Big Red Returns: Hellboy Trailer Breakdown and Analysis

Our first highly-anticipated look at the new Hellboy Super SapiensÂ reboot is here, as Lionsgate releases the first trailer for the upcoming 2019 movie. Director Neil Marshall has stated that he’s looking to differentiate the new movie from Guillermo Del Toro’s iconic take on Big Red, so let’s see what’s in the Hellboy trailer.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt5g5_1cKVk&w=560&h=315]
The Hellboy trailer begins with Ian McShane’s Trevor Bruttenholm speaking about Hellboy’s role and destiny in stopping the eternal war, as well as making a reference to Big Red’s Right Hand of Doom. And yes, that’s King Arthur’s Excalibur AKA the sword in the stone, and Hellboy will be able to lift it. Why? Big Red is a descendant of King Arthur by his mother’s side.

We then see Hellboy getting out of a truck as he gets shot by one of the good guys. He screams, “Hey! I’m on your side!” in a moment that sets the tone for the rest of the trailer: filled with action and comedy.

Then we see Hellboy (Stranger Things’ David Harbour), Ben Daimio (Daniel Dae Kim), and Sasha Lane (Alice Monaghan) enter the BPRD headquarters through an inconspicuous fish and chips shop.

Ian McShane is brilliant in any role.
Hellboy accuses Bruttenholm of making him into a “damn weapon.” The next few scenes showcase the movie’s R-rating, which allows the Big Red to punch a demon to smithereens and shooting a human point-blank in the head with blood spurting out.
The BPRD logo.
Hellboy smash!
Headshot.
This scene, THIS SCENE! If you asked me what my favorite Hellboy comic is, I would answer; Hellboy: The Wild Hunt. The Osiris Club is an ancient secret organization who organizes the Wild Hunt, in which they hunt literal giants. We can see the hunt master (the one in front wearing the deer head) leading the charge with the rest of the Wild Hunt, and what seems to be Hellboy, following behind.
This wouldn’t look out of place in a Star Wars/Lord of the Rings mash-up.
Hellboy: The Wild Hunt in the comics.
Behold the Osiris Club.
Fancy place you got here.
This could be hell or an apocalyptic vision of the world.
A literal river of fire.
In the comics, Hellboy wrestled a man-bat in Mexico. Yes, you read that right. It turned out to be one of Mignola’s most popular Hellboy short stories, and it’s a pleasant surprise to see that in the movie.
Man-Bat, is that you?
The title for the comic is ‘Hellboy in Mexico.’ I kid you not. Look it up.
This anthropomorphic boar must be the giant Grom, or the fairy Gruagach stuck in his body.

More R-rated blood.
Slice and dice.
Our first look at Milla Jovovich’s Nimue or the Blood Queen, the main antagonist of the movie.

A glimpse of Rasputin summoning Hellboy from hell. This must be a brief flashback in the movie since the 2019 Hellboy movie won’t be wasting much time with retelling Big Red’s origin.

Ben Daimio doesn’t like working with Hellboy. For those unfamiliar with the character, he turns into a were-jaguar when angered or in pain. It certainly seems like we’ll be seeing that happening sooner than later.
This guy transforms…
Into this.
Hellboy V Giants.

Nimue readies her army to war against the human world…

But not if Hellboy has anything to say about that. I give you Hellboy AKA Anung Un Rama (which means “and upon his brow is set a crown of flame”) AKA Beast of the Apocalypse in all his hellish glory, horns and all.

There’s so much to dissect in this trailer that it’s pretty overwhelming. What I can say about the 2019 Hellboy movie so far is that it definitely seems to be a much more faithful and accurate adaptation of Mike Mignola’s comics. The visuals also look great considering it’s supposed to be a lower-budgeted affair instead of a summer blockbuster.
Neil Marshall is ripping off pages straight from the comics and for that, I hereby declare that 2019’s Hellboy is my most anticipated comic book movie next to Avengers: Endgame. Mike Mignola’s Hellboy is one of the best comic books out there, and it deserves to be in the spotlight as much as Marvel and DC.


Kingdom: Ashin of the North Is A Perfect Entry into the Kingdom Franchise

For a standalone episode that comes at the back of two highly successful seasons, Kingdom: Ashin of the North is surprisingly a perfect entry point for anyone who is yet to be acquainted with this one-of-a-kind, period zombie franchise set in medieval Korea.
A special episode highlighting an ominous figure seen at the tail-end of Season 2, Ashin of the North focuses on its titular character’s history as well as how the initial zombie plague came to be. While those who’ve watched both seasons are well versed with the plague’s origins, Ashin of the North sheds more light on the geo-political situation of that era and the underlying machinations which led to this bloodbath of a franchise.
Set in the north (hence the title) where modern North Korea borders to China, Ashin (Jun Ji-hyun) comes from a tribe – the Pajeowi Jurchens – which were victims of the ongoing stalemate and left to fend for themselves. Add in some political intrigue, greed and espionage into the mix and we have a powder keg just waiting to blow over. And while we are at it, let’s place all this next to an area where plants that are able to reanimate the dead are freely available, shall we? It’s so befitting that the show starts with a scene of Ashin carrying a torch as if waiting for the perfect moment to blow shit up.
Ill Tidings

As the episode progresses – which to my surprise, at a very steady pace – we learn that there are no clear ‘good guys’ in war; just casualties. And from that countless and faceless collaterals of war, a vengeful spirit – rightfully-so at that- rises, bringing payback in the cruellest manner imaginable. If you thought the show threw everything at you in the first two seasons, boy are you in for a ride.
I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you but their use of a specific exotic animal into the mix performed way better than what Zack Snyder managed to conjure in his own zombie flick. The origins of the mysterious plant which is able to bring back the dead are explored rather loosely and instead, the show focused more on what would cause someone to set it loose onto others.
If you were left thinking “How could someone come up with this?” you’d be full-on in Ashin’s camp by the end of Ashin of the North… at least until the final revelation at about 30 seconds before the credits roll.

The makers of this special episode decided to show rather than tell the atrocities committed and for that, I thank them.Â Action scenes are as solid, if not crazier than what I’ve seen before in this franchise and the acting – especially by the child actor playing Ashin – is next level. Cue in some training montages and a time-skip midway through the show and we have a fully leveled-up Ashin just biding her time to slit some throats.
The undead are still as terrifying as before and even though I consider myself to be fully acquainted with them after devouring two full seasons filled with contortionist zombies out-sprinting Usain Bolt, witnessing the living being deliberately turned into zombies is something else altogether.
Dead Reckoning

So would I recommend Ashin of the North to anyone who’s watched the first two seasons of Kingdom? Hell yes.
But what about those totally oblivious of what’s in store? Should they watch the first two seasons and then come back to this? Heck no.
Surprisingly, Ashin of the NorthÂ expertly balances its role as a sequel as well as prequel to this franchise. If you missed the hype train prior, you won’t miss a beat with this special episode and in fact, would entice you to binge-watch the rest of them which is, of course, a good thing.
Final Score: 90/100
We received an early access screener of Kingdom: Ashin of the North courtesy of Netflix Malaysia. It is now streaming on exclusively on Netflix.


Big Changes At Firaxis & CD Projekt Red: Workforce Reductions Confirmed

In some recent updates, both Firaxis, the team behind Civilization, and CD Projekt Red, the renowned creators of The Witcher series, have announced significant staff cuts.
The folks at Firaxis, a prominent studio under the 2K umbrella, have reportedly let go of approximately 30 developers just this past Tuesday. On the other hand, CD Projekt Red is also trimming its workforce by a similar number as it wraps up its support for Gwent: The Witcher Card Game.

According to a piece by Axios, a 2K spokesperson stated that the Firaxis layoffs were part of their strategy to sharpen their focus, optimize efficiencies, and align their talented workforce with their top priorities. These measures seem to be in line with the US$50 million cost reduction program initiated earlier this year by Take-Two, the parent company of 2K and Rockstar Games.
In an industry where changes are a norm, it comes as no surprise that major shake-ups can occur. In fact, in February, it was announced that Jake Solomon, the renowned director behind Midnight Suns and the XCOM franchise, was leaving Firaxis after more than two decades. Reports also suggest that staff at Private Division and other Take-Two business units faced layoffs in the subsequent month.
As for CD Projekt Red, their plans to wind down support for Gwent in 2023 have been known for some time. The studio expressed mixed feelings about the transition in a recent update on Gwent’s website, stating, “Moments like this are always bittersweet. On one hand, we get to see the game live on in the capable hands of the community, but on the other hand, it means coming to terms with the fact that all good things must come to an end.”
During this transition, the resources and roles required behind the scenes are naturally decreasing. Consequently, CD Projekt Red has had to part ways with some of its team members. By the end of the year, approximately 30 remaining Gwent team members will be leaving the company.
In another unfortunate turn of events, CD Projekt had to let go of 29 employees earlier this month. This decision was made due to the adjustment in scope for their Witcher spin-off game, Project Sirius. The impact of these layoffs was primarily felt by the developers at The Molasses Flood, an American studio that CD Projekt acquired back in 2021, known for their work on Flame in the Flood.
Change is never easy, especially in the world of game development. However, both Firaxis and CD Projekt Red are determined to navigate these challenges and continue creating memorable experiences for players worldwide.


Get Your Aprons, Overcooked Is Free On The Epic Games Store

Until 11 July 2019, the argument-inducing cooking game Overcooked! will be available for free on the Epic Games Store. Don’t forget to tell your friends so that years of friendship can be ruined thanks to someone not peeling the potatoes on time.
Unlike Overcooked! 2, the first game didn’t feature online multiplayer so you’ll need to invite your friends over if you want to play together. There are guides here and there on how to enable online play but the results range from unplayable to barely working.

On the bright side, you can still enjoy the quirky single player campaign to see if you have what it takes to run a kitchen… on a pirate ship or… on islands surrounded by lava. Yeah, it gets real crazy.
From 11 July 2019 to 18 July 2019, Torchlight will be taking the weekly-free-game spot on the Epic Games Store. If you’re a fan of dungeon crawlers and haven’t tried it out, you’re in a for a treat.


DRX Thwart T1’s Return To Glory As They Win Worlds 2022

Korean dominance returns to League of Legends as DRX pulls a surprise victory over fellow South Koreans, T1—the three-time Worlds winners. The final score was 3-2.

In a nail-biting Best-of-5 series, the finals went all the way to Game 5 when the underdogs, DRX prevailed victorious in what can only be described as the result of “a miracle run.”

The grand finals saw South Korea’s return to League of Legends dominance as we saw the first all-Korean grand final since 2017, which also feature Faker and T1, formerly known as SK Telecom T1.

With thousands in attendance & millions watching across the globe, the stage was set to see both T1 and Faker fight tooth and nail in hopes to hoist the trophy once again, but DRX weren’t going to end their unbelievable run without a fight.

It should be noted that online viewership peaked at 5,031,323 viewers, according to the tracking and analytics service Esports Charts—not including Chinese platforms so it could even be double that.

To understand just how crazy DRX’s run was we have to go back to the beginning of September when they were competing for a chance to play at Worlds. In the end, they placed second, behind DWG KIA meaning that they qualify for the Play-In stage with the rest of the lower-seeded teams.
DRX would go on to obliterate the competition, topping Group B and qualifying for the main event where they were placed into Group C to face off China’s No. 2 Seed in TOP Esports and Europe’s only hope in Rogue.
DRX managed to top their group and qualify for Playoffs where they would face the most recent world champions, China’s very own EDward Gaming. Going all the way to Game 5, DRX’s match against EDG could have marked the end of their Worlds run but they in fact came out on top 3–2.
They would go on to face Gen.G who were favourites to be grand finalists alongside T1. DRX would make quick work of their Korean brethren, defeating them in a convincing 3–1 and solidifying their spot in the grand final where they would face the favourites of the tournament, T1.
With their backs against the wall, DRX were going to show why they deserved to be up on that stage facing one of the most decorated and storied organisations in all of esports.
The series went back and forth with T1 taking Game 1. Game 2 went on to be a 46-minute game with DRX managing to even out the score 1–1. T1 would quickly answer back taking the lead once again and now were at tournament point. But if we’ve learnt anything about DRX so far, it’s that they don’t let a deficit get to their heads and evened out the score once again.
With the series all tied up, it was all or nothing for both teams and DRX decided to take a massive risk when deciding their draft going into Game 5. DRX went with the unorthodox picks of Hecarim for their jungle and Bard for their support—the latter of which had only been played once in the entire tournament.
Game 5 began pretty evenly with DRX managing an early lead, but then it was all flipped on its head when T1’s Gumayusi managed to steal the first Baron of the game, tilting the momentum in the three-time world champion’s favour as they began focusing on objectives—managing to take seven towers off of DRX.
With an insane gold lead, it seemed that the game was all T1’s for the taking but what they forgot was that DRX’s team composition catered to a late-game scaling composition, meaning that as time went on, each of DRX’s champions would get stronger.
The real turning point was a team fight that happened around the Elder Dragon, where DRX came out on top. In response, two of T1’s members rushed DRX’s base, managing to take one Nexus Turret, but ultimately fell to DRX. With T1’s death timers amounting to almost a minute individually, DRX engaged in a fast counter-attack, pile-driving T1’s base before any of T1 could respawn, winning the series 3–2 and were crowned the 2022 world champions.

In the post-game broadcast interview, 26-year-old Deft reflected on what it means to him to finally call himself a world champion.
“Ever since my debut, every single night I’ve been dreaming about myself winning the world championship. It was only dream, but now, I’ve made it. I’m so happy right now,” he said. “One thing I wanted to say was ‘I’m the best player in the world’, but today I realized that being the best player doesn’t matter. It’s is about our team being the best in the world.”
“My best talent is League of Legends. If I cannot be the best playing LoL, I told myself I won’t find any success in life. That’s why I didn’t want to give up,” Deft added.
BeryL’s personal achievements are also significant. He made it to the Worlds finals over the last three years in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and won twice on two different teams, DAMWON Gaming, and now DRX.
This is the first time in LoL esports history that a Play-In team has won the championship. Past winners started their journey from the Group Stage.


Ex-Blizzard Co-Founders Speak Up About The Recent Activision Blizzard Lawsuit

It’s only a matter of time until the former founder and leads of Blizzard talk about the recent kerfuffles the current company is in; specifically the Activision Blizzard lawsuit alleging widespread discrimination and sexual harassment.
First up is Mike Morhaime, former president and CEO who said the following on a TwitLonger post.
“It is all very disturbing and difficult to read. I am ashamed. It feels like everything I thought I stood for has been washed away. Whatâ€™s worse but even more important, real people have been harmed, and some women had terrible experiences.
Harassment and discrimination exist. They are prevalent in our industry. It is the responsibility of leadership to keep all employees feeling safe, supported, and treated equitably, regardless of gender and background. It is the responsibility of leadership to stamp out toxicity and harassment in any form, across all levels of the company. To the Blizzard women who experienced any of these things, I am extremely sorry that I failed you.”

My Thoughts
Read: https://t.co/JkOwtj31Sf
— Mike Morhaime (@mikemorhaime) July 24, 2021

Next up is Chris Metzen, former senior vice president of story and franchise development at Blizzard until he retired in 2016. Here is his public statement regarding the issue:
“We failed, and I’m sorry. To all of you at Blizzard â€“ those of you I know and those of you whom I’ve never met â€“ I offer you my very deepest apologies for the part I played in a culture that fostered harassment, inequality, and indifference.
There is no excuse. We failed too many people when they needed us because we had the privilege of not noticing, not engaging, not creating necessary space for the colleagues who needed us as leaders. I wish my apology could make any kind of difference. It can’t.
Words are cheap. Not sure what grand, sweeping promises really do either. Accountability starts with people. Not corporations, or platitudes, or ‘values’ cast in iron around a statue.”

This is later than it should have been. Here’s my response. pic.twitter.com/0h8iF6a1JR
— Chris Metzen (@ChrisMetzen) July 24, 2021

However…
While this is all well and good, keep in mind that these two leaders and higher-ups have worked closely with World of Warcraft former senior creative director Alex Afrasiabi, who happens to be one of the names in the lawsuit.
While some question Metzen’s choice in picking him as his successor, Metzen replied that he didn’t know and only interacted with him during work hours.
“I loved working with him and jamming in story meetings. He was someone I thought very highly of on the job, but we never interacted outside of story jams and such […] So learning all this the past week has been just utterly shocking. Just reprehensible shit.”
Over at Morhaime’s side, former Blizzard employees found fault with his statement.

When I think back specifically to how many women Afrasiabi harassed and assaulted, myself included, and how many people were traumatized by Bridenbecker, the toxic environment that Pearce's EA's had for so many years… it's hard for me to think that you couldn't have enabled it.
— Cher Scarlett (@cherthedev) July 24, 2021

While I appreciate this Mike, I also know there was no way you didn’t know how toxic (for example) the two Robs were. I was there, I know you knew on some lvl, but in the end we didn’t matter to you. I’ve spent the better part of 10 yrs recovering from my time working at Blizzard
— Connie Griffith ? (@gamedevconnie) July 24, 2021

I wrote a letter to Mike Morhaime back in 2018, after I left Blizzard, and while he was still President and CEO. It read, in part:#ActivisionBlizzard #Blizzard pic.twitter.com/qpKIjKNLzg
— Kristin ? (@Kristin_wrote) July 23, 2021

Could this be a case of convenient ignorance? Or just adding fuel to the fire that is possibly going to raze Activision Blizzard’s current reputation, especially when both men were running the company at the time during their tenure? It’s hard to say. Running a big company for so many years means it’s hard to keep tabs of what’s going on while you’re trying to make successful games, but it’s still no excuse to let behaviour like this run rampant, or even god forbid let it slide. At the very least, both leaders have responded to this in kind.


The DCEU Has Some Fun With The Flash As It Nears The Finish Line

It’s hard to believe that The Flash, one of the most iconic superheroes in pop culture, is only now receiving his first-ever feature film debut in 2023. Despite the many issues and problems that the movie’s production and development have faced over almost a decade since it was originally announced way back in 2014, the film is finally out and…well…
We have to ask: is The Flash worth all the hassle? Or is it a Flash in the pan?
Fastest Man Alive?

Andy Muschetti’s The Flash is essentially an adaptation of the popular Flashpoint event, but it takes many liberties with the details. As a fan of the comics, it’s refreshing to see a movie’s version of an iconic storyline that still retains the heart of the comics. The vibe of the movie is closer to that of an MCU movie than any of the older DCEU movies. The jokes are actually funny and The Flash is probably the most fun I’ve had in a DCEU movie since Aquaman and The Suicide Squad, as well as the Shazam movies too.
No matter what you think about Ezra Miller, there’s no denying that he gave it his all in The Flash. He’s funny and can be extremely emotional when the scene requires him to be. It’s also impressive how he plays two versions of the character that feel distinctive enough from each other. The real Barry is mature and a bit more cynical due to his experience, while the other Barry is happy-go-lucky and more optimistic, just like the real Barry was when he started as the Flash. There’s plenty of heart too, and there are moments that will tug on your heartstrings.
DC fans will be happy with all the surprising and unexpected cameos in the movie, as well as the healthy dose of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne AKA Batman to boot. His presence definitely makes the movie better. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Sasha Calle’s Kara Zor-El AKA Supergirl, who gets too little screen time to truly make any significant impact. With her sharing the spotlight with two Barrys and one Batman, it’s no wonder that one of them had to get the short end of the stick.

This is a CG-heavy movie, and while some of the VFX does look iffy (case in point, one scene involving flying babies), it looks good enough when it matters most, during the “speed” action moments though the climactic fight does end with another conventional superhero CG fest. You know, those moments we spend in the Speed Force. This is probably the most amount of cinematic speedster action we’ve ever gotten in a single movie, especially since Barry actually utilises his Speed Force abilities for more than just simply running really fast. For example, we get to see him phasing through walls, which is something the Flash does often in the comics and TV shows but not in previous movies for some reason.
Despite being more than two hours long, The Flash doesn’t feel draggy or messy, which isn’t usually the case with a DCEU movie. It’s perhaps due to the constant but balanced flow of comedy and action. Perhaps the biggest flaw of the movie is that it doesn’t have a proper Flash villain as the main antagonist. I can’t spoil the details, of course, but the movie revolves around Barry Allen, with almost all of the focus on him and his problems. The villain is pretty much only there as a plot device to move the narrative forward. It’s a bit disappointing that the first-ever Flash movie doesn’t feature a major Flash villain.

Mad Multiverse

The Flash is a movie that DC fans will be able to appreciate the most. It could have been better, but from what we know (of the movie’s production issues and problems with Ezra Miller), it certainly could have been a lot worse. In hindsight, The Flash turned out a lot better than expected. While it’s a little bit sad that this marks the (near) end of the DCEU, at least it won’t end with a whimper but with something that’s somewhat worth remembering.
P.S.: There’s one post-credits scene at the very end of the credits.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100
We attended an early screener of The Flash courtesy of Warner Bros. Malaysia. The Flash is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 15 June 2023.


New Diablo 4 Live-Action Trailer Directed By Oscar Winner Chloé Zhao

Adding to the hype, Blizzard Entertainment recently released a new Diablo 4 live-action trailer, directed by an Oscar winner, Chloé Zhao. The trailer, which Zhao co-directed with Kiku Ohe, is set in the video game’s world of Sanctuary, the realm of humans constantly caught in the middle of heaven-hell battles.
The trailer begins with a man mourning his dead horse in a snowy field before turning to the camera and pleading for help. Interestingly, we can see actors portray Diablo 4’s in-game classes –  Barbarian, Sorcerer, Druid, Rogue, and Necromancer, fighting various monsters and demons from the clutches of evil. It ends with the appearance of Lilith, the game’s main antagonist.
In her statement regarding the live-action trailer, Zhao said:

“Working with Blizzard, we had the wonderful opportunity to bring the dark, thrilling and imaginative world of ‘Diablo IV’ to life. Diablo’ fans are very passionate, and many have been with the game for over two decades. We want to do right by the fans, honor the game’s rich lores and visceral world-building while evoking the strong emotions the players feel while immersing in the game.”

Zhao won the Best Director Academy Award for Nomadland, which also won Best Picture. She has since made several blockbuster films, including Marvel’s Eternals. Her most recent project was an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel “Hamnet,” which focuses on the marriage between William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway and the death of their only son.
Diablo 4 is slated to launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 6 June 2023. Stay tuned for our Diablo 4 review on Kakuchopurei!
In the meantime, check out the epic live-action trailer below.


White Supremacist Members Can No Longer Spawn In Red Dead Online

Gamers and hackers have modded all kinds of things into Red Dead Redemption 2‘s Red Dead Online, but the latest one takes the cake. Some have been using cheats to spawn KKK or white supremacist members to harass other players in Red Dead Online, which is considered especially insensitive now with the ongoing #BlackLivesMatter movement.
While the KKK isn’t part of Red Dead Online, modders have been using the models from the single-player campaign of Red Dead Redemption 2. However, Twitter user @Tez2 has reported that a new update has apparently eliminated the ability to spawn the KKK in Red Dead Online on PC.

PC update
– Cheaters can no longer spawn KKK peds to attack other players.
Credit: @alloc8or #RedDeadOnline
â€” Tez2 (@TezFunz2) June 16, 2020

I wouldn’t normally share this, but we’re seeing more & more posts about it on reddit & Discord
Will @RockstarGames ever do anything about modders abusing the “Rockstar Message” text in Red Dead Online & spawning klan npcs?
Give us crew/friend only sessions. Stop enabling this pic.twitter.com/WXsRihsrqV
â€” Red Dead Online Community (@RedDeadRDC) June 13, 2020

Someone think it’s funny to Spawn bunch of KKK in Red Dead Online. #RockstarGames I know you don’t care about hackers in this game much, but given the current situation in USA maybe you want to do something? PS, I shot them in game, just can’t stand it. Bad taste of joke pic.twitter.com/PRPiU3q7Uo
â€” KEN CHANG (@fanfusuzi) June 4, 2020
Rockstar Games has confirmed to Polygon that they have indeed disabled the ability to spawn the KKK in Red Dead Online, but the developer did not elaborate further. That’s a good move from Rockstar Games, as racism should never be tolerated or accepted in any form or medium.


Hot Wheels Unleashed Isn’t Complete Child’s Play; It’s A Fun Arcade Racer

Platforms: PC (version reviewed), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Arcade racing game with miniature cars
You may not want to dismiss Hot Wheels’ latest license racing game title. Despite looking like a shameless licensed “all ages” title, and it is meant for the family, the breadth and controls of this arcade racer proves that it’s going beyond a mere cash grab.
Developer Milestone taps into the nostalgia of Hot Wheels and miniature racing fans young and very old. Instead of using real-life settings and tracks, you race small cars along kitchen counters and basement floors with meticulously laid-out courses, twists, turns, and loop-to-loop ramps. It’s basically the 90s Micro Machines game but in 3D and in a third-person perspective like a serious arcade racing game, even up to the high-octane racing and controls.
The action showcases the best kind of arcade-like mechanics and feel, with a huge sense of speed as your selected miniature car careens through the creative courses and launch off ramps high and with a devil-may-care attitude. The A.I in this game isn’t a slouch: Normal and Hard racers will kick your ass if you aren’t alert on the wheel, even if you’re a Gran Turismo racing veteran.
Bang For Your Buck

The game isn’t lacking in modes as well. Apart from the usual versus, 12-player online multiplayer mode, and two-player split-screen gameplay, Hot Wheels Unleashed has a Hot Wheels City campaign featuring a decent selection of A.I. races and time trials that will test your arcade racing skills. The mode definitely isn’t messing around; you may need to take your combination of Mario Kart and Forza Horizon driving skills to get through the majority of the challenges. Or gacha for a better car to help even the odds.
Yes, there is an in-game lootbox system dubbed Blind Boxes; do well in races and you’ll win some of these boxes that feature faster and better cars. The randomness of this rewards system may get to you if you’re not a fan of such frivolities.
Don’t Like The Courses? Make Your Own!

Of course, the killer feature of Hot Wheels Unleashed is the ability to make your own track to share to others. The game’s track builder mode lets you build and design courses easily, though you’ll need patience to create the best curves and pathways for the best user-generated experience. The tools are fine, but it’s not as robust as other level creators out there. Plus, there’s no way to rank them online. Still, it’s good enough to offer that level of flexibility and customizability.
This is as close as you can get to a miniature cars arcade racing game where you can do whatever you want. With the exception of the totally random toybox rewards system, everything else about this Hot Wheels game tie-in is legitimately golden and rust-free. While the game has its issues like not-so-hot graphics (compared to other photo-realistic racers), bog-standard music, and some UI features like multiple camera angles and opponent info on the minimap, the rest of the game is golden.
Hot Wheels Unleashed is a rollercoaster with all the perks of a fun ride; crazy colourful tracks included. What looks like an initial cash-grab license title ends up being a pretty decent racing experience.
Final Score: 70/100


[Rumour] Big PlayStation Showcase To Happen This End Of May

Sony is planning something big later this month.
The company might be planning a big PlayStation State of Play showcase in the next few weeks according to sources close to Giant Bomb writer Jeff Grubb (via Video Game Chronicle). Or maybe early June, though that would make sense given that June is usually when big video game companies disclose all information regarding upcoming titles in that titular month. After all, that’s when Summer Game Fest is also happening too.
This and a couple of other presentations will be happening despite E3 2023 being cancelled, showing that perhaps the latter isn’t as important when it comes to stage shows and presentations. For networking, yes, but in the grand scheme of things, this is quite an L for the ESA.
List Of Presentations & Showcases In June 2023
In addition to the rumoured PlayStation State of Play event, here’s a list of confirmed events for the month:

Summer Games Fest 2023 – 9 June GMT+8
Xbox Games Showcase – 12 June 1am GMT+8
Ubisoft Forward – 12 June GMT+8


God Of War Ragnarok PS5 Bundle Announced

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced the God Of War Ragnarok PS5 Bundle, which will be available from 9 November 2022 (the same release date as the game).
They also recently revealed the DualSense Wireless Controller – God Of War Ragnarök Limited Edition.
God Of War Ragnarok is slated to release for the PS4 and PS5 on 9 November 2022.
Check out the trailer below:


2019’s First Video Game Casualty Is Bowsette, According To Nintendo

Last September, we reported on a growing Malaysian-made phenomenon called Bowsette. To recap, Super Mario’s turtle demon arch-nemesis Bowser wears the Super Crown and turns into a sexy princess in fetish gear, tail and horns intact. The idea spawned off the Super Mario Bros. U trailer which features the Super Crown turning Toadette into Peachette.

In fact, fans and fan artists went nuts with the Super Crown idea working on other Super Mario characters like Boo.

Alas, Nintendo has officially shot down the Super Crown idea by way of an official New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe character descriptor. On the site, it’s been declared that only Toadette can wear the Super Crown, making all musings of other characters wearing the crown not approved by Nintendo.

Nintendo even went out to explicitly apologize to Luigi about this, which is implying that Mario’s brother is quite a troll in multiplayer New Super Mario, stealing other people’s powerups just because. Discrimination much?
Is this going to stop the fandom from creating more Super Crown softcore porn fanart? We doubt so, but at least we now know what Nintendo’s official stance is on the recent phenomenon that helped out sites like Pornhub.


PlayStation Partners Awards 2022 Japan Asia Big Winners Include Elden Ring, Whose Director Isn’t Letting It Get To His Head

Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia has announced its winners of its PlayStation Partners Awards 2022.
The big winners are Elden Ring and Genshin Impact, who have the highest worldwide sales between October 2021 and September 2022. Here are the rest of the awards:
Partner Award (Top-Ranked Worldwide Sales Made In Japan/Asia)

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles (Aniplex)
Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2 (Bandai Namco)
Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel (Konami)

Special Award
Top-Ranked Games Made Outside Of Japan/Asia

Apex Legends (EA)

Top-Selling PlayStation Studio Game

Gran Turismo 7 (SIE)

Users’ Choice Award

Earth Defense Force 6 (D3 Publisher)
Elden Ring (FromSoftware)
Ghostwire: Tokyo (Bethesda Softworks)
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (Square Enix)
STRAY (Annapurna Interactive)

Famitsu also had an interview with Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki post-awards, stating that he isn’t paying attention to the buzz around his game because it may distract him from his goal to make FromSoftware-style games.
“I’m at a loss when people ask me why [it’s been so successful], but my feeling is that I don’t intend to change the way I’ve been making things in the future. I try not to think about it too much, because it could become a distraction when I make the next project. However, I am very grateful and feel honoured.
Personally, I try not to look directly at user feedback. That’s because I can’t listen to all the users’ opinions. I’m afraid that if I do, the voices and opinions I happen to hear will have a strong influence on my future decisions, so I’m careful not to put other opinions directly into my own mind.
However, when I do look at the reactions, there are many people who first played the same genre (Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls series, etc.) with Elden Ring. It makes me nostalgic when I hear them. I remember feeling really happy when I experienced Demon’s Souls for the first time. It’s an exciting title to discover, and we’ve had an increase in new users. I was personally happy to hear that kind of feedback.”


I’m Getting Chrono Trigger Vibes From This Upcoming RPG

If my chat about Chrono Trigger on The Last King podcast is of any indication, is that the world is due for an indie spiritual successor of the 90s classic. And not from Tokyo RPG Factory, please.
Sabotage Studio, the folks who made the hit 2D 8/16-bit Ninja Gaiden-esque platformer The Messenger will be creating an ode to past JRPGs of yore called Sea of Stars. A turn-based RPG inspired by the classics, the game’s story is a prequel set in The Messenger’s universe and is focused on two Children of the Solstice to fend off the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.
Why are they special? Because they can combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force that can stop evil. Check the video below to see it in glorious old-school action.
[wpvideo rqK022sY]
The best part? Sea of Stars promises no random encounters, no jarring transitions for combat, and no grinding. What it can offer? Active player input ala Mario & Luigi titles, multi-character combo attacks, boosting, and defensive tactics against enemies channeling powerful moves. And also a lot of exploration with some dynamic pixelated lighting.
You can backthe Kickstarter right nowsince it just launched. So far, it amassed a total of S$258,869, surpassing its goal of S$133,887.


Prey Actor Dakota Beavers Talks About Facing The Predator & Representation of Native Americans

Prey is a prequel set in the Predator franchise, and it’s coming to Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia on 5 August 2022.
The synopsis reads:
Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people.
The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.
With director Dan Trachtenberg at the helm, indigenous actor Amber Midthunder stars as the film’s hero, Naru, a warrior who protects her tribe from the otherworldly threat. The cast also includes Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp, Dane DiLiegro, and Stefany Mathias.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar, we were given the opportunity to interview Prey actor Dakota Beavers, who plays the role of Taabe in the movie. Prey will be Dakota Beavers’ feature film debut and the Native American actor is also a musician in real life.
This interview has been edited for clarity. Stay tuned for the video version of this interview and the review of the movie. In the meantime, director Dan Trachtenberg recently revealed how he came up with the title of the movie during our coverage of the movie’s press conference.

Can you tell us more about how and when you got the role in Prey?
Dakota Beavers: It was kinda just by the stars aligning. I got an email from a casting agent who had my information that I had sent in for a different ‘small’ audition. She didn’t tell me what it was, so I did a few auditions and eventually flew out to LA and I was like, “wow, this is bigger than I thought it was, and then I found out what it was. So, it was all a big surprise to me.
Were you always a fan of the Predator movies or did you become a fan after getting cast in the movie?
Dakota Beavers: You know, I had experience with the first one, but I hadn’t really seen the rest of the franchise. I was excited just having seen the first one because it’s such a good movie that after I got the part and I went back and watched all the other movies and I was just very excited about it all.
How did it feel to face the Predator for the first time during filming?
Dakota Beavers: It was daunting but it was also exciting because he’s so big. The costume that he wears looks really, really good in person so he looks real. So, it’s scary but exciting.
What did it feel to be able to represent Native Americans in your feature film debut?
Dakota Beavers: It was an honour for me, especially considering that we have Jhane who is a Comanche herself as our producer. She was there to make sure everything was portrayed accurately and it was an honour for me just that they had such a priority, especially this being my first film. Very, very honoured to be a part of it.
What’s next for you and what are you looking for in your next potential role?
Dakota Beavers: I have couple potential irons in the fire but unfortunately nothing I can speak about just yet, but I reallly hope to be in more action movies, horror movies. It’s all fun for me, so I would love to be a part of any of it.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during filming?
Dakota Beavers: Physical challenges, you know. I got to do all my own horse riding and stunts, so just being physically ready for that, they put me on a diet so I’d be really thin so eating the food was not fun (laughs) but other that, it was fun.
What was it like working with Amber Midthunder and the rest of the cast?
Dakota Beavers: It was really good. Me and the boys, we would just hang out and be goofy and play music. Amber too, she would hang out with us and we would get to all kinds of fun, we’d all jam at the stairwell.
Amber was very helpful in helping me understand kind of how things worked, what job titles meant. She was very considerate with her information that she shared with me.


New NieR Automata Pop-Up Shop Sees 2B, 9S & A2 Suit Up

NieR Automata’s anime adaptation is getting some serious promotion in Japan with new pop-up shops at Marui retail stores.
You’ll find them in Nanba, Fukuoka, and Shinjuku, where you can grab some amazing NieR Automata merchandise, featuring new official illustrations. To add to the excitement, there’s going to be a special lottery draw too.
We’re not sure what items will be sold yet, but we do know that Marui has shared some new official artwork of 2B, 9S, and A2 in sharp suits, and it looks amazing.

If you’re wondering where and when you can visit these pop-up shops, here’s the scoop: the Nanba Marui store will have them from 25 March to 2 April; the Hakata Marui store in Fukuoka will have them from 8 April to 16 April; and the Shinjuku Marui store in Tokyo will have them from 22 April to 7 May.
But that’s not all! In February 2023, 2B and 9S made a surprise appearance at a cafe dressed up as a maid and butlers, which was also part of the NieR Automata anime promotion. This new series, based on the 2017 Square Enix and PlatinumGames action RPG, has some changes to the story, so it’s worth checking out.
So if you’re in Japan or are going within the next two months, why not grab yourself some NieR Automata merch to add to your collection and head to these pop-up shops before they disappear?


FFXIV: Shadowbringers Guide: What’s Next After The Main Story?

So youâ€™ve finally completed the main scenario of Shadowbringers, the third in Square Enixâ€™s line of lengthy expansions for Final Fantasy XIV. With the dust settled and the tyranny of Light vanquished from the land of The First, now sounds like as good a time as any to give yourself a nice pat on the back and enjoy a quiet break.
But donâ€™t rest for too long, because even with the world saved, new threats and troubles are constantly cropping up to test the Warrior of Light and Darkness.
There are still lots for you to do in this expansion, even after the credits have rolled. Be it harder battles or just more things to grind for, Shadowbringersâ€™ endgame content is sure to keep you busy.
Take on Role Quests

If youâ€™ve just completed the main story, youâ€™re bound to be familiar with Role Quests. In the storyâ€™s final stretch, youâ€™ll partake in one of four unique questlines as a requirement for continuing further.
Telling the tale of a fallen hero of The First, these quests correspond to each of the four party roles in FFXIV. Say you finished Shadowbringers as a White Mage, then youâ€™ll have done so through the Healer side of Role Quests. Likewise, tanks, physical DPS, and magical DPS have their own stories for you to follow.
Should you ever plan on starting these questlines, youâ€™ll find them find them all bunched together near The Wandering Star within the Crystarium.
NEXT


New Indie Game Hazel Sky Set For Release 20 July

A brand new indie-adventure game dubbed Hazel Sky is set to release next month, 20 July on Steam. Coming from Taiwanese publisher, Neon Doctrine, and Brazil-based studio, Coffee Addict, Hazel Sky is to be a heartfelt adventure following a young engineer named Shane facing The Trials.
We follow Shane as he must complete these tests, or he will be banished from his home in the flying city of Gideon. With his only contact being a radio to his fellow trainee, Erin, Shane will need help as he fixes broken flying machines and jumps, climbs, swings, and slides his way through a gorgeous, desolate world.

You’ll be able to repair and build an assortment of incredibly flying machines, as well as jump, climb, swing, and slide your through the trials. In the story, you will discover the fates of those who passed the Trials before you, and those who failed. The best part is taking to the skies in ramshackle flying machines, as well as exploring hidden truths and fascinating insights into the people of Gideon.
Check out the trailer below:


Are These Signs Of An Upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins Sequel?

Batman: Arkham Origins isn’t usually remembered as one of the mainstream entries in the Arkham series but it sold quite well and some fans definitely loved it. Could this be why WB Games Montreal is teasing what might be a new Batman game?

@WBGamesMTL is proud to celebrate Batmanâ€™s 80th anniversary with rest of the world during #BatmanDay #Batman80 pic.twitter.com/4VGz9kBWxj
â€” WB Games MontrÃ©al (@WBGamesMTL) September 22, 2019
The studio tweeted out the above video on which shows an almost static image of the bat-signal being shined on the side of a building. Pay attention closely and you’ll spot that the video glitches out every few seconds.

Thereâ€™s 4 actually. Two flashed at basically the same time. But they are noticeably different. The last one looks very… demonic. pic.twitter.com/xlo2EiCZv0
â€” Wall-Spider (@NYCWallSpider) September 22, 2019

At each of those millisecond intervals, there are actually strange symbols being shown to the viewers. Some fans of theorised that one of those symbols point towards Ra’s al Ghul who has appeared as a major villain in Arkham Knight. Perhaps that and the other symbols are indicating the possible rogues gallery that might appear in the next game.
Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei as we continue to get to the bottom of this Batman Day mystery.


ILLEGEAR Launches Gaming Laptops With 9th Gen i7 & GTX 1660Ti

ILLEGEAR has revealed its new gaming laptop lineup, PRODIGY and ROGUE, which come equipped with the latest Intel Core i7-9750H and Nvidia GTX1660Ti 6GB graphics. Check out the specs and features for both of the products below.
PRODIGY (RM5,199)

18.5mm thin
1.75kg with battery pack
Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-core
GeForce GTX1660Ti 6GB (32% better performance than GTX1060 and 31% more efficient than GTX1070)
15.6″ 144Hz IPS display with 100% sRGB color gamut
2x M.2 PCIe slots
1x 2.5â€ storage drive slot, expandable up to 6TB
Seagate Firecuda SSHD (1TB or 2TB)

ROGUE (RM5,299)

27mm
2.35kg with battery pack
Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-core
GeForce GTX1660Ti 6GB (32% better performance than GTX1060 and 31% more efficient than GTX1070)
17.3″ 144Hz IPS display with 100% sRGB color gamut
2x M.2 PCIe slots
1x 2.5â€ storage drive slot, expandable up to 6TB
Seagate Firecuda SSHD (1TB or 2TB)

Check out the trailer for the ILLEGEAR PRODIGY and ROGUE below. In the meantime, check out other ILLEGEAR gaming laptops powered by RTX cards here, or learn more about the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCsPGZpzK3M&w=560&h=315]


Overwatch League: Relive Seoul Dynasty’s Epic Dismantling of New York Excelsior in Two Minutes

Early season favorites Seoul Dynasty recently released a 2-minutes montage of their 3-1 comeback win against fellow frontrunners New York Excelsior yesterday and you can relive all the key moments in the video. Witness the Ryujehong’s epic and unconventional Mei plays on Junkertown, Tobi’s timely boop on Ilios as well as Dynasty’s must-not-miss epic snowball capture of point-B on Horizon
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL4Gp4P_dfY&w=560&h=315]
Seoul Dynasty topped the pre-season table after winning all their matches with a combined score of 9-2 and are in prime position to dominate the league once the full reason kicks off in January. Check out the new grades we gave the teams following their performances at the pre-season here, as well as get to know all about the Overwatch League here.


Kabaret Is A Macabre Mythical Malaysian Game That’s Proud To Be Southeast Asian

Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Genre: Visual Novel, Fantasy, Horror, Myth, Legends, Malaysian/Southeast Asian
Back in 2020, Malaysia-based developer Persona Theory Games burst into the games industry with their spicy debut game, Fires At Midnight, a visual novel that covered controversial and mature subject matter that most other developers tend to shy away from. Three years later, they have now arrived with their second game; Kabaret.
It’s always great to see local developers continue to grow and Kabaret is further evidence of that. Kabaret is their most ambitious game yet in terms of scale and sheer scope. What is one of the most famous elements of Southeast Asian culture on the world stage? It’s our myths, our legends, and yes, our horror stories. In that way, Kabaret is a celebration of Malaysian and Southeast Asian myths and folklore.
Monster Mash

What is Kabaret all about? Well, it’s a narrative visual novel game with several unique gameplay mechanics. Without spoiling anything besides what the official synopsis of the game has revealed, players assume the role of a human named Jebat who is cursed to become a monster and finds himself in a strange realm called the Alam Bunian. There, a mysterious individual known as the Caretaker brings Jebat to a Kabaret (defined as a place where there are performances of music, singing, or dancing), where Jebat is then tasked to become its next Tea Master. In his new role, Jebat will have to suddenly live amongst monsters and creatures while preparing tea for them and mingling with them while surviving and trying to discover the truth behind his curse.
Gameplay-wise, Kabaret plays mostly like a traditional point-and-click visual novel, as players decide the actions and dialogue choices of their characters to move the story along via walls of text and visuals. However, as the Tea Master of Kabaret, Jebat has to prepare elaborate tea brews and ceremonies for the monsters living there. This works sort of like other similar visual novel games like  VA-11 Hall-A Cyberpunk Bartender Action and Coffee Talk. The tea ceremony is a major gameplay mechanic and it’s the first thing you learn when playing Kabaret.

Essentially, how it works is that you’ll begin a conversation with a particular monster as part of the story progression. While talking with them, you’ll ask the monster what he or she or it or they would like to drink. You’ll then have to figure out which specific tea blend or brew that would work the best in any given situation. For instance, one monster might want tea that would make them forget about their tragic past. There’s actually a recipe for that in a whole recipe book, which you can refer to while playing the tea ceremony minigame. Despite that, some requests can be vague and less defined, so it’s up to you to figure out which tea to brew.
I won’t lie, the tea ceremony can be a bit confusing at first. Yes, there’s a tutorial but the ingredients that you choose for the tea ceremony aren’t exactly labelled properly, so it will take several tea ceremonies for you to get used to pairing the ingredients while brewing with the images featured in the recipe book that you’re referring to. Getting even one ingredient wrong can result in a different tea than you intended and this can sometimes be annoying. Also, for each singular monster, you’ll have to perform the tea ceremony three consecutive times for the whole conversation to be completed and for the story to progress. Some might find that that can make the game’s pacing a bit slower, but that’s what tea ceremonies are supposed to be like. They’re not super fast instant coffee dates, you’re meant to take things slow and gradually learn more about that specific monster. Therefore, it’s integral to the narrative and plot.

As for the monsters, it’s impressive how the developers inserted not only ghosts and creatures from Malaysian legends and folklore, but they also didn’t neglect other countries from the same region. I won’t spoil every single one in this review, of course, but you can expect Malaysian staples like the Pontianak and Toyol amongst others, as well as Tikbalang from the Philippines, Kuman Thong from Thailand, Babi Ngepet from Indonesia, several from Hindu mythology and more. There aren’t hundreds like in the Persona games, but each of them comes with their own personality and character traits. The fun is in interacting with them and understanding their various quirks.
Besides the tea ceremonies, there are several other major gameplay mechanics that you won’t find in other visual novels. Firstly, there’s the Congkak minigame. For those who aren’t from Malaysia or Southeast Asia, Congkak is a traditional board game from the region. There’s also the Guli minigame, which is adapted from a traditional Southeast Asian game involving marbles. It’s impressive and admirable that the folks at Persona Theory Games decided to adapt two traditional games from Malaysia/Southeast Asia into Kabaret as major gameplay mechanics, instead of making up a fictional minigame from scratch like other games tend to do.

Rest assured, even if you know nothing about Congkak and Guli, they both come with comprehensive tutorials. Well, at least more so for the Congkak, considering that it’s a much more complex game than Guli. Guli is literally just a minigame where you choose a direction and shoot a marble at other marbles to remove them from a big circle. It’s somewhat ironic then that I find Congkak more enjoyable and less frustrating to actually play than Guli. While Guli is much simpler in terms of mechanics, it’s also much easier to fail at, since committing just three mistakes or running out of time (you’re only given three minutes for a game of Guli) will result in failure. There’s also a fatal flaw where your marbles can sometimes roll out of reach, resulting in there being no way to win the game (it caused me to frustratingly restart the game a few times). Meanwhile, Congkak is more fleshed out and has no time limit, and as such, it’s easier to get the hang of it without being punished for not understanding it.
Last but not least, there’s one more gameplay mechanic in Kabaret that, while underutilized, is probably the most fun to play in the entire game. I say underutilized because you’ll only play this minigame for a grand total of three times in the entire game. This minigame is hard to describe, but it’s one where Jebat has to manage a musical stage performance from behind the scenes. During this minigame, you use the D-Pad on the Xbox controller to move Jebat between three different stations. One station controls the smoke machines, one controls the spotlight, and another controls the fire effects. You’ll have to juggle all three stations during a musical performance and make sure the show goes well. At the end of it, you’ll get a rank. It sounds like a complicated chore, but trust me, it’s not. It’s the best minigame in Kabaret, hands down, and one that I was clamouring for more of.

To be even more clear, another huge reason why the stage performance minigame is the best can be attributed to the fact that it’s during these performances that the game plays its original songs and musical tracks. The music in Kabaret is one of the biggest highlights of the game, and it will be part of the reason the game will stay with you long after you finish it. Heck, immediately after finishing the game, I wished that the game’s music would be made available on Spotify or purchasable. The music and score play a massive part in setting the dark and melancholy fantasy tone of the game, and it’s unique as well because it uses a lot of traditional instruments. Persona Theory Games collaborated with local bands from the region like Hello Universe and the Indonesian group SambaSunda.
While I’ve touched on how the gameplay and music in Kabaret make the game different, the visuals are also a big contributing factor. They’re vibrant and makes the game stick use through its use of Southeast Asian influences. The graphics and designs look to be inspired by local art styles like batik, wayang kulit and more. This makes the monsters look more refreshingly Southeast Asian, more distinctive and less like carbon copies of say, the demons/personas from Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei franchise.

Kabaret is described as a dark fantasy game, and after playing it, I can confirm that. It’s not really a full-on horror experience, so don’t expect something like that. There are no cheap jump scares, but there are some visuals and sound effects that some people would find scary or disturbing (like the sound of ghostly wailing). That being said, just like their previous game Fires At Midnight, Kabaret does explore mature subject matter such as death, existentialism, racism, and corruption, as well as mental health issues like suicide. The way these are depicted in the game may hit too close to home for certain players, so here’s a fair bit of warning for those more sensitive to being triggered by content like that.
I’ve mostly praised the game for its gameplay, music and visuals. However, it does have several flaws. While my experience was mostly big-free for the majority of my playthrough, Kabaret doesn’t have manual saves. You’ll have to completely rely on auto-saves and checkpoints. This is frustrating for several reasons; sometimes I’d find myself having to replay certain parts because the checkpoint that I loaded from was farther behind where I stopped playing the game, and if you’re the type of person who likes to reload your game to try out different decisions or fix mistakes, it’s going to be an annoying experience for you too.

In my first playthrough of Kabaret, it took me approximately nine hours to finish the game. That’s almost five times longer than Fires At Midnight (my first playthrough for that was two hours, in comparison). Nine hours is also pretty long for a visual novel, so some parts of the game might feel a bit draggy as well; if you’re used to shorter visual novels.
An Amazing Follow-Up

Persona Theory Games’ second game, Kabaret, is a great one that is both a bigger and better game compared to their previous title. The biggest compliment that I can give Kabaret is if someone asked me what games from Malaysian/Southeast Asian games I would recommend, Kabaret is definitely up there with some of the best alongside Metronomik’s No Straight Roads. Kabaret is a quintessential experience for the best that the region’s games industry has to offer right now, and it’s more proof of why the world should start paying attention to developers from this region.
PROS

Wonderful and authentic representation of not just mythical creatures from Malaysian legends, but also other Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines.
A unique visual aesthetic evoking Southeast Asia that distinguishes the game from others.
Phenomenal music, songs and score (with local bands and instruments) that adds to the atmosphere of the game.
Not afraid to explore disturbing and controversial subject matter.
Minigames with Southeast Asian flavour, including Congkak and Guli.

CONS

Some of the minigames and mechanics can be a bit confusing and frustrating.
No manual saving.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100
Kabaret was reviewed on PC based on a review copy provided by Persona Theory Games. It is slated to launch for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 5 April 2023.


Here Are the First Official Retail Prices For Next-Gen Xbox Models in Asia

As you have seen making its rounds this past couple of days, the next-gen Xbox models, theÂ  Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, hitting shelves on November 10 are priced at US$299 and US$499 respectively.Â  Microsoft also revealed that pre-orders for both consoles will open from 22 September 2020 alongside an instalment plan where customers can pay a monthly rate of US$34.99 (or roughly RM145+) for 24 months, and Xbox Series S at US$24.99 (or roughly RM104+) monthly for 24 months via Xbox All Access.
This is all good news, but there is still no official release on both model’s official retail prices at these parts of the world. Until today.
Both Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X will officially be available in Asian markets starting with Singapore in the following recommended retail prices:
Xbox Series S: SG$459 ~ RM1,400
Xbox series X: SG$699 ~ RM2.130
Just like in the US, pre-orders for both models open 22nd September 2020. As for other markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, rest assured as once we have them, we will update this post with the relevant info.
Here at Kakuchopurei, we truly hope that Microsoft would improve their support for Xbox marketing in the Southeast Asian market tenfold as compared to present gen. It has been appalling, to put it mildly. A strong competition for the dominant Sony and their PlayStation platform would only be great for the gaming community as a whole.

Still unsure which model to pick up? Here’s a quick rundown of the specifications for both modelsÂ (via Xbox):

Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S

CPU
8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz
3.6GHz w/ SMT Enabled
8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6GHz
3.4GHz w/ SMT Enbled

GPU
AMD RDNA 2 GPU
52 CUs @ 1.825GHz
AMD RDNA 2 GPU
20 CUs @ 1.565GHz

GPU Power
12.5 TFLOPS
4 TFLOPS

System on a Chip (SoC)
Custom 7nm Enhanced SoC
Custom 7nm Enhanced SoC

RAM
16GB GDDR6 RAM
10GB @ 560 GB/s
6GB @ 336 GB/s
10GB GDDR6 RAM
8GB @ 224GB/s
2GB @ 56GB/s

Performance Target
4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS
1440p @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS

Storage
1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVME SSD
2.4GB/sec uncompressed
4.8GB/sec compressed
512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVME SSD
2.4GB/sec uncompressed
4.8GB/sec compressed

Expandable Storage
1TB Expansion Card
(matches internal storage exactly)
1TB Expansion Card
(matches internal storage exactly)

Backward Compatibility
Thousands of Xbox One and backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox Games available atl aunch. Xbox One gaming accessories are backward-compatible as well.
Thousands of Xbox One and backward-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox Games available atl aunch. Xbox One gaming accessories are backward-compatible as well.

Disc Drive
4K UHD Blu-ray
Digital Only

Display Out
HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1

MSRP
$499 USD
$299 USD

Long story short, you’d be forgiven to consider the ‘S’ model as the base, while ‘X’ is equivalent to PlayStation 4’s Pro model. So which one are you getting? Hit us up in the comments section below.


Kojima Productions Is Making A Watch With NASA

Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions, makers of adventure posting game Death Stranding, is teaming up with Swedish watchmaker Anicorn and NASA for a watch-based collaboration.
The trio will be making a silver watch called Homo Ludens, which comes with golden details, a NASA stamp on the dial, and the Kojima Productions tagline “From Sapiens to Ludens” on the outer casing. The watch itself is 2 years in the making, with its design being supervised by Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa. Check out the trailer for the wristwear below.

And that’s not all: if you pay for the Rare Edition of the watch, you get a wearable Ludens Mask called SPACE LUDENS (all caps). Only a 100 of these will be available and is movie prop standard material made via Multi Jet Fusion process, whatever that is. It does look nice!

If you’re interested, you can preorder the regular or Rare edition of the Ludens watch on 27 September via this link.


[Report] Sony Files Patent For Video Editing Interface In VR

VR still hasn’t reached the accessibility that allows it to be owned by more consumers like you and me. Most VR headsets are still beyond the affordability of most people plus there’s also the hassle of accommodating large portions of a room for VR use.
However, such constraints are non-problems to people like filmmakers, professional YouTubers, and other developers. Now imagine them using VR to edit their videos, like in those futuristic movies where you have your files floating around, easily selected and manipulated just using your hands. Well, guess what…

Alistair Wong at Siliconera reported that Sony filed a patent for a use of VR intended for that exact aforementioned idea. According to the article, the patent was filed back in December 2017 but only came to light on 20 June 2019.
Apparently, Sony intends to make video editing easier through the use of a 3D editing space. Some pictures from the patent show the user surrounded by interface screens arranged in a helical manner.

Like most VR applications, the 3D editing space is connected to a computer and users can still simultaneously use motion controllers, controllers, and mouse and keyboard. One example even showed that hand gestures can be used to control the UI.
Maybe developers will have to karate chop a video track right where they want it to be split. I kid, I kid.
The patent is available for public perusal and you can check it out here.


The Conjuring 3 & Space Jam A New Legacy Are Coming To HBO GO Malaysia

Both The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It and Space Jam A New Legacy is officially coming to HBO GO Malaysia.
Based on one of the most sensational cases from the files of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It scares its way ontoÂ HBO GO on 27 August 2021.
Telling a chilling story of terror, murder, and unknown evil, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy that takes the Warrens beyond anything theyâ€™d ever seen before â€“ marking the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a legal defence.
Under the direction of Michael Chaves, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return to star as Lorraine and Ed Warren. The film also stars Ruairi Oâ€™Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Julian Hilliard. The film was produced by James Wan and Peter Safran, who have collaborated on all the ConjuringÂ universe films.
When Chaves got the initial call to direct the film, he wasnâ€™t expecting it, but he was fully ready to jump on board. â€œI had just worked with Michael Chaves,â€ Wan says, â€œand I really liked the guy a lot. I saw him grow as a filmmaker over the course of his first feature and felt his creativity, energy and mindset was exactly what The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do ItÂ needed.

â€œIt was a dream come true,â€ Chaves, characteristically upbeat, admits. â€œIâ€™m a big fan of theÂ ConjuringÂ films. James is the modern master of horror, so to take the reins on this world he created is both exciting and daunting. Thereâ€™s a huge responsibility not just to James, but to the fans, to the franchise, and to the characters he created. That was not lost on me.â€
â€œWhat really sets thisÂ ConjuringÂ apart and makes it so exciting,â€ Chaves says, â€œis that you have all of the scares and the terror that you would expect from aÂ ConjuringÂ film, but it is set against this incredible mystery that is tied into what theÂ ConjuringÂ universe is all about.â€
The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It is the seventh film in The Conjuring Universe, the largest horror franchise in history, which has grossed more than US$1.8 billion worldwide. It includes the first two ConjuringÂ films, as well asÂ AnnabelleÂ andÂ Annabelle: Creation,Â The Nun, andÂ Annabelle Comes Home.
Welcome to the Jam! Basketball champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes as Space Jam A New LegacyÂ gets in the game onÂ HBO GO on 3 September 2021.
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee and composed of an innovative filmmaking team including Ryan Coogler and Maverick Carter, this transformational journey is a manic mash-up of two worlds that reveals just how far some parents will go to connect with their kids. When LeBron and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space by a rogue A.I., LeBron must get them home safely by leading Bugs, Lola Bunny, and the whole gang of notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes to victory over the A.I.â€™s digitized roster of professional basketball superstars as youâ€™ve never seen them before.
LeBron James has always felt a special connection toÂ Space Jam. â€œWhen I was 12 years old, I needed inspiration where I was growing up,â€ he states. â€œMichael Jordan was one of those people who gave me inspiration, along with my mother. When I think back on watchingÂ Space Jam, always having a love for Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, and then you add Michael Jordan, one of my favourite inspirations growing up? It felt like it was a match made in heaven for me.â€

In the 25 years since the original filmâ€™s release, James has ascended to the top of the basketball world. Now he finds himself in front of the camera, eager to carry on a legacy heâ€™s proud to uphold. â€œItâ€™s an honour for me to be a part of the Space JamÂ world, to be able to reintroduce it to kids today and show them how unbelievable the Looney Tunes are, and how great our sport of basketball is, as well.â€
If James is the soul ofÂ Space Jam: A New Legacy, the filmâ€™s heart can be found in Cedric Joe, who plays the character of LeBronâ€™s tech-savvy middle child, Dom. Dom shares his dadâ€™s all-in enthusiasm for his passion; the trouble is, for Dom thatâ€™s not basketball. Instead, he dreams of being a videogame designer, but he struggles to speak up in fear of disappointing his dad.
However, once they are pulled into the Warner 3000 server-verse, itâ€™ll take both of their skills to find their way out. â€œDom is in love with video games and coding. He is good at basketball but thatâ€™s not his main priority,â€ explains Joe. â€œDom wants to build videogames and thatâ€™s what he wants to show his dad he can do, but his dad doesnâ€™t really care about videogames because thatâ€™s not his priority. His dad is about basketball, and so he wants his sons to play basketball.â€
â€œI think all ages should see this movie,â€ adds Joe. â€œIt does have a message, that parents should sometimes open their eyes and see that their kids or other people can do more, that they have more skills than what you might think they have. Donâ€™t underestimate people. Just listen.â€
You can check out the trailers for both movies below:


Pokemon GO Devs Niantic Are Making A Marvel Game

During the Disney & Marvel Games Showcase at D23, Pokemon GO developer Niantic announced Marvel World Of Heroes, which will be their latest AR mobile game that brings the iconic Marvel Universe into the real world.
In Marvel World of Heroes, players can create their own unique superhero identity and origin story. Players will need to patrol their neighbourhoods to foil crimes, complete Super Hero missions, and thwart interdimensional threats. As players level up, they will unlock equipment and abilities, as well as team up with Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America and others to battle iconic supervillains and save the Multiverse from cosmic and earthbound threats.
Unfortunately, this announcement comes only months after we reported that Niantic was forced to lay off its employees and cancel projects back in June 2022. Niantic was founded 2010 and was originally best known for its location-based community game Ingress. However, they went big when Pokemon Go launched in 2016, which has since garnered a whopping US$6 billion in lifetime revenue. Their other games post-PokÃ©mon Go, like Harry Potter Wizards Unite and Pikmin Bloom have pretty much flopped.
Marvel World of Heroes is scheduled to launch globally in 2023. Those interested can pre-register at the official website.


Kojima Productions Teases Mystery Update On Fifth Anniversary Tomorrow

It’s been a year or so since Death Stranding launched in late 2019, but it’s actually also been five years since Hideo Kojima formed Kojima Productions back in 2015.
Tomorrow (16 December 2020) is the exact anniversary date and the developer is teasing “exciting updates”, which will be shared at 1pm GMT+8 on 16 December 2020.

December 16?? marks the 5?? Anniversary of #KojimaProductions !  Keep an eye out tomorrow on our social channels at 12AM (NYC), 5AM (UK), 6AM (CET) and 2PM (JP) as we'll be delivering some exciting updates you won't want to miss!  #KJP5 pic.twitter.com/WZ3WP9q2Qp— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) December 15, 2020

We still have no idea what these “updates” could be, but we’re guessing that the developer is finally ready to unveil a detail or two about their upcoming games (or whatever that they currently have in development).


DC Films Plans To Release Up To 6 Movies Every Year

Warner Bros. has announced that they are planning to release a whopping six movies per year (starting from 2022) from DC Films via a mixed cinema/streaming schedule.
These include “up to four” superhero titles in theatres, and another two feature films on HBO Max.
In an interview with The New York Times, DC Films president Walter Hamada said that the more expensive movies will go to cinemas while the less costly but riskier titles will go straight to HBO Max.
These HBO Max titles will potentially be movies like Batgirl and Static Shock, which will be movies with smaller budgets. However, other movies will also receive possible spin-offs on HBO Max, as Hamada said:
“With every movie that we’re looking at now, we are thinking, What’s the potential Max spin-off?”
Last but not least, Hamada also clarified that the upcoming Justice League Snyder Cut will not be leading to more continuations, being described as “a storytelling cul-de-sac â€” a street that leads nowhere.”
In 2021, we’ll see James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, and others.
In the meantime, check out my official review here and a post-review spoiler piece here. Recently, Wonder Woman 1984 has also been called out and slammed online for depicting Arabs in an offensive manner (head on over here for the full story).


Elden Ring PC System Requirements Revealed

Elden Ring, the follow-up to From Software’s Dark Souls/Bloodborne action RPG series, will be out in a few weeks’ time, and publisher Bandai Namco just revealed the game’s PC specs.
Here they are; seems demanding enough for a 2022 game:
Minimum PC Requirements
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3300X or Intel Core i5-8400
RAM: 12GB
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 580 or NVidia GeForce GTX 1060
VRAM: 3 to 4 GB
DirectX: DirectX 12 (feature level 12.0)
Storage: 60GB
Recommended PC Specs
CPU:Â Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
RAM:Â 16 GB
GPU:Â Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, 8 GB
VRAM: 8GB
DirectX:Â DirectX 12 (feature level 12.0)
Storage:Â 60 GB
At this point in time, there are no recommended specs stated. Bandai Namco also added that Elden Ring will support a maximum resolution of native 4K, HDR, and frame rates of up to 60fps. Ray tracing will also be supported, but not available at launch. There’s no indication that AMD FSR or NVidia DLSS will be available to boost the frame rate beyond 60fps; From Software may be implementing an fps cap just like it did with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Surely that’s more than enough to make mod support grow faster than ever for Elden Ring. In any case, we’ll be sure to update this page as soon as we get new info on the specs.
Elden Ring will be out on 25 February for PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4.


Tchia Is A Relaxing Moana Sim Showcasing New Caledonian Culture

Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
Genre: Adventure, Open-World, Sandbox, Third-Person
Tchia was originally announced back in 2020 during The Game Awards from Awaceb, a developer from New Caledonia, an island located in the Pacific Ocean. Courtesy of publisher Kepler Interactive, I spent some time with a demo for the survival adventure title.
What is Tchia? Well, it’s essentially an open-world sandbox adventure game set on the islands of New Caledonia.
Closest Thing To A Moana Sim

First things first, there’s no real straightforward combat like in other games, but the beauty and meat of the game lie in its exploration and traversing of the tropical paradise. It’s a game where simply exploring can feel cathartic, even if you’re not really on the way to completing any specific objective. See a bird? You can possess it. Want to catch a crab and throw it into the sea? You can do that, all while immersed in New Caledonian culture.
In Tchia, players have a lot of freedom for traversal, as players can climb, glide, swim, and sail their boat around beautiful tropical islands of the archipelago, as well as use Tchia’s special ability (call Soul-Jumping) to take control of any animal or object they can find, and even jam on their fully playable Ukulele. You can even use your Ukelele to change the weather and time of day or even summon certain creatures for you to possess via the Soul-Melody mechanic.

Exploration is best when you can glide and possess animals like birds. Soul jumping is one of Tchia’s special abilities, which lets you take control of any object or animal that they can find in the open world. Yes, even objects. Why objects? While the game doesn’t have conventional combat mechanics, it does feature some combat. One open-world trope in Tchia is the enemy camps strewn throughout the map that you can clear. However, what’s great about Tchia is that you don’t have to clear these enemy camps if you don’t want to. You can finish the game without clearing a single one. Clearing them will only unlock new cosmetic items like pieces of clothing.
Wait, how can you clear enemy camps without combat? Well, technically, Tchia does feature combat, but it’s more indirect. There are no buttons to attack in Tchia. To defeat enemies, you have to find explosive items such as lanterns and gas canisters, and throw them at enemies either by literally throwing them or Soul-Jumping into them and launching them at enemies. All enemies die in one hit (in the game’s lore, they’re made of paper so they burn to a crisp). Yes, it can get quite annoying and tedious to defeat enemies since you have to find explosive items to throw at them. Later on, you do get the ability to summon a creature that can lob fireballs and possess it but even then, you can only possess them for a temporary period of time before there’s a cooldown.
Coconuts & Crabs

That said, combat is definitely not the focus of the game. The game is fun because of how relaxing it is, and when you’re simply exploring and doing miscellaneous activities. There’s no sense of urgency, but that’s good. It’s cathartic to explore the islands, with a vibe that makes stress melt away. You can spend your time increasing your Soul-Jumping meter by taking part in trials (which often involve a lot of platforming), taking part in boat races or slingshot time trials, a stacking rocks activity (similar to that same minigame from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla but way easier), rhythm-based games that involve playing the Ukelele, and more.
Personally, the best and most memorable highlight of Tchia is the music, which is part of the rhythm games. Best of all, if you’re not a fan of rhythm games, you can set it all to auto-play, because the game is more about experiencing the New Caledonia culture than anything else. The music is phenomenal to listen to and I would love to continue listening to them after the game launches. I’m not an expert in Polynesian or New Caledonian culture, but the vibe and atmosphere of the music are similar to that in Disney’s animated movie, Moana (2016). If you want to, you can just replay these rhythm game sequences and listen to the music.

The story and narrative also feature unique elements from New Caledonian culture, which makes the game feel even more authentic. The language and music help bolster that, making for a unique experience that differs from other games. The game’s story is more on the short side, so you can probably finish the story in just under 7 hours or so if you don’t do much of anything else and just focus on completing the story objectives. However, that would be a shame, because the game is best when you’re taking your time with it and simply breathing in the vibes.
Experience New Caledonia

If there’s one major takeaway from Tchia, it’s made me aware of the beautiful and unique culture in New Caledonia. The cultural elements, the music, the clothing, the language and everything else represented in this game made me want to learn more about the archipelago. When a game can do all that and still make me appreciate a different culture, that’s truly the mark of a great product, so kudos to the folks at Awaceb.
If you’re looking for a non-conventional open-world game where the focus isn’t on combat, Tchia is a great choice. Plus, it’ll be available for free for PS Plus subscribers when it launches, so why not jump into New Caledonia for a bit?
PROS

A painstakingly beautiful and authentic open-world setting (New Caledonia).
The music is outstanding and represents a culture rarely represented in any media (New Caledonia).
A unique way to traverse the open world (by possessing different animals and using a cultural sailboat).

CONS

Bugs.
Combat can get tedious.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100
Tchia was reviewed on PC based on a review copy provided by the publisher. It is slated to launch for PS4, PS5, and PC via Epic Games Store on 21 March 2023.


Thailand Game Show 2022: Doraemon Story Of Seasons Sequel Will Have Winter DLC At Launch

The farming simulator that is Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom is set to launch on 2 November and will include a Winter-themed DLC.
Producer Koji Nakajima revealed at Thailand Games Show that the newest instalment of the Doraemon: Story of Seasons series will have a DLC launched in conjunction with the game’s release.
The Winter Life DLC will allow players to acquire winter-themed clothing alongside furniture.
In Nakajima’s presentation, we also learn that over the course of the game’s lifespan we can expect two more DLCs to come.
It should also be noted that a key point of the presentation was to showcase that the game has been localised to feature Thai and Indonesian dubs and text to cater towards their respective audiences.
Furthermore, the presentation showcased that you will now be able to have more in-depth interactions with NPCs in and around your farm.
The game is slated to release on the Switch, PS5 and PC via Steam on 2 November.


Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop Launches This November

Here’s your first look at Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) in Cowboy Bebop, premiering on 19 November 2021 exclusively on Netflix.
Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop is an action-packed space Western about three bounty hunters, a.k.a. â€œcowboys,â€ all trying to outrun the past. As different as they are deadly, Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) form a scrappy, snarky crew ready to hunt down the solar systemâ€™s most dangerous criminals â€” for the right price. But they can only kick and quip their way out of so many scuffles before their pasts finally catch up with them.
Based on the beloved anime series, Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop is executive produced by AndrÃ© Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg of Midnight Radio, Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements of Tomorrow Studios, Makoto Asanuma, Shin Sasaki and Masayuki Ozaki of Sunrise Inc., Tim Coddington, Tetsu Fujimura, Michael Katleman, Matthew Weinberg, and Christopher Yost. Nemec serves as showrunner.
Original anime series director ShinichirÅ Watanabe is a consultant on the series, and original composer Yoko Kanno returns for the live-action adaptation. The series also stars Alex Hassell and Elena Satine.

				COWBOY BEPOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL on the set of COWBOY BEPOP Cr. NICOLA DOVE/NETFLIX Â© 2021

				COWBOY BEPOP (L to R) DANIELLA PINEDA as FAYE VALENTINE, JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL and MUSTAFA SHAKIR as JET BLACK on the set of COWBOY BEPOP Cr. NICOLA DOVE/NETFLIX Â© 2021

				COWBOY BEBOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL in COWBOY BEBOP Cr. KIRSTY GRIFFIN/NETFLIX Â© 2021

				COWBOY BEBOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL in COWBOY BEBOP Cr. KIRSTY GRIFFIN/NETFLIX Â© 2021

				COWBOY BEBOP (L to R) DANIELLA PINEDA as FAYE VALENTINE in COWBOY BEBOP Cr. GEOFFREY SHORT/NETFLIX Â© 2021

				COWBOY BEPOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL in COWBOY BEPOP Cr. GEOFFREY SHORT/NETFLIX Â© 2021

				COWBOY BEBOP (L to R) JOHN CHO as SPIKE SPIEGEL, MUSTAFA SHAKIR as JET BLACK, DANIELLA PINEDA as FAYE VALENTINE and EIN in Cowboy Bebop Cr. GEOFFREY SHORT/NETFLIX Â© 2021

				COWBOY BEBOP (L to R) MUSTAFA SHAKIR as JET BLACK in COWBOY BEBOP Cr. GEOFFREY SHORT/NETFLIX Â© 2021


Nacon Revolution 2 Pro Controller for the PlayStation 4 Review

Update:Â
Good news for owners of the Pro Controller 1 (with the 5-pin connector) – its software is now available for Mac, as tweeted by Nacon’s official Twitter account.

[UPDATE] REVOLUTION Pro Controller 1 owners: the software is now available for Mac ðŸ˜‰
You can download it here âž¡ https://t.co/rT5zEQ94JE pic.twitter.com/akqQdmfwSH
â€” Nacon (@NaconGaming) January 18, 2018

While I game mostly on the PlayStation 4, my favorite controller of all time is the one you’d find with an Xbox One. The reason behind it include it’s construction feel, the weight of it and most of all, the thumbsticks placements. While I have nothing but praise for the DualShock 4, the symmetrical placement of the thumbsticks just does not feel right when playing first person shooters with it. With the Xbox One controller, it felt much more natural especially thanks to the left thumbstick which controls your view when aiming down the sights.
So since early 2016, I have been on the hunt of a proper PlayStation 4 compatible controller with the asymmetrical thumbsticks placement and I started with the Hori Pad FPS Plus. It was all I needed back then in spite of its numerous shortcomings – the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack meant that I had to use either a Bluetooth headset or a USB one and the controller felt … cheap. I had options to upgrade – most obvious being Razer’s Raiju PS4 controller but its traditional, DS4-like thumbsticks placement turned me off. Then Nacon came up with the Nacon Revolution Pro Controller. I was nearly swayed to pick it up back then but other commitments and the fact that the software for it does not support Mac caused me to put it off back then. Until now when I saw that they’ve released theÂ Â Nacon Revolution 2 Pro Controller which improves on its first iteration.

The Nacon Revolution 2 Pro Controller feels almost exactly like the Xbox One controller out of the box. It comes with a matte finish so you do not leave much fingerprints on it while the touchpad carries a premium feel thanks to the raised X,square, circle and triangle symbols on it. Unlike the Hori, the Nacon Revolution 2 comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom, and its lightbar placement is closer to the user rather than facing the television. In the hand, the Nacon does feel a bit large compared to the DS4 but it doesn’t hinder me too much. The set also comes with different weights which you can insert into the controller via a special port to adjust its weight and heft.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCIEumDyDgA&w=560&h=315]
Unlike the first version which uses a proprietary 5-pin connector attached to the controller, the Revolution 2 uses a USB Type-C at the end of a 3-m braided cable. The buttons on the Revolution 2 are huge – larger than the ones you’d find on a typical DS4 and they have a satisfying click-y feel when pressed. Unlike your typical DS4 controllers, the thumbsticks which are asymmetrically placed also come with metal arms, so you won’t have issues with plastic shavings around the thumbsticks port.
The L2 and R2 triggers are angled to cater to different finger placements but the L1 and R1 take a bit of getting used to due to their more flushed setup. The controller comes with four additional buttons at the back which can be mapped to whatever configuration you so prefer. Most first-person shooter players usually map these buttons to their L3 and R3 which can be activated (in most cases) with either the middle or ring fingers. My issue with these buttons is out of the four additional buttons at the back, only two felt natural to press. The other two would require some finger gymnastics although I doubt many of us would even use them.
To map and customize these buttons, you’ll need to attach the controller via USB to your computer to activate the menu. From there, you can adjust your controller to your fancy – button configurations, trigger sensitivity and even upload up to four profiles into the controller. The Nacon community has been very receptive with the sharing of profiles as you can also copy others’ settings or share your own. This is super helpful when you are switching between games e.g a more sensitive trigger profile for shooters to a less sensitive one for racing games.

You will spend some time tinkering on the software to find that sweet spot. It’s a bit cumbersome at first but really satisfying once you’ve found your perfect setting. My only gripe would be the somewhat steep curve to learn it in the beginning as I ended up prodding in the dark to make sense of it.
TL; DR
Pros
â€“ Premium build & finish
â€“ The best asymmetrical PS4 controller you can get hold of in the market at the moment
â€“ Metal rods for both thumbsticks ensures a more robust controller
â€“Customisable keys and trigger buttons + profile sharing
â€“Ability to store up to four profiles at one time
â€“3.5mm headjack
â€“Concave (left) and convex (right) thumb placements allow more accurate aim
Cons
â€“Lack of wireless option
â€“Two extra back buttons in odd positions
â€“Only comes in one color
The Nacon Revolution 2 Pro Controller is a brilliant purchase for those who are looking for a PS4 controller with asymmetrical thumbsticks placements. It’s available in the market as you read this and I would advise you to look at the box carefully to make sure you are indeed purchasing the Revolution 2 instead of the first one which most stores are selling at a cut price right now. Unless you don’t really mind the Mac support, then you are free to pick up either one.
FINAL RATING: 90/100

We purchased the Nacon Revolution 2 review unit with our own cash and have not had any contact with Nacon nor PlayStation 4 in the review process of this device.Â


Indonesian Superhero Movie Satria Dewa GatotKaca Is Coming To Malaysian Cinemas

Another Indonesian superhero movie is coming to Malaysian cinemas soon with Satria Dewa GatotKaca. Part of the Satria Dewa Cinematic Universe, this movie features a superhero equipped with an awesome magical armour. It will be distributed by Horizon Film Entertainment.
The synopsis reads:
Realizing that he’s the lineal descendant of Gatotkaca from Pandawa family, Satrio must fight his way to unlock the power lies inside him and face Aswatama, the remaining Kurawa warrior who lives on to destroy the world by changing the history of Bharatayudha.
Back in 2019, Gundala (which is part of the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe) showed in Malaysian cinemas, and as a comic book fan, I found it to be a great but flawed superhero movie with its own merits (check out my review here).
The superhero genre is definitely booming with potential in Indonesia. I just hope that Malaysia follows suit one day with our own superhero movies we can actually be proud of (maybe that Keluang Man movie will finally change things for the better).
At the time of writing, there is still no release date for Satria Dewa GatotKaca in Malaysia.
Check out the trailer below:


The Best PC Games You Can Buy For Less Than RM100

One of the greatest things about being a PC gamer is having access to a number of digital stores that offer great discounts. Going full digital plus not having to pay for online multiplayer through a subscription like PS Plus, Xbox Live, and Nintendo Switch Online can really save a lot of money.
So in celebration of great savings and awesome value-for-your-money gaming on PC, let’s go through some of the best games you can buy for less than RM100. All of the prices mentioned in this article are the respective games’ regular price on Steam.
To make things easier I’ve divided the games into their respective genres so if you want to jump a specific page, you can do so.

Shooters
RPG
Action/Adventure
Others

LET’S START WITH SHOOTERS…


Diablo-Like Magic Legends Open Beta Launches Next Month

Magic Legends is an upcoming free-to-play action RPG set in the vast Magic The Gathering universe. It was initially revealed at The Game Awards 2019, but now developer Cryptic Studios have announced that the Magic Legends open beta will be releasing on 23 March 2021.
In Magic Legends, players can improve character stats and collect appearances for your Planeswalker as you quest through the Multiverse. There will be five different classes to choose from, but players can switch between all five during gameplay. You will also have to make fast, tactical decisions on the battlefield in real-time combat and strategically build a deck of spells from your spell library, which will be drawn at random as you fight.

While Magic Legends will be an isometric action RPG in the vein of Diablo, it’s important to note that the real-time combat will include a lot of deck-building elements as well, which distinguishes itself from Blizzard’s long-running franchise. Developer Cryptic Studios is best known for working on Star Trek Online and the Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG Neverwinter, and they’re pretty action RPG-centric.
You can sign up for the Magic Legends open beta at the official website here. Magic Legends will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One sometime later in 2021. In the meantime, check out the latest gameplay trailer featuring the game’s equipment mechanics below:


Want To Know The Weapon Brands & Bonuses Of Borderlands 3?

Gearbox released the official list of gun brands available in Borderlands 3. Previous series featured trademark brands that produce different types of guns from fast-shooting shotguns to assault rifles that fire explosions like Torgue. Heck, if you reload a Tediore, you instead chuck it as a grenade then re-digitizes a new one in your hand. Slick, eh?
In part 3, gun brands have more significant perks and bonuses in addition to their existing elemental and special properties. If you love Borderlands’ guns, you’ll love this. Here they are:
Jakobs â€“ Ricochet Bullets
“Deliver devastating critical hits to enemiesâ€™ soft-and-sensitives, then joy-puke as your bullets ricochet towards other targets.”
Atlas â€“ Tracker Tag Bullets
“Step 1: Hit your enemies with tracker tags. Step 2: Unleash a hail of Smart Bullets that track towards your targets. Step 3: Loot!”
Tediore â€“ Pursuit Guns
“Toss your gun like a grenade to reload, then watch it pursue a nearby enemy as a fully loaded version digistructs in your hand.”

Hyperion â€“ Shield and Accuracy
“Aim down the sights to take cover behind your weapon-mounted shield and keep your finger on the trigger for increased accuracy.”
Dahl â€“ Alt Fire Modes
“Toggle between alternate fire modes depending on your play style, your predicament, and your predilection for bonus damage.”
Vladof â€“ Underbarrel Attachments
“Augment these rapid-firing, ammo-hungry guns with under-barrel attachments including tasers, rocket tubes, and additional gun barrels.”
Torgue â€“ Sticky Explosive Projectiles
“Switch between regular and sticky-projectile fire modes. Stickies do more damage if a bunch of them detonate on the same target.”
Maliwan â€“ Multiple Elements
“Toggle between two elements, charge your weapon, and deal guaranteed elemental damage with your finger glued to the trigger.”
Children of the Vault â€“ Infinite Ammo
“Enjoy uninterrupted damage-dealing courtesy of ‘infinite’ ammo magazines, occasionally interrupted by unpredictable overheating.”
Personally, I’m all for the Children of the Vault, Maliwan, Torgue, and Jakobs brands. As a Siren user, I need all the elemental and DOT gun damage for the fight ahead. If you’re as excited as I am about Borderlands 3, you can joypuke your thoughts on our website or on our Facebook page.Â