Spidersaurs Is WayForward Doing Contra All Over Again, Kinks & All

Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Genre: 2D Run-And-Gun Shoot-em-Up; basically Contra
If it weren’t for Konami who has a tight rein on its Contra brand, you can mistaken WayForward’s “new” 2D run-and-gun shooter game Spidersaurs as the next Contra entry. After all, the Shantae developer did make Contra 4 back in the Nintendo DS, grappling hook and all. Heck, Spidersaurs has its own version of that vertical-climbing tool in the form of a spider thread that comes out of your character’s back, among other additions that help keep the 2D run-and-gun genre fresh.
Metal Slugs? More Like Steel-Teethed DinoSpiders!

These additions include an air dash and a double jump. These, along with your arsenal of powerups like the spread gun, rapid-fire lasers, bouncing spread shots, and arcing cluster shots, will help both playable characters Victoria (a well-endowed rocker chick with a gun guitar) and Adrian (a police-in-training with a gun that shoots sports balls) get through the six stages of spider-dinosaur-hybrid hell. You can either go at it in single-player mode or team up in co-op, which is part and parcel of the Contra-tribute experience. The kicker? You only get the double jump and air dash after you complete subsequent stages; you don’t get them at the start, at least in the game’s Story Mode.
As such, the game gets a little tough for those who aren’t familiar with 2D run-and-gun games. If you don’t know your Metal Slugs to your Bill & Lances, you’ll die a lot from stray bullets, surprise running enemies popping out of nowhere, and tricky boss patterns. Yes, you have three hit points and three lives, but these benefits will run out quick your first time around in medium mode, and especially in hard mode.
That’s WayForward’s Contra nod in a nutshell, and honestly? It’s pretty fun. For all its short runtime, and I’m counting the replays from the many deaths I’ve experienced in the later stages, the action is fun and the controls are spot-on. Both Victoria and Adrian can fire in eight directions, have their own powerups that are different but viable in all situations (from Victoria’s spreadshot to Adrian’s hard-hitting flamethrower), and are pretty agile. The hurtboxes for the characters are generous, so you only have yourself to blame if you mistimed your jump and hit a stray bullet you should have paid attention to.
What I don’t like, however, are the stealth spidersaur enemies that one-hit kill you if you stand around one spot for too long. I understand that’s WayForward’s way of dealing with campers in 2D run-and-gun games, but at least save that for the harder difficulties, or at least for the game’s unlocked Arcade Mode and Time Trial/Speed Run when you beat the main game in less than two hours.
Eight-Legged Freakout

Fans who miss an actual Contra game can find Spidersaurs to be a great substitute, from its controls to its unforgiving-yet-kinda-fair gameplay. It also has Contra’s flaws: short playtime and a few options that extend replayability to only its hardcore audience. It won’t be for newbies despite the art style and saccharine flavour, but it will scratch that run-and-gun itch for those who wish for the days when games were simpler, co-op friendly, and arcade-like.
Pros

Fun 2D challenge and shooting action.
Cheery aesthetics.
Spot-on controls.
Much-loved powerups that add more movement and evade options.

Cons

Pretty short.
Some cheap obstacles.
Valuable power-ups only at the tail end of the game.

Final Score: 70/100


Sega Bids Farewell To Arcades

Sega has announced that they are selling their historic and legendary arcade business to Japanese company Genda.
Sega parent company Sega Sammy revealed that they have decided to sell 85.1 percent of their shares in Sega Entertainment, which is the groupâ€™s arcade and amusement centre business in Japan.
Fortunately for fans of Sega and its many iconic franchises like Sonic The Hedgehog and Total War, this deal does not actually impact its other video game divisions.
Why did they sell the arcade business? According to Sega Sammy, the reason is due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to the decline of arcades. Still, Sega will continue manufacturing arcade machines for use with other companies’ arcades.
Let’s all make a toast to the legendary Sega arcades of yesteryears; a hallmark of gaming history.
Image Credits: (Photo by Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)


Shin Megami Tensei 5 Will Punish You Hard, And You’ll Love It

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: JRPG with demon summoning & hardcore difficulty
Let me paint a picture of the Shin Megami Tensei 5 JRPG experience for you:Â You decide to pick up a harmless fetch quest. Just walk around and gather some items, it tells you – no big deal, right? You follow the questline and embark to different points on the map, fighting monsters, leveling up, and collecting items on your path.
You return to your quest giver with the items they want, but all of a sudden, your kind and innocuous gesture triggers an inescapable battle. Catching you off guard, the powerful enemy demon exploits your weakness, which immediately kills you before you can even attempt to recover.
Next thing you know, the game’s title screen crawls into view, signalling yet another game over, this time wiping an hour of your progress. Your error? Attempting to complete your quest before saving.
Experiences like this paint the picture for the kind of game Shin Megami Tensei 5 is. It is unforgiving when it comes to tiny mistakes, and will ruthlessly punish players for allowing small slip-ups in the first place.
The game begins with a familiar premise, as you’re placed in the shoes of a silent high school protagonist. Rumours of monster attacks have been plaguing Tokyo lately, with cases escalating as time passes. You stumble upon the aftermath of one such incident, and as you search for your school acquaintance amidst the commotion, a sudden earthquake loses you of your senses.
When you awaken, you find yourself in a ruined Tokyo that’s overrun by demons. Before one can skewer you alive, however, you’re saved by a mysterious Proto-Fiend named Aogami. You fuse with Aogami to become a human and demon hybrid called a Nahobino, which grants you the latent powers necessary to survive the hellscape you’re stranded in.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All

Before you can confront the horde of demons that awaits, the Nahobino must enlist a party of demonic allies to even out the playing field. As is Shin Megami Tensei tradition, these demons are recruited either through fusion or negotiation, with the latter being your main bread and butter.
Negotiations are, for the most part, an exercise in trial and error. Demons will ask you questions or act oddly, and it’s up to you to reply in ways that appeal to them. The possible avenues that a conversation can go are endless, and with demons being predisposed to coming up with illogical reactions more often than not, getting a demon to join your cause sometimes isn’t easy.
Even after successfully bantering with a demon, they will often ask you to fork out items, money, some MP, and even HP to seal the deal of them joining you. At times, the game compares whether a particular stat of yours exceeds the demon’s. If you’re missing any of these, tough luck. Failure to appeal to a demon may result in them leaving, or open yourself up to an attack. Or maybe you’ll think you’ve succeeded, and they’ll choose to leave you in the dust anyway – sucker.
To some extent, the unpredictability of demon negotiation makes for a frustrating experience. However, this is also made bearable through the breadth of personalities in the demons, as conversations are often filled with ridiculous quips and amusing jokes that at times even break the fourth wall.
Success rates can be manipulated to some extent, at least, through unlocking certain passive skills, or by attempting a negotiation during certain in-game moon phases, such as right before a New or Full Moon.
Decision-Making 101

Demon recruitment is only half the battle, however, as demon encounters also become the bulk of how you progress in this game. Like previous Shin Megami Tensei titles, SMT5 utilizes the series’ staple Press Turn system. By taking advantage of an enemy’s weakness or landing a critical hit, you can earn a new turn up to a maximum of four. However, if your attack misses or is nullified, you lose two turns.
With this, the Press Turn system is as dynamic as ever, in which well-planned sequences can allow for a powerful series of attacks, or to have buffs, debuffs, or status ailments up before your enemy becomes a problem. Is your demon weak against a potential incoming attack? By earning enough turns, you can command that demon to put its guard up before the enemy acts.
Of course, Press Turn also acts as a double-edged sword, as enemy demons also gain full advantage of everything the system has to offer. Being on the losing end of this system is often devastating, at times spelling doom for even a completely healthy party as your opponent throws one attack at you after another without any option for retaliation.
Which is why risk mitigation is the name of the game in Shin Megami Tensei 5. Running a roster of demons with the right stats, skills, and affinities for a particular fight is extremely key, often making all the difference in drawn-out fights. Finding the best combinations to completely counter an enemy demon is satisfying, and a valid route to victory besides the traditional route of levelling up.
SMT5 also introduces a new type of mechanic called Magatsuhi skills. As you engage in battle, a Magatsuhi gauge fills up over time. Once fully charged, the Nahobino and his allies are then capable of activating skills with powerful and different effects.
For instance, the Omagatoki: Critical skill guarantees a critical hit for the entire party, thus enabling them to abuse the Press Turn system to their heart’s content. Meanwhile, the Big Bang skill deals Severe Almighty damage to all enemies, making it useful for clearing a pack of demons ASAP.
Certain types of skills are limited to only certain races of demons, adding to the decision-making process of who to bring to any one fight. Additionally, like the Press Turn system, Magatsuhi skills can also be used by enemies, opening up a new layer of strategy that spices up the tension of battles.
Trimming The Fat

Demon Fusion and the compendium will no doubt be familiar to SMT fans, but are perhaps the most accessible they have ever been through their decades of iterations. You can create new demons from a combination of two demons through the Dyad Fusion, and you are provided with a simple preview of the resulting demon before you make your attempt, with the choice of inherited skills being as simple as toggling them on the preview screen.
If that seems too limited for you, Reverse Fusion lists down all of the possible combinations of demons that you can obtain with your existing roster. Furthermore, the Reverse Compendium Fusion does the same but bundles all of the demons you’ve recruited before (even if they’re not in your party) into your possible fusion results, with prices for summoning also included. These options offer a birds-eye view for your possible fusion options, which improves on the decision-making process in an exceedingly complex system.
Overall, a lot of effort was clearly made into making the initially-daunting Demon Fusion much more seamless as a feature. This works out well for team building and strategy, as much less time is spent on memorizing demon combinations or price calculation, and you can instead jump straight into which demons are best-suited for the upcoming challenge and how you can spend your scarce resources to obtain them.
Adding to quality-of-life features in SMT5 are new items called Essence Fusions. These are essentially skill books, which you can obtain from demons or collection points on the map. Just about every demon has its own Essence Fusion, of which you can teach the skills from these Essence Fusions to any of your own demons. Likewise, your Nahobino is also capable of consuming these items to change his weaknesses and resistances, broadening your strategic options without an extensive time investment.
The World Is Your Demon Oyster
The formula for exploration has been shaken up quite a bit from previous entries in the series. SMTV boasts open-world regions for you to explore, which seem to replace the more classic yet claustrophobic dungeon-crawling layouts of old.
An important thing to note, however, is that SMTV’s open-world is moreso a collection of interconnected zones than it is a sprawling landscape without restrictions. The devastated ruins of Tokyo are ripe with secrets and collectables, but you’ll also have to defeat increasingly stronger enemies as you slowly unveil the map. As the Nahobino, you can jump and sprint about freely and in fluid motions, which feels good considering the amount of exploration that is expected of you.
Instead of random encounters, demons roam the world in their entirety, giving you the option to either engage or skirt past them completely with your character’s agility. While usually avoidable, demons often also come in packs, are quick, and are at times tough to even ambush, which evens out the playing field.
Meanwhile, exploration is rewarded with Glory to improve certain passive skills, unique items that unlock new abilities, as well as plenty of EXP, guaranteeing that less time is spent on levelling or grinding for materials through battles.
Along the way, you’ll run into various side quests, many of which serve to introduce new areas or points of interest rather than force backtracking. While some may present you with sudden mini-boss fights, others can be quirky and sometimes even shed insight on the lore behind certain demons.

Though the dystopian look in the game’s environments do eventually get a bit bland, the demon NPCs spread across the world of SMT5 help bring a sense of personality to an otherwise desolate world.
Barren Tale
The focus on open exploration does rear its head at some point, as the story takes a noticeable backseat whenever you hop into a new region. The premise itself focuses on a secret war between Gods and Demons, but whatever intrigue this story offers is only glimpsed in short bursts after you’ve spent hours scouring the map.
Storytelling remains sparse until you touch the next main quest marker, and the required levels for the main story basically necessitate that you grind a little bit via exploration or battles before you can comfortably progress.
The characters introduced throughout the story are also fairly one-note. Though SMT characters tend to also be abstracts of the series’ classic Law, Chaos, and Neutral alignments, characterization still feels undercooked as story exposition and dialogue leans toward, and continually remain, on the light side.
End Of Days

Shin Megami Tensei 5 is an enormously challenging yet addictive RPG that thrives on its complex yet effective combat, featuring clever design choices that serve to trim the fat on the series’ traditionally-perceived hurdles.
In terms of presentation, SMT5 boasts probably the highest of quality from developer Atlus, with the company investing back the fruits of some of its recent successes into more polished animations, effects, and general content. While the soundtrack is hardly bombastic, the moodiness of the tunes are as atmospheric as can be to drive in that feeling of loneliness amidst a ruined, demon-infested Tokyo.Â
The lack of a compelling story can be a downer to folks diving in from the Persona franchise, and the shift to fewer dungeons may not satisfy the most hardcore of players. However, the core combat – a key appeal of Shin Megami Tensei – should nonetheless feel familiar, if not more engrossing than it ever has been thanks to streamlined mechanics and a larger emphasis on smart decision-making.
Pros

Appropriately dark & moody aesthetics & atmosphere.
Great Press Turn combat system.
Challenging yet rewarding difficulty.
Creative build-a-party demon fusion mechanic.
Large & populated(?) open-world to explore in.

Cons

Story feels standard for Shin Megami Tensei standards.
Some performance & frame rate issues.

Final Score: 90/100
Review copy provided by Atlus.


Mother Furious After Hackers Buy Thousands Of FIFA Points With Her Credit Card

Hackers are responsible for using a kid’s Microsoft account to purchase a whopping 36,000 FIFA points. Because of this incident, the mother of that kid, Lesley Urwin, kept in contact with Microsoft for 11 months. The company later ruled that there was no evidence of fraud.
Still, the mother continues to claim that the hackers were the ones at fault and not her son. In an interview with the Daily Record, she said:

“I’ve lost count of the times I’ve phoned and emailed Microsoft.
The boys have had no Xbox Live for nearly a year as a result because I won’t let them log in.
I am fed up fighting and I want to warn others. None of this is our fault.”

They eventually discovered that there were two extra devices linked to the card despite the family only owning one Xbox. The IP address of the hackers was traced back to Warrington in Cheshire, which is 400 miles away from their home. Microsoft has since fully refunded her for the full price of all the FIFA points, which amounted to “three lots of 12,000 points, each costing Â£79.99.”
This case is a classic example of why you should always activate parental controls on your consoles if you have kids. We don’t want this to happen to you. Security is no joke in this day and age, especially with microtransactions and DLC just a click away.


Kakuchopurei’s Best Of 2019: Control

Remedy Entertainment’s Control is the biggest surprise of the year and my own personal Game Of The Year for 2019.
Although it looks like just another third-person shooter at first glance, the phenomenal physics-based engine and gameplay elevate the game to being one of the most refreshing gaming experiences in this generation.
Insert Metroid, Inception, Fringe or X-Files (whichever TV series you prefer), and a Jedi Force simulator in a blender and Control is likely what’ll you get. It combines Metroidvania mechanics like non-linear levels with a bit of backtracking, with a world that literally shifts reality all around you as you explore the interior of the Federal Bureau Of Control’s HQ.

The plot is bizarro bonkers like X-Files infused with the best of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and other stuff, to make for a trippy yet captivating story that might not make much sense at first, but in fact, hides a plethora of deep and rewarding lore for players who would take the time to decipher its cryptic details.
The highlight of the core gameplay is using the telekinetic physics-defying abilities of Control protagonist Jesse Faden.

This game will make you feel like Jedi more than any Star Wars game out there, as you can even rip the stone off from the freaking ground to hurl (or launch) at your enemies, who are themselves eldritch interdimensional parasites.

Control is a game that needs to be experienced in order to fully comprehend its weird-as-heck world and physics-defying gameplay. This game is a blend of narrative and gameplay that you won’t find anywhere else, though the game is relatively short, as you can probably finish it in less than 20 hours.


[Rumour] Naughty Dog’s Latest Game Might Be Fantasy-Themed

Everyone’s still raving on about The Last of Us Part 2, from its controversial story take to its equally controversial Game Awards 2020 clean sweep. So what’s next for its creator Naughty Dog?
We might have a hint, courtesy of the company’s senior concept artist Hyoung Nam. The artist posted three new pieces of concept art with a fantasy theme, complete with a coy message:
“Inspire from new game. You know what I’m talking about…”
The pieces are called “The Women of North”; there could be a good chance that Naughty Dog is hinting that their next game is a fantasy title involving women, dragons, and lots of slaying. Check out the sweet art below.

Not all development and concept art stuff make it into the final product, so this could be extra sketches for ideas in development. For all you know, this could be a Rings of Power reboot.Â  In any case, let’s hope Naughty Dog can do something other than a post-apocalyptic sad story for the PS5 in the next year or two.


[Report] Apex Legends’ New Legend Revenant Details Leak

New Apex Legends leaks (via Dexerto) have revealed more details about the new legend named Revenant, who will be coming to the battle royale soon. This includes the mysterious robotic legendâ€™s finisher and several details on its gladiator card.
After being teased several months ago, data miners have discovered more information about Revenant’s Finisher animations. This reportedly includes poses depicting him in a praying position, pretending to be a scarecrow, and balancing upside down.
His Finisher also includes the word “impale”, which suggest that Revenant will use his blade or sword weapon to strike down his enemies by impaling them. His code entries also reveal the words “lurk” and “assassin”, which may indicate that he will utilize stealth attacks.
In addition, there was also an image of what appears to be Revenantâ€™s character icon in the data. The image portrays his skeletal face with shadowy versions behind him.
Revenant could also be using two different stances in combat. The first stance includes the following abilities:

Passive: Infiltrator â€“ Climb walls higher and crouch walk faster
Mark for Death â€“ Fire a poison dagger. Press again to reveal the targetâ€™s location for up to 60 seconds. The mark is removed if the target heals to full.
Poison Bomb â€“ Launch a Poison Bomb that damages and slows targets hit. This skill will likely deal Area of Effect (AoE) damage.
Death Recall â€“ Drop a totem that protects anyone who uses it from death. Instead of getting killed or downed, youâ€™ll return to the totem with 20 health.

His second so-called shadow stance features the following abilities:

Passive: Infiltrator â€“ Climb walls higher and crouch walk faster
Shadow Walk â€“ Walk silently and faster for 6 seconds. Cooldown resets on kill.
Shadow Step â€“ Send out a shadow Revenant. Press (button) again to teleport to shadow. Cooldown resets on kill.
Shadow Door â€“ Create a doorway through walls. Lasts 5 seconds.

Early leaks have referred to Revenant as a Simulacrum, a race of robot from Respawn’s Titanfall series. While they are still robotic, unlike Pathfinder, they do have a human consciousness of sorts, making them akin to super soldiers.
Despite all these leaks, it is unlikely that we’ll be seeing a new Legend until the end of Season 3 or early Season 4 in late 2019 or early 2020.
In the meantime, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei.


Xbox & LG Electronics Team Up For OLED TV Gaming Goodness

The Xbox Series X and PS5 are the next steps in 4K 60fps and 120fps gaming fidelity, assuming you can afford the whole shebang. With 4K TV prices going down to a reasonable rate, it’s probably a good idea to start future-proofing your entertainment.
Luckily, TV-making company LG Electronics and Xbox are in an exclusive marketing partnership to “highlight the phenomenal gaming experience of the widely-anticipated Xbox Series X console and LG OLED TV in key markets across Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific”. How will they do that? By making LG OLED TVs the official TV partner of the Xbox Series X.
Basically if you have an Xbox Series X console, the LG OLED TV will be the perfect “market” choice for 4K 120fps gaming. These LG TVs will include the following features to complement the giant rectangular monolith, apart from the 4K 120fps thing:

Ultra-fast 1ms response time with low input lag,
Support for the latest HDMI specifications including Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and enhanced return audio channel (eARC),
Four ports ready to support these hot sexy features,
new HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) profile support, which means realistic cinematic cutscenes with accurate colour and no oversaturation nonsense,
Eye Comfort Display-certified OLED panels that will not strain your eyes, because we do play games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Yakuza: Like A Dragon for ungodly amounts of time in 4K.
OLED panels that are also verified by Underwriters Laboratory, meaning they are flicker-free and low blue light-emitting TVs that won’t pose photobiological hazard to your precious sight.

There’s also the option to set the screen up to your high-end PC to reap these benefits, assuming you have a spare RM6,000 to do just that. But since you probably don’t and have more sense to spend less for more, this LG and Xbox Series X combo will do your 4K home entertainment setup a lot of good. For more on Xbox Series X, do check out our review of the console.Â


Xbox Disputes UK’s Claim On Call Of Duty Exclusivity Impact

Microsoft has reportedly told the UK’s anti-trust regulator that the potential impact of Call of Duty’s exclusivity to Xbox platforms has been overestimated.
The Xbox firm commissioned a YouGov survey in January, which found that only 3% of all PlayStation players would switch to Xbox if Call of Duty was made exclusive to Xbox. This contradicts the study conducted by DJS Research in December 2022 on behalf of the CMA, which claimed that around 15% of “avid Call of Duty PlayStation players” would switch to Xbox.
Rima Alaily, the corporate VP of Microsoft’s Competition Law Group, said that Call of Duty was “too small to hurt Sony’s ability to compete and too small to make a withholding strategy profitable for Xbox.”
Microsoft has repeatedly stated that it makes no business sense to take Call of Duty off of PlayStation. In addition to this, Microsoft announced last month that it had signed a 10-year legal agreement to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms should the merger be approved. The company also confirmed a 10-year partnership with Nvidia to bring Xbox PC games, including Call of Duty, to the cloud gaming service GeForce Now.
Furthermore, Microsoft recently claimed that it had offered Sony a 10-year, legally enforceable contract to make each new Call of Duty game available on PlayStation the same day it comes to Xbox, with full content and feature parity.
Despite Sony’s refusal to accept the offer, Microsoft President Brad Smith said last week that he remains hopeful of striking a deal with PlayStation. The CMA’s final report ruling on the Activision Blizzard deal is expected to be released by 26 April, one day after the new EU deadline.


PUBG Mobile Teams Up With Malaysian Film Franchise KL Gangster

On the final day of the 2022 PMPL SEA Championship Spring, PUBG Mobile, popular mobile game in Southeast Asia, teased an exciting upcoming collaboration with Malaysian blockbuster film franchise KL Gangster. This marks PUBG Mobile’s first local film collaboration in the country.
A 30-second teaser video was released, with veteran actors Syamsul Yusof and Dato’ Aaron Aziz reuniting to reprise their roles as Shark and Malek. The teaser video was filmed at Petaling Street, the iconic battleground from the KL Gangster film. From the teaser video, fans of both PUBG Mobile and KL Gangster can anticipate that something extraordinary will be launched in-game in July 2022 and can stay tuned for the full live action trailer soon.
The partnership between PUBG Mobile and KL Gangster is the first of many other upcoming local collaborations which will be unveiled later in the year.   Notably, this is also the third time the swoon-worthy heartthrob Dato’ Aaron Aziz is featured on PUBG Mobile since the Infection Mode and PUBG Mobile x Arcane, the Netflix series collaborations.
For more information, visit PUBG Mobile’s official social media pages:

Facebook: PUBG MOBILE Malaysia
Facebook: PUBG MOBILE Esports Malaysia
YouTube: PUBG MOBILE Malaysia
Instagram: @pubgmobilemyofficial


Metronomik Is Working On Next Game; No, It’s Not No Straight Roads 2

Metronomik has announced that they are already working on a new game during a live stream to celebrate their first-year anniversary of No Straight Roads.
During the live stream, Metronomik CEO Wan Hazmer confirmed that the Malaysian developer’s next game will be a brand new IP and it won’t be No Straight Roads 2.
He doesn’t reveal any other details about the game, but they did reveal two new pieces of artwork for the untitled new game.

No Straight RoadsÂ is available now for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via theÂ Epic Games Store. You can check outÂ our full review ofÂ No Straight RoadsÂ here.
During the same live-stream anniversary video, Wan Hazmer also announced No Straight Roads Encore Edition for Steam.
You can check out the announcement during the live stream below:


Valorant Champions Tour 2022: Last Chance Qualifiers – Dates & Teams

VCT Champions is just over a month away, and with it on the horizon, means that for some teams, this will be their last chance to play on the international stage for the rest of the Valorant season.
But in fact, there are six slots remaining, one for each region, so I’m going to give you a rundown of the dates and teams competing for a chance to take a piece of the prize pool.

ASIA-PACIFIC
DATE: 1–7 AUGUST
STREAMS: Twitch / YouTube / Facebook
TEAMS:

Bleed eSports – Singapore
ONIC Esports – Indonesia
BOOM Esports – Indonesia
Made in Thailand (MiTH) – Thailand
Team Secret – Philippines
Fancy United Esports – Vietnam
Griffin E-Sports – Hong Kong
CERBERUS Esports – Vietnam
Alter Ego – Indonesia
ORDER – Australia

Favourites to qualify from the APAC region are Bleed and ONIC. Bleed has been slowly developing over the past few months with the additions of the Swedish duo of Jacob “pyth” Mourujärvi and Max “maxie” Lönnström coming from Counter-Strike. After a slow start in Challengers, they managed to secure themselves enough circuit points to be the top-seeded team going into the APAC LCQ.

Two other teams you shouldn’t leave out of the question are BOOM Esports and Team Secret. Although BOOM has always been second to ONIC in Indonesia, given the right circumstances, they may be able to finally take their Indonesian brethren down. Team Secret representing the Philippines is not to be taken lightly either. Filipinos have proven that they can prevail under pressure which makes them viable contenders to take down Bleed and ONIC.

SOUTH AMERICA
DATE: 6–14 AUGUST
STREAMS: Twitch / YouTube / Trovo
TEAMS:

Ninjas in Pyjamas – Brazil
Keyd Stars – Brazil
FURIA Esports – Brazil
TBK Esports – Brazil
KRÜ Esports – Chile
FUSION – Columbia
E-Xolos LAZER – Columbia
9z Team – Argentina

KRÜ Esports are probably the favourites to win, at least on paper. They’ve participated in both Masters this year and plan to keep their international attendance perfect.

In Brazil, it’s only really between Ninjas in Pyjamas and Keyd Stars. Over the past two stages, NiP have only just scratched by over Keyd Stars, beating them 3–2 twice and 2–0 once. So it could be very possible that this may be the turning point for Keyd Stars and may perhaps summon whatever they need to take down NiP.

NORTH AMERICA
DATE: 7–14 AUGUST
STREAMS: Twitch / YouTube
TEAMS

The Guard – United States
FaZe Clan – United States
NRG – United States
Shopify Rebellion (formerly Luminosity Gaming) – United States
Cloud9 – United States
100 Thieves – United States
Evil Geniuses – United States
Sentinels – United States

Probably one of the most competitive LCQ regions, North America is jam-packed with possibilities and anyone can come out on top. The most anticipated lineup is definitely Sentinels with their acquisition of Michael “shroud” Grzesiek and Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro. With Counter-Strike legend and streaming sensation shroud now on the lineup, fans cannot wait to see this already talented roster compete against North America’s best.

The Guard is also another team to look out for. Having competed in Masters Reykjavík, they have proven to be a force to be dealt with, especially because of their star player Trent “trent” Cairns.

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
DATE: 7–14 AUGUST
STREAMS: Twitch / YouTube
TEAMS

G2 Esports – Mixed
Guild Esports – Sweden
Team Liquid – Mixed
M3 Champions (formerly Gambit Esports) – Russia
Acend – Mixed
BBL Esports – Turkey
Natus Vincere – Russia
OG LDN UTD – Lithuania

Again, another extremely competitive region, EMEA has plenty of teams that can qualify for Champions which makes it all that much harder to decide. Guild Esports is probably the most reasonable pick as they just attended Masters Copenhagen and performed pretty decently, placement aside.

G2, Team Liquid, M3 and Acend are all viable contenders, with G2 and Liquid being fan-favourites as they have Oscar “mixwell” Cañellas Colocho and Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom representing them respectively.

EAST ASIA
DATE: 8–14 AUGUST
STREAMS: Twitch / YouTube
TEAMS

Maru Gaming – South Korea
DAMWON Gaming – South Korea
On Sla2ers – South Korea
Northeption – Japan
Crazy Raccoon – Japan
REJECT – Japan
EDward Gaming – China
KONE – China

For the East Asian LCQ, things are kind of up in the air at the moment as this will be the first time we will have Chinese teams compete against other regions. We’re yet to see if they will hold up against the likes of Korea and Japan. On paper, Northeption is the favourite as they also have just attended Masters Copenhagen and will be looking to compete on the international stage once again.

EDward Gaming is coming in as the number one seed from China but because are yet to see them compete internationally, there’s no telling how they will fair. Domestically, KONE has been the only one who have been able to give EDG a run for their money, but each time, EDG has come out on top.


Adult Swim Orders New FLCL Series Despite The Past Sequels Not Being Fan-Favourites

To celebrate the birthday of Gainax anime series wunderkind FLCL, Adult Swim will be gifting Toonami with two new sequels to the hit 2003 series.
The new FLCL series will be called FLCL: Grunge and FLCL: Shoelace. Check out the clip of Haruko with her sword below:

FLCL: Grunge Coming 2023 pic.twitter.com/TzxSieK7Lr
— adult swim (@adultswim) March 17, 2022

Let’s not forget that FLCL had two sequels made back in 2018: FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative. The majority of fans did not like the two sequel seasons because it’s basically a rehash of the original 2003 anime series but with worst jokes. Even the FLCL Grunge logo looks like it was “inspired” by an existing Studio Trigger anime show, but we’ll wait for the full shows until we can fully judge it.

No release dates for the two new FLCL seasons have been announced yet.


Genshin Impact’s Latest Update Changes Up Resin System; Fans Are Split

Genshin Impact, the game that everyone is still playing and doing humblebrags with their gachas, just received a new update. Dubbed 1.1, this update adds the following:

Reduces the amount of Original Resin required to complete the weekly battle pass challenge from 1600 to 1200,
Increases the amount of Resin from 120 to 160.

Sounds good, right? Well, the changes are causing quite a stir. The recharge rate is still slow, and 40 more Resin just means a couple more domains.

I mean 40 more resin just means 2 more domains or 1 extra boss a day which can be done in under 10min. This solves nothing. If you added the 40 and reduced the timer to 4 or 2min a resin then you might be onto something but that change is very insignificant in all honesty
— Makenji (@Adjust2Makenji) October 23, 2020

You see Genshin Impact players, literally being given a FREE fleshed out PVE game that will be updated further with additional content and lore, and they're complaining about RESIN?Ayt, please enlighten me where the saltiness is coming from. (2/2)
— GLOCO?? (@GLOCOgaming) October 23, 2020

Comment from discussion SkyWhiteTree’s comment from discussion "Developer Response to survey (including Resin tweak!)".

Comment from discussion Graficat’s comment from discussion "Developer Response to survey (including Resin tweak!)".

For those who think it's a bad design: IT'S A PART OF MOST IF NOT ALL GACHA GAMES!!
Regular gacha games just make you spend your stamina and be done with it, and that's totally normal.  I know people want to spend more time playing Genshin, but please be more civilized smh.
— ????@tama (@pgilergpow) October 23, 2020

Then again, it’s a free RPG you don’t have to pay money for if you’re thrifty enough. And as the last Twitter comment pointed out, gacha games are just built that way, much like fat-bottomed girls and US elections.
For more on Genshin Impact, check out our post-Prologue guide.


Google Stadia Connect News To Surface Days Before E3 2019

Can’t wait to find out more about Google Stadia a few days before the biggest video game announcement week? Yeah, us either, yet here we are.
Google just posted its upcoming game stream service presentation on its Stadia Twitter page. It’s set for 6th June 9am PT/7th June 12am GMT+8 (midnight, a minute after 6th June 11:59pm) and will reveal new games, launch information, and pricing.

Some news can't wait for #E3.
Tune into the first ever #StadiaConnect this Thursday 6/6 at 9AM PT for exciting announcements, games, and more ? https://t.co/dKmKakQeQp pic.twitter.com/mZRagFGh4k
— Stadia ??? (@GoogleStadia) June 3, 2019

Sounds good and all, especially if it’s a presentation to shut the skeptics up. However, this recent tweet from online game journalists and critics about the recent Google server shutdown does set a precedence that the company will need to go above and beyond to convince a lot of us.

Can't wait to buy all my games on Google Stadia https://t.co/bwkV5usmS1
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) June 2, 2019


Street Fighter V’s In-Game Ads Feature Makes NASCAR Vehicles Look Like van Gogh

A few days ago, Capcom announced the “sponsored content” option starting 11 December where players can obtain additional Fight Money (the currency you use to buy characters and stuff) in Ranked and Casual Matches. Sponsored content/ads will be on fighter’s costumes, on the loading screen before a fight, and on stages like the Ring of Power. Oh, and you can play the game for free from now until 19 December (PST).
Thankfully, you can turn these off because this level of shilling is pretty bad, especially in the fighting game circuit where it’s commonplace during major tournaments.
Just look at these characters and tell me the gaudy blue-and-white stickers don’t ruin the aesthetics.

Going into training mode YOOOOO LOLhttps://t.co/OaO4oOoRPy pic.twitter.com/Ds0CBJjaP1
— PRO7OTYPE (@prototypeoflife) December 11, 2018

Even Dhalsim’s baby skulls and Akuma’s heaven kanji are not safe from the power of the CPT shill. So much for keeping SF’s iconic looks and poses sacred. Can you imagine seeing another sponsor’s logo on the same spots? Playing as Akuma and landing his Raging Demon feels less impactful when he turns his back to reveal a HyperX/Red Bull/Monster logo.
The sad thing about this is that it’s the possible state of things to come. Street Fighter V was built as a US$60 game with additional DLC and expansions that unfortunately come with extra price tags. If Street Fighter V was a free-to-play game, then the ads do make sense. As it stands, it’s just Capcom finding new ways to keep the game on life support as well as to recuperate from the loss sales in the fifth game, which is still under the shadow of its predecessor Street Fighter IV.
I do hope Capcom knows what it’s doing with this sponsored content idea, because it’ll be pretty weird to see Cammy, Abigail, and Chun-Li brandishing Burger King/Domino’s/KFC ads next year. Again, kudos to the company for giving us the ability to turn it off.


Major New Features In The Apex Legends Christmas Update

The time has come for our first over Apex Legends Christmas event. In case you guys didn’t notice, Apex Legends was just released in February this year and it’s already become one of the best battle royale experiences out there.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsncIyRKS40&w=560&h=315]
Mirage’s Holo-Day Bash Collection Event has arrived. It’s time for everyone to celebrate the holiday season in the way that everyone’s favourite narcissist, Mirage, enjoys most. Not too long ago, Respawn rolled out an update to increase the level cap and now players can use that opportunity to earn new Christmas-themed skins and other cosmetics.
The main attraction of the Holo-Day Bash Collection Event is the Winter Express Limited Time Mode. Three squads compete to capture the World’s Edge train but this time it moves in a smaller radius to ensure that you’re never too far from the action. No looting needs to be done in this mode as all Legends spawn with a custom pre-determined loadout that’s changed daily.

Every major Apex Legends update comes with new challenges and a bunch of new cosmetics to unlock. This time, players have the chance to get two Legendary weapon skins plus other cool stuff. The Legendary skins are for the G7 Scout and the L-Star EMG.

Mirage’s name in the event title isn’t just for show. The Town Takeover happening this time bring Mirage’s party boat to World’s Edge. Called the Mirage Voyage, players can come on board to check out the hologram hedonist’s hot tub, dance floor, and other attractions.

The best part of this event is arguably the event limited Legend skins that you can unlock or purchase. We’ve got Caustic playing Santa, Octane blasting his way as Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, Pathfinder in his most jolly paint job yet, plus many others.

Unlock all 24 Holo-Day bash Collection Pack Items and you’ll get the Pathfinder Heirloom set. It’s a pair of boxing gloves that also Pathfinder’s signature emoji and image displays on its wrists and back. Don’t worry if you can’t get them during the event, they’ll still be available as an Apex Pack bonus after the even ends.

The cherry on top of the Holo-Day Bash Collection Event is the return of another Double XP Weekend. From 13 December to 16 December 2019, everyone will earn double XP on all XP except for Battle Pass challenge Star rewards. The bonus affects both Account Level and Battle Pass progression.
Mirage’s Holo-Day Bash Collection Event runs from 12 December 2019 to 7 January 2020. For more information on the update and its new features, check out the official news update from Respawn Entertainment.


Will The Last of Us Part 2 Have Future Multiplayer DLC?

The incredibly divisive The Last of Us Part 2 turned heads and wowed critics back in 2020; I myself am not a fan but my fellow writer Alleef loved it. So I’m guessing that others like him might be anticipating the game’s eventual multiplayer mode.
Turns out that whatever multiplayer mode developer Naughty Dog was planning for TLOU 2 might be a battle royale style game. A fan has unearthed some multiplayer assets hidden within the game’s files. YouTuber Speclizer shared a video showing off maps and objects that were intended for the game’s multiplayer mode. These include objects labeled “listen-mode-device”, “collar”, and “handheld TV”. Also, dogs would have played a huge part in the mode.

No word on whether Naughty Dog will release a multiplayer mode for the game, given the game’s current reception from fans and gamers. Which is to say: it’s still kinda rough, to a point where YouTube channel Girlfriend Reviews were sent death threats because of their review and analysis of The Last of Us Part 2. Seriously, get over it and move on. No game is worth this much fanaticism and spite-driven attention.
But hey, if you need a PlayStation-branded multiplayer fix, I heard Sucker Punch has something great going on with its samurai game.


The Best Deals From The Steam Lunar New Year Sale 2022

Gong Xi Fa Cai and Happy Lunar New Year!
Steam is coming in to take all your ang paos with the Steam Lunar New Year Sale that will run from January 27 to February 3. Here are our picks for the best deals and discounts so far during this auspicious Year of the Tiger:
Arma 3 (RM29.75)

Arma is often regarded as the shooterâ€™s shooter. The chess to Call of Dutyâ€™s checkers. This hyper realistic military sim gives players the chance to engage in intense firefights and really feel as if youâ€™re a boots on the ground army grunt, giving you a massive sandbox to explore.
Half-Life Alyx (RM47.50)

Wake up Mr. Freeman. Half Life Alyx is by far the closest weâ€™ll ever get to Half-Life 3 but tells the story of Alyx Vance, close comrade to Gordon Freeman. A game entirely set in VR, it brings you back into City 17 and is set in between the events of the first and second game. Check out why we think the game is a remarkable VR experience.
Marvelâ€™s Guardians of the Galaxy (RM161.85)

Get hooked on a feeling with Marvelâ€™s Guardians of the Galaxy, winner of Video Game Awards 2021 for Best Narrative. A surprise gem from last year, if youâ€™re a fan of the movies – get this. If you enjoy a compelling story with characters youâ€™d die for – GET THIS. The best part of this game is that it stays true to the comics and lets us see the truly weird aspects of the Guardians that the movies missed. Plus, it doesnâ€™t turn Drax or Mantis into a walking joke.
Outer Wilds (RM26.40)

Named Game of the Year 2019 by several outlets, Outer Wilds is Groundhog Day meets Abeâ€™s Oddysee. Set in a small solar system caught in a timeloop, the game has you unravel the mystery and engage with colorful characters as you explore planet to planet.
Sea of Thieves (RM43.55)

Get your sea shanties ready with Sea of Thieves, a multiplayer open world pirate game from the makers of the Fable series. Itâ€™s latest update sees you freeing Captain Jack Sparrow himself and clash swords with the crew of the Flying Dutchman.
The Elder Scrolls Online (RM23.69)

Lost your sweetroll? Well at least you can get TES Online for dirt cheap right now. This MMORPG opens up the world of Tamriel entirely, transcending all games in the past and letting you visit locations from previous games or places that we havenâ€™t seen yet. This makes good timing as you can grind in the meantime before its High Isle expansion releases later in June.
Titanfall 2 (RM29.75)

Almost unanimously (almost) agreed to be the best shooter ever made, Titanfall 2 combines the best movement youâ€™ll ever experience with giant mecha battles. The precursor to Apex Legends, this game has one of the most rewarding and intuitive movement systems in shooters while being set in a futuristic warring world.
Dead Space Trilogy (RM19.75)

Dead Space is an essential play if youâ€™re a fan of the survival horror genre. The atmosphere of the USG Ishimura was unforgettable at the time, with a neat HUD thatâ€™s part of the players body. This gives you the perfect chance to stomp some necromorphs aggressively before the remake comes out later. Do note, each game is priced separately.
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (RM121.87)

Return to the world of Pandora as a new team of Vault Hunters. The Ultimate Edition includes the Season Pass for both seasons, basically including all the content available in the game with more bonuses.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (RM16.83)

This beautiful and critically acclaimed Metroidvania combines demanding 2D platformer gameplay with hand-drawn art that will definitely make you pause to enjoy the view. This is THE game that Sony fanboys wished they had.


PUBG Mobile Is Collaborating With Polis Evo 3 To Bring Us Operasi Evo

The highly anticipated Polis Evo 3 is finally here, and it’s causing quite a buzz! And you know what’s even better? PUBG Mobile, that insanely popular mobile game, is teaming up with Polis Evo 3 to give fans and players some exclusive goodies and voice packs.
Starting today until 4 June, you can dive right into the action-packed Operasi Evo Event within the game itself. By taking part, you’ll have the chance to score the official Polis Evo 3 voice packs featuring Inspektor Khai and Inspektor Sani. Oh, and did I mention that the catchy tune “AYUH,” the official soundtrack of Polis Evo 3, will be playing as the Game Lobby Music when you launch PUBG Mobile? Talk about getting fully immersed in the experience!
On top of the voice packs and epic music, you can also grab some cool rewards like Profile Frames, Profile Pictures, and even a Graffiti Spray to complete the whole set. It’s like a treasure trove of Polis Evo goodness.
Below is an overview of all the available items from PUBG Mobile X Polis Evo 3:

Operasi Evo (27 May – 4 June)

Mission

Reward

Login 1 Day

Lobby Music – AYUH (OST Polis Evo 3)

Stay online for 30 Mins

Profile Frame + Profile Picture

Complete 3 Matches with friends

Graffiti Spray

Finish 7 Times in the Top 5

Inspektor Sani (Basic Edition) – 3 Voicelines

Eliminate 30 Enemies

Inspektor Khai (Basic Edition) – 3 Voicelines

Inspektor Khai & Inspektor Sani Voice Packs (27 May – 30 June)

Item

Requirement

Inspektor Khai (Enhanced Edition) – 8 Voicelines

80 Ocean Crystals

Inspektor Sani (Enhanced Edition) – 8 Voicelines

80 Ocean Crystals

Adil Hisham, the Marketing Manager for PUBG Mobile in Malaysia, couldn’t contain his excitement, saying, “We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Polis Evo 3 for this special in-game event. With Polis Evo 3 being the third instalment of the hugely popular franchise, this collaboration brings the PUBG Mobile community together, just like the bond between Inspektor Khai and Inspektor Sani.” It’s all about building that camaraderie, folks!
To make things even more exciting, PUBG Mobile has released an official collaboration video across their social channels. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it. In the video, you’ll see our favourite crime-fighting duo in action, on a mission to defuse a bomb. And guess who makes a special cameo appearance? Yep, none other than a PUBG Mobile character, joining forces with our “supercops” on their daring adventure.
While you gear up for your own thrilling missions on PUBG Mobile, don’t forget to catch Polis Evo 3 in cinemas right now. As of now, the movie has already made a whopping RM3.4 million in early screenings and sales on its premiere day. So, you know it’s gotta be good!


What’s It Like Being An Anime Maid In Malaysia?

On this special Kakuchopurei full interview, we go online with marketeer & musician Eunice Yin and find out what’s it like playing a maid in a cafÃ© set in Malaysia.
Is it any different than in Japan? Find out!

Timestamps:
2:00 – How it began
5:33 – La Petite Fox CafÃ©
6:30 – What’s it like being an anime maid in Malaysia?
9:25 – How she deals with troublemakers & newcomers
11:45 – Role-switching in maid cafes (tsundere, ara ara, moe, ojou)
14:20 – Selling the idea
16:29 – What she learned from cosplaying as a maid
18:56 – Why she loves doing this
21:15 – Chobits
SUBSCRIBE to us for more thought-provoking videos like these. We post new insights every Wednesday & Friday.


The Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time Remake Has Been Delayed… Again

TheÂ Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time RemakeÂ was initially announcedÂ during the Ubisoft Forward showcase in July 2020. Developed by Ubisoft Pune and Ubisoft Mumbai, it was supposed to release for the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store on 21 January 2021, but was then revealed to have been delayed to 18 March 2021.
Now, Ubisoft has announced that the game has been delayed indefinitely to an unconfirmed date.
Check out the message in full below (via Gematsu):
HelloÂ Prince of PersiaÂ fans!
Since announcingÂ Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time RemakeÂ in September, we saw an outpouring of feedback from you on this beloved franchise. It is your passion and support that is driving our development teams to make the best game possible. With that said, we have made the decision to shift the release forÂ Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time RemakeÂ to a later date. This extra development time will enable our teams to deliver a remake that feels fresh while remaining faithful to the original.
We understand the update might come as a surprise and we will continue to keep you posted on the progress ofÂ Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. In the meantime, we want to thank you for your ongoing support.
â€”The Development Team
In the meantime, rewatch the reveal trailer for the game below:


In Remembrance of the Amazing and Strange Steve Ditko

I woke on the morning of 7th July 2018. It was to be the start of another great weekend. Instead, I was greeted by the devastating news of the loss of yet another comic book legend. Steve Ditko had passed away at the age of 90. Most non-comics fans have probably never heard of Ditko since many of Marvel’s iconic characters have always been mostly attributed to Stan Lee alone.
The late Steve Ditko actually played an integral part in co-creating Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, as well as several DC Comics characters. Without Ditko, I can say without hesitation that Spider-Man wouldn’t have been the pop culture icon he is today.
It was the year 1962, and Stan Lee wanted to create a new type of superhero, a character whom teenagers could relate to and identify with. No one at Marvel Comics approved of this idea since superheroes at that time were all adults and teenagers were often relegated to sidekick or assistant status.
Marvel publisher Martin Goodman finally accepted the idea, and only because the Amazing Fantasy comic book anthology series would be ending soon. Lee later asked the legendary late Jack Kirby (creator of the Fantastic Four and many more iconic characters) to design Spider-Man. However, Lee hated Kirby’s designs, citing it as being too “heroic.” Lee then turned to Ditko, whose art he liked.
Yes, Stan Lee had the idea for Spider-Man, but Ditko designed his iconic costume and mask, remaining mostly unchanged almost 60 years later. That’s how timeless and unique Spider-Man’s design is. Ditko was also the one who introduced the concept of Spider-Man’s hidden wrist web shooters and his ability to cling to walls.
These were all essential in making Spider-Man the cultural phenomenon he is today, and it’s all thanks to Ditko. Many of Spider-Man’s iconic villains were also co-created by Ditko, including the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman and the Lizard.
Amazing Fantasy Issue 15 (1962) Spider-Man’s very first appearance.
After Spidey’s success, Ditko helped co-create Doctor Strange. His art was extremely influential in making those early Doctor Strange as trippy and surreal as the sorcerer supreme’s foray into other realms and dimensions. To this day, Ditko’s arguably best and most memorable work remain Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, but those were not his only creations.
He also co-created Squirrel Girl with Will Murray for Marvel. Squirrel Girl will be played by actress Milana Vayntrub in the upcoming animated movie Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors.
Strange Tales Issue 110 (1963) Doctor Strange’s very first appearance.
Ditko also worked for DC Comics, co-creating several fan-favourites which have actually been pretty popular albeit not as widely-known as Spider-Man or Doctor Strange. He co-created Captain Atom and The Question, as well as the superhero duo Hawk & Dove. Even if you’re not familiar with those characters, Captain Atom and The Question were the inspiration for Watchmen characters Doctor Manhattan and Rorschach.
The most recent version of Captain Atom. See the similarities with Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen?
The Question. Doesn’t he look like Rorschach from Watchmen?
Rest in peace, Steve Ditko. Thank you for all your contributions to the comics industry, and for giving us beloved icons that endure half a century later. We will always remember you, alongside other late comic book legends like Jack Kirby, Steve Dillon (co-creator of Preacher) and countless others.


Historical RTS War Hospital Deploys This August

During Nacon Connect 2023, Nacon and Brave Lamb Studio announced that historical simulation and RTS War Hospital will launch for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on 31 August 2023.
In the game, players control a British WW1 field hospital in a 3D isometric RTS where you lead the medical corps instead of soldiers. Fight for life, soul, and humanity in a world that rejected them in a unique society survival game.
Check out the trailer below:


Gran Turismo PS5 Is Already In Development

The Gran Turismo racing game franchise has been a PlayStation exclusive stronghold since 1997 and that’s going to continue with Sony’s next-gen console. While GT Sport was pretty much considered a low point for the franchise, developer Polyphony Digital is planning a comeback.
In an interview with gtplanet, Gran Turismo series creator Kazunori Yamauchi said that elements of GT Sport will be evident in the upcoming new Gran Turismo game for the PS5, whether it be Gran Turismo 7 or GT Sport 2.

â€œI think in terms of races themselves and physics GT Sport has really reached the best place that weâ€™ve ever reached â€“ weâ€™re at a very good place.
On the other hand, obviously weâ€™re working on the next Gran Turismo already, and the world of sport weâ€™ve achieved through GT Sport is something Iâ€™ve always imagined to be the future of Gran Turismo.
We were able to establish that now.â€

However, Yamauchi isn’t forgetting the past installments ofÂ Gran Turismo, which many fans still fondly remember. The lack of a singleplayer experience and always-online mechanic in GT Sport were lamented by many fans.

â€œI think the next title that weâ€™re going to create will be a combination of the past, present, and future â€“ a complete form of Gran Turismo.”

Gran Turismo 7 or GT Sport 2 will also be utilizing more VR tech than ever before.

â€œThe first thing thatâ€™s going to be affected by more power is VR.
I donâ€™t think that thereâ€™s anything else that requires that much processing power.
I really like VR; Iâ€™m one to believe in the possibilities of it, and itâ€™s very suited for a driving game.”

From the sound of it, Gran Turismo 7 or GT Sport 2 is all but confirmed for the PS5.


Resident Evil 2 Is A REmarkable REmake Of A Classic

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Survival Horror, Action, Third-Person Shooter

Resident Evil, once the mighty giant of the survival horror genre, has faltered in recent years, only recently re-establishing itself again after 2017’s Resident Evil 7. With the Resident Evil 2 remake, has Capcom managed to build on that momentum or is it another Resident Evil 6?
With my heart pounding out of my chest as I write this review (fresh off completing the game in just two days), I’m happy to say I am more than impressed with Resident Evil 2, especially considering that I’m apparently one of the few reviewers who’ve never played the original.
Yes, it’s true, the Resident Evil 2 remake is my first time experiencing the classic title, and with that comes a different perspective. Is the new Resident Evil 2 just nostalgia bait for older gamers, or can first-timers also enjoy the game without all the sentiment?
I can answer that question. My favorite title in the franchise is Resident Evil 4, so that’ll be my biggest point of reference.
Returning To Survival Horror Roots

The premise of Resident Evil 2 is simple enough. Players can choose between Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, as they enter Raccoon City just as a zombie virus outbreak begins. Leon is there to start his new job as a police officer while Claire is looking for his brother, Chris.
Both plots intersect in several ways throughout the storyline, though the player’s choices don’t actually affect anything, no matter which character they start with or what actions they take during their playthrough. The ending remains the same.
The Resident Evil franchise may have been more laughably campy than genuinely scary over the years, but Resident Evil 2 is here to change that. Its tone is dead-serious and grim from the offset beginning of the game, and it never lets up, with only the occasional scraps of humor when the protagonists spout banter.
The first time I entered the police station was filled with tension and desperation, as I scrambled to get from one room to the next room. Every door or window could mean a grotesque creature waiting to eat my guts, adding to my sense of dread. No place feels safe, even (ironically) the safe rooms at times.
Something’s Lurking In The Dark

The atmosphere in Resident Evil 2 is creepy and tense, which can be attributed to the new RE Engine. The incredible new engine, which was first utilized in 2017’s Resident Evil 7, is responsible for the game’s photo-realistic graphics, fluid animations, and impeccable lighting. Leon and Claire have never looked better, and it shows.
Armed with only a flashlight and a gun at the very beginning, the dark has never been more frightening. With zombies lurking on every corner in the darkest places, the atmospheric lighting elevates the game even more, as players are forced to tread lightly, lest they wake up an undisturbed zombie lying in wait.
The sound designers have also done an excellent job in Resident Evil 2. The nearby thudding of heavy thundering footsteps would often leave me running in fear or stuck in place, as they signal the arrival of the unkillable Mr. X or the Tyrant.
The sudden sound of hissing and scratching on the walls would have me prepare my best weapon (or escape plan) as it indicates the presence of a Licker. Every little sound would make me jump out of my skin.
Learning From Resident Evil 4

Gone are the fixed camera angles and tank controls of classic Resident Evil games. In its place, Resident Evil has not only co-opted the successful over-the-shoulder perspective of Resident Evil 4 but also improved on it by making it possible for players to actually move while aiming. It makes for a much smoother and less frustrating gameplay experience.
Conserving your ammo and resources, as well as determining which items should be in your meager inventory is a stressful endeavor. In Resident Evil 2, zombies are more resilient and difficult to kill, as some may need more than three shots to the head before they really die.
In fact, the only way to make sure a zombie stays dead is when it doesn’t have its head anymore.
There’s a lot of quality-of-life improvements in Resident Evil 2, many of which are welcome additions that may players will appreciate. For example, key items that no longer have any further use will be marked with a red tick, indicating that they can then be safely discarded without any consequences.
I also like that the map marks every item that you find, so that you can come back and grab it again without worrying about forgetting where it is. This is helpful because players will often find themselves without a vacant spot in their inventory, which means that they’ll have to come back for those items later when they actually have spare space.
Though some gamers may find backtracking tiresome and tedious, that’s always been a feature of classic Capcom survival horror games in the past. I don’t mind it because there’s always a reason to go back to places I’ve gone before, and the game rewards me for it. The puzzles in Resident Evil 2 are also a pleasure to solve. They remind me of puzzles from older games where the player actually feels ‘smart’ and satisfied after solving it, and not just annoyed to the point of resorting to searching the solution online.

Admittedly, Resident Evil 2 would have been even better if it borrowed just a few more elements from Resident Evil 4.

I miss having unlimited use with knives (though that can actually be unlocked in Resident Evil 2 by shooting all the Mr. Raccoon statues hidden throughout the game), as well as the ability to melee a zombie while it’s staggering.
However, I understand that these would have diminished the game’s horror survival mechanics and bring it closer to the heavy action themes of later (past?) titles.
Run, Leon, Run

About halfway through the game, Resident Evil 2 threatens to fall into complacency, as ammo/resources pile up and the player feels more confident. Just as this happens, Mr. X (or the Tyrant) comes crashing into the picture to overturn that dynamic. No longer could players take their own sweet time exploring like they did during the game’s first hour or two. Since he cannot be killed, the only option is to run and hide.
Simple things like trying to pick up a vital key item or precious much-needed ammo will need to put aside when Mr. X barges in like an uninvited guest.

Just like Resident Evil 3’s Nemesis, he is an unstoppable, relentless, and persistent force. Frankly, he does become more of a nuisance than a threat when the only thing I wanted was to complete a puzzle, and here comes the Tyrant to disrupt my plans.

The Resident Evil 2 remake propels the beloved classic into the future and the continued resurgence of its survival horror roots in a modern era two decades after the fact.
Old fans can appreciate the fact that their game has been recreated with better graphics and updated gameplay mechanics, while newcomers can still experience what made the game legendary in the first place in an excellent, refurbished package.
Here’s to prove that I really did complete Resident Evil 2 (2019) and received the true ending, unlike that other big publication *cough*.

Pros:

Return to the franchise’s survival horror roots
Genuinely scary and filled with tense moments
Atmospheric and spooky
Gameplay improvements, taking the best of Resident Evil 4
Mr. X (or the Tyrant) adds an unexpected dynamic

Cons:

Could have been a bit longer in length (though it’s not exactly lacking in content or replayability)

Final Score: 90/100
Resident Evil 2 was reviewed on a Dell Inspiron 7577 laptop, via a review copy (PC) courtesy of Capcom.


The Internet Reacts To The Super Mario Bros. Animated Film Voice Cast

Earlier this morning, Nintendo announced the voice cast for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. animated film that’s being produced and animated by Illumination. Here’s the list in case you missed it:

Chris Pratt as Mario
Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach
Charlie Day as Luigi
Jack Black as Bowser
Keegan-Michael Key as Toad
Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong
Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong
Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek
Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike
Surprise cameos from Charles Martinet

Naturally, Twitter and the video game community were up in arms about the casting choice. Here are a few choice words from them, all snark-filled:

what timeline are we living in
— Among Us (@AmongUsGame) September 23, 2021

ayy did ur account get hacked or
— Alanah Pearce (@Charalanahzard) September 24, 2021

Italians seeing who is playing Mario & Luigi pic.twitter.com/wopkTIJBDo
— Culture Crave ? (@CultureCrave) September 23, 2021

i have some culturally appropriate suggestions pic.twitter.com/KrnZrZjN6t
— taylor (@_eggnonymous) September 24, 2021

Seth Rogan pic.twitter.com/NiOtRvqthC
— J. Ruggles (@Rugdog) September 24, 2021

We live in a very odd timeline pic.twitter.com/7wkOGqe7Y6
— Star Wyse (@Star_Wyse) September 23, 2021

Some folks are even quick to create their own parody announcement or editing that famous Pepe conspiracy meme:

 pic.twitter.com/EFoIfaw1w0
— Chris Owens (@ocell) September 23, 2021

please make it happen pic.twitter.com/T1pepxrC2V
— molnár ramóna ?????? (@RammyMolnar) September 24, 2021

Super Mario 3D World (2013) pic.twitter.com/oeaX4bj5WO
— Robin LeBlanc, from work (@TheThirstyWench) September 23, 2021

Long story short: it’s a mixed reception. We’ll have to reserve judgement until the trailers and actual movies are out to see if the voices truly fit the characters animated by Illumination.


The Nioh Collection Is Coming To PS5 In 2021

Publishers Koei Tecmo and Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Team Ninja have announced The Nioh Collection for PS5 (which includes both Nioh Remastered The Complete Edition and Nioh 2 Remastered The Complete Edition) as well as Nioh 2 The Complete Edition for PS4 and PC (Steam).
All of the above are slated to launch on 5 February 2021.
Besides that, current PS4 players of Nioh 2 can look forward to the final DLC story for the game, The First Samurai, which is slated to arrive next month on 17 December 2020.

The First Samurai DLC will add more challenging missions and formidable foes, as well as an added difficulty level.

The synopsis for Nioh 2‘s First Samurai DLC reads:
A flash of light from Sohayamaru whisks the protagonist back to the past as a Visitor for the third and final time. They are brought back to the place their mother spoke of when they were very young, the land of the fabled youth that defeated an oni.Otakemaruâ€™s past, the secret of Sohayamaru, and the truth behind the first samurai. All of these mysteries will be revealed, and the protagonistâ€™s long journey will finally come to a climactic end.

These titles will launch on 5 February 2021 to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Nioh franchise:
Nioh 2 The Complete Edition (PS4, PC)Nioh 2 Remastered The Complete Edition (PS5)Nioh Remastered The Complete Edition (PS5)The Nioh Collection (PS5)
Nioh 2 The Complete Edition will allow players to experience the comprehensive Nioh 2 story, including all three of the DLC expansions on the PS4 and PC.
On the PS5, you will be able to experience the complete Nioh 2 adventure in Nioh 2 Remastered The Complete Edition and Nioh Remastered The Complete Edition, both of which are available in The Nioh Collection.
The Nioh Collection on PS5 will support 4K resolution and up to 120FPS, and ultra-fast load times, as well as the ability to transfer your save data from the PS4 versions and pick up where you left on from your older console.

Pre-orders for Nioh 2 The Complete Edition, Nioh 2 Remastered The Complete Edition, Nioh Remastered The Complete Edition and The Nioh Collection will begin on20 November 2020 on the PlayStation Store at midnight according to your local time zone.
There are two ways to upgrade from the PS4 version of Nioh 2:
Players that own Nioh 2 The Complete Edition on PS4 can upgrade to Nioh 2 Remastered The Complete Edition on PS5 at no additional cost. Players that own Nioh 2 on PS4 can upgrade to the base game of Nioh 2 Remastered on PS5, and receive the PS5 version of any DLC expansions they already own on PS4.
Upgrades for physical copies of PS4 versions are only available if you have a PS5 standard edition with a disc drive. To obtain your upgrade, you will need to insert your PS4 game disc into the disc drive, navigate to the Game Hub and select the upgrade offer to download the corresponding digital PS5 remastered version of the game, which you can then play while your PS4 disc is in the drive.
If you purchase a digital copy of PS4 versions of the game, you can simply navigate to the Game Hub on your PS5 console and select the upgrade offer to download the corresponding PS5 remastered version.
It’s worth pointing out that you will need to log into your PS5 console with the same PlayStation Network account that you were using when you purchased the PS4 versions of the game.
Keep in mind that Nioh 2 Remastered as well as the Nioh 2 DLC expansions for PS5 are not available for individual purchase.
Nioh 2 is one of the best Soulsborne action games ever made. You can learn more about why that is in our full review here. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Halo Infinite Development Is Problematic, Says Former 343 Industries Employee

Halo Infinite was originally supposed to launch in Holiday 2020 butÂ has been delayed to sometime in Fall 2021 for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC. It’s known that the development for the game has been problematic, to say the least, with several lead members of the development team leaving the studio since.
Now, more details and information have allegedly come to light thanks to a former 343 Industries employee (Skybox Artist). He shared some insight about the development of Halo Infinite. However, the original video is in Mandarin and was posted on the Chinese social media site Bili Bili.
You can check out his story below, courtesy translations from ResetEra user random0_point:

His overall feeling on Halo Infinite: “In fact, I think the finished product will still be great. The story is a big improvement, and the gameplay is much richer, though the development cycle is too long. Don’t expect it to be an epoch-making masterpiece.”
The company executives were overly ambitious. They wanted to make Halo Infinite a semi-open world game, so the engine needed to be changed significantly. They had to make the game and develop the engine at the same time (due to engine defects, many workflows were not ideal, though they are now much more improved than before).
Last year’s disastrous demo was because many engine features were not fully implemented at that time.
For a variety of reasons, the game content compared to the original idea has been cut (same for multiplayer). “This has led to some things I’ve made over the years that no one will probably ever see.”
The team at 343 (especially the low-level employees) works very hard, and many of them have experienced working overtime until the early hours of the morning in the past few years (crunch confirmed).
Now he works at Certain Affinity, still doing some HI outsourcing work, and he feels good to be out of 343’s baggage.

That’s a lot of stuff to unpack. Basically, the developers at 343 Industries tried to develop both the game and the game’s engine at the same time, which is a gargantuan task that led to even more problems for the game. A lot of content had to be cut and employees were forced to work overtime.
All of this doesn’t bode particularly well for the release of Halo Infinite, whenever that may be. We haven’t seen any new gameplay footage of the game since that awful demo unveiled all the way back in July 2020. The developer has since made several updates to the game’s development, including as recently as March 2021, but now we have more insight into what actually happened behind the scenes.
Let’s hope the final product is worth the wait and all the hard work of the developers at 343 Industries.


A Spoiler-Free Introduction to JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the longest-running manga series out there and a staple name that has been around for the past three decades. The series is popular for its uniquely absurd battles, often depicting supernatural showdowns between good and evil with the most insane gimmicks you could possibly think of.
Though the series has been around for quite a while, it’s also divided into more digestible individual story arcs, with each arc focusing on a different protagonist who takes up the JoJo moniker. Stone Ocean, otherwise known as Part 6 in the series, features Jolyne Cujoh, a young girl who is sent to prison for a murder she did not commit.

With the advent of Part 6’s anime adaptation, it’s understandable that newcomers will wonder whether Part 6 makes for a good entry point into the series.
A Brief History Of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, though, let’s establish some of the things that you should expect from a series like JoJo. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure follows various protagonists from the long lineage of the Joestar bloodline, and each new story arc progresses in chronological order as it follows a new descendant.
Like we mentioned previously, the series thrives on its concept of outrageous battles, where characters are constantly outwitting their opponent through ridiculous means. It can’t be understated that this is a series where beetles do battle, rain can kill, and a game of poker can suck the living soul out of your body.

JoJo originally featured characters using an innate spiritual energy called Ripple to fend off vampiric opponents. However, beginning from Part 3, the series has since moved on to entities called Stands. Stands are the bread and butter of what makes JoJo so popular. These are manifestations of the soul, and each of these entities possess their own special power. As for the kind of powers they have, the world’s your oyster on this front.
From simple traits such as enhanced strength and speed, to wacky powers likeâ€¦ a shape-shifting car, age regression, and more. Part of the fun of JoJo is experiencing all of the crazy things that these Stands can do, and then seeing the creative – and often nonsensical – solutions that our heroes come up with to overcome them. To put it mildly, this isn’t a series where people engage in the usual fisticuffs – far from it.
Is Part 6 Friendly For Newbies?
Considering this is the sixth part of a long-running series, it’s no surprise that some newcomers are hesitant to use it as a launching pad for JoJo. No worries though, you don’t need knowledge of previous parts to enjoy Part 6. There’s some sense of continuity between the parts, and you’ll find cute references here and there to previous stories, but Part 6 is very much newbie-friendly as it is its own standalone story.

Part 6’s story even begins under the assumption that you know nothing about Stands, and slowly introduces the concept as the protagonist Jolyne discovers her newfound powers.
Reasons To Watch Stone Ocean
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s First And Only Female Protagonist
Each part has its own thing that makes it special, and Part 6 is no different. Among the JoJo protagonists, Jolyne is the only female protagonist in the series, and though she starts out a little mellow, she soon evolves into a powerful fighter, with enough sass and willpower to rival even her father, the Stardust Crusader Jotaro Kujo.

As is customary for all JoJo protagonists, Jolyne’s Stand, Stone Free, is a standard close-ranged Stand with both destructive strength and precise speed. Its main ability, however, allows Jolyne to unravel her body into string, which can then be manipulated to slip through small spaces, extend her arms, and much more.
Everyone Loves An Underdog
Stone Free’s ability is fairly simple and straightforward, and might even pale in comparison to other Stand abilities in the series’ history. After all, the power to turn into string? Yeah, how does that work?
The fun, then, comes from seeing how she utilizes her strings to overcome some of the crazier enemy Stands. It’s always fun to root for an underdog, and what Stone Free lacks in the threat department, it makes up for with versatility.
Adding further to the underdog angle is Part 6’s setting. Unlike its predecessors, which often involved treacherous journeys around the world or bizarre incidents in quiet suburbs, the story of Part 6 takes place mostly inside a cramped prison.

But this isn’t an ordinary prison – it’s filled with plenty of other Stand users that Jolyne must survive through. Though Jolyne does eventually find allies, there’s a sense of constant impending danger as Jolyne is trapped in close proximity with other potentially dangerous inmates.
A Diverse Main Cast

Speaking of allies, Jolyne isn’t the only female character in the story. In general, Part 6 features a more diverse gender ratio for its main cast which, at the time when Stone Ocean was being published, was unheard of for a shounen manga.
There’s no doubt that Part 6 is an important series when it comes to representation in support of female-led shounen titles, especially since the author himself, Hirohiko Araki, had pushed for this during the publication of Stone Ocean. In a similar vein, the anime adaptation of Part 6 serves to bring the same topic up again.
Experience The Madness With Friends
Part of the fun of experiencing JoJo has to do with its over-the-top nature characters and ludicrous scenarios. This fun is amplified further when enjoying the series with friends and other like-minded people, where discussions and memes can truly take off in the moment.
For many long-running media, you’re asked to experience all, or some, of the previous content so that you can truly understand the new stuff, but this is only marginally true for a series like JoJo. Part 6 is a mostly standalone romp, and the exaggerated battles are where the series shines anyway, so it’s a perfectly solid entry point if you’re excited to experience the story with friends.
“But what if I still want to know the important bits?”

Alright, if you’re adamant about knowing all of the relevant lore before diving into Stone Ocean, there are a couple of arcs that are relevant to Part 6.
The first is Part 1: Phantom Blood, which follows Joseph Joestar as he faces off against his adoptive brother Dio Brando. There are no Stands here, and a fair amount more vampires, but some of the lore may prove enlightening as it sets the stage for the events of Part 3.Â
Of course, Part 3: Stardust Crusaders is a no-brainer, seeing as it stars none other than Jolyne’s own dad, Jotaro Kujo. In this part, Jotaro embarks on a journey across the world to save his mother from a supernatural affliction. The story arc serves as the series’ first introduction to Stands, while also being intimately related to some of Part 6’s own character and story beats.
Don’t Sweat The Details
With Stone Ocean’s debut on Netflix, this part may very well serve as the gateway into the JoJo series for a lot of newcomers. But even if you don’t know what a Stand is or the significance of certain characters, Part 6 also works as just an extremely “bizarre” prison break story.

And if you like what you see, then the series isn’t short of other parts that you can check out, each featuring a different protagonist that, like Jolyne, sport their own unique powers and circumstances.


What We Want To See In The Upcoming X018 Event This November

Good old Microsoft recently announced their big gaming event called X018. To quote it’s a “global celebration of all things Xbox” that will take place from 10th to 11th November at the fourth annual Xbox FanFest in Mexico City.
The online showcase will feature “news, first looks, and surprises live streamed on the largest Inside Xbox Episode ever.” This special episode will air on 11 November atÂ  5am GMT+8 time (ie this Sunday), and will last two hours.
Basically, that’s 120 minutes of new content and new game announcements from Xbox. We want to have our socks blown and our minds wowed. Or was that socks wowed and our minds blown? Doesn’t matter: Xbox needs to show us games, hardware, and news that makes us look forward to their gaming future because PlayStation has won this generation.
They need to remind everyone that they will be prepared for the next cycle and gaming generation. With that said, here’s what I want out of this X018, from the realistic to the insane.
First, let’s do a quick recap of what we’re getting:

News about Forza Horizon 4 content.
Gameplay of Crackdown 3; new stuff.
New State of Decay 2 updates.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s The Forge expansion.
Big news about PUBG.
Project xCloud news.

With that, here’s what we want.
Bring Forward Crackdown 3’s Release Date

We heard that Crackdown 3 will be playable for the folks at New Mexico. But you know what would be really great? If the date for Crackdown 3 was pushed forward from February to, well, January. I’m not asking for much here: how much more tweaking can you do for a game where you destroy and level a city using super-powered cops?
Announce That New Fable Game From Playground Studio

There are rumours brewing concerning the Forza Horizon guys working on a new Fable game. There’s no more Lionhead, so it may not be the same, but dammit I’d like to see how a new Fable will look from these new guys.
Show Us Battletoads Gameplay

This game was teased during E3 2018; it’s high time we see what the hubbub is about. Odds are it’ll be a 3D remastering of the original Battletoads. Or maybe it’ll be an entirely new game done by WayForward in the veins of the Double Dragon Neon game. Except with a better colour palette.
Give Us An Update About Ninja Theory & Their Latest Project

Microsoft announced that one of their exclusive studios is Ninja Theory, the folks behind Hellblade, DMC: Devil May Cry, and Enslaved. We’re very sure they have something cooked up for Microsoft; best they show a glimpse of it to instil some confidence and hope for all them Xbox One owners and Xbox fans.
Give Sea Of Thieves A Meatier PvE Campaign

Sea of Thieves needs a dedicated PvE mode akin to Destiny and Destiny 2. Yeah, we are scrapping the bottom of the barrel for console online ideas here. However, if you give something for Sea of Thieves players to unite against and then reward them with sweet loot, then maybe the game can get its sea legs back.
Even better, tease a revamp that can help make the game last a little longer than what we got previously. Would a “battle royale” mode of Sea of Thieves work? Who knows.
Give Us a “Rebranded” Scalebound

The Platinum Games action title Scalebound was cancelled a while back. That blows, but to be fair the game did look very rough around the edges. But with all these unused assets and engine, it is quite a shame to scrap it all away, right?
We’re hoping Microsoft and Platinum Games can make amends and revamp this project to something more believable and focused and less like an open world action adventure. Just keep the dragons and hipster dragon-slayer vibe; we’re fine with that.


Apollo-Era Sci-Fi Adventure Lifeless Moon Blasts Off This August

Twilight Zone aficionados Serenity Forge (Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!, LISA: Definitive Edition) and part-time explorers Lifeless Worlds revealed a 10 August 2023 release date for the forthcoming sci-fi adventure title, Lifeless Moon, for PC via Steam with console editions to follow early next year.
Lifeless Moon is a gorgeous 3D platformer delicately unfolding a haunting but beautiful story of two astronauts exploring the moon in an Apollo-era mission. Encounter familiar, but otherworldly places that leave them and the player questioning what is real, and where (and when) they might actually be.
Secrets await on the desolate moon, unlocking mysteries that will help you search for truth and survive. Following the footsteps of the explorers who came before you, understanding the trauma that befell them may be the key to your return home – utilize analyzation skills, unravel clues and master completely new technologies as you begin to see your new reality on a grander scale. Players will confront a strange phenomenon and tap into its extraordinary creative powers as they seek to unravel the mystery and learn the truth.
Lifeless Moon is the spiritual successor to Lifeless Planet which sprang from cult hit to almost ten million players over the course of its lifetime. This extraordinary game launches on PC on 10 August 2023.
Keep up with Lifeless Moon by following Lifeless Worlds on Twitter, YouTube and checking out the official website. Stay in the loop on all things Serenity Forge by visiting the team’s website and Twitter page.
Check out the trailer below:


Tens Is Tetris With Maths That’s More Fun Than It Sounds

Platform: PC, Nintendo SwitchGenre: Puzzle, Strategy, Casual
A lot of people hate maths, and that includes me. It stands to reason that someone who dislikes maths or anything involving the calculation would also hate sudoku, that puzzle game with the squares and numbers.
With a description like combining “the tricky number puzzling of Sudoku with Tetris-style block-dropping”, I initially expected to hate Tens by British developer Kwalee with the same passion. Imagine my genuine surprise when I actually enjoyed a game of which *gasp* maths is seemingly at its core.
Sudoku + Tetris = A Potent Combination

At its core, Tens is a simple puzzle game with simple rules. It’s similar to Tetris, but instead of blocks with random shapes, Tens drops dice with random values. Enter the game’s Sudoku inspiration, as the aim of Tens is to place those dice on any square space a five by five board and make sure the total value of those dice in any given row or column equals to ten.
In a basic game of Tens, players score one point for every dice that makes a total value of ten. However, it has to be ten. If the total value of any row or column exceeds ten, they’ll be stuck there until you clear them out by clearing other spaces on the board.
Players lose a game of Tens when they run out of space on the board after getting clogged up by dice (just like Tetris), which happens when too many rows either don’t reach the value of ten or exceeds it.

In practice, the game is very simple, especially at the very beginning. Tens features an Adventure mode, where there are over 70 levels of increasing challenges and even boss battles taking place on various vibrant maps.
The puzzles start out simple, but Tens gradually increases the difficulty by introducing randomness into the board via special squares. Some of these squares on the board can randomly change the value of the dice that you put on it, while others push your dice to the edge of the board in a specific direction.
Most of those 70 levels in Adventure mode involves reaching a particular set amount of points, but the boss battles are when things get intense and fun. During boss battles, I no longer have to reach a high score, but every ten that I make creates a random blocker tile on my opponent’s board. My objective is to create enough block tiles as fast as I can before my opponent does. Whoever runs out of space first loses.

What makes these boss battles fun is the pressure that it puts on me to make rows and columns of tens as fast as I could. The thrill of the boss battles in Tens somehow makes even calculations fun to someone who hates maths like I do.
Seriously, I hate doing manual calculations so much that I always resort to using a calculator for even simple problems involving numbers. Tens has miraculously made me enjoy doing maths (additions and subtractions, at least, and only to a certain extent, of course. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, nothing can make me love maths.)
Before you know it, you’ll be pulling off combos and racking up extra points in Tens. The game isn’t particularly hard, so gamers of all ages can enjoy playing Tens, with the condition that they at least know how to add and subtract.
A Little Accessibility Goes A Long Way

I appreciate the fact that the developers at Kwalee have gone out of their to make Tens accessible to more gamers. In hindsight, it’s not that surprising, considering that Kwalee’s CEO is gaming legend David Darling, who previously founded Codemasters in the 1980s and launched franchises such as Micro Machines.
As you level up in Tens, you’ll unlock more avatars and types of cosmetic dice. You can change how your dice look, and most importantly, Tens offers dice featuring numerical values. If you’re not used to calculating as quickly using normal dice with dots (or pips) on them, you can opt for the one with numerical values instead.
Besides that, Tens also features controller and gamepad support on PC. Despite being a puzzle game, playing Tens with an Xbox controller still felt natural and as seamless as playing it on keyboard and mouse. Kudos to the developers for including all that.
Don’t Like Maths? No Problem

All this talk of maths may put some of you off, but trust me, it’s not as cerebral as something like Sudoku would be. Playing a game of Tens feels more like testing one’s ability to react as fast as they can, and I don’t think you have to be that good at maths to enjoy the game.
That said, the game still involves calculations during gameplay, so if you’d rather not have to do even simple maths while playing a game, then Tens probably isn’t for you. However, if you’re up for a quick brain teaser or two, Tens is a fun and casual puzzle game that’s accessible enough for most people.
Pros
Simple and easy to understand.Puzzles gradually get more challenging with the introduction of random mechanics.Bosss battles in Adventure mode are intense and will test your skill.Accessibility options like dice with numerical values and gamepad support.
Cons
The gameplay involves calculations. If you don’t like maths (even additions and subtractions), here’s your last warning.
Final Score: 80/100


Legends Of Runeterra Seasonal Tournaments Are Coming This December

Riot Games today announced Seasonal Tournaments as part of the Monuments of Power expansion for Legends Of Runeterra, the free-to-play card game set in the League Of Legends universe.
The Monuments of Power expansion for Legends Of Runeterra will feature 40 collectible cards, including 3 champions (Shyvana, Soraka, and Tahm Kench), as well as a variety of new features and content across the game.
The expansion also features a brand new card type; Landmarks, that represent powerful locations in Runeterra and boast unique, game-changing abilities.

Seasonal Tournaments offer players an exclusive competitive experience and will be fully accessible in-game. Seasonal Tournaments will be held at the end of each bi-monthly season, with the first tournament starting on 6 December 2020.
Over the course of two days, the top 1,024 players from each of Legends Of Runeterra‘s four regional servers will have the ability to compete for a grand prize of US$10,000, with the final matches broadcast live around the world.
Additionally, all competitors will have a chance to earn an exclusive card back by winning four matches within the tournament.
Legends Of Runeterra Executive Producer Jeff Jew said:
â€œSeasonal Tournaments are the apex of competition in Legends Of Runeterra, exclusively for the best of the best. We know our players have been eager for an accessible, competitive experience, and we canâ€™t wait to see who comes out on top in the first Seasonal Tournament.â€
Players can qualify for Seasonal Tournaments in one of two ways: Ranked and Gauntlets. Those who place among the top 700 Ranked players on their server at the end of each season will automatically qualify for the tournament.
Through Gauntlets, 324 more players can qualify by being the first to achieve seven wins on their first attempt in the high stakes Last Chance Gauntlet, which also takes into account their performance in previous Gauntlets throughout the season.


A New Princess Peach Game & An Updated Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon Are Coming In 2024

During Nintendo Direct June 2023, Nintendo announced two new Mario spinoff games for Mario fans slated for release on the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2024.
The first is a new game with Princess Peach as the lead playable character. Not much is revealed about the game, but it looks like it will feature side-scrolling and platforming gameplay.

A brand-new game starring Princess Peach is coming to #NintendoSwitch in 2024! Stay tuned for more details. pic.twitter.com/NO3Z5RBt0w
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 21, 2023

The other is a visually enhanced version of Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon, which was originally released on Nintendo 3DS back in 2013. Besides graphical improvements, not much has been revealed about the game.

A visually enhanced version of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, originally released on Nintendo 3DS, is currently in development and coming to #NintendoSwitch in 2024! pic.twitter.com/LieKbYwVXX
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 21, 2023

It’s going to be a good year for Mario fans in 2024.


Blizzard Is Open To Feature Overwatch Heroes In Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Following the upcoming release of Overwatch for Nintendo Switch this October, fans are speculating whether their intrepid FPS heroes and support may make an appearance on Nintendo fighting game Super Smash Bros.
Turns out the Overwatch folks have weighed in on the possibilities. According to an Inverse interview, producers Wes Yanagi and Andrew Boyd said that it would be an awesome thing to do, but it’s really Nintendo’s decision in the end.
“Itâ€™s hard to pick your favourite hero,” said Boyd. “All of them have their own draw in Smash and itâ€™s a really cool idea.”
“[Apart from Tracer] there are any number of characters I would love to see in Smash,” said Yanagi, “but we’ll let Nintendo take care of that!”
Long story short: make it happen, Nintendo and Masahiro Sakurai. Maybe we might see an announcement this November at Blizzcon.Â


Game Ventures Aims To Bring Crowdfunded Bounties To Speed Runners

Ever wanted to speedrun a game but earn daily money out of it? Want to be the person handing out money to whoever can complete your legitimate gaming challenges online without the need to lug around a retro setup to a location? Well, there’s a website like that aims to make speedrun bounties and challenges easy to track and set up.
The site is called Game Ventures, and it’s a platform that brings user-backed bounties to speed and challenge runners for games, no matter the period. Game Ventures aim to make this thrill of winning crowdfunded bounties an everyday occurrence. Founder Eric “Omnigamer” Koziel and business partner Kristopher Cost are helming the project, with the former renowned as a world-class speedrunner under the name Skyblazer.
Yes, it’s the same Skyblazer who held world records for speedrunning Suikoden 2 and Rune Factory 4, as well as the author of the book “Speedrun Science” that details the evolution of speedrunning games. And also one of the many involved heavily with the ever-popular Games Done Quick livestream and charity event.

Here’s the official description:
“Game Ventures takes the idea of accomplishment in video games and creates a unique, user-based marketplace where any gaming fan can create a monetary award for any incremental gaming goal. These goals include completing a game in the fastest time, achieving the highest score, and more.
Users can create Ventures by specifying the goal and rules, then funding a monetary award towards its completion. Once the Venture is listed publicly, other Game Ventures users are able to add to the award and raise the stakes for competition. A small fee is added to each funding contribution to cover platform operational costs and development.”
How It Works
Kakuchopurei was given a hands-off demo of this upcoming revolutionary platform. So far it seems basic and easy to navigate, though that’s mostly because the creators are giving me a walkthrough. Essentially you can make new ventures, donate to an existing venture (either a speedrun or a challenge), or do both.
Say if you want to create a speedrun bounty for Super Mario 64, Ikaruga, or Metal Warriors, just set it up (with the correct rules & stipulations) and have like-minded community folks contribute to the pot. The person with the best submission in the time limit wins.

Game Ventures also has a unique system that allows curative submissions assessment. Just because you’re the first to send over a speedrun doesn’t automatically guarantee you win the pot. The folks behind the venture are able to vet each submission for quality and timeliness. Submissions do need extra layers of proof. And if you don’t have the consoles or physical games to do these challenges, you can use emulations but they need to be the correct settings for the specific game.

If you’re a speedrunner or challenge hound willing to put up bounties, or just want to win money during a time when online activities are plentiful than before, you should check out Game Ventures. The platform will be ready next month in June. A beta will be held for a period of one to two weeks.