The Best Matches From South East Asia Major 2018

Southeast Asian’s fighting game scene takes a step towards the mainstream with the recent South East Asia Major 2018 fighting game tournament.
With titles like Street Fighter V to even upcoming 3D weapons-based epic SoulCalibur VI (out next week BT dubs), this year’s highlights are looking just as exhilarating as this year’s EVO 2018 offerings. Arguably moreso since we have an influx of Japanese players and killers willing to cut their teeth in such a prestigious tournament.
This weekend, we’ll be showing off the best plays and current results from the 13th to 14th of October. So do watch this space for updates!
Gachikun Is Your SEA Major 2018 SFV Asian Finals Winner (14th October)

Everyone is vying to take down last year’s EVO champion Tokido, and this year at SEA Major it’s no different. Just like with BigBird in the Asian Open Premier, Tokido seems to have a problem with turbulent winds. With good reads and a little bit of lapse judgment from Tokido, Gachikun secured a straight victory.
Guess he and BigBird can be best buds in the “I Slayed Tokido” club.
Singapore & Brunei Dominates Top 5 In SoulCalibur VI (14th October)
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Even though the force of nature that is SonicFox is the cream of the crop in SoulCalibur VI, that wasn’t the case in South East Asia Major 2018’s SoulCalibur VI tournament. Singapore’sÂ Shen Yuan used Siegfried to lay the smack down onto SonicFox’s Geralt with great broadsword zoning and footsies.
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On top of that, Brunei’s 0rez (Nightmare) and Singapore’s Shen Chan (Zasalamel) showed their SoulCalibur dominance in the entirety of the tournament. If you want to learn how to play a beginner-killer like Nightmare or an expert-level character like Zasalamel, this SEA Major 2018 brawl is as good as any to start learning tricks.
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Jeondding Wins Tekken 7 Tournament With “Low Tier” Characters

It’s no secret in the Tekken 7 circuit that Eddie Gordo and Lucky Chloe are not exactly S-Tier characters. Korean pro player Jeondding basically took the tier concept and chuck it out the window with his solid play using the aforementioned bottom-of-the-barrel fighters.
He went against the likes of Qudans (Devil Jin), Book (Jin), and The Philippines’ AK (Shaheen). The latter’s fight against Jeondding was one for the ages with so many close calls when the clock had only less than 10 seconds left.
This Crazy SC6 Ring Out… (13th October)
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The less said about the repercussions of Reversal Edge, the better.
Malaysia Kicks Xian Out Of SFV (13th October)
https://www.facebook.com/maxhazePlays/videos/2213348512280420/
Malaysia and Singapore’s great SFV hope, IAmChuan and Xian respectively, have to go toe-to-toe in the loser’s bracket in the SFV Open Premier. With a lot of patience, IAmChuan persevered and got a win out of it. Sure, IAmChuan ended up at 13th place in the end, but during the heat of the moment, it was nice to dream about Malaysia being within the top 10.
At least Xian has the Asia Regional Finals to win face.
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At the very least, Singapore still has its Cammy player Bravery to fight out of loser’s bracket. No pressure.
Tokido’s Many Near-Misses & Clutch (13th October)
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If anything, Tokido is the good kind of try-hard player. Not satisfied with his past achievements, the Akuma player is hungry for more, be it using a Demon Flip mixup to take down Stormkubo’s Abigail or a close comeback against ROF’s Birdie.
NL’s Fancy Moves < Wakeup DPÂ (13th October)
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Mr Toffee’s a scrub in this game, but even he knows an oncoming wakeup DP coming a mile away. Still, NL’s fancy Urien juggling is stuff for the aegis, I mean ages.
Duelling LegendsÂ (13th October)
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It’s nice to see Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong fighting each other in the same type of game, this time in the top 16 bout of Street Fighter V. Check out the tense set between Daigo’s Guile and Justin’s Menat as they use two of the most defensive and footsies-heavy characters in the game.
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DBFZ’s SonicFox Knocked Down To Loser’s Bracket
(13th October)
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Even Android 16’s grapple power is no match for Moke’s Kid Buu shenanigans.
America In Top 8
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DBFZ’s Bardock may be the best offensive character in the game, but even he can’t do a comeback from a single pixel of health in a tournament setting.
BigBird Beats Tokido

It’s a shame BigBird didn’t use Ken here in this fight against EVO 2017 champion Tokido. Still, his Rashid is nothing to scoff at. This is one of those matches where the winner ends up with most of his/her life intact since these fighters capitalize more on momentum and wakeup guesses.
UAE’s BigBird Representing Ken Mains
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With a solid Ken pick, this UAE player hits all the right notes with his mixups, overheads, and Ken mid-level rush play against Mago’s crazy Cammy play. Never underestimate the damage this version of Ken can do.
Results
Street Fighter V Asia Regional Finals (Capcom Pro Tour)
1. Gachikun (Rashid)
2. FOX|Tokido (Akuma)
3. CYG|Fuudo (R. Mika)
4. FD|Fujimura (Ibuki)
5. AB|Chuan (Guile)
5. UYU|NL (Cammy)
7. FAV|Sako (Menat)
7. RZR|Xian (Ibuki)
Street Fighter V Open Premier Results (Capcom Pro Tour)
1. NASR|BigBird (Rashid, Ken)
2. FOX|Tokido (Akuma)
3. CYG|GamerBee (Cammy)
4. CYG|Daigo (Guile)
5. FOX|Justin Wong (Menat)
5. Mago (Cammy)
7. DNG|Itabashi Zangief (Abigail)
7. FAV|Sako (Menat)
9. Bravery (Cammy)
9. Gachikun (Rashid)
Dragon Ball FighterZ Results
1. GGP|Kazunoko (Gotenks, Adult Gohan, Yamcha)
2. Ponos|Moke (Bardock, Kid Buu, Trunks | Cell, Kid Buu, Trunks)
3. CO|Dogura (Kid Buu, Android 16, Cooler)
4. CO|Fenrich (Cell, Bardock, Vegeta)
5. FT|Kaimart (Vegito, Kid Buu, Teen Gohan)
5. FOX|Dekillsage (Adult Gohan, Tien, Android 16)
7. Acqua (Captain Ginyu, Android 16, Tien)
7. FOX|SonicFox (Beerus, Bardock, Android 16)
Tekken 7 Results
1. UYU|Jeondding (Eddy, Lucky Chloe)
2. PBE|AK (Shaheen)
3. Tejan (Asuka)
4. UYU|Qudans (Devil Jin)
5. AR|Book (Jin)
5. COOASGAMES|Noroma (Devil Jin, JACK-7, Law)
7. Yamasa|Nobi (Steve, Dragunov)
7. EQNX|Dimeback (Asuka)
BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle
1. KojiKOG (Waldstein, Tager)
2. Nameless (Ruby, Gordeau)
3. LG|Gouda (Gordeau, Î½ -No.13-)
4. GGP|Kazunoko (Ruby, Gordeau)
5. Tsurugi|Tomorelo (Mai, Gordeau)
5. Llon_Nu13 (Î½ -No.13-, Vatista)
7. CO|Fenrich (Jin, Î½ -No.13-)
7. LG|Ryota (Ruby, Weiss)
Marvel vs Capcom Infinite Results
1. EG NYChrisG
2. Birdee
3. InC Andrew
4. WEBSTA Heartia
5. KX
5. InC VGD
7. InC Meelz
7. ADMY D.R. Fierce
9. 0rez
9. Shaydo
9. Echofox JWong
SoulCalibur VI Results
1. Shen Yuan (Siegfried)
2. FOX|SonicFox (Geralt)
3. 0rez (Nightmare)
4. Saunic (Kilik)
5. Shen Chan (Zasalamel)
5. Nameless (Geralt)
7. Akabane (Zasalamel)
7. Shen Ou (Kilik)


Here Is Your EVO Japan 2020 Stream Schedule [Update]

*This article is still under development since the tournament schedule may not be final and may change at any given time.
EVO Japan 2020 is tomorrow and will feature the best of Japan, Asia, and America duking it out for glory and the top spot in many fighting games.
Said titles include Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, Samurai Shodown, SoulCalibur VI, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. You can read about the prize pool here. If you want to find out what time the matches are for each title, you’ve come to the right place.
All streams are in JST time (1 hour earlier).
Streams
Watch live video from evo on www.twitch.tv
Watch live video from evo2 on www.twitch.tv
Watch live video from evo3 on www.twitch.tv
Day One – 24 January

9:30am – 10:30pm â˜ Super Smash Bros. UltimateÂ Qualification

10:00am – 4:00pm â˜ Samurai ShodownÂ Qualification

10:00am – 7:00pm â˜ Soulcalibur VIÂ Qualification

11:00am – 10:30pm â˜ Blazblue Cross Tag BattleÂ Qualification

12:00pm – 9:00pm â˜ Street Fighter VÂ Qualification

12:00pm – 7:00pm â˜ Tekken 7Â Qualification

16:30 – 19:30 â˜Â Samurai ShodownÂ Semi-Final

19:30 – 22:30 â˜Â Soulcalibur VIÂ Semi-Final

Day Two – 25 January

09:00am – 5:20pm â˜ Super Smash Bros. UltimateÂ Qualification

09:00am – 1:00pm â˜ Tekken 7Â Qualification

09:00am – 11:30am â˜ Blazblue Cross Tag BattleÂ Semi-Final

11:40am – 2:30pm â˜ Soulcalibur VIÂ Final

1:00pm – 3:30pm â˜ Tekken 7Â Semi-Final

1:30pm – 6:30pm â˜ Street Fighter VÂ Qualification

3:20pm – 5:30pm â˜ Samurai ShodownÂ Final

5:20pm – 8:20pm â˜ Super Smash Bros. UltimateÂ Semi-Final

6:20pm – 9:00pm â˜ Blazblue Cross Tag BattleÂ Final

6:30pm – 9:00pm â˜ Street Fighter VÂ Semi-Final

Day Three – 26 January

9:00pm – 12:00pm â˜ Tekken 7Â Final

12:30pm – 4:00pm â˜ Super Smash Bros. UltimateÂ Final

4:30pm – 8:00pm â˜ Street Fighter VÂ Final

Results
Street Fighter V

1. DNG|Nauman (Sakura)
2. Mago (Cammy, Karin)
3. FAV|Sako (Menat, Kage)
4. NuckleDu (G, R. Mika, Cammy, Guile)
5. Infiltration (Juri, Menat, Kolin)
5. DNG|Itabashi Zangief (Abigail, Zangief)
7. Trashbox (Birdie, Ed)
7. YG|Machabo (Necalli)
Tekken 7

1. Talon|Book (Leroy)
2. ITO|Mikio (Julia)
3. COOASGAMES|Noroma (Leroy, Steve)
4. EQNX|Ulsan (Kazumi, Bob, Leroy)
5. Liquid|Gen (Leroy, Shaheen)
5. THY|Chikurin (Leroy)
7. Masa (Leroy)
7. Zeugal (Leroy)
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

1. SST|Shuton (Olimar)
2. Kome (Shulk)
3. Tea (Pac-Man)
4. R2G|Paseriman (Fox)
5. GW|Zackray (R.O.B., Joker, Mario)
5. TG|Raito (Duck Hunt, Banjo-Kazooie)
7. KEN (Sonic)
7. Shky (Zero Suit Samus)
SoulCalibur VI
1. BDG|BlueGod (Azwel)
2. Yuttoto (Voldo, Zasalamel, Raphael, Azwel)
3. Illusion|Linkorz (Geralt, Siegfried)
4. PG|Shen Chan (Tira)
5. Oplon|Skyll (Mitsurugi)
5. ASL|TheKura (Kilik)
7. Jashin (Hilde)
7. PULSAR|Noobicyde (Azwel)
Samurai Shodown
1. Gamera (Shiki)
2. Emujima (Shizumaru)
3. AMTRS|Score (Haohmaru)
4. 7144|Hishow (Shizumaru, Charlotte)
5. Betel (Jubei)
5. KROne|AbaO (Shizumaru)
7. Katsuji (Wan-Fu, Jubei)
7. Teru (Haohmaru)
BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle
1. YG|Kubo (Yumi, Seth)
2. GRPT|DoraBang (Naoto S., Merkava | Î½ -No.13-, Naoto K. | Others)
3. nk_P (Chie, Vatista)
4. SPB|Noble (Carmine, Vatista | Carmine, Heart | Akatsuki, Heart)
5. Shiroitori (Yosuke, Seth)
5. LOK|Shige (Orie, Izayoi | Weiss, Orie)
7. Sakura Yukke (Yumi, Adachi)
7. Pizamayo (Yuzuriha, Hilda | Blake, Teddie)


Here’s When Persona 5 Royal Will Be Released In Asia

When it comes to JRPGs on the PS4, almost no other game comes close to how beloved Persona 5 has become. Fans will be pleased to know that more Persona 5 is coming in the form of a musou game and an expanded version called Persona 5 Royal which we now know the release date for.

Atlus has been teasing an important announcement for Persona 5 Royal that will be unveiled on 3 December 2019. However, it looks like PS4 users in Asia has gotten the good news a day earlier. Persona 5 The Royal (that’s how it’s titled) has been listed on the Asia PS Store, scheduled for release on 20 February 2020.
Players can already start pre-ordering the game digitally. Do note that there are two versions available for purchase on the Asia PS Store. There’s the standard edition which is priced at RM238 and the Degital Delux (again, that’s how it’s titled) edition priced at RM362.
Pre-ordering either one gets you the bonus content of a Persona 5 The Royal Morgana Car Sticker. Getting the Degital Delux edition will get you these bonuses:

Persona 5 the Royal theme
Persona 5 the Royal soundtrack
Phantom Thief DLC costume set

Velvet Room costume and BGM
P5D Featherman costume and BGM

Persona set DLC

Orpheus and a special Picaro variant (f)
Izanagi-no-Okami and a special Picaro variant (f)

Fans of the game who want to revisit the beautiful and harsh world of Persona 5 should definitely check the game out since it promises tons of new content including unexpected changes in palaces the players have become familiar with.
If you’ve always been interested in getting Persona 5 but still haven’t, this is probably the version you want to go for since it comes with a lot more content for you to enjoy.
To check out the Persona 5 the Royal PS Store page, click here.


Overwatch League: Playoff Hunt Explained

As we head into the final two weeks of the Overwatch League’s inaugural season, only one word remain relevant. Playoffs. By the end of week 5 (that’s next week), we would know the top six teams set to contest in the seasonal playoff matches taking place between July 11th til the 21st for a shot of that sweet US$1million prize pool awaiting the overall winners.
Before we go any further, here’s a quick look at the current league standings:

In case you are unaware on how things work, the two top division teams will qualify for the Overwatch League seasonal playoff stages. The remaining four teams, regardless of division will qualify based on their overall standings.
What we know:Â
The New York Excelsior is in, having secured the overall top spot and top seed last week. Even if they lose all of their remaining matches 0-4, they will still end the season with the best record by a considerable distance.

The San Francisco Shock, Dallas Fuel, Florida Mayhem and Shanghai Dragons are out of contention. Despite their late, Stage 4 surge where they currently sit at 4-2 heading into Week 4, it was a case of little too late for the Shock and Fuel. Florida’s 2-8 record in Stage 3 and their current 0-6 run in Stage 4 didn’t do them any favors and like the Shock an Fuel, are only playing for pride and stage playoff glory in the remaining matches. The winless Dragons will hope to break the duck and find the elusive win in the final four matches to avoid the embarrassment of finishing the season 0-40. Their best hope would be against the flailing Mayhem and the out-of-sorts Boston who have been a pale shadow of their Stage 3 selves.
Up Next: Valiant or Spitfire in third


Pokemon Legends Arceus Frenzied Noble Pokemon Boss Fight Guide

Disclaimer: this guide is still under development…
In the open-worl(ish) RPG of Pokemon Legends Arceus, you will come across a ton of wild Pokemon of different shapes and sizes ready for hunting and taming. However, there are boss Pokemon you have to watch out for.
Enter the Frenzied Noble Pokemon: legendary beasts that roam Hisui, glow and rampage like mad, and need to be quelled. Fighting these beasts will yield big rewards, but aren’t easy of course. Here are some tips to deal with them.
Frenzied Noble Pokemon: What Are They?
While players are exploring Hisui, they will encounter the four Wardens. These gifted Trainers are the caretakers of the Noble Pokemon in the region.
A mysterious force related to the game’s story has transformed the Noble Pokemon into raging monsters. As a part of the Survey Corps, players are tasked with going into each of their territories and curing them of their enraged state. Frenzied Pokemon glow a bright yellow and rampage across the land in battles. Basically, these are the game’s boss fights.
How To Beat Frenzied Noble Pokemon
Talk To A Warden
First, talk to the Wardens to get the scoop on the Noble Pokemon in the region. The Wardens are responsible for taking care of the land where the Noble Pokemon live in; they cannot feed or give offering to them due to their raging.
The Wardens will ask the player to cure the Frenzied Noble Pokemon that is under their care. From what we know so far, Warden Lian tasks Trainers early on in the game to stop Kleavor from rampaging in the Obsidian Fieldlands.
FindÂ  The Frenzied Noble Pokemon
Once you are given the task, players will then need to head out to the Obsidian Fieldlands to find the enraged Pokemon. Each of the Frenzied Noble Pokemon will be sectioned off in their own territory on the map.
Fight Them & Use Forest Balms

After you enter into their territory and find them, approach the yellow glowing Pokemon to engage them in battle. Players can send out their own Pokemon to use attacks to lower their HP.
Trainers will need to hit the Y button to dodge as the Frenzied Noble will charge at you. Once you lower its health enough, the Pokemon will become stunned. This is when you need to cure it by throwing Forest Balm at it. By throwing Balms at the Noble, you will lower its yellow Frenzied meter which sits above its head. Of course, the Noble Pokemon will keep on attacking you, so just dodge and get out of the way while pelting it with Balms.
The goal of the battle is to bring this meter down completely. If you manage to bring its health all the way down with attacks or items, this is still helpful as it gives you a vital window to pelt the Noble with as many Balms as possible.
Cure Them & Feed Them
Once you have brought down the yellow meter completely with enough Balms, the Frenzied Noble will become cured of its enraged status. Trainers will eventually be able to catch the special Pokemon after releasing it from its Frenzied state. That’s it!

List Of Noble Pokemon & Warden
Kleavor

Level: 18
Type: Bug, Rock
Warden: Lian
Ability: Can cut down obstacles to access previously blocked paths.
Balm: Forest Balm
Overview: The Lord of the Woods is helpful to the people of Hisui because they use pieces of its stone-like body to craft tools and weapons. It also appears to cut down large trees to clear obstacles in its path. Earning Kleavor’s favor may help the player’s traversal through the world.
How To Find & Beat: Lower Kleavor’s Frenzy gauge by battling it with your Pokemon. Frenzied Noble Pokemon will get stunned when you’ve dealt a good amount of damage against them with your Pokemon.
Bringing a Water-Type such as Oshawott or Buizel can help you deal super-effective moves against Kleavor.
Lilligant

Level: 30
Type: Grass
Mission: Arezu’s Predicament
Balm: Marsh Balm
How To Beat: Liligant has jump attacks, so watch out for those since the area you’re fighting it in is pretty small. Try to move around near the edge of the map and time your dodges while it’s doing this. When its Frenzy Gauge is halved, the Noble Pokemon will unleash shockwave attacks that expand its attack radius. This phase requires you to roll towards the shockwave as soon as it hits you.
After 2 to 3 jump attacks, the Noble Pokemon will recover, so throw Marsh Balms at it during this bit. After that, send a Pokemon with Flying-type moves to battle like Dartrix, Quilava, and Staravia. Same deal when it’s doing the shockwave attacks; just find an opening and throw Balms/attack.
Electrode

Level: 46
Type: Electric, Grass
Mission: Scaling Perilous Heights
Balm: Mountain Balm
How To Beat: Bring items that cure paralysis; Electrode has a ton of moves that deal the paralysis status.
Avoid & dodge the multiple Hisuian Voltorbs from the sky; they explode upon landing. Electrode will also send out balls of electricity that homes onto the player. It moves slow but deals big damage, so avoid it unless you want to black out of the fight early!
Electrode will charge for an attack and deal a wide-ranged move. Avoid that; when it’s done with that move, it’ll be worn out. That’s when you throw Mountain Balms at it and Pokemon too. For the latter, throw Fire, Ice, Poison, or Bug type moves at it like Typholosion and Rapidash.
Avalugg

Level: 56
Type: Ice
Mission: Slumbering Lord of the Thundra
Balm: Snow Balm
How To Beat: Avalugg will shoot out balls of ice from right to left, and then back. Dodge towards the opposite direction of these attacks when it’s about to hit you.
Avalugg also has a ground icicle attack that summons a series of them. These move in one direction; just avoid the straight trajectory it’s on and you’re fine. Avalugg can also summon icicles that shoot towards the player like a missile. Just dodge it at the last second when it’s unleashed; just be moving when it’s summoning the icicles and you’ll react to it just fine.
Avalugg will shoot out a pretty cool (heh) sweeping ice beam from its mouth; just dodge towards the opposite direction when it’s about to hit you. Eventually, it’ll get worn out: use Snow Balms to reduce its Frenzy meter and Pokemon with Fighting and Steel type moves to deal with it (like Gallade, Decidueye, and Samurott)
Arcanine

Level: 70
Type: Fire, Rock
Mission: The Lordless Island
Balm: Volcano Balm
How To Beat: Dodge its lunge and jump attacks (that deal AoE damage) during the early phase. Also, be aware that you’re fighting Arcanine in a place surrounded by lava, so be careful where you’re dodging at.
During the fight, Arcanine will charge for a powerful attack. While it’s charging, there will be five fireballs atop its head. Throw Volcano Balms during this phase. 5 throws will stun the Pokemon; you can either throw more Balms or send a Pokemon to attack. Use Water and Ground type Pokemon for this phase like Machamp and Golem.
Also, you need to watch it when Arcanine sets part of the map on fire; this limits the areas you can access.


Double XP Weekend Returns to Overwatch

Scrap all your weekend plans folks as Double XP Weekend is back for Overwatch.

2 years of Overwatch. Twice the XP.
Earn DOUBLE XP this weekend on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One!
ðŸ‘‰ https://t.co/BHwogcjTA8 pic.twitter.com/HHbbndQJ1o
â€” Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) June 6, 2018
As confirmed by the game’s official website, all players who log in this weekend on all platforms; PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One will receive double experience.
This bonus will apply to nearly all sources of in-game XP, including:

Time spent in a match
Completing a match
Completing consecutive matches
Winning a match
Backfilling a match in progress
Earning medals

Best of all, it will also stack multiplicatively with existing group and IGR bonuses. The only experience it will not affect is your First Win of the Day bonusâ€”which will remain at 1500 XP.
The double XP period begins in all regions across all platforms startingÂ Saturday, June 9Â at 2 a.m (Singapore/ Malaysia/ Hong Kong) and ends onÂ Tuesday, June 12Â at 2:59 a.mÂ


Here’s How You Can Help Make Xbox’s Space Jam 2 Game

Microsoft andÂ Space Jam: A New LegacyÂ are coming together for an epic partnership in the leadup to the movie’s release inÂ 2021.
In celebration of the new movie, you can help create an original arcade-style video game inspired by the new movie.
Starting from 14 December through 30 December 2020,Â anyone aged 14 years and above upÂ will be able to submit the game ideas they think will be a slam dunk at the officialÂ contestÂ website.
All you have to do is review theÂ Official Rules, select the gaming genre of your choosing using a key image and describe your game idea in less than 500 words.
Two lucky winners will have their ideas brought to life in the officialÂ Space Jam: A New LegacyÂ arcade-style video game, available as the newest Perk for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in 2021.
Winners will also receive the following prizes:
Their names featured in the game credits.An exclusive winnerâ€™s bundle with signed and authenticated LeBron James memorabilia.Space Jam: A New LegacyÂ merchandise and Nike VIP packs.A personalized Xbox Series S console.A private friends and family screening of the film.A virtual Microsoft coding workshop for their local community.

To help coders of all ages jump-start their creativity, Microsoft Stores are alsoÂ hosting free, one-of-a-kindÂ Space Jam: A New Legacy-themed virtual workshopsÂ on video game creation.Â
Students will build a playable prototype ofÂ a videoÂ game using block-based coding on theâ€¯MakeCodeâ€¯Arcade platform, all while learning about the professional skills and STEAM careers that are involved in game design.
The themed coding workshops are available online here. You can also findâ€¯additionalâ€¯resources and other free workshops that teach new skills and keep kids entertained this holiday season, on theâ€¯microsoft.com virtual student workshop page.â€¯
Additionally, there are twoÂ Microsoft Learnâ€¯lessonsÂ targeting more experienced coders, older teens, high school and college-aged students, and adultsÂ that focusÂ on how to useâ€¯player stats to help a coachâ€¯makeâ€¯real-timeâ€¯decisionsâ€¯in the middle of a game.Â
In the first lesson, you canâ€¯predict efficiency ratings with machine learning andâ€¯Visual Studio Code,â€¯using data fromâ€¯human andÂ Tune Squadâ€¯basketball players.â€¯
The second lessonÂ includesÂ buildingÂ a web app that uses additional machine learning models in real-time to help a coach decide whoâ€¯needsâ€¯aÂ waterÂ breakâ€¯and who should be put in the game to yield the highest likelihood of winning.â€¯

LeBron James and co-stars Don Cheadle andÂ Cedric JoeÂ will help introduce the Microsoft Store and Learn lessons with short videos focusing on the power of computer science and coding.Â  In the film, Joe plays Jamesâ€™s son Dom, who dreams of being aÂ videoÂ game developer.
Microsoft and Warner Bros. will have more exciting news to share in the coming months ahead of the official release ofÂ Space Jam: A New LegacyÂ movie and video game sometime in 2021.


EA Backtracks on Battlefront II’s Hero Costs – Vader Now ‘More Accessible’

Following public backlash and the notorious world record of the most down-voted comment on Reddit in history following their response to the Battlefront II microtransaction FUBAR these past few days, EA has released an official statement in hope of appeasing the gaming community. Via an official press release on the company’s website late last night, EA has decided to reduce the amount of credits required to unlock some of hero characters in the game. The statement read:
“Making games great comes from regular tuning. As one example, today weâ€™re making a substantial change based on what weâ€™ve seen during the Play First trial.Â Thereâ€™s been a lot of discussion around the amount of in-game credits (and time) it takes to unlock some of our heroes, especially Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.Â Unlocking a hero is a great accomplishment in the game, something we want players to have fun earning. We used data from the beta to help set those levels, but itâ€™s clear that more changes were needed.
So, weâ€™re reducing the amount of credits needed to unlock the top heroes by 75%. Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader will now be available for 15,000 credits; Emperor Palpatine, Chewbacca, and Leia Organa for 10,000 credits; and Iden at 5,000 credits. Based on what weâ€™ve seen in the trial, this amount will make earning these heroes an achievement, but one that will be accessible for all players.”
Those who started playing the game early found that an extensive grind is required in order to unlock hero characters such as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader – much to their dismay. These characters can only be purchased with in-game credits which are accrued via grinding in the games multiplayer modes. Each multiplayer round nets you approximately 400 credits and using that as a gauge, will probably take some people up to 40 hours to just unlock one hero.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvmx94cUVEY&w=560&h=315]
EA also announced that another Reddit AMA is taking place Wednesday (Thursday Malaysia time)Â with some of the key leads on their team and surely are hoping for a more positive outcome than their most recent outing. You can stay updated on more details of that AMA by following any of their social media outlets.


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Is The Captain Price of CoD Games

This year’s Call of Duty entry feels a lot like its signature character Captain Price.
A direct sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare ‘reboot’, Modern Warfare II felt familiar yet it is edgier, grittier, and grizzlier. Like “Bravo Six” Price, MWII gets straight to the point. There’s no pomp and pageantry in this one. They get right into the action save for the occasional cigar.
I declared the 2019 Modern Warfare campaign as being one of if not the best CoD campaigns in recent memory. It felt visceral and raw while ensuring it remained fun to play. It managed to remain grounded, yet, at the same time, implement elements of fun into it. It successfully makes players feel that they are the showpiece of the action as well as the side character to a much larger conflict simultaneously.
Modern Warfare II replicates that formula, and delivered a bit more if I’m being honest.
Same Song & Dance, But Better?

Picking up literally three years from where the 2019 game left off, the same time skip has also passed in-game, with Task Force 141 now running ops around the globe to thwart terrorists. Toss in several missions gone wrong and WMDs falling into the hands of the opposite side, and we have a global catastrophe at hand. Without spoiling too much, the gang is back to kick ass before eventually coming head-to-head with the real baddie behind all of this.
CoD has always prided itself on its wide variety of missions and this year’s game is no different. The guns felt very familiar, especially to those who have spent the bulk of these past couple of years on Modern Warfare 2019 and Warzone. Jumping into Modern Warfare II is going to feel like walking into your favourite restaurant, in your favourite city with your favourite pals.
The standard “run and gun” and “holding down a point” levels are all still here, but presented in a much more elaborate and realistic setting. Developers Infinity Ward returns to the helm and attempts to break the monotony usually associated with CoD missions, dropping in some solid gems this time around. In one mission you will have to navigate Ghost through a Metal Gear Solid-ish stealth mission, while in another, only equipped with limited weapons and gear, survive through the street filled with enemies.
They even recreated the iconic “All Ghillied Up” mission, albeit with welcome twists & updates, which would bring a smile to all CoD veterans out there. Some level designs worked better than the rest with the Uncharted-eque chase sequences being the weakest of the lot, but overall they’re all solid experiences.

And let’s not leave out this game’s equivalent to the classic “Press F to Pay Respects” meme. In one mission, you pursue the antagonist through a neighbourhood. When facing the panicked civilians whose house you just broke into, you are prompted on screen to hold down the Left Trigger (for Xbox players) to ‘deescalate’. It’s pretty funny and awkward at the same time in retrospect. The problem is that holding down LT means you’re aiming down the sights square at their foreheads. Perhaps this is how law enforcers do their jobs in North America?
The fact that the campaign was made available a week before the game’s actual release for those who pre-ordered it also allows players ample time to finish the campaign portion at their leisure whilst being rewarded with in-game items for use in multiplayer modes. These include calling cards, operators and weapons.
Gunning For Attention
As usual and as expected, there are tons of weapons each with variations peppered throughout the game for you to pick up. Oddly enough, some of these weapons carry “alternative” names to the real-life weapons they represent. This is possibly due to licensing issues but it did reduce the level of immersion slightly. For example, the “Lachman sub” and “Kastov 74u” doesn’t feel as immersive compared to using “Heckler & Koch MP5” and the “AK-74u”.
We were half hoping that we would be given the option to actually customize the weapon prior to each mission but perhaps that would be asking for too much. Or is it?
In a way, the campaign mode is basically a long-arse tutorial to equip players with various shooting scenarios they will eventually find themselves in when hopping into multiplayer. We recommend at least playing it on Regular for that equal balance of fun and resistance from the A.I. On Hardened difficulty, it took us about seven hours to complete the campaign. You can switch the difficulty settings freely if you are stuck at a particularly difficult level; assuming you are playing it strictly in Regular mode, the entire campaign is totally doable in under five hours.
All in all, it’s a fun time to be had for fans looking for a decent follow-up to the Modern Warfare reboot a few years back, with great follow-up missions and not that many duds.
Pros

Awesome follow-up to 2019’s gem.
More MW2019-isque gunplay, less Cold War & Vanguard.
Variety of missions and pacing throughout.
Improvement all around in terms of graphics and sound.
Realistic yet balanced set pieces.

Cons

Some cringe-worthy & awkward moments like “Hold LT to de-escalate (LOL!)”

Final Score: 80/10
This is an ongoing review of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II before the gates for the multiplayer modes are opened soon. Once it is up, you bet we will be on it, sharing our views of it, and of course, updating this review page & score.


Here Are The Best Deals From The Days Of Play Sale

The PlayStation Days Of Play sale begins today and will run until 16 June 2020, offering great deals and discounts on various PS4 games, software, and peripherals. Digital titles on the PlayStation Store are being offered at discounted prices as well, with discounts up to 85 percent.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orUaPq6GMpg&w=560&h=315]
Check out the best deals below:
Nioh 2 (RM177.10)

Iâ€™ve always disliked Soulsborne games but Team Ninja’s Nioh 2 changed that for me. I ultimately found Nioh 2 to be much more accessible than Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or any other Soulsborne game, in more ways than one. Is it still a tough as balls game for gamers with masochistic tendencies? Of course, it is.
However, as (extremely) hard as the game can be, Nioh 2 is proof that the Soulsborne genre can still be even more polished, refined, and utilize unique mechanics, all of which makes it worth suffering through. This game is my personal early contender for Game Of The Year (GOTY) 2020.
Check out my full review here.
Resident Evil 3 (RM176.88)

While it’s still disappointingly inferior to last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake, the Resident Evil 3 Remake is a brilliant enough game in its own right. In an alternate reality where Capcom launched this game first, it wouldâ€™ve been just as celebrated.
I still enjoyed my five or so hours with the game’s campaign, but that’s it. If you’re looking for a solid, short and sweet single-player action-horror title, you can’t go wrong with the polished but unremarkable Resident Evil 3 Remake.
Check out my full review here.
Doom Eternal (RM163.15)

This is the cheapest price for Doom Eternal on the PS4 since it launched in late March 2020. It’s leaner and meaner than its predecessor, which says a lot considering how well-received and beloved 2016’s Doom was.
id Software proves yet again that they’re masters of the first-person shooter genre, and you won’t want to miss out on a brilliant gameplay experience like no other. At the very least, you could blow off some steam by letting loose on demons and hellish creatures alike.
Check out our full review here.
Control (RM145.80)

Remedy Entertainmentâ€™sÂ Control arrived without much fanfare, and it might be the most underrated GOTY in recent years. While it looked like a typical third-person shooter at first glance, the trippy and bizarre science fiction elements combined with phenomenal physics-based gameplay made for one of the most unique gaming experiences in the current generation.
ControlÂ is a game that needs to be experienced in order to fully comprehend its bizarro bonkers world and physics-defying gameplay. If anything, itâ€™s our first taste of what to expect from next-gen gaming, and the future is looking good.
Check out my full review here.
God Of War (RM31.60)

If you haven’t played 2018’s God Of War by now, that stunningly-low price means now is as best a time as any. Sony Santa Monica’s brilliant soft reboot of the franchise was brilliant, and quite frankly, one of only select few games I would personally award a 10/10 rating to.
If a perfect game exists, thenÂ God of WarÂ is that game. The fact that Cory Barlog and the folks at the Sony Santa Monica managed to reinvent this tired franchise into something like this is a godly feat in itself. The relationship between Kratos and Atreus is an unexpected emotional rollercoaster ride. I say unexpected because everyone initially thought that Atreus would be that typical annoying brat sidekick. Boy, were we wrong.
I struggle to even find flaws inÂ God of War, thatâ€™s just how good the game is. By the end of the game, I was left wanting and utterly satisfied all at the same time. If you told me ten years ago that aÂ God of WarÂ game would make me cry, Iâ€™d say you were crazy but apparently, miracles do happen.
Check out our full review here.

That’s only a sliver of what’s being offered in the Days Of Play sale. Head on over to the PlayStation Store here for more great deals.


Alchemy Stars Guide: Character Tier List & Reroll Guide

This Alchemy Stars guide is still under development, as the game is still fresh and ongoing.
Alchemy Stars is the latest in a long line of mobile RPGs made in China and published by Tencent Games, though the game’s turn-based colour path-matching gameplay makes this a tad unique. Just like many mobile RPG titles that use the free-to-play mechanic and monetization to the fullest, it features a huge roster of characters/Aurorians ranging from female ass-kickers to a polar bear-and-penguin duo.
Here are our top character picks when you’re going in the gacha screen, as well as quick tip on how to reroll at the early parts of the game.
Character Roles

Alchemy Stars boasts a huge roster of characters as well as roles for each of them. Here is a breakdown of each role so that you know who or what class to put in when you’re building your dream party:

Sniper: heavy-hitting units with mostly single-target attacks that can hit foes from afar.
Converter: a unit that’s adept at converting tiles to his/her element. Definitely the most useful unit given the fact that the game requires you to paint tiles to your favoured element.
Detonator: a unit with the best DPS and all-target skills. If you clear max tiles, this unit’s the best at cashing out that damage.
Supporter: a unit that either heals or buffs your party. Doesn’t have any damaging attacks, but can buff up any other class for maximum performance.

Elements
There are four elements in the game:

Water (Blue): the most balanced and F2P-friendly element. Features the best all-rounders and best tile converters.
Fire (Red): the element with the most DPS and detonators. Characters in this element usually have very high AoE damage skills. Lacking in healers though.
Forest (Green): the element that comes with specific mechanics that affect the board, as well as the most mobility. If you’re patient and can work around their complex skills, you can turn the tide in your favour.
Thunder (Yellow): The element with flexible unit types. Jack of all trades, master of none type class. Most of the Thunder units in the game have better long-ranged skills that forces enemies to come close to them.

Should You Go Mono Or Multiple Elements?

When building your party for battles, you should remember that the map will be tailored to your team setup. So even if you plan on going in with a 5-person all-Water team, the map will at least spare a few blue tiles for you to work with.
However, the general rule of building a party is: have at least 2 converters and 1 support. The remaining 2 characters can be either a detonator, a sniper, or two of each. Even if you’re running a mono elemental party, two converters can at least create a literal pathway to victory.
How To Reroll

After you’re done with stage 1-4, you’re given the chance to gacha roll a potentially good character. This is luck of the drawl; you may not get the character you want after your first gacha attempt. If this bothers you, you can reroll. To do that, click or press on the settings cog icon and log yourself out.
Once you get back to the title screen, the top left corner will have a signout option, which you should press. Be warned â€“ once you do this, if you havenâ€™t linked your account, your roll is gone forever.
From here, hit the person icon to start the tutorial all over again, progressing through stage 1-4 and rolling until you got what you want. Once you’re satisfied, link your account. Do this by tapping the Settings cog in-game and hitting the â€œLink Accountâ€ button in the lower left.

Alchemy Stars Tier List
Water Units

Raphael is a pretty good healer if you’re looking for water units. If you need DPS, Sharona and Carleen are top picks.

S Rank
Carleen, Bethlehem, Connolly, Raphael, Sharona, Sariel
A Rank
Vice, Hydrad, Barton, Kleken, Noah, Barton, Philyshy, Corax
B Rank
Jane, Zoya, Chloe, Ms. Blanc, Kuma & Pengy, White Dwarf, Michenny, Korgon, Seleucid, Constantine
Fire Units

Uriel is a pretty good pick thanks to her skills and her role as a converter and burn-type character. Charon has it all: he has DPS, knockback potential, and is a converter. Barbara is handy when it comes to stunning enemies on red tiles.
S Rank
Jona, Uriel, Charon, Victoria, Eicy, Alice
A Rank
Faust, Barbara, Istvan, Maggie, Regina, Leona
B Rank
Chainsaw Rick, Patty & Patsy, Joanie Boom, Sork & Bekk, Pepi, Tiny One, Nails, Brock
Forest Units

If you need a reliable converter, you may want to get Pact who can generate enhanced tiles as well. Louise is a good healer with some fight, while Cuscuta can shove enemies around while dealing decent damage.
S Rank
Hiiro, Bikinis, Gabriel, Migard, Cuscuta, Pact, Louise
A Rank
Robyn, Odi, Areia, Sikare,
B Rank
Clover, Jomu, Jola, Uriah, Wendy, Ophina, Dove, Sylva, Lester, Leah
Thunder Units

Standout units for this element include Beverly (de facto converter), Vivian (damage support), and Mia (AoE damage).
S Rank
Gronru, Irridon, Wrath, Michael, Beverly, Vivian, Mia
A Rank
Dayna, Nemesis, Schwartz, Keating Choir
B Rank
Angel, Nadine, Eho, Kafka, Lilliam, Amy, Unimet, Rabbie, Ansia, Tessa


The Last Of Us Part I Features PlayStation Easter Egg Skins

The Last Of Us Part I is now available on PS5. Check out my review of the game here.
One of the new additions in the remake of the iconic game is the new skins for Joel and Ellie, which can be unlocked using Points after completing the story at least once on any difficulty. Some of the skins are just extra clothing options, but some of them are easter eggs and references to other PlayStation games and studios.
Check them out below:
Ellie Angel Knives Skin

Who is Angel Knives? Well, Angel Knives is a fictional character made up by Ellie and Rily when they played a make-believe fighting game in The Last Of Us Left Behind prequel DLC expansion.
Ellie Jak Hoodie Skin

Jak or Jak And Daxter is a platforming game franchise also developed by Naughty Dog which was popular during the PS2 days, so it’s nice to see them getting some love. Especially since we’re probably not getting a new game in the series anytime soon…
Ellie Jak And Daxter T-Shirt

Another Jak And Daxter skin, but this time with Jak And Daxter actually being featured instead of just the logo.
Ellie Jumpsuit

This yellow jumpsuit is clearly inspired by the one worn by Uma Thurman’s iconic The Bride character in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films.
Ellie Red Flannel

This is a tough one. It could either be inspired by Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson from the Parks & Recreation sitcom or Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven from Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Ellie Naughty Dog T-Shirt 1

A t-shirt with the Naughty Dog logo on it.
Ellie Naughty Dog T-Shirt 2

It looks the same as Naughty Dog t-shirt 1 for some reason.
Ellie Naughty Dog T-Shirt 3

Another t-shirt with the Naughty Dog logo.
Ellie Seattle Wear

This is the same attire worn by Ellie in The Last Of Us Part II.
Ellie Astro Bot Shirt

Astro Bot is a character and PlayStation mascot created by Japan Studio’s Team Asobi division.
Ellie Days Gone Shirt

Days Gone is the open-world zombie game released in 2019 by Sony’s Bend Studio. The logo is the logo of the biker gang that the protagonist of the game belongs to.
Ellie Horizon Zero Dawn Shirt

Horizon Zero Dawn is an open-world game developed by Guerilla Games. It’s nice to see a design featuring a Tallneck.
Ellie GT Classic Shirt

Gran Turismo is a racing game franchise developed by Polyphony Digital.
Ellie Dreams Shirt

Dreams is a game creation system video game developed by Media Molecule.
Ellie ICO Shirt

Ico is an action-adventure game developed by Japan Studio and Team Ico, the same team who would later make the Shadow Of The Colossus game.
Ellie Infamous Shirt

Infamous is a game franchise developed by Sucker Punch Productions.
Ellie Ratchet & Clank Shirt

Ratchet & Clank is a franchise developed by Insomniac Games. This one actually has a creative design that’s not just a logo.
Ellie Shadow Of The Colossus Shirt

Shadow of the Colossus is a 2005 action-adventure game developed by Japan Studio and Team Ico.
Ellie Returnal Shirt

Returnal is a third-person shooter roguelike video game developed by Housemarque
Ellie Resistance Shirt

Resistance is a series of first-person shooter and third-person shooter video games developed by Insomniac Games.
Ellie Sly Cooper Shirt

Sly Cooper is a series of platform stealth video games developed by Sucker Punch.
Ellie Ghost Of Tsushima Shirt

Ghost Of Tsushima is an open-world samurai game developed by Sucker Punch.
Ellie God Of War Ragnarok Shirt

God Of War Ragnarok is an upcoming game by Sony Santa Monica.
Ellie Uncharted The Lost Legacy Shirt

Uncharted The Lost Legacy is another game by Naughty Dog.
Ellie Uncharted 4 A Thief’s End Shirt

Uncharted 4 A Thief’s End is another game by Naughty Dog.
Ellie Daxter Backpack

This one is pretty cute.
Ellie Punk Backpack

Not sure what this is a reference to.
Ellie Jak Goggles

This one is the most unique of them all. Naughty Dog likes to put goggles on their characters. Of course, Jak wore them first but Nathan Drake also did.


Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop Finally Wraps Up Filming

Netflix originally started production on the series back in late 2019 but it was forced to shut down due to John Cho incurring an injury on set. However, according to actress Daniella Pineda (who will be playing the role of Faye Valentine), Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop has finally finished production.
She posted this on her personal Instagram last week:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMO_5WEDER0/
The live-action adaptation of the iconic anime boasts a stellar cast, including:

John Cho as Spike Spiegel.
Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black.
Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine.
Alex Hassell as Vicious.
Elena Satine as Julia.
Geoff Stults as Chalmers, Jetâ€™s ex-partner.
Tamara Tunie as Ana, Martian club owner.
Mason Alexander Park as Gren, Anaâ€™s right-hand person.
Rachel House as Mao, White Tigers Capo.
Ann Truong and Hoa Xuande as Shin & Lin, Viciousâ€™s twin henchmen.

Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop is based on the 1998 anime of the same name, which follows bounty hunters Spike Spiegel and Jet Black on their ship, the Bebop, as they’re joined by con artist Faye Valentine and hacker Radical Ed, taking bounty hunting jobs across the galaxy.
It’s safe to predict or assume that the original anime will likely be releasing on Netflix sometime soon in commemoration of the upcoming live-action series. However, there’s no release date or window yet for Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop, so it might take a while yet.


Gust Announces Blue Reflection: Second Light RPG, Out This October…

Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Gust, known for the Atelier series, is making a JRPG featuring high school girls and summer vacations.
The game is called Blue Reflection: Second Light and is a sequel to the first Blue Reflection game back in 2018. You control a girl named Ao Hoshizaki who is stranded in an isolated school on a different dimension similar to Earth with three other girls.
There, they live a strange life together while finding clues to go back to their places of origin, bonding through summer vacations (like Persona 5’s social link/confidant systems) and battling interdimensional horrors with swords and guns. After all, the world is trapped in an eternal summer, so why not relax while you’re at it?
The game will be out on 21st October for PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan, with a PC version coming at a later date. Check out the video and pictures below.


Game Of Thrones’ Bella Ramsey Is Our Ellie in HBO’s The Last Of Us

We now officially have our Ellie for HBO’s upcoming The Last Of Us TV series adaptation, and it’ll be none other than Bella Ramsey, who is best known for her role as the fierce and feisty Lyanna Mormont in Game Of Thrones.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bella Ramsey has been officially cast as Ellie in HBO’s The Last Of Us. There have also been recent rumours of Mahershala Ali being cast but that turned out to be false, as a deal was never made. In case you also forgot, Bella Ramsey’s Lyanna Mormont was iconic for her speech supporting Jon Snow as the King In The North and for dying while killing a giant in the final season of Game Of Thrones.
HBO’s The Last Of Us will be written and executive produced byÂ Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and the original game director Neil Druckmann. It will be co-produced by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, and Naughty Dog.
There is no release date as of yet.
The Last Of Us Part 2Â is out now for the PS4. In the meantime,Â check out my full spoiler-free review of the game here, orÂ head on over here for a guide and tips for the game. If youâ€™ve already played the game, then I suggestÂ checking out my 4000-word spoilerific articleÂ on why the hate for the game isnâ€™t justified.


Hogwarts Legacy: Percival Rackham Trials Walkthrough

Hogwarts Legacy has an ongoing main questline featuring ancient magic and a bunch of old wizards and witches. As such, they’re all mandatory to complete it if you want to get closer to the game’s ending.
The Percival Rackham’s Trials quest has a bunch of tricky portal puzzles and platforms that require you to use Accio a lot. Here’s a guide on how to get through it.
For guides on the game’s brooms, head here.
How To Get To The Quest
You receive the quest after taking Professor Fig to the Map Chamber; this is part of the main story quest so you cannot miss it. He’ll then tell you of a tower to the north.
Once you head to the north tower (preferably via broom), you’ll be given a short tutorial that you can stealth kill enemies using Petrificus Totalus as long as you stay invisible via your early-level invisibility spell.
After you’re done here, you then run to the tower’s entrance. Just follow Professor Fig here. By the way, create a manual save or two at this point because there’s a game bug here that prevents progression.
Cast Revelio in the area and you’ll see dark wisps; just follow the course of the story and you’ll be at the trials.
Percival Rackham’s Trials Walkthrough
This trial’s dungeon has several platform puzzles. There’s a veil portal that changes the layout of a puzzle room if you pass through them from a specific side.
For these platforms, use Accio to pull the platforms to other grapple points. If you cannot grapple anywhere or the way is barred, pass through veil portals to see if the room changed.
You’ll also fight a boss called the Pensieve Guardian at the end of the trial. Check out the video solution below to solve all three trials and deal with the big boss.


Rogue Legacy 2 Exits Early Access & Launches Later This Month

Rogue Legacy 2 has been on Steam Early Access for almost two years, but now Cellar Door Games has announced that the full version of the roguelite game will launch on 28 April 2022 for the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
It is a sequel to 2013’s Rogue Legacy, an action rogue-lite platformer that allows players to choose between several classes of adventurers through procedurally-generated dungeons. Upon dying, players will have to choose among a selection of randomly-generated heirs of their previous character to continue adventuring, with each heir possessing their own unique traits and abilities.
In a press release, Cellar Door Games said:
“Rogue Legacy 2 is finally reaching v1.0 and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Our goal for Rogue Legacy 2 was always to make ‘Rogue Legacy 3‘ because we didn’t want to settle for just more. It had to stay true to the original, but also stand on its own as something new. After nearly four years of development, bringing it to the fans is the final step in this long journey, and we hope they find it as special as we do.”
To celebrate the game’s release date announcement, the original Rogue Legacy will be available to download for free via the Epic Games store from 7 April to 13 April 2022.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Crossing The Stream: The 6 Best Anime To Catch On Netflix So Far

When it comes to anime, Malaysia sure has come a long way from buying expensive VHS cassettes and DVDs and even paying Kota Raya-branded pirated copies and reprints. Ever since video streaming services have popped up for the internet to consume, there are a ton of shows that are making their way to Southeast Asian shores. They’re so big and popular, even long-standing cable channels like Animax have updated theirÂ business model to keep up with the times.
To celebrate the deluge of anime coming into Netflix, arguably the most-used video streaming service in Southeast Asia, Kakuchopurei has gathered its top anime picks on the service. From Netflix exclusives to legacy series, here they are.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (Old Series)

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a live-action Fullmetal Alchemist film out on Netflix. Don’t watch that: it’s a film that’s all over the place with its plot, its recreation of the source material is laughable, and the new adapted key points fall flat in the climax. Instead, you should watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which is a 64-episode recollection of the trials and tribulations of alchemist brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric.
In an effort to bring their mother back from the dead, the siblings paid a terrible price: Edward loses his left leg and right arm, and Al’s soul gets stuck in a giant armour set. After being declared stateÂ alchemists by the world’s government, and after Ed gets a cool set of metal prosthetics, the both of them set out to discover the true nature of a material known as the Philosopher’s Stone.
You get the sheer joy and thrill of watching them uncover a giant conspiracy and fight with alchemic powers in 64 episodes of anime awesomeness. Binge this series instead of watching the 2-hour live action dreck; you won’t regret it.
Link:Â https://www.netflix.com/title/70204981
Little Witch Academia (Old Series)

Ever wonder what happens if someone took the Harry Potter novels, made everyone almost female, and then add in over-the-top action scenes involving mythical creatures and spellcraft? Studio Trigger did, and they created the Little Witch Academia series.
You probably have seen Studio Trigger’s work in the epic Gurren Lagann series and the over-the-top-yet-trying-too-hard Kill la Kill. Little Witch Academia is a tad low-key with that, opting to focus its story on central heroines Akko, Lotte, and Sucy. Because of the success of the standalone films, we’re treated to 26 episodes of madcap family-friendly witch and spellcasting action.
The aforementioned trio are a loveable bunch of misfits. Akko is way too impulsive for her own good, but she is endearing and driven. Lotte is meek but ever-helping and supportive. Sucy is cynical but crafty and smart. Even the antagonists like Diana and side witches like Ursula and the other trio of Amanda, Constanze, and Jasminka have their own loveable quirks and fair screen time.
What’s cool about the 26-episode show is that it expands fully upon the lore and world of the previous Little Witch Academia films, giving fans what they want while also enlightening newbies to a fun-filled anime that’s a slight cut above the rest.
Link:Â https://www.netflix.com/title/80156387
B: The Beginning (Netflix Exclusive)

In The futuristic city of Cremona, crime runs rampart. B: The Beginning is focused on the many lives involved and revolves around the Killer B case. We have the plucky Koku, the non-nonsense high-level Detective Keith, and the supportive Lily, plus a boatload we can’t spoil.
All we’re saying is that if action and investigative drama is your thing, or if you need something else apart from Psycho Pass to get your crime jollies, you can’t do no wrong with this series.
Link:Â https://www.netflix.com/title/80097594
Devilman Crybaby (Netflix Exclusive)

If you’re familiar with the Devilman comics from Go Nagai back in the 60s, this retelling is essentially a modernized version of it: Akira gets devil powers from some demon powerhouse called Amon and fights evil. Along the way, Akira’s parents and his childhood friend Miki get involved, and his best friend Ryo may not be what he seems.
The retelling is more or less that, but with trackfield running, nightclub raves disguised as demon feeding grounds, and an esoteric-if-fascinating direction and art style of up-and-coming anime auteur Masaaki Yuasa. Within 10 episodes, you get to see the off-kilter friendship between Akira and Ryo, Miki’s kind nature that perseveres through the film’s descending madness, a subplot with her jealous-driven best friend Miko that comes full circle, and a lot of gore. Lots and lots of gore and maimings and beheadings and body horror. We can just make a separate article just on those “highlights” alone.
It’s not the best remake, especially if you’ve seen the late 90s OVAs. However, Devilman Crybaby is entertaining and all kinds of messed up if this is your first Devilman experience. It can stand on its own two feet as a good thrill ride into a visual-laden feast for the eyes. Just get ready for some messed-up moments.
Link:Â https://www.netflix.com/title/80174974
Castlevania (Netflix Exclusive)

This long-time-coming show from Warren Ellis since the late 90s has finally seen the light of day. And by god it is bloody; bloody and fun.
It’s also awfully short, but as a series that bridges the first half of Castlevania III, it is lovely. From Richard Armitage’s snarky-yet-hardy Trevor Belmont to the awesomeness of James Callis’ short-but-sweet Alucard stint, the cast truly shines in this anime adaptation of a video game classic. Come for the promise of a more-than-decent game adaptation, stay for the writing and fighting.
Seriously, Season 2 can’t come soon enough.
Link:Â https://www.netflix.com/title/80095241
Violet Evergarden (Netflix Exclusive)

Violet Evergarden is what happens when you take the 18th century, toss in a bit of steampunk, and add in large doses of Blade Runner. But instead of the cliched noir and action show expected from such a mishmash, you get a coming-of-age tale of a former military doll (this world’s term for “android”) named Violet who attempts to reintegrate into society after the war.
She does this by taking a job in letter-writing, while also trying to decipher the meaning of the words “I love you” from her former boss. The show so far goes to familiar-yet-charming directions: she literally does her work with less panache but eventually gets the hang of conveying thought and emotion thanks to the help of her former war subordinate and her letter-writing colleagues.
But there’s such an innocence and try-hard attitude to the main character herself, Violet, that’s just so endearing that you want to root for her. If you’re spent from all the action and drama offerings above, cap it off with some episodes of this slice of life affair.
Link:Â https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80182123
That’s our definite list for now. If you have any other recommendations, let us know here! Or on our Facebook page!


Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Launches In Early 2024, Will Come In Two Discs

During Summer Game Fest 2023, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will launch for the PS5 sometime in early 2024, and that it will come in two discs for the physical version of the game.
The trailer also gives us our first look at Elena, a member of the Turks organization like Reno.
In this standalone adventure, Cloud Strife and his friends have escaped the dystopian city of Midgar and embark on a new journey across the wide world of Gaia to pursue the vengeful swordsman, Sephiroth.
This will be the second game of a planned trilogy. It was originally announced back in June 2022.
Check out the trailer below:


Xbox Announces 20th Anniversary Special Edition Wireless Controller & Stereo Headset

15 November 2021 will mark 20 years of the Xbox brand. To celebrate the occasion, Xbox has announced the 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Wireless ControllerÂ andÂ 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Stereo Headset.
They are now available for pre-order.

20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller

The 20th Anniversary Special Edition controller is a fresh spin on the translucent green of the original Xbox Debug kit. The body of the controller features a translucent black finish with silver internals so you can see every detail. The nostalgic, green Xbox button brings us back to the first green Xbox logo. The iconic colour can also be found on the back grips and around the hybrid D-pad.
The 20th Anniversary Special Edition controller benefits from all the features of the newest Xbox Wireless Controllers, such as improved ergonomics, better cross-device connectivity, a dedicated Share button and reduced latency. You can also easily pair and switch between your devices including the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PCs, Android and iOS via Xbox Wireless, and Bluetooth technology.

When you connect this controller to your Xbox Series X|S console, you will unlock an exclusive 20th Anniversary dynamic background.
Connect your 20th Anniversary Special Edition controller to your friends Xbox Series X|S to gift them this dynamic background as well. Once you choose another background, however, this one will disappear, and you will need to re-connect the 20th Anniversary controller to unlock it again.
TheÂ 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller launches on 15 November 2021 and is available for pre-order today for US$69.99 USD in select Xbox markets worldwide and can be purchased at various retailers, including Microsoft Store.

20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Stereo Headset

The headset similarly features a translucent black body with silver internals so you can see what brings this headset to life. Green accents on the boom mic, inside and outside of the earcups. The left disc is marked with the 20th Anniversary logo in our iconic green and the right dial has the Xbox logo imprinted, as seen on the Xbox Wireless and Stereo Headsets.
Just like the new Xbox Stereo Headset, enjoy ultra-soft large earcups and superb audio and chat quality. You can adjust the volume by rotating the right earcup or quickly mute incoming noise with the convenient on-ear control. The headset also supports spatial sound technologies including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone: X (may require additional purchases or app downloads).
TheÂ 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox Stereo Headset launches on 15 November 2021 and is available for pre-order today for US$69.99 USD in select Xbox markets and can be purchased at the Microsoft Store and other retailers. The headset is only available at the Microsoft Store in APOC/EOC.

Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox â€“ 20th Anniversary Limited Edition

The Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox â€“ 20th Anniversary Limited Edition uses the same durable material and shares the same striking colours and design as the 20th Anniversary Special Edition Controller. This charging stand will fully charge your controller in under three hours and is designed withâ€¯overcharge protection to prevent overheating and short-circuiting.
You can head over to Razer.comÂ to sign-up to be notified when the Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox â€“ 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is available for purchase.

20th Anniversary Xbox Gear

The Xbox 20th Anniversary Black & Green Sphere tee and hat will be available at Xbox Gear Shop starting today. The Xbox Gear Shop ships internationally to most countries from the United States.


Forza Horizon 4 Is Finally On Steam

Good news, PC racing game fans who don’t like the Microsoft Store. You can now buy Forza Horizon 4 on Steam.Â
The standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions of the game are all available on the storefront. Their respective prices are RM95, RM130, and RM169.
From now until 14th March, players who log into the game (doesn’t matter which platform they’re on) will get a free 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS in their garage. Other cars are up for grab this month; here’s how you can do it.

RAESR Tachyon Speed – Complete 50% of the seasonal playlist in Autumn.
Peugeot 207 S2000 – Complete the seasonal championship “Forest Monster”.

The game is also getting a high contrast mode update and screen reader for accessibility options. That’s very cool of Playground Games for keeping the game constantly updated for current-gen platforms, solidifying itself as the de facto racing game right now. Gran Turismo-who?


Overwatch League: WhoRu Joins Philadelphia Fusion

Former OGN APEX Seasons 2 and 3 winner with Lunatic-Hai, DPS mainÂ Seung-JoonÂ “WhoRU”Â Lee has joined the Philadelphia Fusion organization and will compete under its ‘academy team’ in Overwatch Contenders according to a YouTube video by the team’s channel last night.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiuNa6VlBQI&w=560&h=315]
Dubbed the ‘Developmental League’, nine other Overwatch League teams will also field their own Contenders teams, mostly made up of players mostly ineligible to play for the main team due to a variety of reasons. WhoRu, last seen playing for Lunatic-Hai was surprisingly left out of the main Seoul Dynasty roster for the Overwatch League. Joining him in the Fusion Overwatch Contenders team includeÂ ex-Tempo Storm tank Adam “Beasthalo” Denton, Renegades DPS Zachary “ZachaREEE” Lombardo, and his former Lunatic-Hai teammate, support Kim “Alarm” Kyeong Bo, whom many dubbed the next Ryujehong.


Thor Love And Thunder Drops On Disney+ This September

Disney has announced that Thor Love And Thunder will premiere on Disney+ on 8 September 2022. However, this is only currently confirmed for the US version. It remains unconfirmed if this will apply to Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia.
That is because Thor Love And Thunder was banned from showing in Malaysian cinemas.
In the meantime, check out our spoiler-free review of the movie here.

September 8. Let’s do this. ? #DisneyPlusDay pic.twitter.com/PJuEuv122N
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) August 22, 2022


Huawei Is Removing Tencent Games From Its App Store

2021 has finally hit, and we already have a gamechanger of a story.
Tencent’s games have been removed from Huawei’s app store due to both companies failing to reach an agreement on revenue sharing.

“Due to the failure of Huaweiâ€™s mobile game platform to renew its contract with our Mobile Game Promotion Project Agreement as scheduled, relevant products of Tencent Games were suddenly removed from the shelves early this morning.
At present, active communication is being made to try to resume as soon as possible.”

Huawei insisted on receiving a 50% cut, which Tencent isn’t a fan of given these circumstances. This means the following games will not be on the Huawei app store that’s on their trademark phones, and any digital distribution app by Honor (on Honor phones) by extension:

Genshin Impact
Mobile Legends
Arena of Valor/Honor of Kings
PUBG
Fortnite

However, the Huawei app will list out results to APK links via third-party sites for the aforementioned games.

And when searching for Fortnite, you can install Epic Games through the app, which would lead to Fortnite.

You’re probably using Google Play to get these games anyway, but in case you’re loyal to Huawei and its apps, this information is still viable.


Diablo, Overwatch, & Call Of Duty Franchise Will Be On Xbox Game Pass; Next CoD Confirmed For PlayStation

Xbox boss Phil Spencer stated on the Xbox blog this morning to confirm that the next Call of Duty will be on PlayStation. Oh, and that the Diablo and Overwatch franchise will be on Xbox Game Pass.
At this point in time, it’s unclear whether this will include Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 (all signs point to “yes”, but it’s not official), though the post was made to make things clear regarding the ongoing attempted merger with Activision Blizzard. The post also seems to imply that the CoD franchise (then, future, and now) will be coming to the subscription service.
“We’ve heard that this deal might take franchises like Call of Duty away from the places where people currently play them. That’s why, as we’ve said before, we are committed to making the same version of Call of Duty available on PlayStation on the same day the game launches elsewhere. We will continue to enable people to play with each other across platforms and across devices. We know players benefit from this approach because we’ve done it with Minecraft, which continues to be available on multiple platforms and has expanded to even more since Mojang joined Microsoft in 2014.”

Had good calls this week with leaders at Sony. I confirmed our intent to honor all existing agreements upon acquisition of Activision Blizzard and our desire to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. Sony is an important part of our industry, and we value our relationship.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) January 20, 2022

This does make sense in the long run: why keep one of the biggest game franchises exclusive when you can sell them on rival platforms AND profit from it somehow? It worked for Minecraft; why stop there?


You Can Now Pre-Order The Genshin Impact X Razer Gaming Products

Razer and miHoYo originally announced their partnership about a month ago, but now they have revealed that the Genshin Impact X Razer co-branded products are now available for pre-order. You can pre-order now by heading to the official website here.
Shipping will begin starting from 9 December 2021.
Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro – Genshin Impact Edition

It costs US139.99. You can pre-order it here.
Razer Goliathus Speed – Medium – Genshin Impact Edition

It costs US19.99. You can pre-order it here.
Razer Iskur X

The Razer Iskur X is not available for pre-order yet, but you can sign up to be notified when it does.
Meanwhile, Genshin Impact designs are now also available for customization for Orochi V2 mice and Gigantus V2 mouse mats. Fans and players can now order their personalized Genshin Impact-themed peripherals. However, the Razer Customs service is only applicable to selected regions. For more details and information, you can visit Razer Customs.


Don’t Expect An Elder Scrolls 6 Update Anytime Soon

Anyone here looking forward to a new single-player Elder Scrolls game after Bethesda’s take on Fallout 76? Well, you’re not getting anything for a long while anyway.
According to Bethesda senior vice president Pete Hines, do not expect any details on The Elder Scrolls 6 until “years from now”. He made clear on Twitter that the news on a sequel will come after its upcoming project Starfield, which is still unknown at this point in time.

It’s after Starfield, which you pretty much know nothing about. So if you’re coming at me for details now and not years from now, I’m failing to properly manage your expectations.
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) May 10, 2020

In the meantime, why not play Elder Scrolls Online? While it was quite a lacklustre title back in 2014, the game grew in size and gameplay scope. The fact that it is also free-to-play on PC helps its case. For a game that came out six years ago, it’s still looking pretty awesome.


Returnal’s Original Score Is By The Same Composer Behind Midsommar

Developer Housemarque’s PS5 exclusive ReturnalÂ is only a few weeks away at this point, as it is slated to launch on 30 April 2021. Ahead of the game’s upcoming launch, the developer has released the first track from Returnal‘s original soundtrack, giving us a glimpse into the atmosphere and tone of the game.
Returnal‘s original musical score is composed by Bobby Krlic, who also performs under the stage name The Haxan Cloak. If you’ve never heard of him, he was actually responsible for the soundtrack in 2019’s acclaimed horror movie Midsommar by Ari Aster, as well as Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 and Netflix’s Snowpiercer TV series.
The full album for the Returnal soundtrack will launch alongside the game on 30 April 2021 as part of the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game, and will later arrive on streaming platforms on 7 May 2021. However, you can already listen to the first released track, Crash, below (and from various other sourcesÂ here).

Speaking with PlayStation Blog, Krlic said about the score in Returnal:
“Thereâ€™s a certain way which the music is constructed within the game.
Thereâ€™s a main bed or a theme for each environment, and then [we] extrapolate out of different combat music, or music for different shifts in that environment, when youâ€™re in different places.
It gets bigger or smaller.
But I think, for me, itâ€™s always important to first and foremost think in a macro way, you know, to always remember the world that weâ€™re in, and then come into it in a micro way, focus individually for each biome.”
ReturnalÂ combines action with roguelike gameplay into a third-person shooter where players fight to survive a hostile planet that changes with every death. Players can switch instinctively between firing modes by using a single adaptive trigger and can get right back into the action after dying. Players assume the role of Astra space scout Selene as she is stuck in a constant loop of resurrection.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Steel Assault Brings Back Vibes Of Bionic Commando Platforming Action This Year

Studio Zenovia will release their tribute to early 90s 16-bit platforming and Bionic Commando-esque action in the form of Steel Assault.
The PC Steam retro-tailored title will be out in 2020. It features the following:

Fast-paced 2D platforming where your main character Taro Takahashi punches, whips, and ziplines his way through a ton of linear classic stages.
Detailed 16-bit style graphics coupled with modulation synthesized tunes.
A new take on vertical climbing with Taro’s ziplining tool.

Check out the full trailer below. It’s quite a treat for the senses.


These Are The Best Game Soundtracks Of 2019

2020 is already here. Let’s celebrate the beginning of the year by looking back at last year’s best video game soundtracks.

2019 Tracklist:
1:00 – Borderlands 3
1:45 – SaGa Scarlet Grace
2:37 – Hypnospace Outlaw
3:09 – Heaven’s Vault
3:59 – Kind Words
4:42 – Astrologaster
5:24 – A Plague Tale: Innocence
6:30 – Outer Wilds
7:21 – Katana Zero
8:19 – Ape Out
9:18 – Bloodstained
10:26 – Darksiders Genesis
11:26 – Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
12:18 – Sayonara Wild Hearts
13:00 – Samurai Shodown
14:07 – River City Girls
15:27 – Anthem
16:10 – Cadence of Hyrule
16:53 – Astral Chain
17:55 – Death Stranding
19:04 – Code Vein
20:59 – ???


The First-Ever Auto Chess Invitational Offers Up US$1 Million In Prizes

The first-ever Auto Chess Invitational is going to happen, courtesy of developers Drodo Studio. And it’s offering a huge sum of US$1 million in prizes.
The tournament’s global qualifiers will start in early August and will feature “online and offline events” to get the game’s community on board. The qualifying teams will then join those who are invited to fight in the finals in Shanghai, China.

This tournament is a joint effort between Drodo, Dragonest Network, and ImbaTV, so you can thank them for cashing in on this pioneering effort to see who is the best auto-battler and piece positioner out there using facsimiles of Dota characters. Who already are copies of WarCraft III heroes. Yikes….
But wait, if the PC version is not ready yet, how can tournament players practice? Easy: just play the iOS and Android versions on your phones; it’s called Auto Chess Origin. Pro players should use that version of the game for now.
If you want to get started on your Auto Battler tournament player journey, why not check out our sweet guide?Â


Baptiste Is Now Available In Overwatch

Baptiste arrives in Overwatch as of the recent update. He is a support hero with an assortment of great abilities to help out the team.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxdy2SMf9CE&]
The Combat Medic wields a Biotic Launcher that rewards accuracy and recoil control to significant damage output. It’s also capable of healing allies in its small blast radius.

His Regenerative Burst can be used to intensely heal himself and nearby allies over time.

In dire times, his Immortality Field can create a field that prevents allies from dying. The generator can be destroyed.
Baptiste’s Ultimate, Amplification Matrix, doubles the damage and healing effects of friendly projectiles that pass through it. His passive increases his jump height if he crouches beforehand.

Blizzard also announced the Overwatch Fan Art Contest: Hero Skin Design Winners! In the past months, Blizzard received plenty of awesome artworks with a variety of art styles across Southeast Asia.
All in all, he seems like a strong support player that might shake the current standing meta which is about as stale as it gets. I can’t wait to try him out.


Co-Op Horror Shooter GTFO Will Leave Early Access “Later This Year”

Sci-fi horror co-op shooter GTFO, which is essentially Left 4 Dead but sci-fi and horror alien things trying to kill you instead of zombies, will finally leave Early Access after two years of being in development.
Developer 10 Chambers announced that GTFO’s version 1.0, the launch version of the shooter, will be out “later this year”2021. You may need to buy it now if you haven’t because the game will be getting a price hike on 1st November; at US$39.99 to be exact. Right now, the game is RM138.
10 Chambers is clearly not done with GTFO even if version 1.0 is out, as the team will be expanding the game beyond its 50+ expeditions and 5 Rundown segments. The game’s narrative director Simon “I did Bionic Commando Rearmed’s Soundtrack” Viklund said that the company will continue on with the Rundown updates.
The version 1.0 update will also feature a lot of graphical improvements like better glass rendering and a new third-person animation system, as well as a communication wheel and improved matchmaking. For more on GTFO, check out the gameplay preview from MathChief below.


EVOS Legends Is M1 Champion And The Best Mobile Legends Team In The World

The Mobile Legends Bang Bang M1 World Championship has just concluded. Three days of high-level mobile MOBA plays have culminated at the Grand Finals where two of Indonesia’s best teams faced off.
And now, we have a world champion.

Congratulations to EVOS Legends on winning the inaugural M1!

The Grand Final was fought in a best-of-seven format and after a full count of 7 gruelling rounds, EVOS Legends successfully cemented themselves as the top Mobile Legends esports team not only in Southeast Asia but also globally after beating Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) 4-3. They will be bringing home the M1 trophy and the grand prize of US$80,000.
Don’t be mistaken, first runner-up RRQ did not make it an easy win. They put a great show early on in the Upper Bracket but was booted down into the Lower Bracket after losing to their long-time rival Evos Legends at the Upper Bracket semi-finals. They then went up against their first Upper Bracket opponent once more, Malaysian team Todak, and beat them 3-1.
After winning their way back into the Grand Finals, RRQ brought out their A-game for the rematch. At one point, RRQ secured a 3-2 lead over EVOS but then EVOS went all out in the last two matches, winning both of them in less than 20 minutes.
EVOS Legends’ Oura is the M1 MVP.

EVOS Legends’ Eko “Oura” Julianto walks home with the title of overall tournament MVP, winning a prize of US$3,000.

This all seems to be a bit of a deja vu situation for the top two teams as they previously faced each other in the Grand Finals of the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) – Indonesia Season 4 tournament. EVOS Legends came on top in Indonesia and now they are crowned as the best in the world as well.
Check out the final match below, where both teams were at 3-3.

Malaysia Boleh MLBB
Let’s not forget our very own Todak, the Malaysian team that battled their way to third place of the M1 Championship. They are now the number one Mobile Legends team in Malaysia and have positioned themselves in the global top 3 best Mobile Legends team in the world.

Now that’s the spirit of “Malaysia Boleh!” being carried into the global esports arena!
This first-ever M1 has definitely been one hell of a spectacle for Mobile Legends fans all over the world. Props to Moonton for hosting and organising a great tournament that is definitely on the way to becoming the TI equivalent for Mobile Legends.
The next tournament, dubbed M2, will be happening next year in Jakarta, Indonesia. A fitting location seeing as how the current top two Mobile Legends esports team hail from Indonesia.


New Justice League Dark Trailer Teases Biggest DC Animated Crossover Yet

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is the next DC animated movie offering, and it’s promising to be the biggest crossover assembling the most superheroes in the six-year-history of the new DC Animated Movie Universe (which began with 2014’s Justice League: War).
Directed by Matt Peters and Christina Sotta, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War will be R-rated and features dozens of returning characters played by their original voice actors. These include:

Jason O’Mara as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Jerry O’Connell as Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman
Rosario Dawson as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
Roger R. Cross as John Stewart/Green Lantern and Dr. Alec Holland/Swamp Thing
Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern
Matt Lanter as Arthur Curry/Aquaman
Sumalee Montano as Mera
Nyambi Nyambi as J’onn J’onzz/John Jones/Martian Manhunter
Sean Astin as Billy Batson/Shazam
Matt Ryan as John Constantine
Shemar Moore as Victor Stone/Cyborg
Taissa Farmiga as Rachel Roth/Raven
Christopher Gorham as Barry Allen/The Flash
Rainn Wilson as Lex Luthor
Rebecca Romijn as Lois Lane
Camilla Luddington as Zatanna Zatara
Ray Chase as Jason Blood/Etrigan
Hynden Walch as Harleen Quinzel
Stuart Allan as Damian Wayne/Robin
John DiMaggio as King Shark
Sachie Alessio as Lady Shiva
Jon Bernthal as Trigon
Tony Todd as Darkseid

You can spot some big names up there, some of whom have been voicing their respective characters for the past six years. Stars like Tony Todd of Candyman and Dota 2‘s Dragon Knight fame, Jon Bernthal of Netflix’s Punisher fame, Rebecca Romjin of the X-Men movie franchise’s Mystique fame, Nathan Fillion of Firefly fame, and lots more.
Looks like everyone on Earth, heroes and villains alike, will be teaming up to defeat Darkseid and his forces, similar to the final episode of 2004’s Justice League: Unlimited.
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War is slated to release on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital sometime in spring 2020.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzY817VhnQQ&w=560&h=315]


Final Fantasy 16 Developers Shared Their Top 3 Final Fantasy Games

The people behind Final Fantasy 16, from its director to its combat creator that made the game attain its Devil May Cry-esque feel and playstyle, are clearly into the long-running JRPG series. But which ones are they fans of?
A recent IGN interview has revealed that and a ton more. Game director Hiroshi Takai, creative director and writer Kazutoyo Maehiro, and battle director Ryota Suzuki have shared their top 3 Final Fantasy games of all time. The results may surprise you.

Hiroshi Takai said that his top 3 favourite Final Fantasy games are Final Fantasy 5 (SNES), Final Fantasy 6 (SNES), and Final Fantasy 10 (PlayStation 2).

Kazutoyo Maehiro said that his top FF picks are FF5, Final Fantasy Tactics (PlayStation), and Final Fantasy 12 (PlayStation 2).

Ryota Suzuki said his top 3 FF games are Final Fantasy 3 (NES/Famicom), Final Fantasy 10, and Final Fantasy 5.
What’s really interesting is that all three share the same favourite Final Fantasy game: Final Fantasy 5. FF5 was renowned for its incredibly flexible Job system (classes) where the game’s four main characters can acquire different classes, change them at any time, and even use some specific Job abilities in other Jobs that are limited in scope. The team said that Final Fantasy 5 has influenced Final Fantasy 16’s combat system to a degree.
Other highlights in the interview include:

Hiroshi Takai stated that Final Fantasy 6 was the pinnacle of pixel art in the series.
Kazutoyo Maehiro said that he listed FF Tactics and FF12 because he worked on both games, adding that they influenced how he worked on future titles.
Ryota Suzuki said that he loved FF10 for its story and FF3 for the wonders it brought to him as a kid back in the 90s.

Final Fantasy 16 will be out on 22nd June exclusively for PlayStation 5. For more on the Square Enix JRPG series, check out our recent top picks of Final Fantasy games you can start off with without any baggage whatsoever.


Nike PG 5 PlayStation 5 Flip Variation Now Available On Nike Malaysia

The Nike PG 5 PlayStation 5 Flip is now available on Nike Malaysia for the price of RM465. However, the stock is moving pretty fast, so you’ll have to be quick if you want to grab one.
This sneaker flips the colour scheme from the first PG 5 ‘PlayStation 5’ drop, which was the Nike PG 5 PlayStation 5 Colorway. According toÂ PlayStation Blog, Nike and PlayStation designers, including Yujin Morisawa â€“ the artist behind the PS5 consoleâ€™s design â€“ worked closely together to bring the spirit of basketball player Paul George and the look of PS5 to life in this unique collaboration.
On the Nike PG 5 PlayStation 5 Flip, shades of blue and black dominate the upper and arrive paired with a platinum-coloured midsole, laces and tongue logos. Graphics on the forefoot bands and heel overlay once again align with the iconic PlayStation symbols as seen on the DualSense wireless controller for the PS5 console.


NBA 2K20 – LeBron Remain Highest-Rated Player

NBA2K20 yesterday unveiled the initial rankings of the top-20 players in its upcoming game and to the surprise of none, LeBron James remains the highest-rated player despite enduring one of his worst seasons as a professional athlete.
Rated on-par with title-winning Kawhi Leonard (formerly of Toronto Raptors, now LA Clippers) at 97, LeBron out-rates last year’s cover athlete, Milwaukee forward a.k.a The Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The top 5 rated players in NBA 2K20! #2KRatings
1) @KingJames 9âƒ£7âƒ£
2) @KawhiLeonard 9âƒ£7âƒ£
3) @Giannis_An34 9âƒ£6âƒ£
4) @KDTrey5 9âƒ£6âƒ£
5) @JHarden13 9âƒ£6âƒ£
â€” NBA 2K20 (@NBA2K) July 16, 2019
Former Thunder teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden complete the top-5 with both also receiving a massive 96 rating. Many fans question LeBron’s rating, especially with him no longer in his prime but we have a sinking feeling it’s more about the brand rather than the actual athlete on the court.
We rate him 95 at most for the time being but with the constant stat updates to the game week-in-week-out, should get a better look on where the players compare once the season tips-off.
Rounding up the top ten, Stephen Curry in sixth is the only 95-rated player ahead of LeBron’s new Laker teammate Anthony Davis (94). Kawhi’s new partner in the Clippers, Paul George is eighth with a 93 rating while Damian Lillard of the Trailblazers (92) and Joel Embiid (91) of the 76ers fill in at ninth and tenth respectively.

6-10 ðŸ‘€ #2KRatings
6) @StephenCurry 9âƒ£5âƒ£
7) @AntDavis23 9âƒ£4âƒ£
8) @Yg_Trece 9âƒ£3âƒ£
9) @Dame_Lillard 9âƒ£2âƒ£
10) @JoelEmbiid 9âƒ£1âƒ£
â€” NBA 2K20 (@NBA2K) July 16, 2019
It’s a shame to see the Dubs’ Stephen Curry miss out on the top-5 overall but he is still the best shooter in the league with a 99 3PT shot rating. Klay Thompson, in second with a 97 rating complete the Splash Bros dominance and solidify the Warriors’ position as the best shooting team in the league – at least for now.
But Buddy Hield only at 90? Come on. Dude’s a 93 minimum in our opinion.

Nothin But Green: Top 5 Shooters 3PT #2KRatings
1) @StephenCurry30 9âƒ£9âƒ£
2) @KlayThompson 9âƒ£7âƒ£
3) Joe Harris 9âƒ£4âƒ£
4) JJ Redick 9âƒ£0âƒ£
5) @BuddyHield 9âƒ£0âƒ£
â€” NBA 2K20 (@NBA2K) July 16, 2019
With the recent NBA free agency being one of the liveliest in history which saw a ton of movement, the power shift in the NBA has never been more apparent and the folks at 2K were savvy enough to release a ‘Dynamic Duos’ rating which reflects this.

Dynamic Duos #2KRatings
1) @KingJames x @AntDavis23 95.5
2) @KawhiLeonard x @Yg_Trece 95
3) @KDTrey5 x @KyrieIrving 93.5
4) @JHarden13 x @RussWest44 93
â€” NBA 2K20 (@NBA2K) July 17, 2019
One can only imagine the depth of the Lakers considering we aren’t even talking about the rest of their players such as DeMarcus Cousins, JaVale McGee, Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma. One of the worst teams last seasons just became a title favourite almost overnight.
With Kawhi & Paul headlining the other part of LA, the upcoming NBA season is definitely going to be one of the most competitive in recent memory and what better to simulate that with 2K20. And we haven’t forgotten about last year’s runners-up, the Warriors who should bounce back with new blood in the form of D’Angelo Russel, the new-look Brooklyn nets and the strengthened Rockets lineup.


Here’s How You Can Join The 2020 SEA Overwatch Map Design Contest

Calling artists currently staying at home, the 2020 SEA Overwatch Map Design Contest welcomes all fans from across Southeast Asia to design a unique Overwatch map.
Submission for the contest starts from today until 30 April 2020. The Overwatch art team at Blizzard will carefully select the top eight (8) artworks, who will then receive awesome rewards in return. Players can also vote for their favourite artworks and the top four (4) most popular artists will receive the popularity awards.
Here are the prizes for the winners:

1st place: A Nintendo Switch console and Overwatch Legendary Edition.
2nd place: An Overwatch Mercy statue.
3rd place: An Overwatch hoodie Jacket & US$100 Blizzard Balance.
4th place: US$100 Blizzard Balance.

Here are the requirements for eligibility to join the 2020 SEA Overwatch Map Design Contest:

Eligibility: Only citizens from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
How to sign up: Visit the event site, upload up to two pieces of artwork, and fill out the required information.
Event period: starting today until 30 April 2020 at 11.59pm (GMT+8).

New Legendary Doomfist Skin â€œThunderâ€

The Overwatch League has unveiled a new legendary Doomfist skin to celebrate the San Francisco Shockâ€™s 2019 championship.
The skin, named â€œThunder,â€ was developed in collaboration with the 2019 San Francisco Shock team, including 2019 league MVP Jay â€œSinatraaâ€ Won.
â€œThunderâ€ follows other legendary skins representing Overwatch League teams and players that have been made available in the game. Those include theÂ â€œFlying Aceâ€ London Spitfire Winston skinÂ and theÂ â€œZen-Nakjiâ€ Zenyatta skinÂ for 2018 league MVP Seong-Hyun â€œJjonakâ€ Bang.
The custom legendary skin will be available to Overwatch players on all platforms for 200 OWL tokens until 9 April 2020.


Tencent Launches New Games Publishing Brand Level Infinite

Tencent Games has announced the launch of Level Infinite, a new brand dedicated to delivering high-quality games to a global audience. Level Infinite is based in Amsterdam and Singapore with staff around the world. It will provide studio support and services, from technology to production assistance, â€œGames as a Serviceâ€ (GaaS) and local/global market insight and analysis, along with assistance in esports integrations and international publishing.
Level Infiniteâ€™s initial publishing release slate includes NExT Studiosâ€™ Synced: Off Planet for PC, Donâ€™t Starve: Newhome for mobile devices, titles from Lightspeed &Â  Quantum Studios, TiMi Studio Group and several third-party developers, as well as fan favourites like Arena of Valor, with new and updated content.Â Â
The Level Infinite lineup will be further bolstered with upcoming titles published byÂ  Level Infinite studios, including:Â Â

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 from Fatshark, live now on PC and console, as well as Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, coming to PC and console next year.
Â Vampire: The Masquerade â€“ Bloodhunt from Sharkmob, coming in 2022
GTFO from 10 Chambers, now in Early Access on Steam.
Previously announced Metal: Hellsinger coming to PC in 2022, along with a new game from Funcom debuting at The Games Awards.

Tencent Games Global CEO Michelle Liu said:
â€œLevel Infiniteâ€™s launch represents the next stage in Tencent Gamesâ€™ evolution as aÂ  global publisher and trusted brand. We look forward to bringing gamers high-qualityÂ  titles wherever and however they play.”
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


League Of Legends Worlds 2021 To Take Place In Shenzhen Later This Year

The League Of Legends Worlds 2021 once again will feature the best LoL Esports teams from around the world to compete for the Summonerâ€™s Cup and to bring pride to their region with a World Championship title.Â
The 2021 Worlds Final will take place in the Universiade Sports Centre on 6 November 2021 in Shenzhen, the leading innovation and technology hub of China.
The 60,334-capacity stadium is home to the Shenzhen F.C., the Chinese professional football club that competes in theÂ  Chinese Super League, and played host to the 26th Summer Universiade in 2011, a bi-annual international multi-sport event for university athletes. The venue also has hosted multiple sporting matches and music concerts for performers such as Jay Chou and Jacky Cheung.Â
Shenzhen, Chinaâ€™s fifth-largest city, is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region and is known for its four pillar industries of high technology, finance, logistics, and culture. Itâ€™s ranked as a global first-tier city among other giants such as Guangzhou, Stockholm, and SanÂ  Francisco.Â
Paired with the prismatic architecture and design of the venue and Shenzhenâ€™s Silicon Valley-esque ecosystem and modern flair, the Worlds event will deliver a top-tier entertainment experience not yet seen in esports history.Â
Riot Games Global Head Of Esports John Needham said:
â€œWeâ€™re extremely excited to push the boundaries of entertainment and sport this year with Worlds 2021 and define the next 10 years of LoL Esports.
Shenzhen is Chinaâ€™s most competitive and innovative city withÂ  thousands of high-tech startups and entrepreneurial pursuits, so we felt that it was the perfectÂ  landscape to host our Finals.â€Â
Shenzhenâ€™s Universiade Sports Centre joins the ranks of iconic venues that have hosted Worlds in the past, including last yearâ€™s Shanghai Stadium in China (2020); AccorHotels Arena in Paris,Â  France (2019); the Incheon Munhak Stadium in Incheon, South Korea (2018); the BeijingÂ  National Stadium in Beijing, China (2017); New York Cityâ€™s Madison Square Garden (2016); and the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea (2014).Â
Additional details about the 2021 League of Legends World Championship will be revealed at later dates. Last year’s Worlds broke viewership records (check out the details here).


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge DLC Introduces Long Sought-After Survival Mode

Probably the most-requested mode for beat-em-ups in 2020 onward is Survival Mode with roguelike capabilities, where you fight through endless waves of foes until you’re done.
The upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge DLC, “Dimension Shellshock”, is adding just that: a new Survival Mode. You team up, fight through dimensions and enemies, collect crystals, then power yourself up for future runs when you eventually KO.
“Survival Mode introduces collectible crystals that allow you to jump from dimension to dimension, with each dimension featuring its own unique look and feel. The extended footage tours the Edo dimension, inspired by Japan; the four Turtles in 8-bit backgrounds; and Splinter, Casey, April, and Usagi in Omnichannel 6.
The new mode allows players to level up and grow stronger through runs across dimensions. After they die and have collected enough crystals, they unlock a new life, ninja power bars, Radical Mode, and extra hit points. Players will also be granted the ability to skip dimensions, and Dimension Shellshock will come complete with flashy new character colors.”
We’ve seen a couple of costumes and colours we love, like Ralph’s red mask in the Archie Comics series to even the Turtles in 8-bit colour like in the NES titles. In any case, this DLC’s going to be a treat for 80s and 90s Turtles fans!
Check out the gameplay below. The upcoming TMNT Shredder’s Revenge DLC will be out in 2023 for PC and consoles.


SuperGroupies & Shin Megami Tensei 3 Nocturne Team Up For Some Demi-Fiend Gear

Japanese fashion brand SuperGroupies is teaming up with Atlus to release new merchandise based on Shin Megami Tensei 3 Nocturne HD Remaster. For the first time in forever, there will be fashion goods modelled after the Demi-Fiend.
First up is this sexy black strap watch, which “emanates an ominous aura” that’s from the Demi-Fiend’s glowing green tattoos. It features calendar subdials for days of the week, date, and month, a 24-hour counter function, and hour markers inspired by the Roman numerals used in the SMT titles. The watch will cost you US$180.

Next up is a Shin Megami Tensei 3 fashion bag with patterns inspired by the Demi-Fiend’s green tattoos. The tattoo designs can also be found on the back of the backpack. The bag will cost you US$148.

Finally, we have this slick wallet that features an embossed pattern inspired by the Demi-Fiend’s tattoos, green lines and all, atop the black colour base. It also comes with a slick Magatama embossed motif and the words “Tokyo died…and I was given life”. It’ll cost you US$118.

I have to be frank: this all looks very slick and stylish. I didn’t think the Demi-Fiend’s tattoos would translate to lovely gear like this; thank the gods I’m proven wrong. If you want to order them, head to the official website.