castle since he was gone for so long.

Desire
We also get our first look at Desire (Mason Alexander Park). Definitely just as flashy and stylish like their comic counterpart.

John Dee
One of the other antagonists in Sandman Book 1, John Dee/Doctor Destiny, is played by David Thewlis. He looks less scraggly and monster-like in the Netflix show, but probably still as menacing and deranged. Maybe he’ll devolve into his more comic-accurate form in the later episodes?

And yes, this Doctor Destiny is based on the goofy supervillain in DC Comics; the Sandman version is anything but.

In any case, the diner scene in the comics is going to turn out very interesting in the live-action adaptation.
Johanna Constantine
The ancestor of DC Comics John Constantine (Jenna Coleman) will be the one helping out Sandman. In Book 1, it was John Constantine who helps out Morpheus in searching for the latter’s bag of magic sand.

The CoriNthian
While his face has yet to be shown, we see a glimpse of the terrifying demon The Corithian (Boyd Holbrook). He’s a nightmare with teeth for eyes who goes on a killing spree while Dream was imprisoned.

Matthew The Raven
Morpheus’ trusty messenger raven (voiced by Patton Oswalt) makes an appearance at the tail end of the trailer.

Do you like how the show is looking? Does it do justice to the comic book series’ look and feel? Let us know either here or on our social media pages!


Former Mineski/Fnatic/Orange/etc. Malaysian Pro Now Plays For Tigers

We may have received 2019’s first major Dota 2 headline: Mushi joins Southeast Asian esports team Tigers.
The former solo/middle Mineski player, who also represented Fnatic, Team DK, and Orange Esports, will be taking point alongside teammates Moonmeander, Xepher, and team captain Theeban “1437” Siva.

Today, we want to reveal the 4th member of Tigers. Please welcome  Chai "Mushi" Yee Fung who will carry the banner and be part of the Tigers family. With years of experience in esports and titles under his belt, no doubt he will  be a strong addition to the Team.  #roartigers. pic.twitter.com/R6Nd0rVkPF
— Tigers (@tigers_dota) January 20, 2019

The team, which used to be under the TNC banner, made some waves by placing first in last year’s DreamLeague Season 10 tournament, beating NaVi 3-2 and winning US$125,000. And from the looks of the Mushi highlight reels below, it seems the Tigers may have a killer point man under their belts.


Tales of Arise Guide: How To Farm Up To Level 100

Just like with all traditional JRPGs, or at least new JRPGs of 2021 that have an inkling of tradition, Tales of Arise lets you grind battles to get to the highest level possible. Once you get a character to Level 100, you get the Peak Strength trophy/achievement, so it’s probably worth getting if you’re planning on sinking more hours into the game.
This guide will mention some slight spoilers, so here’s your brief warning. We’ll keep our tips as vague as possible. Also, do check out our other Tales of Arise guides.
Tales of Arise Owl Location Guide
Tales of Arise Artifacts Location Guide

Just a heads-up: this requires you to complete the game, so after the game’s story, you can proceed to this method. This method will let you get up to 150,000XP every 3 to 5 minutes. In other words, you can reach Level 100 in an hour or so. To do this, you have to fight a Level 95 boss called Chronos repeatedly. To get to him, you need to do the following steps.
#1. Complete The Following Sub-Quests: “The Spirit Temple”, “Another Hillside Anomaly”, “Otherworldly Visitors”
The Spirit Temple sub-quest is available later in the story after you’ve beaten the 5th Lord. Backtrack to Realm 3: Menancia, then to the Traslida Highway.
Talk to the man in front of the white merchant cart to get this quest. Heâ€™ll send you to the neighbouring region Tietal Plains and then you can enter the glowing portal there. This leads to a dungeon where you must run from one portal to the next.
At the end, you face the Grand Gnome boss. After defeating it return to the quest giver. This quest will net you the Golden Suit of Armor Artifact which gives you a permanent 80% EXP Boost. Make sure to turn it on in the Artifact settings.
The “Another Hillside Anomaly” sub-quest can be activated by talking to the woman near the entrance of Viscint (on the bridge when you’re coming from Traslida Highway). She’ll only be there after you beat the main story. For this quest, you need to return to the underground dungeon in Tietal Plains and talk to the person there.
The “Otherworldly Visitors” sub-quest will start after you’re done with “Another Hillside Anomaly”. This quest requires you to step through rift portals and beat all 6 dungeons. Oh, and you should at least be at Level 70 at this point. The end of this questline will feature our farmable boss Chronus.
#2. Farm Chronus
Chronus will be at “Vesper Rift” of the Earth Spirit Temple, the last area of the dungeon. Fight him. After you defeat him, talk to Chronus again and you can fight him as often as you like.
At lower levels you get more XP, which can be up to 150,000+ XP per fight and gives you a few level ups at once. Later at Level 95 and above, you may only get 30,000 XP and only get 1 level up per fight but itâ€™s still very quick. You should be able to reach Level 100 within 1 hour using this method.
Here are some tips on how to deal with Chronus.

Max out your Pineapple Gels and Life Bottles. You’re not here to get a super-high grade for a fight, so don’t worry too much about rankings in fights.
Put Shionne and Dohalim on your active team; they are able to revive you if you go down. Having two healers is crucial since Chronus can pull off long combos that can kill party members regardless of their level.
Cook “Wieners” with Law to greatly increase attack power before a fight. Cook “Sushi” with Dohalim to get a Large XP boost after a fight.


Cyberpunk 2077 Event Delayed To 25th June

CD Projekt has postponed its upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 digital event.
The new date for the presentation will be on 25th June. Previously it was 11th June. The company delayed it because it didn’t feel that now was the right time to discuss the game.

“We decided to move Night City Wire to June 25th. We still look forward to sharing new information about CPâ€™77, but more important discussions are happening right now and we want them to be heard.
We wholeheartedly stand against racism, intolerance and violence. Black Lives Matter.”

We decided to move Night City Wire to Jun 25th. We still look forward to sharing new information about CP’77, but more important discussions are happening right now and we want them to be heard. We wholeheartedly stand against racism, intolerance and violence. Black Lives Matter.
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) June 2, 2020

This is one instance in aÂ long line of video game companies making a statement regarding the recent Black Lives Matter protests due to the murder of George Floyd.
On a related note, PlayStation delayed its PS5 presentation for the very same reason. Honestly, we’re all cool and dandy with this; there are way more important things than video game announcements and escapism at the moment.
Cyberpunk 2077 will be out on 17th September for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.


Malaysians Can Start Pre-Ordering The PS5 For Less Than RM100

The PS5 is scheduled to be released near the end of 2020. Unfortunately, details are still very scarce about the console. I mean, we don’t even know what it looks like yet! Still, it’s the PS5 so there’s no doubt a lot of people want to get it no matter what.
For Malaysian gamers, you can start placing pre-order reservations for Sony’s upcoming console. Video game store Gamers Hideout is now accepting pre-orders for the first batch of PS5 consoles that will arrive at their stores. All you need to do is pay a deposit of RM99.90.

Some people will definitely think it’s far too early to have this level of confidence in a console. However, Sony has proved themselves capable of delivering a great console gaming experience time and time again so it’s not all that strange.
Furthermore, RM99.90 is a pretty decent amount for just getting into a priority list. For less than half the price of most AAA games, you’ll be one of the first few Malaysians to get the PS5. That’s a pretty solid deal.
Personally, I think it’s never a good idea to get the first batch of any new console. Almost all first batches of the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch had some sort of day-one problem. Usually it’s heat dissipation issues. There’s also the lack of great launch titles.
If you’re one of those people who just want to be the first to own a console, then it’s still a damn good offer. Check out the Gamers Hideout Facebook page here.