Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion Belongs On PC, Not Mobile Devices

Creative Assembly’s Total War franchise is known for being one of the most demanding games for the PC in terms of sheer processing power. It takes a beast of a machine to render those stacks of infantry and cavalry units clashing against each other. It’s crazy to imagine that we’ve reached a point where we can play the same game not on a powerful gaming PC, but on a mobile phone that fits in your hand.
The first Total War game to be ported to Android and iOS devices was the original 2004 Rome: Total War game in 2018 but now developer Feral Interactive has brought its expansion, Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion, to the same mobile platforms barely a year later.
How Does It Compare To The PC Version?

While I have played many titles in Total War franchise (including the likes of Total War: Shogun 2 and Total War: Rome II), I have never actually played the original 2004 Rome: Total War and its expansion, Barbarian Invasion. However, after playing the mobile version and comparing it to my experience of playing other Total War games, here’s what I can say.
Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion offers largely the same essential Total War experienceÂ of turn-based faction managementÂ and real-time tactical battles as a PC version would. There are over 18 different factions for players to choose from, including a declining Western Roman Empire and rising Barbarian tribes like the Goths and the Franks.
Just like the PC version, players still have control of generals, assassins, spies, priests, and whatnot to utilize on the campaign map while managing their settlements and making sure public order is maintained. The popular horde mechanic is intact from the PC version (an updated version of which was in 2015’s Total War: Attila, which I played), where barbarian factions can still survive even if they lost their last settlement.
Barbarian Invasion also introduced the religion mechanic for the first time in the franchise, with the 18 factions only adhering to one of three available religions, including Christianity, Paganism, and Zoroastrianism. Religious unrest can lead to rebellion, so players have to take steps in converting the populace or pacifying them by other means.
Struggling With The Touchscreen Gameplay

While most of the gameplay mechanics remain intact in the transition from PC to mobile, the RTS battles are where PC players might feel most divided on. Total War veterans who have been playing on PC for years are used to the precision and accessibility that a mouse and keyboard grants them. This is especially important when real-time battles get chaotic and hectic.
I’m the kind of Total War player who prefers to auto-resolve most of his battles but for the sake of this review, I played my battles in Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion and I do have one major complaint, in that the touch controls are less than perfect for a game like this.
I absolutely hated that I had to wrestle with the finicky and unresponsive touchscreen controls, which felt so imprecise and confusing that it spoils the entire experience and makes what should have a straightforward battle into a complete and utter mess.
When there’s a whole bunch of army units clashing and smushed together on the relatively tiny screen of a mobile device, it all becomes a jumbled mess of struggling to move my units where I wanted them to go and struggling with controlling the sensitive camera all at the same time.

How am I supposed to strategize and command my units when the touchscreen controls are not doing what I want them to do? This is the reason why I was never keen on a mobile Total War game, and why it wouldn’t work with touchscreen controls. Perhaps this problem could be mitigated by playing it on devices with larger screens, like iPads and tablets instead.
It’s all a shame, really, considering thatÂ Feral Interactive has done an excellent job in optimizing the game, so much so that battles flow smoothly on my Sony Xperia XZ Premium, despite not being one of the officially-supported devices (as clarification, my phone more than fulfills the recommended spec requirements for Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion).
I was impressed with how there were barely any framerate drops at all during battles. Although Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion is a 15-year-old game, the fact that a PC game like this can perform so well on a mobile device is a testament to both how powerful today’s mobile platforms are and how far mobile gaming has progressed.
Mobile War

Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion for Android is probably best geared towards those who are already massive fans of the franchise and want to experience their favorite games from a brand new perspective, it’s definitely serviceable, albeit the lack of anything new in terms of content if you’ve already played the PC version.
However, the touchscreen controls may be the dealbreaker, as I definitely feel that Total War games are ultimately better suited for mouse and keyboard controls. The touchscreen controls are frustrating and imprecise, making me miss the PC version even more.
The appeal of playing a Total War game on mobile device sounds impressive on paper, but there’s no denying the fact the franchise belongs on PC, where the best experience still lies.
Pros

Almost exact same game as the original 2005 Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion
An extremely well-optimized port that performs well on non-officially-supported devices

Cons

Struggling with the frustratingly imprecise touchscreen controls
Real-time battles are a hassle to play while wrestling with the camera and touchscreen controls

FINAL SCORE: 40/100
Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion for Android was reviewed on the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFyZOMcCSfA&w=560&h=315]


[Sponsored] Indonesian Streamer Rakes In 1 Billion RP Playing Ragnarok X Next Generation

Reza Oktovian, best known as Reza Arap, is one of Indonesia’s most famous gaming streamers and celebrities. He is also famous for being a member of Weird Genius, a music group that made the viral TikTok hit Latih. Recently, he added another claim to fame by successfully generating a whopping RP1 billion (US$80,000) worth of donation money when he streamed the game, Ragnarok X Next Generation, on 3 July 2021.Â
While streaming Ragnarok X Next Generation, Reza himself was not expecting to receive so much money. However, he was pleasantly surprised when a fan named Doni Salmanan donated RP10 million in the first five minutes of the live stream. Within 15 minutes, Doni’s donation had reached RP450 million. It eventually reached a total of RP1 billion.
During the live stream, the number of viewers peaked from 4000 to 40,000. The stream even became a trending topic across the country.Â Launched in nine countries within the SEA region in June 2021, Ragnarok X Next Generation is the brand-new and mobile adaptation of the historic MMORPG franchise.

Ragnarok X Next Generation brings back all the parts of Ragnarok Online that you loved; the original classes, the charming monsters, even the familiar cities and locations; and faithfully recreates them inch-by-inch with stunning modern graphics, along with a free 3D camera to allow players to admire the scenery.
From the Porings and Lunatics roaming the fields outside Prontera to the zombies of Payon Dungeon, nothing is different but everything has changed, making it a new and fresh journey for players.Â Besides offering a version fully faithful to your nostalgic memories, the all-new Ragnarok also features a balanced and optimal game experience.
It is truly free-to-play friendly, as players can get free diamonds by their own endeavour, and also be gifted with abundant rewards for users going forward through various events. In short, the longer you enjoy the adventure, the better you perform in the game.

You can downloadÂ Ragnarok X Next GenerationÂ on iOS (Link) or Android (Link).


Hogwarts Legacy: The Best Brooms & Upgrades To Use

Hogwarts Legacy will have your newly-created Wizard/Witch explore Hogwarts, learn spells, and fly on a broom. That’s a pretty awesome skill to have especially if you plan on exploring what the Wizarding World has to offer.
Keep in mind that getting the broom will take quite a while deep in the story before the feature is unlocked. You have to wait until Albie Weekes of the Spintwitches Sporting Needs shop returns, as well as finish the Brooms Class with Madam Kogawa. This lesson takes place after the first Ancient Magic trial.
Here’s the list of brooms you should watch out for once you gain access to them.

Ember Dash: looks a bit like a rifle and has a flaming end. It does not go any faster.
Hogwarts House (recommended): a standard broom with a sash of your house colour.
Moon Trimmer : a pointed broom with pouches. This does not increase item slots.
Wind Wisp: a decorated broom with a saddle. This doesn’t make it more stable or comfortable.
Yew Weaver: a broom made from Yew with a sleek design. It’s no more reliable than any other broom.

Keep in mind that brooms are expensive (they cost 600 gold), so you need to do what every open-world character does in a game like this: sell loot, gather coins, and open all the chests you can access with your current skillset.
Broom Upgrades

Once you buy your first broom, Albie will have ideas on enchanting the broom you bought. You need to complete side quests to unlock the ability to upgrade them. Here are the list of upgrades
Broom Upgrade I (1,000 galleons): Increases broom’s acceleration and speed. Complete “Flight Test” side quest to unlock.
Broom Upgrade II: Further increases the broom’s acceleration and speed. Complete “Sweeping the Competition” to unlock.


Here’s How To Join The Jump Force Open Beta This Weekend

The first Jump Force open beta happens this weekend from 18 to 20 January 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One players. With only one month remaining until the anime crossover fighting game releases, many of you will want to catch some of the action and see what the hype is about.
Bandai Namco has announced that the Jump Force Open Beta Test Client is now already available for download. Here’s how to join the Jump Force Open Beta:

Search ‘JUMP FORCE Open Beta’ on PSN or Xbox Live to find the open beta test client.
Download the Jump Force Open Beta Test Client.
Wait for the three-hour sessions this weekend (according to the schedule below).

Just like the closed beta from last year, the Jump Force Open Beta will grant players access to the gameâ€™s online versus mode. However, there will be a total of 17 playable fighters and 6 preset avatars this time around, which is a step up from the previous 15 and 5, respectively.
Check out the Jump Force open beta sessions below:
Session 1

Friday, 18 January at 1pm – 4pm CET (Central European Time)
(8pm – 11pm GMT+8 Malaysian time on the same day)

Session 2

Saturday, 19 January at 6am – 9am CET (Central European Time)
(1pm – 4pm GMT+8 Malaysian time on the same day)

Session 3

Saturday, 19 January at 5pm – 8pm CET (Central European Time)
(12am – 4am GMT+8 Malaysian time on Sunday, 20 January)

Session 4

Sunday, 20 January at 9pm – 12am CET (Central European Time)
(4am – 8am GMT+8 Malaysian time on Monday, 21 January)

In the meantime, check out my hands-on impressions of Jump Force here from participating in the closed beta last year. Jump Force is slated to release for the PS4 and Xbox One on 15 February 2019.


We Might Be Getting A Dragon’s Dogma 2 After Devil May Cry 5

It’s only 27 more days until Devil May Cry 5 comes out and prove that it can go toe-to-toe with the Bayonetta series. I’m not going to hold my breath in regards to this, but at the very least we’ll get a solid action game if the recent demo is of any indication.
But did you know that the game’s director Hideaki Itsuno was close to choosing Dragon’s Dogma 2 over Devil May Cry 5? It’s true, according to a VG24/7 interview. He was approached by Capcom founder Kenzo Tsujimoto. Here’s how the decision went down:

“Look, I want to make either Devil May Cry 5 or Dragonâ€™s Dogma 2 next. [Tsujimoto] said â€˜okay, do whatever you want. Do whichever one you want.â€™ So I thought, alright, yâ€™know whatâ€¦ letâ€™s do DMC5. So we did that.”

Why DMC5 over Dragon’s Dogma 2? The answer is simple: the last Japanese-made Devil May Cry game was back in 2008 while Dragon’s Dogma was made in 2012.
The Dragon’s Future
Dragon’s Dogma fans might be dismayed to hear this news, but Itsuno said that he and his team has a new project in line after DMC5’s release.

Here we are â€“ weâ€™re now finishing up DMC5. But I had ideas for Dragonâ€™s Dogma 2 at the time as well. So here we are, itâ€™s the end of this project.
Iâ€™ve always got maybe around four different titles in mind, maybe about four different ideas that Iâ€™d love to make. But thereâ€™s a difference between the titles that Iâ€™d love to make and the titles that I think I should make next. But here we are, weâ€™re here, andâ€¦ Iâ€™m already gearing up for my next project. We canâ€™t say what it is, but weâ€™re looking forward to getting to work on it.

So what could this next project be? There could be a chance that it’s the next Dragon’s Dogma title, be it a sequel or spiritual successor. Or it could be an entirely brand-new game. We won’t know until the next few years, so in the meantime here’s a pic of the new and old Devil May Cry directors (Itsuno and Hideki Kamiya respectively) side-by-side.


Theatrhythm Final Bar Line Is Now Available On PS4 & Switch

Square Enix has announced that Theathrythm Final Bar Line is now available on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
The latest rhythm game of FINAL FANTASY, featuring the largest collection of 385 tracks in the history of THEATRHYTHM series. With simple play style that can be played with one button, a two-player pair style on one screen, and online multiplayer for up to 4 players, there are many ways to play.
After the release, total of 90 songs from various titles including NieR series and CHRONO TRIGGER will be available as DLC. The deluxe edition includes 27 exclusive songs such as “Eyes on Me” from FFVIII and “To Zanarkand” from FFX.


Riot Forge Launches Two League Of Legends Games Today, Ruined King & Hextech Mayhem

Riot Forge has revealed that their debut releases Ruined King: A League Of Legends Story and Hextech Mayhem: A League Of Legends Story are available for purchase today.
Ruined King: A League Of Legends Story

Ruined King: A League Of Legends StoryÂ is a single-player turn-based RPG developed by Airship Syndicate (the creators of Battle Chasers: Nightwar and Darksiders Genesis, led by the legendary comic book artist Joe Madureira), available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC via Steam, GOG.com, and the Epic Games Store.

The game will be available soon thereafter on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Existing PS4 or Xbox One owners have the ability to upgrade their version for free. This current version is also compatible with the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The story is set in two regions of Runeterra, Bilgewater, a bustling port city that is home to sea monster hunters, dock gangs, and smugglers from across the known world; and the Shadow Isles, a land cursed with the deadly Black Mist which shrouds the island and corrupts those it comes in contact with. In order to defeat a common and mysterious enemy, players will form an unlikely party of beloved League Of Legends champions â€“ Miss Fortune, Illaoi, Braum, Yasuo, Ahri, and Pyke.

Hextech Mayhem: A League Of Legends Story

Hextech Mayhem: A League Of Legends Story is a new rhythm runner developed by Choice Provisions, creators of the BIT.TRIP series, and is available on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, GOG.com, and the Epic Games Store, and available soon via the Netflix mobile app. Set in the League Of Legends universe, players must perform bomb-jumps and bomb-attacks to the beat of a toe-tapping soundtrack, to avoid obstacles, disarm enemies, and light fuses for satisfying and explosive chain reactions to achieve maximum mayhem.
[videopress 5pcIGjwn]
Future League Of Legends Games

Riot Forge also revealed new details about several upcoming releases. Song Of Nunu: A League Of Legends Story will be available in 2022, with developer Tequila Works today unveiling the first look at gameplay via a featurette. This heartwarming single-player adventure game coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam, GOG.com, and the Epic Games Store. It features beloved champions Nunu and Willump as they embark on an epic journey to find Nunuâ€™s long-lost mother.
CONV/RGENCE: A League Of Legends StoryÂ is a single-player 2D action platformer that features time control from Double Stallion will also be available next year and the team showcased gameplay during a new featurette.

Riot Forge also teased a forthcoming game that takes place in the Demacia region.
Hextech Mayhem: A League Of Legends Story is out now on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, GOG.com, and the Epic Games Store for US$9.99. It will also be available soon via the Netflix mobile app – included with your Netflix membership with no extra fees or in-app purchases.
Ruined King: A League Of Legends Story is out now on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC via Steam, GOG.com, and the Epic Games Store, for US$29.99. The game will be available soon thereafter on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
A digital Deluxe Edition is also available on each platform for US$39.99 and includes Ruined Skins for each character, the Ruination Starter Pack, and additional items.Â The physical Collectorâ€™s Edition is available for US$129.99 and includes an Art Book, Exclusive Joe Madureira Sketch, 12â€ Vinyl Soundtrack, Cloth Map of Bilgewater, Notebook & Pen and Bilgewater Mug.
 All players who purchase Ruined King: A League Of Legends StoryÂ within the first 30 days of its release will receive the Manamune Sword as an in-game weapon for Yasuo, whether they purchase the Standard, Deluxe, or Collectorâ€™s Edition.


If Video Game Companies Sponsored F1 Cars, This Is How They Would Look Like

The sport of F1 racing brings a lot of people together, be it the thrill of the race or just the charisma of the drivers as they take dangerous turns at high speeds with little effort.
In keeping with the season of F1 2023 starting this 5th March and Drive To Survive Season 5, we figured we combine the festivities with what we do best: talk about video games. We wonder what F1 car liveries would look like if they were under the sponsorship of video game companies and conglomerates like Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Wonder no more as we put in our entries using this lovely template courtesy of Felixdicit.com.
Ubisoft

PlayStation

Capcom

Nintendo

Bethesda

Activision Blizzard

Epic Games

Xbox

EA


Persona 5 Scramble Will Continue Plot Of Original

After initially announcing the game in April 2019 earlier this year, Atlus has finally revealed more details and information about the upcoming hack-and-slack action RPG musou game Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers.
According to the official website (translated via Gematsu), Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers will feature a brand new story set after the events of the original JRPG, which means that it will be a sequel of sorts for 2017’s Persona 5.
The reason why the gameplay is so similar to the Dynasty Warriors franchise is because Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers will be a joint collaboration between Atlus’ Persona team and Dynasty Warriors developer Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force.
Players will be able to control not only Joker but also all members of the Phantom Thieves (with the exception of Futaba).Â The official description for the game from the official website reads (translated via Gematsu):

Half-a-year after the ending of Persona 5, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts get together for summer vacation, but get wrapped up in a new incident.
Mystery cases are occurring all over Japan.
Palaces, the cognitive worlds of warped adults, have returned?
Donning their disguises once again, the Phantom Theives set out to resolve this new incidentâ€¦

Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers is slated to release for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan on 20 February 2020, with no confirmation for an official localized international version as of yet.
The standard edition will be priced at 8800 yen (or RM339+), while the Treasure Box edition will cost 13,800 yen (or RM531+) and contain the following additional items:

A copy of the game
Newly-illustrated special box
Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom StrikersÂ art book (48 pages)
Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom StrikersÂ original soundtrack (45 tracks)
Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom StrikersÂ theme song â€œYou Are Strongerâ€ (lyrics by Lotus Juice, vocals by Lyn) making-of Blu-ray disc
Morgana towel (350mm x 900mm)
PersonaÂ Team original design sacoche

In the meantime, check out the new Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKEKHvJJ5Mg&w=560&h=315]


You Can Play The New Plants Vs. Zombies Shooter Early, But…

When a playable version of an upcoming game is promoted, it’s usually published as a beta test or a version that’s in early access. EA is doing things differently with Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. They’re letting diehard fans buy and play the game about a month ahead of its release.
For now, let’s put aside EA’s history of employing scummy business tactics to nickle and dime gamers and focus on what they’re offering here because it seems to be something that fans would truly want.

Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle For Neighborville – Founder’s Edition is basically an early release of the finished game. Apparently, the main reason why this edition exists is to allow the game’s most passionate fans to play it early and give some last minute feedback before the game is officially released.
The Founder’s Edition is being sold for Â£24.99 (roughly RM130) and those of you subscribed to Origin Access Basic and EA Access will get an additional 10% subscriber discount. Founder’s Edition is only available digitally.
Here’s the biggest catch: Getting the Founder’s Edition doesn’t mean you straight away get the entire game. For the next six weeks leading up to the game’s release, content such as game modes, maps, and events will be progressively unlocked each week.

Of course, all your progress in the Founder’s Edition will be transferable to the Standard Edition once it launches. Those who acquired the exclusively weekly rewards in the Founder’s Edition will get to keep them.
In the community side of things, there will be a Discord server where Founder Edition players will be able to directly give feedback and inputs to the game’s developers. Sharing content and livestreaming the game are also encouraged.
For more information on Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville and where you can buy it, check out the game’s official website.
Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville will be released on 18 October 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Origin).


Overwatch League Transfers: How Will Fissure Fit In With the Dynasty?

In a ‘why didn’t they think of it earlier’ sort of transfer, former London Spitfire and Los Angeles Gladiators main tank,Â Chan-hyung “Fissure” Baek has joined the Seoul Dynasty for an undisclosed fee.
The move was confirmed via both Gladiators and Dynasty Twitter accounts thus vindicating Rod ‘Slasher’ Breslau’s tweet in July which suggested that Fissure wants to move to an all-Korean roster.

ðŸ¯ANNOUNCEMENT TIME ðŸ¯
PLEASE HELP US IN WELCOMING ‘THE MOST HANDSOMEST TANK’ IN #OWL2018, @Fissure TO THE #SeoulDynasty FAM!!! #GenG #WeAreGenG #TeamRazerFam #TeamNoLag pic.twitter.com/PsnDjp3BWw
â€” Seoul Dynasty ðŸ¯ (@SeoulDynasty) August 21, 2018

ðŸ›¡ï¸ THANK YOU, @FISSURE ðŸ›¡ï¸
Farewell to our glorious, most handsome main tank.
You have left your mark as a Gladiator in our legacy.
We wish you the best of luck with the @SeoulDynasty.
ðŸ”— : https://t.co/jHZbmD6x5u pic.twitter.com/sovzNTuFZi
â€” Los Angeles Gladiators (@LAGladiators) August 21, 2018
Fissure had been instrumental to the Gladiators’ change of fortunes, where he steered them from a third-tier team to a championship challengers, only falling to eventual champions, the London Spitfire in the playoff. However, the team’s talisman wasn’t featured in any of their playoff games and was instead replaced by iRemiix. It was rumored that he was unhappy with the Gladiators’ team practice mentality and was seeking for a more familiar surrounding in Season 2. So the move to Seoul Dynasty comes as no surprise as all OWL teams will be based out of their home cities in Season 2.
Fitting In With the Dynasty
Fissure’s move to the Seoul Dynasty is perfect on paper. He solves the Dynasty’s biggest weakness which is their tank line. Miro and Zunba have been inconsistent throughout the first season and both playstyles aren’t as aggressive as Fissure who is known to be one of the best in the league. Ryujehong’s brief foray as tank midway through the season is further proof that the Dynasty are in desperate need of an aggressive tank player and no one even come close to ‘The Most Handsomest Tank’.
Talent
The change of the meta to favor more mechanically-gifted players will also benefit the Dynasty who despite the poor finish in Season 1, still boast one of the most stacked rosters when it comes to raw talent. Fissure will be competing shoulder-to-shoulder with one of the best hitscans in the league in Fleta, the world’s best Ana in Ryujehong, ‘Boop God’ Tobi and the Zarya God in Zunba and we can’t wait to see these boys hit the floor together.
Meta Changes
As seen throughout Season 1 of the Overwatch League, the meta shifts from one end to the other due to a multitude of factors such as characters buffs and nerfs, as well as introductions of new heroes. ThisÂ spell trouble for teams who are unable to adapt to it quickly and no other team suffered more than the Dynasty in Season 1. They bossed it in Stages 1 and 2 but were unable to cope with the change of a more dive-heavy meta as the season progressed into its latter half of the season.
Seoul Dynasty in Season 1 lacked the aggression of other teams which was their undoing. They were torn apart by less skilled, but more ruthless opponents countless times and with Fissure now on board, hopefully will be able to adapt to a more aggro mentality in Season 2. The rise of the tank-heavy setups such as Triple Tank, Swedish Meatball & GOATS comp should play to Dynasty’s hand and barring any surprise departure, should see them return as one of the most dominant teams in the league.


World of Warships Return to the Stars in April

We can’t think of a better way to start this news piece with the theme song from the classic cartoon, Space Battleship Yamato cuz that’s exactly what is in store for all World of Warships players for the upcoming month.
Â [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9h_llpo4Gc&w=560&h=315]
While some devs stop short with their April Fool’s prank with absurd ideas related to their game, the folks at Wargaming.net went full steam ahead and made the unthinkable possible with release of the limited-time space mode for their free-to-play game, World of Warships. What started off as a left-field idea is now available to play and is definitely a fitting homage to one of our favorite cartoons from the mid-70s.
Running from March 29 to April 25, this special April Foolâ€™s release goes beyond sea skirmishes and historical battles and went totally bonkers with space battles on board futuristic crafts which were inspired by real-world warships.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySpyr-oOX5A&w=560&h=315]
â€œWe always strive to keep the game focused on history, but at the same time we are very open to bringing interesting collaborations and events into the game to entertain our players. Our community means the world to us and we always endeavor to treat it with the respect it deserves,â€ said Artur Plociennik, Executive Producer of World of Warships.
â€œWhen trying something new, we always keep in mind that weâ€™ve got quite a dedicated fanbase following our every move. We have to set the bar high for ourselves and then check with the community whether itâ€™s high enoughâ€”which is why weâ€™re letting them give us their feedback for this new mode.â€ he added.

Our only gripe tho, that none of these ships in the mode were directly influenced by the original Yamato which would have been super epic. However, it is understandable that in order to avoid any potential copyright issues related to the original cartoon, such move was avoided. For now, hopefully. But it does not stop us from going “UCHUUUUUUU SENKANNNNN YAAAAAA MAAAAA TOOOOO!”
For more info on the World of Warships limited-time event and also to try out the base game itself, head on over at their official website here.


Dragon Quest Builders 2 Gives Meaning & Zest Of Life To The Minecraft Model

I never really liked the genre of building block sandbox games in which Minecraft remains the exemplar. The gameplay feels meaningless and filled with busywork meant to pad your time, lacking any sort of narrative incentive to push me forward or urge me to continue playing.
While Dragon Quest Builders 2 isn’t perfect, it has certainly surprised me, convincing me that Minecraft-style games can be more than just uninspired genre clones. This is how Square Enix’s latest spinoff installment of its long-running JRPG franchise won me over.
More Role-Playing Than Brick-Laying

I never played the first Dragon Quest Builders, so I didn’t know what to expect from its sequel, other than the assumption that it plays like Minecraft but with the JRPG franchise brand lazily slapped on it. Boy, was I wrong.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is almost as much a JRPG as its brothers in the mainline series, the most recent of which was last year’s underrated GOTY contender Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age.

The game starts by establishing the in-game world’s premise and thrusts the player’s character into that same world. In actuality, this game is set in an alternate timeline of a what-if sequel to the classic Dragon Quest 2 (1987). An evil cult called the Children of Hargon has taken over the world and prohibited Builders or building/creating of any kind. Instead, they impose destruction as a way of life and religion.

The game’s protagonist is one of the last Builders. I initially expected Builders to be more like humble carpenters, but in this game, they’re so much more. They remind me of the Master Builders from the Lego movies, capable of designing and creating almost everything from anything.
In Dragon Quest Builders 2, you’re not limited to houses and farming, but also miraculously making natural constructs like rivers and forests. You’re God if he looks like a Super Saiyan, so, basically Goku (a reference to the fact that characters and monsters in Dragon Quest Builders 2 were designed by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama himself).
The entire game is moved by a narrative very similar to how a traditional JRPG would progress. You move from island to island, meeting new people and helping them with their problems.
The Power Of Friendship

Impressively, these NPCs you meet at these islands are not bland or boring, but many of them are memorable and have charming personalities.
Despite the lack of voice acting or any spoken dialogue in the game besides grunting and woo-ing, but I swear it adds to the charm of the game and I still managed to bond with them all the same (which is a testament to the game’s great and witty writing).

That’s pretty important because keep in mind that you’ll be spending hours and hours interacting with these NPCs, putting up with their (sometimes grating) requests and forging friendships in the process. Some of them will even die (this is a pseudo-JRPG, remember?), so bring along some tissues as well.

I went into Dragon Quest Builders 2 thinking it would be a simplistic and brief little game. It turned out to be just as massive as a mainline Dragon Quest would be.
Here’s some context. In Dragon Quest Builders 2, the protagonist is given a barren wasteland of an island to develop, which functions as your hub. You’ll return to this hub every time you complete an island (or world or region) to continue developing it using skills your character has learned from those places.

The game is massive in that every island you visit takes a long time to complete. It took me 10 to 15 hours just to finish the first island and return to the hub. There are four huge islands in the game’s story (not counting the smaller optional ones) and don’t forget that you’ll be returning to the hub in-between.
That’s more than 50 hours of content and playtime, which is mind-boggling considering that Dragon Quest Builders 2 isn’t even supposed to be a full-fledged JRPG, unlike Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age which took me well above 100 hours to fully complete.

In actuality, Dragon Quest Builders 2 feels more like a JRPG than a Minecraft game, which is what makes it unique amidst the sea of Minecraft clones out there.
Fans of the franchise will appreciate that Dragon Quest Builders 2 features the very same iconic music and sound effects as the mainline titles. Even if 2018’s Dragon Quest XI was your first experience in the series, it would all sound familiar, in a good and charming way.
I was part of the minority who didn’t hate the traditional synth music and sound effects used in Dragon Quest XI. So whether you will find the same to be satisfying or frustrating in Dragon Quest Builders 2 will depend on which group you belong to.
Foundation Issues

Like I mentioned in the first paragraph, Dragon Quest Builders 2 isn’t perfect. It suffers from several problems that stop from elevating it to being a truly great game. The game being as big as a JRPG has its drawback, which comes in the form of pacing problems.
A game like Dragon Quest Builders 2 is better experienced in short bursts of playtime, and not prolonged periods of continuous playtime like you would in other JRPGs. Spending all that time building crafting and building stuff may seem cathartic and enjoyable at first, but you’ll definitely feel the fatigue and mental exhaustion creeping several hours in.
For instance, just when I thought that I would finally be finishing the first island and face its major boss battle, the game would find a way to cram in a few additional middling quests for you to do and delay the inevitable. These quests feel like busywork and padding when all I wanted to do at that point is to get it all over with and move on to the next island already.
Too Much Simplistic Combat

As much as a Builder as the protagonist is, his skills don’t do much against monsters and the Children of Hargon. That’s where his buddy, Malroth, comes in. He’s the main damage-dealer and tank of the player’s party. When you explored the islands, it will often be just you and Malroth tagging along.
While the protagonist isn’t a slouch in combat, you will have to rely on Malroth to do the most damage in combat. His A.I. leaves a lot to be desired, but he’s decent at slaying monsters. He can’t build anything, but there’s an important narrative reason for that (I won’t spoil it).
It’s worth pointing out that there’s a simple levelling system where killing monsters will yield EXP. However, the options for customization are limited, as every level increase only leads to more health for the protagonist, increased strength for Malroth, recipes for weapons and one or two new moves.

Half of the gameplay in Dragon Quest Builders 2 consist of this hack and slash combat mechanic, where you essentially press a single button (triangle on the PS4) to attack. Strategy or skill is pretty much non-existent, as the combat is extremely simplistic to the point of tedium.

You can’t even dodge in battle. Every modern action-oriented JRPG from Ni No Kuni 2 and Final Fantasy XV has dedicated dodge or block buttons, but you won’t find them in Dragon Quest Builders 2. Players are expected to run away manually (or jump away) from enemy attacks.

It’s absurd, especially when the protagonist can wield a shield but lacks the ability to use it for blocking (it only increases your defence stats). All of this wouldn’t have been too much of a problem if combat is sparsely-included in the game, but it’s not.
Combat is unavoidable and it’s necessary since around half of the game involves it. It would have been great if Square Enix put in a bit more effort in adding depth to the game’s combat and making it less tedious to play.
Let’s Get Crafty!

While I still don’t like Minecraft-style games in general, Dragon Quest Builders 2 has proven that there’s potential in the genre, especially when you mix in JRPG elements. This fusion of genres has resulted in a package that even a veteran JRPG fan like me would enjoy playing.
I’d recommend Dragon Quest Builders 2 to all JRPG fans (and especially fans of the Dragon Quest franchise). It’s more than just a Minecraft clone, and it’s a fun game to boot. I just think that a game like this would be more suited to the portable nature of the Nintendo Switch rather than playing it on the PS4.
Pros:

More like a JRPG than a simple Minecraft clone
Features a compelling narrative and brilliantly-written NPCs
Addicting gameplay

Cons:

Pacing problems due to the game’s massive length
Too much simplistic combat leads to tedium

FINAL SCORE: 70/100
Dragon Quest Builders 2 was reviewed on a PS4 Pro, via a review copy courtesy of Square Enix and PlayStation.


Age Of Empires 4 Reveals Gameplay, New Factions & Campaigns

During a fan event live stream last weekend, Relic Entertainment finally revealed our first look at gameplay from the upcoming Age Of Empires 4, which is slated to launch for PC via Steam sometime in Fall 2021.
At launch, Age Of Empires 4 will feature four campaigns and eight playable factions. Confirmed campaigns include the Norman Campaign, while the factions revealed so far include India’s Delhi Sultanate, the English, the Chinese and the Mongols.
About the Age Of Empires 4 Norman Campaign, narrative lead Philippe Boulle (via PC Gamer) said:
“You get the whole story of the Norman conquest, from the time this ambitious duke made his way across the channel and said ‘this is mine,’ all the way to the point where you’re signing the Magna Carta and laying the foundations of what England is today.
We bridge the gap between missions with these wonderful historical films.
We worked with documentarians to go to all kinds of locations like Hastings and Dover, where these events happened.
And that’s just one of the four campaigns we’re shipping with.”

We also get our first look at the Delhi Sultanate and Chinese civilizations in the videos below. Players can look forward to new and unique features and units for factions, such as the Delhi Sultanate’s intimidating war elephants.

The developer has already confirmed that they will be adding more factions and civilizations after launch. While we still don’t have a definitive release date yet, there will be an Age Of Empires 4 closed beta sometime in the future.
You can check out the rest of the Age Of Empires 4 gameplay footage in another video below:

Is 2021 the year of the RTS’ comeback? Not only are we getting Age Of Empires 4 (the first new entry in the franchise in 15 years), but we’re also getting Total War Rome Remastered on 29 April 2021 and Total War Warhammer 3 sometime later this year as well. It’s a good time to be an RTS fan, indeed.


So How Much Space Will Cyberpunk 2077 Take Up On Your PS4?

Open-world games are often notorious for having ridiculously massive file sizes, especially on consoles. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey could easily reach between 50GB to 100GB in size.
It looks like those looking forward to CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 next year will have to start saving up space from now (or invest in a decent external hard drive). According to the Cyberpunk 2077 European PlayStation Store page, the upcoming game will require a whopping 80GB, and that’s the minimum storage space required.
If the base game already requires an incredible 80GB, how much will it all add up to when the updates and expansions start getting added into the mix? In comparison, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, along with all its DLC and expansions, requires around 50GB to install.
However, it’s curious that the Cyberpunk 2077 file size has yet to be stated on the US and Asian PlayStation Store, so 80GB could merely be a placeholder while the developer is still working on the game. We won’t know for sure until CD Projekt Red confirms the actual file size, probably closer to the game’s eventual release date.
Cyberpunk 2077Â is slated to launch for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 16 April 2020. In the meantime,Â head on over hereÂ for more details onÂ Cyberpunk 2077Â Collectorâ€™s Edition, or check out theÂ 10 details we learned from theÂ Cyberpunk 2077Â E3 2019 demo here.


The Yakuza Franchise  Surpasses 14 Million In Sales

In its annual integrated report for 2020 (via PCGamer), Sega has revealed that the YakuzaÂ franchise has surpassed a whopping 14 million number of lifetime copies sold across all titles.
The lifetime total sales for the franchise only reaches 12 million copies in 2019, which means that over 20 percent of the 14 million copies can be attributed to the last two years alone.
The Japanese giant credits the success of the franchise to its niche appeal and dedication to portraying Japanese culture, which has become its biggest selling point.
The annual integrated report also states that both the Yakuza and Atlus’ Persona franchises are “highly evaluated by overseas users”. It also mentions that the Yakuza franchise is targeted towards a niche market.
Moving forward, the Yakuza franchise’s business model will rely on releasing the game to multiple platforms and across multiple services. The PC platform is a key part of this strategy.
Yakuza Like A Dragon is now available for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Head on over here for our review, or check out our guide here.


Destiny’s Fan-Favourite Mode Returns, But…

The next season of Destiny 2 looms over the horizon as Bungie has unveiled the official title to the next season, the Season of the Worthy.
If you have been playing Destiny 2 these past weeks, you might be noticing the upsurge in memes of players farming for Fractaline, the season currency that’s used to repair and upgrade the Obelisks, and investing and donating Fractalines. Well, there’s a good reason for that. Bungie initiated a community challenge in which players must donate at least an accumulated total of 1 billion Fractalines in order to bring back an old, yet enticing gameplay mode.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bYeNpgOjtc]
Yes, my fellow Guardians, “the ultimate PvP” mode is coming soon. Trials of Osiris is coming back!
Trials of Osiris? What’s That?
It is the true end game player-vs-player (PvP) content in which you will meet extra tryhard players you could ever face in Destiny 2. In year 1 of Destiny 2, it had a similar mode called the Trials of the Nine.

In essence, it is quite similar to the base competitive mode Elimination with distinct differences thrown in the mix. For starters, it was only available weekends. Win streaks and losses mean so much more compared to the Crucible, and Light Power differences are enabled, meaning higher Light players will deal increased damage to lower Light players and vice versa.
In order to begin matchmaking in the Trials of Osiris, you will need to obtain a ‘scorecard’ which acts as an entrance ticket. This scorecard will track up to 9 wins, and 3 losses. The best scenario is when you win 9 times in a row completing that streak. This is called a Flawless run.
If you obtained a Flawless run, you will be allowed to enter a new social space -it was Mercury back in the original Destiny – and receive sweet loot. However, a total of 3 losses will revoke your admission, requiring you to purchase a new scorecard.
The view from Destiny 1‘s Mercury.
I assume this version of Trials will be the same. This means wins and losses carry more weight this time around. Another incentive for this mode is the utterly beautiful weapons and armour you can obtain from the mode.

And when you successfully did a Flawless run, your equipment will all be flashy for the sweet bragging rights.

All that sounds great for the PvP-loving community.
However, it seems like the community isn’t much enjoying the reveal.
Here We Go Again…
“Sweaty, stressful, high-stakes”, this describes Trials of Osiris perfectly well. Trials of Osiris is known to be extremely intense and communication-centric, so if you are a solo player, well tough luck then since you need a predetermined team to even enter matchmaking. You’ll need to be highly coordinated to sail through 9 wins. Even if you have a good team, though, you have another hurdle to clear; weapons.
It’s good to have PvP-meta weapons with great perk rolls like the Mindbender’s Ambition shotgun or PvP-focused exotic weapons because you will need all the advantage you can get in order to have a slightly easier time trying to please Osiris.

The PvP scene is getting a huge improvement, sorta. Meanwhile, PvE players, who make up the majority of Destiny 2 players, are bombarded with nerfs left and right, prompting players to dub the upcoming season the Season of The Nerf. For instance, the staple DPS sniper rifle, Izanagi’s Burden will be nerfed in the coming season.
In fact, sniper rifles and grenade launchers will receive nerfs. I once sang high praises to the Izanagi’s Burden for its unique looks and extremely high damage potential. Swords will also be modified for a different playstyle. This looks pretty grim for PvE-exclusive players.

Here’s another problem: since the light cap for the next season is practically removed, players can grind XP to level up their Artifact and reach above 1000 Light Power. The current cap stands at 950, and can be raised by levelling up players’ Artifacts.
This effectively means players who can play 8 to 10 hours weekly will definitely trump players who can’t commit as much time. Even so, for players who missed their opportunity to farm Pinnacle Weapons, which surely drops at a higher Light Power than your current Light Power, you’re practically screwed.
Eric Smith, Bungie game designer, stated that “they’ve been playing Trials of Osiris in the test lab every day to make sure it’s fun and fair as possible“. Sound like it’s gonna be a one helluva game mode then, provided they land the shot correctly.
Back To Where We Started
Whether we wanted it or not, we start to wonder, is Bungie doing the right thing here? Are the community and the game ready to accept such an intense gameplay mode that requires lightning-fast reactions, properly balanced weapons and abilities, and most importantly, rewarding outcomes?
I guess we can only figure that out once Trials of Osiris arrives in the next season, the Season of the Worthy.
Season of the Worthy and Trials of Osiris will arrive in Destiny 2 on all platforms beginning 13 March.


Nike’s League Of Legends Esports Jerseys Look Lazy & Uninspired

Mix Nike and League Of Legends; what do you get? Fans would expect great gear from that collaboration but instead, that’s not exactly what we received. According to the official website, Nike announced last weekend that it has signed an exclusive deal for make every single teamâ€™s competitive outfits for the next League of Legends Pro League season in China.
That sounds exciting, no? Well, look at an overview of each team’s Nike jersey below.

The designs and basic templates for the team’s jersey are essentially identical, with only the colour schemes, logos, and chevron patterns on the v-shaped thing in the middle being different and unique from each other.

All 16 teams look like clones of each other, and it seems like Nike sees esports as an easy cash-in money-grabbing stunt. They must be thinking: why should we put effort into this when LoL fans in China will still clearly buy these shirts.
This is only the first year of Nike’s deal with League Of Legends, so hopefully, they’ll go forward with better and bolder designs starting from next year, however unlikely that is. The Nike team kits will be available beginning in January 2020.


The Best Deadpool + Wolverine Moments From Comics, TV, & Movies

Last night, Ryan Reynolds finally announced that Deadpool 3 will be released in September 2024 and that Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Logan AKA Wolverine in the upcoming movie. At this point, Jackman has played the role for more than two decades, since 2000’s X-Men, and he is now synonymous with the role of the popular mutant.
However, Deadpool 3 won’t be the first time that Deadpool and Wolverine have teamed up, fought against each other or been featured together in something.
Check out some of the best Deadpool Wolverine moments below:
Hulk Vs.

Hulk Vs was a direct-to-video animated film released back in 2009. It featured two short animated segments with stories of how Hulk fought against Thor and another where he fought against Wolverine. In the Hulk Vs. Wolverine segment, Deadpool (voiced by Nolan North) ends up being part of the team sent to kill Wolverine (voiced by Steve Blum).
X-Men The Animated Series (Episode 16: Whatever It Takes)

Deadpool had a voiceless cameo in X-Men The Animated Series, where the mutant Morph knew about Deadpool and his connections to Wolverine. He morphed into the figure in order to taunt Wolverine, who tracked him to an underground mine.
Deadpool The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

The 2012 Deadpool series gave us one of the best modern Deadpool tales. Deadpool teams up with both Wolverine and Captain America as they investigate a clandestine organization that’s been harvesting Wade’s organs and using them to create a new army of super-soldiers.

Uncanny X-Force

X-Force was already featured in Deadpool 2 but that doesn’t mean that they can’t return. Perhaps this time as the Uncanny X-Force with new suits and new rosters? In this 2011 run by Rick Remender and Esad Ribic, the roster consisted of Fantomex, Psylocke (Betsy Braddock), Wolverine (Logan), Deadpool (Wade Wilson) and Angel / Archangel (Warren Worthington III). While Deadpool here still has his wisecracks, he’s a bit more grim and serious in this X-Men book run. Fitting, given that this group is more or less a kill squad for extreme situations.
Wolverine Origins

Wolverine Origins issues 21 to 25 (2006) by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon feature one of the most violent fights between Deadpool and Wolverine. Hopefully, parts of what makes this run special can make it in the Deadpool 3 movie since it’ll be rated R.
Special Mention

We know how many people hate the X-Men Origins Wolverine movie, but at this point, it’s easy to point back and laugh at this disaster. Deadpool is the Merc With A Mouth and they sewed his mouth shut? Who the heck decided that was a good idea?


The New JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Anime Chapter Is As Bats*** Insane As Ever

The new JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure entry from David Production, Stone Ocean, is about as madcap an adventure as you can get. And equally as deep and convoluted unless you’re standing tall with the series through thick and thin.
Ivory Skin and Eyes Of Emerald Green…

The plot focuses on the next JoJo bloodline character: Jolyne Cujoh, the daughter of Stardust Crusaders’ hero Jotaro Cujoh. She’s been wrongfully incarcerated in a high-level security prison called Green Dolphin Street Prison by forces beyond her control, and ends up getting magic ghost powers (called Stands) that lets her shoot out threads that can listen in on conversations and manipulate things from a good distance. And also throw out the “ora ora” punch combos when needed. Of course, other prisoners in the facility also have Stand powers, and they get in the way of Jolyne’s quest to uncover the conspiracy that stems from the events of Stardust Crusaders.
In case the entire paragraph isn’t already obvious, you will need to do a lot of homework to get most of the story and weight behind the actions. It’s called Book 6 for a reason: the earlier volumes tie into the grand scheme of Stone Ocean’s main plot. You will miss out on a lot of the lore if you enter into this series blind at this point.
Beauty Beyond Compare

Thankfully, Stone Ocean maintains the bravado and energy of the last few books and adds in its own new take. We’re now dealing with a mostly female protagonist stuck in jail for reasons beyond their control, getting by in a broken system and making do with the limited powers they have. Our main character Jolyne is naive, but she’s got a good heart and doesn’t take guff from anyone when she has her head on straight. Understandably, she gets emotional and is a tad broken given her strained family relationship and her trouble-making/attracting nature. Both the Japanese and English VOs (Fairouz Ai Kadota and Kira Buckland respectively) do a great job in portraying that fine balance between a greenhorn prisoner and an empowered woman who rises up to the occasion when needed.
The other cast is also interesting and fun to follow, from the obligatory inmate buddy Ermes Costello who has her own quick story to the mysterious Weather Report who showcases his power that’s derived from his name. The show’s mysterious antagonist is also built up pretty well, highlighting their lineage with the series’ past villain and their capricious nature which fits well with their Stand’s abilities.
Speaking of which, the Stand powers in the 12 episodes here are fun to watch and are riveting. Half the fun is figuring out how our heroes get out of their current predicament. This includes a zero-gravity situation (in prison on Earth, mind you) to arguably the deadliest game of catch in pop culture history that reminds me of that one episode of Friends where the group throw the ball without dropping it. Except with magic ghost powers.
From Crying When He Calls Your Name…

Stone Ocean is basically more JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, like it or not. I’m in the “like” category just because of the namesake’s bizarre (battle) tendencies. However, it still retains the many tropes that people aren’t fans of, especially if shonen manga adaptations aren’t their bag. Loads of overbearing narration, deus ex machine type plot things, and coincidences aplenty that line up well to the hero’s favour to a point.
And while you can still enjoy most of Stone Ocean without research for the first three books, you may miss out on the nuances and gravity of the narrative unless you at least know what happened in the previous early entries. Keep in mind that Stone Ocean’s main story is not done yet; we still have the second half of the story arc to deal with in animated form. For now, it’s good to have more JoJo nonsense to entertain us, now with 100% more girl power and the crazy-ass prison they’re stuck in.
Final Score: 80/100


Paul Dini To Continue Batman TAS In Comics, Introduces Jason Todd

Batman: The Animated Series remains an iconic masterpiece, despite ending in 1995 (though the story of this Batman technically continues in the later Batman Beyond, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited shows). Co-creator Paul Dini is returning to Batman: TAS but in comic book form, alongside fellow producer Alan Burnett and artist Ty Templeton.
Titled Batman: The Adventures Continue, the events of the six-issue digital-first limited comic book series will take place shortly after the events of Batman: TAS. However, Tim Drake will be a young Robin, and Batman will still be in his prime, many years before the events of Batman Beyond.
It will also introduce the Batman: TAS version of Jason Todd, as well as Azrael and Deathstroke, all of whom are characters who have never appeared in Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s original DCAU (DC Animated Universe). In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dini said:

â€œWeâ€™d gone from Dick Grayson to Tim Drake, and we had left out Jason.
What weâ€™re doing with this is looking at this as a chance to go back and actually acknowledge that was a part of the animated Batmanâ€™s history.
For the first time, youâ€™re going to see that story and youâ€™re going to see what happened in that relationship.
So, itâ€™s our chance to not only to do Jason Todd but also the Red Hood.
There are other characters like Azrael, who was popular in the comics around [the time of the show], and Deathstroke, who we never used in the animated series.â€

In the first issue, readers will catch up with Batman and Bruce Wayne dealing with two different mysteries. The first is where a giant robot breaks into Wayne Enterprises and steals an entire laboratory, but there’s also Lex Luthorâ€™s mysterious return to Gotham City.

Dini added:

â€œWeâ€™re kicking off with the Bruce-Lex relationship in a semi-sequel of [the Batman and Superman crossover] â€˜Worldâ€™s Finestâ€™ because the events of that are touched on.
Where did that leave Bruce and Lex after they were busted by Batman and Superman?
Itâ€™s interesting to see the little dueling that goes on between them.
Thereâ€™s a stranger in town who has staked out the Batman family, who knows them very well, and is watching them from a distance with a mixture of amusement and deep hatred.
Thatâ€™s gonna be a challenge and concern for them at some point.
The guy is so good that even though Batman and the others get glimpses of him, they have no idea who he is or what he wants, and thatâ€™s a mystery for them to solve.â€

The first issue of Batman: The Adventure Continues will feature a cover by Dave Johnson and a variant cover by Dan Mora, which you can check out below. It is slated to hit shelves on 6 May 2020, while the digital copies will arrive much earlier sometime in April 2020.
Dave Johnson.
Dave Johnson.


Xenoblade 3 Volume 3 DLC Out This February; Volume 4 Out In 2023

Nintendo will be releasing Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Volume 3 DLC on 15 February. It’ll add in a new character called Masha the Lapidarist and a new roguelike mode called the Archsage’s Gauntlet. You pick one character and fight in a ton of battles, while getting buffs to proceed on until you die.

That’s not all: Xenoblade 3 is getting a Volume 4 DLC slated for 2023. It looks like the next expansion will bring in Shulk and Rex from previous Xenoblade Chronicles titles.


Major Sponsors Like Coca-Cola Are Pulling Back From Overwatch League

The Blizzard conundrum continues, with major sponsors pulling out of the Overwatch League.
Coca-Cola and State Farm (insurance company) are pulling back from Overwatch League and Blizzard esports tournament partnerships. This is due to the State of California’s lawsuit against Activision Blizzard over discrimination and sexual harassment at its studio. According to a Washington Post report, the two brands are now re-evaluating their sponsorships. Coca-Cola said the following:
“We are working with our partners at Blizzard as we take a step back for a moment to revisit future plans and programs.”
Right now, both Coca-Cola and State Farm logos are on the Overwatch League website, though that may be updated soon.
Clearly, any who associates with Blizzard right now is going to get a bad look, so the sudden decision to stay away from a PR minefield is expected. That’s what T-Mobile did with both Overwatch League and Call of Duty League; take down its branding from broadcasts and forcing players to cover up its logos on team jerseys.


Road to Kingdom Hearts 3: Story Recap Part 3

In Part 1 and Part 2 of our Kingdom Hearts feature, we recapped the events of the first six titles in the Kingdom Hearts franchise according to chronological order. Now we’re going to recap the final three games leading to Kingdom Hearts 3, which includes Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts: Coded, and Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance.
7) Kingdom Hearts 2

Picking up a few days after the ending of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, the beginning of Kingdom Hearts 2 follows the life of Roxas in an artificial version of Twilight Town. He has been implanted with fake memories by DiZ, thinking that this is his last week of summer vacation with his friends Hayner, Pence, and Olette.
As Sora’s memory restoration nears completion, Roxas’ grasp on the artificial reality begins to crumble, as he becomes more and more aware of who he is. At one point, his heart even connects with Kairi’s for a brief moment (even though she’s all the way on Destiny Islands, another world), triggering her to remember Sora again after one year of losing her memories.
Namine contacts Roxas to convince him to merge with Sora by saying that he will disappear or vanish, but instead become whole again by doing so. Despite Axel’s efforts to try to convince him to return to Organization XIII, Roxas decides to follow Namine’s advice and merge with Sora although this would mean essentially losing himself.
Next, Sora, Donald, and Goofy awaken with no memories beyond that of what happened at the end of the original Kingdom Hearts. They set off again to continue their journey to find King Mickey and Riku. It turns out that King Mickey was already in Twilight Town, who tells them to seek out his teacher, Master Yen Sid.
Yen Sid informs Sora about the threat of Nobodies and Organization XIII, as well as remnants of darkness and the Heartless still looming. After getting new clothes and leaving Yen Sid’s castle, Maleficent surprisingly appears to have been resurrected and is out to continue her evil schemes.
Meanwhile, Kairi has been looking for Sora and Riku since she regained her memories. Axel kidnaps her and brings her to the Organization XIII’s headquarters, where she meets Saix, another member of the organization.
After travelling through various Disney worlds, Sora, Donald, and Goofy find themselves back in Hollow Bastion (Radiant Garden), where they meet King Mickey again. Mickey explains that the ‘Ansem’ they defeated in the original Kingdom Hearts was only the real Ansem’s heartless. Xemnas, the leader of Organization XIII, is Ansem’s Nobody.
Remember when I mentioned Ansem the Wise who took in the seemingly-amnesiac Xehanort at the end of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep? That’s the real Ansem, and he was actually in disguise as DiZ all along. To put it more simply, Ansem and Xemnas are actually the Heartless and Nobody of none other than Xehanort (who is in Terra’s body and was Ansem the Wise’s apprentice for a while after Birth By Sleep).
As they leave Ansem’s study (after learning of who Ansem the Wise really is), Hollow Bastion is under siege by a war between Maleficent’s Heartless and the Organization XIII’s Nobodies. Sora himself helps and defeats more than a thousand Heartless by himself.
Sora later learns that Ansem’s (Xehanort) computer program has been creating an endless stream of Heartless. When the program is stopped, everyone living in Hollow Bastion regains a lost memory, that the town was originally known as Radiant Garden.
After more shenanigans and fights against members of Organization XIII, Sora and the gang heads into the Realm of Darkness to find the organization’s headquarters, The World That Never Was. Sora then gets ambushed by what seems to be Roxas, which leads to a battle between them. Roxas loses but then engages in a final meeting with Axel, discussing whether Nobodies actually have hearts. Roxas then goes back to Sora and tells him that he “makes a good other”, before disappearing back into Sora’s heart.
Meanwhile, Riku is trying to save Kairi while fending off hordes of Heartless. Riku throws his Keyblade to Kairi, who then uses it to defeat the Heartless. It’s just further proof that Kairi is worthy enough to be a Keyblade wielder (thanks to Aqua’s blessing).
Backstory time. Ansem the Wise was a scientist who researches the light and darkness. He had human assistants named Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, and Xehanort, all of which would later become Nobodies and members of organization XIII (except Xehanort, of course). His apprentices conducted evil experiments, which is why Ansem the Wise stopped them.
However, they continued to do so behind his back and died, leaving behind their Nobodies instead. These Nobodies threw him into the Realm of Darkness. That is why Ansem the Wise decided to disguise himself under the identity of DiZ.
Then, it’s time for an emotional reunion between Sora. Kairi and Riku. Ansem the Wise whips out a special device to turn Kingdom Hearts into data, thereby preventing it from being opened or unlocked. The device works but then explodes and seemingly kills him (but not really, he’s just thrown into the Realm of Darkness yet again).
The explosion also helps Riku turn back into his normal form, after looking like Ansem since the end of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days when he had to unleash the full power of the darkness inside his heart to defeat Roxas. Unfortunately, the explosion attracted thousands of Heartless to the World That Never Was, but Maleficent shows up to stop them (but only because she wants to reclaim the world herself).
Sora and Riku go to fight Xemnas for their final battle while Namine is busy helping everyone else return to the Realm of Light. Xemnas destroys the Namine’s portal before Sora and Riku get the chance to enter it, hoping to keep them trapped forever. After defeating Xemnas for good, Sora and Riku discover a small light source which was actually a door to the Realm of Light.
They enter and find themselves falling straight to Destiny Islands, reuniting with Kairi once again. In the epilogue, Sora, Riku, and Kairi are relaxing on the beach when they receive a letter by King Mickey, which leads into the events in Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance.
8) Kingdom Hearts: Coded

After defeating Organization XIII in Kingdom Hearts 2, King Mickey, Donald and Goofy return to Disney Castle, where Jiminy Cricket has started to archive the data in his journals of all the journeys undertaken so far. However, the data starts becoming corrupted and they even find details that Jiminy himself did not record.
To investigate this, Jiminy created a digitized version of Sora (Data-Sora) to hunt down bugs and anomalies in the digitized journal, as well as tracking down a mysterious hooded figure that seems to appear from time to time.
In the real world, King Mickey, Donald and Goofy find themselves being sieged by Heartless outside the door. They are then unexpectedly saved by Data-Sora, and the mysterious hooded figure introduces itself as the personification of Jiminy’s journal while appearing/looking like Riku.
It turns out that King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are actually trapped in the Datascape (what the Riku-Journal calls the digitized worlds). They later meet Maleficent and Pete, who has entered the Datascape in search of the Book of Prophecies (remember Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover, the very first story?).
King Mickey and the gang defeat Maleficent and send her back to the real world. Then, he decides to erase the journal, only to find out that the information from the data versions of the worlds Data-Sora visited in his previous adventures has been added to the journal.
Data-Sora is sent yet again into the Datascape, where he meets Data-Roxas and Data-Namine. They tell him that the bugs and anomalies in Jiminy’s journal were created when the real Namine was repairing Sora’s memories. Data-Namine also reveals that the real Sora is â€˜Key That Connects Everything’, mentioning all the people that are connected to Sora, including Ventus, Aqua, Terra, Axel, Roxas, Xion, and the real Namine. As long as they are connected to Sora, they can be brought back.
In fact, the reason why Data-Namine contacted them is to try and get King Mickey and the others to somehow help Ventus, Terra, and Aqua. King Mickey then promises to tell all of this to the real Sora. That’s when he sends the bottle containing a letter to Sora Riku and Kairi in the epilogue of Kingdom Hearts 2.
In the epilogue of Kingdom Hearts: Coded, Master Yen Sid reveals that with Xehanortâ€™s heartless and nobody both destroyed, it is only a matter of time before the real Master Xehanort comes back to life. Worse yet, he warns that there may be more than one Xehanort that will be coming. He then asks King Mickey to prepare the Mark of Mastery exam for both Sora and Riku.
9) Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance

This is the most convoluted Kingdom Hearts game of all, as it involves time travel. So please bear with me while I attempt to recap the events in this one, the ending of which leads directly into Kingdom Hearts 3.
Sora and Riku assemble at Master Yen Sid’s tower to begin their Mark of Mastery exams, to become true Keyblade Masters. Their task: to journey to the Seven Sleeping Worlds, worlds that were engulfed by darkness and restored, but never ‘awakened’ or unlocked. To do this, Master Yen Sid needs to send them back in time to Destiny Islands just before it fell into darkness. He explains that travelling back in time is possible only if you already have an existing version of yourself at that point in time.
In the Seven Sleeping Worlds, Sora and Riku are often in the same places at the same time but cannot see each due to time travel shenanigans (that will be explained later). Their actions can affect each other and their respective worlds, and so they fight new enemies called the Nightmare Dream Eaters to awaken these worlds.
On their journey, Sora and Riku both encounter the heartless Ansem, the Nobody Xemnas, and a mysterious younger version of Xehanort. After awakening all Seven Sleeping Worlds and reaching The World That Never Was, Sora learns the true purpose of Organization XIII as intended by the original Xehanort: to prepare 13 vessels of darkness for Xehanort to possess in the upcoming Keyblade War against the 7 vessels of light or Keyblade wielders, which will in turn form the X-blade and open the door to Kingdom Hearts.
After that revelation, Sora is submerged into sleep to prepare him for the darkness to engulf but his heart remains protected by a Keyblade armour courtesy of Ventus. Meanwhile, Riku learns that their Mark of Mastery exam has been manipulated by Xehanort from the very beginning.
Xehanort could travel in time thanks to the existence of his younger version. The reason why Riku can’t see Sora is because he has been in Sora’s dreams all along (just go with it). Riku has been protecting Sora from the beginning of the exam subconsciously.
While all this is going on in the Sleeping Worlds or Sora’s dreams, all of the former members of Organization XIII reawaken in their human forms, excluding Braig, Isa, and Xehanort. Axel (or Lea, which is his human name) uses his powers to travel to Master Yen Sid’s tower and reveal that what just happened to King Mickey and everyone else. Lea is also revealed to be capable of wielding a Keyblade.
Riku fights the young Xehanort and defeats him, with King Mickey swooping in to save Sora as well. When they return to the real world, it is revealed that Sora remains in deep sleep. Riku uses his newly-gained powers of immunity to darkness and the power of awakening hearts to head into Sora’s heart and defeat the darkness within.
When Sora wakes up due to Riku’s efforts, Master Yen Sid announces the results of the Mark of Mastery exam. Sora failed since he almost succumbed to darkness, losing much of his powers in the process. Riku passed and is now officially a Keyblade Master. With his new powers, he and King Mickey are tasked to bring back the seven vessels (guardians) of light, which includes Aqua who remains trapped in the Realm of Darkness.
Since Sora failed, he must seek out a great hero (Hercules) to learn how to gain his own powers back, and learn the power of awakening hearts, which is essential in the upcoming Keyblade War. Kairi and Lea (Axel) will be trained by Merlin as Keyblade wielders. That’s where everyone will be at the beginning of Kingdom Heart 3.

That marks the final part of our Kingdom Hearts three-parter story recap. You are now officially ready to play and understand Kingdom Hearts 3 when it releases on 29 January 2019. I hope our efforts have helped you in at least understanding the basic course of events throughout the franchise’s almost 20 years of history.
In the meantime, we’ll leave you with this awesome violin cover of the iconic Kingdom Hearts Hikari (Simple and Clean) theme.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pSLZQFjDOM&w=560&h=315]


Get Your Very Own Adorable Baby Yoda With This Life-Sized Figure

Let’s no kid ourselves. We may have started watching The Mandalorian because of Din Djarin the Mando, but we stayed until the end for Baby Yoda. In an attempt to keep the adorable creature a secret, available Baby Yoda merchandise so far hasn’t been great. That will soon change, as Sideshow has announced The Child Life-Size Figure, created in partnership with Legacy Effects.
The Sideshow Baby Yoda figure is a detailed 1:1 scale Star Wars collectible, measuring 16.5 inches tall and standing on a simple black podium base that lets this cute alien steal all of the focus.Â  It also comes with a tan fabric coat worn by Baby Yoda and the silver shift knob from the Mando’s ship Razor Crest, which it can hold in its right hand.
Every inch of this authentic Baby Yoda figure has been meticulously detailed to recreate everything that Star Wars fans love about it, from the little fuzz on its wrinkled head to its irresistible wide eyes and even its tiny waddling feet.
Priced at US$350 (or roughly RM1430+), the Sideshow Baby Yoda figure is expected to arrive sometime between August to October 2020, with pre-orders now already open on the official website. Check out the adorable Baby Yoda figure below.


Activision Blizzard Lays Off Hundreds Of Employees After Achieving “Record Results”

It’s official: Activision Blizzard is laying off a ton of people.
The company will be laying off nearly 800 people from its 9,600 head count. During the earnings call earlier today (via Kotaku), Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick told investors that:

the company has achieved record results in 2018,
but the company will need to consolidate and restructure because of missed expectations for 2018 and lower expectations for 2019.
The company will be cutting non-game development departments and bolster its development staff for franchises like Call of Duty and Diablo.

Here’s part of the press release meant for investors via Activision Blizzard:

While our financial results for 2018 were the best in our history, we didnâ€™t realize our full potential. To help us reach our full potential, we have made a number of important leadership changes.
These changes should enable us to achieve the many opportunities our industry affords us, especially with our powerful owned franchises, our strong commercial capabilities, our direct digital connections to hundreds of millions of players, and our extraordinarily talented employees.

The layoffs have affected Activision publishing, Blizzard, King, Activision studios like High Moon, and even non-game development departments according to a Kotaku tip-off.
So in other words, the people responsible for the games we’re playing from Activision Blizzard are getting laid off while the higher-ups and executives get to keep their jobs and massive bonuses. There’s a lot more going on, but it’s bewildering that a giant company finds massive success with its games and somehow lay off a ton of people.
In contrast, the late Satoru Iwata took a massive pay cut when his company Nintendo was experiencing financial doldrums with the 3DS and Wii U back in 2014. Just think about that for a second before you start defending these bigwig companies.


First Cruella Trailer Gives Off Disney’s Joker Vibes

Disney has unveiled the first trailer for Cruella, which focuses on the character Cruella de Vil (starring Emma Stone in the leading role) from the 1961 animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
The movie is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estellaâ€™s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by Emma Thompson.
But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella. Disneyâ€™s Cruella is directed by Craig Gillespie (I Tonya) from a screenplay by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, story by Aline Brosh McKenna and Kelly Marcel & Steve Zissis.
The trailer is clearly inspired by the style and tone of Warner Bros’ 2019 movie Joker by Todd Phillips. This just might sort of be Disney’s own version of a Joker movie in terms of vibes.
Cruella is slated to premiere on 28 May 2021. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


New PvP Mode for Ghost Recon Wildlands Coming Next Month

Ubisoft confirmed that the new PvP mode update for Tom Clancyâ€™s Ghost Recon Wildlands -Ghost War – is set to drop on October 10. Ghost War will be free for all players who own the base game and will receive regular content updates following its launch.
In Ghost War, players will play in a 4v4 team deathmatch that builds on the tactical squad play from the main game. Teams will consist from a roster across three categories – Assault, Marksman and Support – pitting players in a battle of skill and wits across large-scale open maps.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noFZRnbDGWc&w=560&h=315]
Ghost War will also introduce new PvP mechanics including suppressing fire and sound markers creating a new take on how multiplayer shooters are played. For more info, head over to their site here.
Released worldwide on March 7, 2017, for the PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game is the tenth instalment in the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon franchise. It is also the first game in the Ghost Recon series to feature an open world environment.


Amazon’s The Lord Of The Rings Series Gets Release Date

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about Amazon’s The Lord Of The Rings series, but now they have finally announced the official title and release date for the upcoming series. It will be titled, The Lord Of The Rings The Rings Of Power, and it will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 2 September 2022.
For the very first time, it will bring the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkienâ€™s The Hobbit and The Lord Of the RingsÂ and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkienâ€™s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.
Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of NÃºmenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
The cast includes Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz CÃ³rdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, Leon Wadham, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani.
Check out the new teaser below, where it seems like Morfydd Clark’s Lady Galadriel is saying:
“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.”


Gundam Narrative Is Free To Watch (For Three Days)

The Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative movie is currently free to watch on GundamInfo’s YouTube channel, thanks to their renewal campaign. It’s only available from March 13 to March 16, 12pm (JST) though, so be quick to catch it if you haven’t already.
The Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky and Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower OVAs are also available for a limited time, though they’ll be on the channel for a while longer. You can watch them from now till March 31, 12pm (JST).
As part of the campaign, you can also get free wallpapers by registering with Gundam.info. Again, this is time-exclusive, and the offer will expire on March 27, 12pm (JST).

Gundam Narrative is set a year after Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. Laplace’s Box has been opened, but the world remains largely unchanged by its revelatory contents. The movie follows a new cast as the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 mobile suit mysteriously appears after vanishing two years prior.
Meanwhile, the Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky and Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower are set during and after the One Year War respectively. Both center on conflicts between Earth Federation and Zeon forces, and a rivalry between two ace pilots from opposing sides. There’s also quite a bit of jazz, which is always a good thing in anime.
I watched Gundam Narrative when it screened in local cinemas, and while it doesn’t reach the heights of Gundam Unicorn and would’ve benefited from being a series, I still liked its character focus and story quite a bit. I’m not as enthusiastic about the Thunderbolt OVAs, but they’re not a bad watch.
For more Universal Century stuff, you’ll have to wait for the upcoming Hathaway’s Flash, Hopefully, it’ll get a local screening.


Let’s Talk About The Mid & Post Credits Scenes Of Thor: Love & Thunder [SPOILERS]

Thor: Love and Thunder is out now in most cinemas worldwide and in Southeast Asia. And just like every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie since Iron Man, there is a mid-credits and post-credits stinger.
Let’s talk about it. So here are your spoiler warnings.
If you want to find out if Thor: Love and Thunder is worth watching, read our spoiler-free review. If you want a full movie breakdown with spoilers, head here.

Thor: Love And Thunder Mid-Credits Scene
Zeus (Russell Crowe) somehow is still alive even after taking a lightning bolt through a chest. He talks to someone who is off-screen about making people fear gods again. Camera cuts to his son Hercules who plans to do his dad’s bidding to wreak havoc, all decked out like he is in the Marvel comics.

Hercules is played by Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein. You have to see it to believe it.

What does this mean in the Marvel Cinematic Universe lore? Well, we are getting a Thor 5, that’s for sure, and it may involve Thor and his new kid Love (bored from Gorr’s Eternity wish) dealing with a bunch of angry Greek gods led by Hercules.
Or he could be doing some superheroic nonsense and somehow has his life intertwined with She-Hulk. They’ve bought fought each other and dated each other in the course of the Marvel Comics storylines, so it’s not a stretch for Hercules to appear as a post-season stinger for the upcoming She-Hulk series on Disney+.

Thor: Love and Thunder Post-Credits Scene

The post-credits scene is basically Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) arriving in Valhalla and is greeted by Heimdall (Idris Elba) who previously died in Avengers: Infinity War. I doubt she’ll be coming back to the film unless it’s a cameo role in future Thor movies. Don’t think too much about it; this is just a happy ending to showcase that Valhalla in the MCU is real.
Of course, this could also hint that the dead Loki from Avengers: Infinity War might also end up in Valhalla, seeing as he has seen the error of his ways in Thor: Ragnarok. Again, this is up for speculation and could be a cool thing to bring up in a future Thor sequel. Imagine if Thor had to visit Valhalla at one point to see all the dead gods who loved/hated him.
It’s Already Been Four Goddamn Movies. Where The Hell Is Beta Ray Bill?

There’s no sign of him at all, sadly. It sucks that the MCU has no place for the worthy Mjolnir-wielding alien warrior for now, but hopefully he can make an appearance and cameo in an upcoming space alien-filled MCU film. Like Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, perhaps?


System Shock 3 Studio Says They’re “Still Here”, But…

Some significant events happened at System Shock 3 developer OtherSide in February, as it parted ways with publisher Starbreeze while the development team was reportedly let go. A new forum post suggests that the project is still alive, but right now, there’s room for doubt.
In a forum thread about layoffs that was active since June 2019, marketing and business development VP Walter Somol wrote the following on 10 April 2020:

“Weâ€™re still here. Weâ€™re all working remotely right now, probably like most of you.
Our new concept is coming along nicely and we are really excited about it.
We have cool and we think distinctive art style for it and we have that and gameplay coming together in UE4.
I know itâ€™s a tease, but I just canâ€™t really say anything about it at this point.
I hope you all are staying safe and healthy in these unfortunate times.
Maybe even gaming more than usual, I know I am.”

This suggests that  System Shock 3Â is still under development. But as VGC notes, Somol is based in OtherSide’s Boston studio, which made Underworld Ascendant, whereas System Shock 3‘s development team was based in Austin.
This leaves room for speculation, then, especially in regards to that “new concept” mentioned by Somol. Also of note is his mention of Unreal Engine 4, as back in 2019, System Shock 3 was announced as a Unity Engine game. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it had switched engines though, as that’s what the System Shock remake by Nightdive Studios did back in 2017.
While System Shock 3‘s fate remains unclear (an anonymous Reddit user claimed that while “there is still a core team that still exists… it’s more or less in limbo or arrested development”, but that’s still unverified), the remake still appears to be alive and well, with a 90-minute demo video being released in January 2020. As for System Shock 3, you’ll have to travel back to 2019 to check out its pre-alpha gameplay.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilPpmW59gZg&w=560&h=315]


Michael Keaton Might Return As Batman For The Flash Movie

Michael Keaton has been in many movies over the years, including Beetlejuice and others, but he will always be known for his most famous role as the Dark Knight himself in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). It’s been almost 30 years since then, but he is reportedly in talks to reprise his most iconic role.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Keaton will return as Batman in the upcoming The Flash movie starring Ezra Miller as the Scarlet Speedster, though it is far from confirmed as of yet. If the deal does come through, he will apparently not only be Batman in the upcoming movie, but also other movies as well.
How will this work? With a new DC movie multiverse, of course.
However, take all this with a grain of salt, as none of it has yet to be officially confirmed by Warner Bros. or DC Comics. We’ll have to wait a while, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting all production of movies and the like.
Still, Michael Keaton was a decent Batman. If anything, he was better than Val Kilmer or George Clooney after him, successfully pulling off the brooding demeanour of the Caped Crusader. It would be great to see him as an older version of the character that made him as famous as he is now.
He’s not that old, but Michael Keaton as Batman Beyond Bruce Wayne, anyone?


Black Desert SEA Adds Life Content Like Fishing & More

Pearl Abyss announced today that a number of new in-game events involving Life content are now available in Black Desert SEA. Adventurers can enjoy these events while exploring the other additions that are now live with this weekâ€™s update.Â
The Sweet Candy event has returned to Black Desert SEA. Adventurers who defeat monsters, gather, and fish until March 24 will have a chance to obtain a Sweet Candy Bag. These candy bags can be exchanged for various items such as Advice of Valks and Fine Accessory Box via Lara in Heidel, or they can be opened to get one of several EXP buffs.Â
A fishing event is also taking place until 24 March 2021. Those who catch Pufferfish, seasonal fish that appear occasionally, can sell them for a great amount of silver. If they fish around a flock of seagulls chasing after the Pufferfish, there will be a small chance to reel in special items with even greater value. Moreover, the first Adventurer to complete this quest will get a special title as well as a reward.Â
A new Adventure Log titled â€œFugharâ€™s Times of Successâ€ has also been added. Adventurers who have completed the Mediah Main Questline and are above level 57 can accept this quest. Rewards such as extra Inventory Slots will be given for completing the new log.Â
You can check out the full patch notes here.
Meanwhile, BlackÂ DesertÂ Mobile, the mobile version of the popular Korean MMORPG, also won one of Google Playâ€™s â€œBest Games of 2020â€ in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand back in December 2020.


Halo Infinite Season 2: Release Date & The Quick List Of Changes For 2022 [Update]

Update (8 April 2022): Halo Infinite Season 2 will start on 3 May. Trailer below with all the new maps, modes, and battle pass.

Original story
Halo Infinite has been out for PC and Xbox Series/Xbox One since late last year. While it was well-received by many, the game has faced some backlash and complaints regarding its multiplayer.
Developer 343 Industries has been listening, and will be taking note and doing diligence for its upcoming Season 2 update this coming May. Players can expect weapon balancing, arena shuffling, and matchmaking tweaks to make the game better in the long run, at least according to all the feedback received concerning Season 1.
Here are the changes you can expect when Season 2 hits.
Halo Infinite Season 2 Updates

AUDIO

The ability to hear an opponent’s shield recharge sound will be reduced to prevent providing too much information about a player’s location
The volume of the Grunt Birthday Party sound effect will be increased in Campaign

MULTIPLAYER

Arena

Catalyst (new Arena map) will be added to multiple playlists on day one
King of the Hill will be added to multiple playlists
Attrition will be added to multiple playlists
In Attrition, a revived player will be able to move immediately after spawning back in
Motion Tracker (Radar) will have its outer edge detection enabled for shooting and sprinting in social playlists

Big Team Battle

Breaker (new BTB map) will be added to matchmaking on day one
Jeff Steitzer’s voice is returning to call out player-earned medals
Issue causing asymmetrical Weapon Rack spawns has been addressed

Matchmaking

Rather than track a player’s entire session, the CSR progression bar will now reflect the progress made from their most recent match

Custom Games & Forge

Addressing some Custom Game bugs, with more coming down the road

Personal AI & Spartan Chatter

Balance adjustments were made to emphasize what’s most important for players

PC

Noticeable stability improvements; the team has resolved dozens of PC crashes

SANDBOX

Networking

Melee fights should be more consistent, with opponents “phasing” through each other less and “whiffing” less when a melee should’ve connected

Weapons

A global melee damage decrease of 10% on all weapons will require the Mangler to land two shots and a beatdown for a kill.
The Ravager’s base (non-charged) shot will see a damage increase

Friend or Foe (IFF) Recognition (Player Outlines)

This system will now have options allowing players to modify the opacity and thickness based on their preferences

Equipment

Drop Wall will see slight performance increases
Overshield will provide slightly more shielding

Vehicles

Chopper collision (splatter) damage will be increased to its vehicle-splattering glory
Banshee’s agility and damage output will be increased to improve its role as a strike fighter
Warthog & Razorback should be more resistant to flipping and bouncing

You can get the full feedback update from the official Halo Waypoint website.


A Space For The Unbound Walkthrough: How To Solve The Game’s Toughest Puzzles

A Space For The Unbound is out right now, and it’s a lovely and relaxing adventure game set in 90s Indonesia, featuring a boy and a girl who has cosmic powers.
The whole game’s vibe is relaxing, but it does get dramatic as the hours pass. You’ll also come across a number of brain teaser puzzles and also use your red book to “spacedive” into people’s minds and solve problems there. Here’s a guide to some of them.
We’ll do our best to not bring up plot points in the game and keep the guide as spoiler-free as possible.
Chapter 3: Student Gang Quiz
You can score a letter from a YOMAN sticker if you can answer the 5-series of questions from this high school group hanging behind the school drain area. Here are the answers:

Au
Hydrogen
Mercury
Hades
Metamorphosis

Chapter 3: Water Hose Puzzle
This requires you to put out fires in a woman’s spacedive section. You will need to find handles, put them on specific pipes, and then turn them on to get the water running to either fill up a well or put out a fire.
Here’s the diagram:

Spoiler-free puzzle solution:
-You should have two pipe handles you can detach and use at the start.
-Put one handle on 2 and one on 11. You will fill up a well that lets you collect a third handle.
-Put all the handles on 3, 8, and 10
Chapter 4: Karate Teacher Spacedive
In Chapter 4, you’ll be in a situation where you need to open up portals to go back into different areas. In one instance, you’ll need to unlock a safe in a karate teacher’s spacedive session.
The safe has three digits; each digit is represented by the number of times an elbow attack, a kick, and a fist appears in a comic book.

Where is this comic book? You have to head to a portal that will take you to a section where a kid is reading a comic next to a guy selling bootleg manga.

Talk to the boy; you’ll get to read the manga. Count the number of times an elbow attack, a kick, and a fist appears in each of the pages and panels. Karate chops do not count.
Here’s the combination:

Elbow: 3
Kick: 5
Punch: 7

Chapter 4: Math & Locker Puzzle
Later in the game, you’ll need to head through a portal and go to your old school. You’ll need to get a crucial item -a crowbar- from a safe in the library that’s owned by a teacher named Niken. Unfortunately, you don’t know what the combination is.

The answer can be found in a math quiz/puzzle that’s scattered throughout the school. You will find the following equations:

3-3n=-i (go through a portal in your classroom, check the desk)
2k=3n (in your classroom, on the board)
11=2e + i (on a document in a garbage bin near your classroom)
n=4 (found at the back of the school; you need to help a guy move stuff to proceed)

As you can tell from the equation, you need to find out what number each letter represents. We already have “n=4”, so all you need to do is use some math brainpower. Keep in mind that a letter next to a number denotes a multiplication.

3-3(4)=-9
2(6) = 3(4)
11=2(1)+9

The locker combination is actually spelling out Niken’s name but using the aforementioned numbers in the equations. So NIKEN = 49614. Use the combination to open the safe to get the crowbar and proceed with the story.
Video Walkthrough
Here are the full video walkthroughs for A Space For The Unbound. Full spoilers ahead:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5