Persona 5 Strikers: What You Need To Know Before Jumping In

RPG fans and Shin Megami Tensei: Persona spin-off enthusiasts; this week marks the English release of Persona 5 Strikers. This title is both a spin-off and sequel to 2018’s wunderkind JRPG Persona 5.
What kind of game is it? Instead of being a turn-based RPG, it’s an action RPG game with tactical elements. If you’ve played the Dynasty Warriors or Hyrule Warriors series, you’ll get into Persona 5 Strikers just fine. If we’re being honest, it’s just a slightly-complicated 3D beat-em-up featuring anime characters. Unlike most Warriors entries, there is a level of thought and care put into the package.
This feature is just to give you a heads up; if this game is right for you.
Where Is Persona 5 Strikers In The Timeline?

This spin-off is the sequel to Persona 5/Persona 5 Royal, so it takes place a few years after those storylines. You still play as Joker and control the Phantom Thieves in this sequel.
How Does Persona 5 Strikers Play?
It’s an action RPG. Like we said: if you’ve played Dynasty Warriors and similar hack-and-slash titles with minimal RPG elements like leveling up and upgrades, you’ll get into Persona 5 Strikers quick and easy like a lax teacher moonlighting as a fetish maid.
Players in the game infiltrate Jails, beat up Shadows, sneak up on them for advantage-laden battles. Your heroes can wield Persona attacks, with Joker being able to use multiple Personas at once. When you pick a skill, you freeze time: this is where the tactical maneuverability bits come in. You can use skills to exploit weaknesses; hitting Shadows with elemental weaknesses stuns them. If you stun them all, you can pull off an All-Out Attack for big damage.
Do I Need To Play Persona 5 To Enjoy Persona 5 Strikers?

Not really, though I would recommend you do so to feel a bigger attachment to the Phantom Thieves. While the game does a good job in making Persona 5 Strikers self-contained with just references to the past game as just that, it does help that you are up-to-date with Persona 5/Persona 5 Royal. Thankfully, the story in Persona 5 Strikers does not outright rely on the previous games.
Still, we do recommend you play Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal on PS4 (or PS5 since it’s backwards compatible with next-gen consoles). PC and Nintendo Switch players get squat, unfortunately. At the very least, you don’t need to play Persona 5 Royal if you’ve played Persona 5 already to enjoy Persona 5 Strikers’ story & character development further. We understand that not many of us can spare an extra 100 hours to replay a bonus round Persona game.
But I Don’t Want To Spend 100 Hours To Play Persona 5 And I Wanna Know The Gist Of The Plot
Okay, here’s your spoiler warning.

In Persona 5, the Phantom Thieves (led by Joker/Ren Amamiya/[your custom protagonist name]) are tasked to take down a series of public figures. To do this, they need to infiltrate the target’s literal Mind Palace in the Metaverse, a realm that exists outside the normal world. These Mind Palaces form when its ruler’s bad thoughts become highly distorted. Defeating the ruler’s shadow deep in their Palace will change their hearts.
While you’re doing all this, you also have to serve a full year of school in Shibuya, Tokyo. You can make friends, participate in after-school curriculum, eat giant burgers to boost your courage, and hook up with older women and possibly break social taboos. All these things will improve your Social Links with special folks called Confidants. Better Social Links with these Confidants (be it from a successful meet-up or date) means better Personas to fight evils & Shadows in the Metaverse with.
After taking down the last major target, corrupt politician Masayoshi Shido (ie the guy who caused Joker to be in this predicament in the first place), he has his heart changed just after he wins the parliamentary elections. However, people are still clinging to him; this is due to an underlying threat called Yaldabaoth, the God of Control. His plan is to “release” humanity from its free will. Naturally, our heroes win, defeats Yaldabaoth with a giant magic gun, and destroys the Metaverse.
Are There Social Links In Persona 5 Strikers?
Yes, they are, but it’s more basic now. You can spend time with your fellow Phantom Thieves through optional social events, but they won’t be as impactful as Persona 5/Persona 5 Royal. Stuff you did in those old games won’t carry over.
What Else Is New/Dumbed Down?

You need to switch party members so that they gain EXP during infiltrations and level up appropriately. If not, someone from the team will be left behind.
Cooking in the game is now expanded. Instead of just coffee and curry, Joker can cook a variety of meals from your camper van as long as you have the recipe for a specific dish and the ingredients. Food in this game not only restores HP and SP (health and mana, respectively), but also increases your BOND meter with your team.
Requests are different in Persona 5 Strikers. You can complete requests inside Jails and the real world; these offer rewards like BOND points, new weapons, or money. Unlike the previous game, you can replay some requests for farming/grinding purposes.
If you have a Persona 5 save file on your PS4/PS5, you can unlock a Persona 5 sound set where you can use the original battle music in Persona 5 Strikers. To unlock this for the Nintendo Switch, just have a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate save file/play history handy in your Switch’s storage since Joker is playable in that game.

We hope that this guide will set your expectations for this Persona 5 spin-off and clear up any confusion. Persona 5 Strikers is available now for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.


Elden Ring Is Fun But Brutal, And I Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way

Platforms: Xbox Series (version played), Xbox One, PC, PS5, PS4
Genre: Action-adventure RPG that wants to make you its bitch
Playing a From Software game post-Ninja Blade and King’s Field is like eating the best-baked chocolate cake in the world with 40% of it chock full of Carolina Reaper peppers. You will feel loads of pain and will have your endurance tested, but the cake is beyond sublime and unlike any sensation you’ve felt before.
This is apparent with Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, two well-designed(?) action-adventure RPG titles with a bunch of tough gatekeeping sections that offer no quarter. Developer From Software basically repeated the process with its Dark Souls sequel, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.Â While many folks like these sequels and entries, they somehow don’t gel with me. They seem nice, but I’m not going out of my way to punish myself with these purposely-made tough games when the first two Souls games were more than sufficient.

Now it’s back to the proverbial dark fantasy well again with Elden Ring. The game’s story is one involving you, The Tarnished hero, tasked with the slaying of demigods in The Lands Between and possibly serving a higher power called The Two Fingers, but with a tad more fantastical saturation to its aesthetic. Elden Ring also has a few new gameplay mechanics and an open-world setting to spice the hardcore action RPG flavour up. And if you think From Software is softening its stance on tough love gameplay -with a major emphasis on “tough”- you have another thing coming.
And it will blindside you while you least expect it. I sure as hell felt it, but the plot twist here is I didn’t think I would appreciate it more than I thought.
Bit Torrent

There are a few key additions in Elden Ring that elevates it beyond being a Dark Souls 4. True, it’s an action-adventure RPG game where you have to fight insurmountable odds big and very big. And its story is vague and mysterious, with you having to be proactive in figuring its lore out yourself in The Lands Between from pieces of writings and character conversations.
But here’s the thing: the regions and lands of The Lands Between are vast. Like, very big. 40+ hours huge. Each region in the game has at least one major dungeon, an overworld space to explore, and a couple of mini-dungeons featuring loot and extra bosses to challenge. It’s basically an open-world in a Dark Souls game, right down to the shenanigans like hidden traps and camping enemies.
You also get a magic steed called Torrent to bring you places, since walking from point A to B might take a while on foot. He/she is fast, can double-jump, and use special “wind boost pads” all across The Lands Between to jump super-high to get to higher places (without fall damage penalties). Speaking of which, fall damage penalties are lessened here; you can still die if you jump off a tall-ass castle spire, but you won’t get hurt jumping a few stories down. This means more exploration opportunities and taking chances jumping from rooftop to rooftop discovering secrets hidden above ground level.
Torrent also gives you a combat advantage: your steed is fast and maneuverable. Dealing with enemies on horseback is a godsend, given how slow your character can get if he/she is equipped with medium-to-heavy armour and weapons. You can’t bring your steed to some places like story dungeons and certain overworld areas, but these make the moments with Torrent all the more cherished.
Blades Of Glory

I did mention combat, right? Elden Ring has a lot of that, and it can get tough. In fact, some bosses you come across in the game’s main pathway can be literal gatekeepers. But while in past games you have to keep on trying, you can just take a break from said gatekeepers in Elden Ring and just explore the rest of the world.
I was stuck figuring out a boss that’s guarding Stormveil Castle, so I just explored the rest of Limgrave from its swamps to the castles down south and southeast, practising my melee and ranged combat potential while also getting the hang of some of Elden Ring’s new additions to the Dark Souls RPG formula. After a lot of exploring and powering-up, I came back to that boss and managed to persevere and get through it.
The usual action RPG fare of attacking, blocking, and dodging are present in Elden Ring, but a good number of additions in the game’s fighting give you a lot of options and customization to work with. These include Ashes of War, which adds new abilities like special melee moves like a storm-powered pushback attack and spirit summons ranging from attack wolves to arrow-shooting marionettes. You gain access to a guard counter that lets you immediately do a quick heavy attack right after blocking.
You also have a jump attack that lets you do surprise attacks from above or even just stagger enemies when needed. All these and some staples like the light/mid/heavy armour system, the left-hand/right-hand weapon & spellcasting system, and stamina usage are present here. They all complement well with these additions, making the fighting just as exhilarating as the exploring and adventuring.

And you’ll want to explore Elden Ring’s world when you can, since The Lands Between and plethora of dungeons & deathtrap locations are a huge step up from its past efforts. The entire setting is gorgeous, with full of mystery and wonders for the eyes and soul.
Visually, it’s a phenomenal tour-de-force for the eyes. From the plethora of swamps and its ugly-as-sin inhabitants, to the moonlit blue landscape of the submerged lake city with the magic school within, there’s a lot to love about the game’s stellar art direction.
It’s not just wallpaper either; the main dungeons do connect with one another and feature shortcuts for diligent explorers. These levels do have their troll moments and wicked traps, but they only punish those who do not pay attention and aren’t careful.
And without spoiling anything, there’s way more to explore beyond the trailer’s Limgrave and Liurnia of the Lakes regions, to the point that I’m surprised director Hidetaki Miyazaki and his team kept the whole 70% of the game a well-kept secret (at least before the launch trailer happened). You’ll explore plague-ridden landscapes, a golden-on-the-outside overworld akin to pop culture’s definition of the Elysium Fields, and a huge network of subterranean dungeons that feels like a brand-new interconnected bunch of levels to test yourself.

Some welcome gameplay additions do make your tough RPGing journey a bearable one. I dig the Stakes of Marika that act as one-time-only checkpoints if you’re far away from a Site of Grace (the game’s bonfire where you save and level up). I also appreciate the fact that you can teleport to any Site of Grace all over Elden Ring’s world (sans a few dungeons for balance reasons). If you’re outside of combat, running and jumping does not cost stamina at all, so you can use that to your heart’s content while you’re galivanting with Torrent.
If you kill a group of specific enemies, you can refill your healing and mana rejuvenating Flasks. Speaking of which, you get an extra Wondrous Potency Flask that lets you mix and match different elements to give you different combo benefits, like either health regen plus a dexterity boost, or magic defense plus an FP regen boost. That amounts to three Flasks (health, mana, and miscellaneous) to help you out.
Too bad you still can’t pause the game fully even when offline; guess some From Software traditions won’t die, unlike The Tarnished. Still, the above additions are wholly welcome in giving you a fighting chance and taking things your own pace when you’re stuck dealing with a giant boss king from the trailers.
Strictly For The Hardcore?

If you already are a From Software fan who needs another dose of masochism and the patented tough but fair combat you’ve already made up your mind and already pre-ordered it. Is it a gateway title for people who want to drink the Dark Souls-style RPG Kool-Aid? Yes, yes it is.
The million-dollar question is this : Is Elden Ring going to change your mind about Soulsborne title? Strangely enough, it might.
For all of its piling on and bullying of player expectations and testing of patience -and it really is to an extent that it’s built for masochists- Elden Ring rewards you well with new weapons, items, and answers to the game’s mysterious-slash-fantastical setting. And there are many opportunities for you to game the system set here; I have killed a number of seemingly tough encounters by exploiting their weaknesses and AI patterns.
If the game is designed to give its enemies quite an advantage with hitstun opportunities, damaging area-of-effect-attacks that come out fast, and invincible attack frames, I don’t feel bad outsmarting them and using whatever tricks and upgrades I have on my sleeve to get ahead.
And by golly, it feels damn good to defeat daunting giants and heavy hitters. These include the one giant gold knight riding a giant horse, a giant lizard who carries a flaming sword, the really giant red dog with the spells and the fire sword, the flying giant moon witch with the singing children, and the giant gatekeeper boss Marlit with his fast-for-his-size fighting style. That last one also made me use a bonus item from a merchant I talked to while exploring the esoteric parts of the world, making the fight bearable.
Hell, even the regular enemies are memorable enough on their own, from the legion of knights and serfs that dominate the landscape, to the projectile chucking mages who don From Software’s twisted version of the Burger King mascot’s head, right down to the giant “T-rex” proportionate demon dogs. You will not run out of things to fight, I can guarantee you. You might even find one of them being meme’d on Twitter for weeks to come post-launch.
Diligence, patience, and attention pay dividends in Elden Ring. If you put in the time and mental prowess in dealing with its challenges, you’ll feel all the better for it, whether it’s the exploration bit or the fighting sections.
If At First You Don’t Succeed…

Just because you respect something, doesn’t mean you have to like it. That used to be my relationship with From Software and its past games. Elden Ring made me fall in love with the company all over again like with Dark Souls back in 2011.
While the experience gets punctuated with bouts of frustration, Elden Ring is a triumph in game design. It’s tough while being fair, you have all the tools at your disposal from Ashes of War to Torrent the magic steed to deal with your escalating problems, the dungeons are memorable and are laid out well, and it doesn’t let up with its challenges and rewards.
I respect and like Elden Ring and From Software for sticking to its guns but also adding in much-welcome changes and additions to make it more “accessible”. At the same time, the Dark Souls trapping is ever-present; it’s just given new life with new gameplay additions and all-around exploring opportunities and secrets-discovering that will benefit you in the long run if you put the time into it. Most importantly, it does what a perfect video game does: it teaches you how to be good & skillful at it through its many harsh lessons & challenges, albeit over time.
Fair warning though: buy this full price if spending an hour or two figuring out a gatekeeping boss that’s clearly out of your depth sounds like actual fun to you.
Elden Ring is definitely not for everyone, but it delivers the absolute best version of what a hardcore action-adventure RPG with open world opportunities should be like. From Software basically followed their ambition and vision all the way through with this epic illyiad, and completely sticks the landing like a giant mutant crow thing ground stomp perfectly aimed atop the Tarnished. With critical damage.
Pros

Sublime aesthetics.
Great open world and dungeon design.
Tough but fair difficulty.
Additions like Torrent the steed and guard counters add more options & strategy.
Hours of content & places to explore & conquer.

Cons

From Software jank & difficulty curve still present in combat, controls, and boss fights.

Final Score: 100/100

Review copy provided by Bandai Namco Asia.


Here’s How To Break Control With Speedrunning

Control is one of 2019’s best surprises, a supernatural thriller where players can fulfil their hearts’ desire of being a physics-bending Jedi master. The game is relatively short, as it can be completed in just a little over 10 hours. However, several speedrunners have discovered a way to break the game, beating it in less than an hour.
How did they achieve this? By exploiting both the glitches and game protagonist Jesse’s array of telekinetic powers. A speedrunner named Bryon “Bryonato” RothfuszÂ ran through two specific glitches to the folks at PCGamer.
The first way to beat Control in under an hour is calledÂ Slidey McGunny and it involves making Jesse invisible by removing everything in her character model except her gun. This is done by overlapping two in-game menus; the control point menu where you fast travel and your inventory in the pause menu, followed by playing a multimedia file and intentionally getting killed.
This method works because the player can now go through doors that would otherwise require keycards to open (which can only be acquired by progressing through specific story points). It also allows players to skip the first boss in the game, Tomassi.

The second way to beat Control in under an hour is one that involves consistently going out of bounds by picking up items at a certain angle. For example, clipping through walls by pushing yourself under a small stairway. Speedrunner Fladi (who discovered this method) described how to he accomplished this:

 “I tried jumping onto a metal pallet while still holding it and I flew up with the object a little bit.
I held it up against a wall while jumping on top of it and after a bit of trying I went through the ceiling.”

While the second method is faster than the first, it also disappointingly skips the best gameplay sequence in the entire game; the Ashtray Maze. You know, the part where the rock music starts playing as the world around you shifts like those buildings in the movie Inception.
There is currently a small but growing Discord group for Control speedrunners. You can check out full runs byÂ RothfuszÂ andÂ KevBot43Â (the current world record holder for fastest Control speedrun) on their respective channels.
If you’re wondering, Control developer Remedy Entertainment supports all this. Community manager Vida StarÄeviÄ‡ said:

“We love to see it.
We’ve seen players do it with fridges and vending machines.”

Another developer even said:

“I don’t know how the hell they figured out a way to bypass the entire Ashtray Maze, but it was not what I was expecting,”

Control is now available for the PC (via Epic Games Store), PS4, and Xbox One. Check out our review of the game here to find out why you should play this underrated and overlooked gem.


Clowns Of A Feather Flock Together In Birds Of Prey Trailer

Warner Bros has finally released the first official trailer for Birds Of Prey, and it doesn’t look too good. Giving off a vibe of a cross between the neon brightness of Batman Forever and the loony goofiness of Suicide Squad, the trailer mostly focuses on Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn.
The Birds Of Prey trailer confirms that Harley Quinn has broken up with the Joker (probably a way to try and make everyone forget about Jared Leto’s horrible performance as the Clown Prince Of Crime) and that she’s looking for other “dames” like her who are looking for “emancipation”.
These others include Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Helena Bertinelli / Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary, and Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain, none of whom look remotely similar to their comic book counterparts. We also see Chris Messina as Batman villain Victor Zsasz, and Ewan McGregor as a more flamboyant and stylish version of the Roman Sionis / Black Mask.
The problem with this trailer (and all the marketing/promotion material so far) is that they seemingly convey Birds Of Prey movie to be a solo Harley Quinn vehicle of sorts. The absence of Barbara Gordon AKA Batgirl (AKA the co-founder of the team in the comics) is further proof that the filmmakers were never interested in making a faithful Birds Of Prey movie in the first place.
It all looks like just more of an excuse to push Harley Quinn into the spotlight, as she was one of the few (only?) redeemable qualities of 2016’s Suicide Squad. Birds Of Prey releases on 7 February 2020.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.


Guilty Gear Strive First DLC Character To Be Announced Next Wednesday, Sales Surpass 500k

Arc System Works has announced that its new dolphin-filled and main character privilege-laced fighting game, Guilty Gear Strive, is doing pretty well. The game sold over 500,000 units since its release back on 11th June.
In addition, the company will announce the game’s Season 1 first character next Wednesday 20th July at 9am GMT+8. If you haven’t bought the game’s Season 1 Pass, you can buy it at a discounted price.

#GuiltyGearStrive keeps on rocking with over 500K units worldwide!???
? We're announcing the 1st DLC character on our YouTube Channel!?: https://t.co/YqooUQQ6E0
Date?: 07/20 6PM PST?: 07/21 3AM CEST
You can also buy the Season 1 Pass currently at a special price! ? pic.twitter.com/qF6E5cZbhI
— ArcSystemWorks (@ArcSystemWorksU) July 16, 2021

Who will be the first season 1 character? We’re guessing it’s Happy Chaos, the blue Valentine unit that’s been a thorn in the game’s story mode. Other candidates include Goldlewis Dickinson the giant dude who carries a coffin with an alien inside (allegedly), Asuka (That Man), Jack-O Valentine with red hair, and Jam Kuradoberi based on an alleged datamine.Â
For more on GG Strive, check out our review and tier list.


PC Gamers, You’re Getting No More Heroes Next Week

MOE~
Publisher XSeed Games and developer Grasshopper Manufacture will be releasing No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle for PC (via Steam) next week on 9th July. The games will cost US$19.99 each, with a 10% discount for the first week of launch.
The PC version will include HD support, 60fps gameplay, reworked controls, Steam achievements, and Steam Cloud support. Check out the trailers below (via Gematsu).


Crusader Kings III Update 1.2 Releases On November 24th. Brings Ruler Designer & Uglier Characters

News originally from Frags of War.
Unfurl your banners, answer the call to arms! Dukes, Kings and Emperors, Crusader Kings III update 1.2 will release on November 24th. Our game designer lords at Paradox hath spoken.
As weâ€™ve detailed in a previous post, update 1.2 comes with the ruler designer with a metric tonne of customisation options to make the exact ruler you want. Create the perfect moral paragon or devil incarnateâ€¦ or something in between.
Read more here.


Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Looks Like A New Step For The Series [Update]

Update (27 March): We have our first-ever full view of the Monstrums, and Adol in his new getup via Dengeki Online.Â
Last time on Falcom’s Ys VIII, the action RPG had an open interconnecting world, a bunch of dinosaurs to fight, and an alternate character to control in the form of Dana. That, and some fast-paced action featuring Adol and a bunch of new characters.
Now, we have part 9, or IX, where he’s going to go through the same fast-paced schtick, but this time with more features. During the Dengeki Game Festival 2019, Falcom showed off some new Ys IX: Monstrum Nox gameplay. Here’s what you need to know:
You Can Control Three Characters (So Far)
You play as Adol (he’s the main character, duh), but this time he looks a little dark and “edgelordey”. Based on the new gameplay footage, he can fling his sword and teleport to where it’s at (via Twinfinite).

You also get to control two others: a blonde double sword-wielding guy who can glide using dark blue wings, and a cat girl who can run up walls. These two are the title’s Monstrums: monster and human hybrids with special powers.
The Party System Is Still The Same
The Ys series as of late lets you switch between characters, but this is the first time they have unique traversing abilities. Best of all, if you unlock a new character and his/her ability, it’ll be shared among the party. So that means Adol can fly and can run up walls.
You still need to switch characters during battle since combat attributes are different. Since the Ys games have been combat-heavy and focus on three-team party-switching, that bit will still remain the same, but with Monstrum powers.

The Game’s World Is More Fleshed-Out
Ys IX takes place in a city called Baldeux in Gllia, which happens to feature a giant prison in the heart of it. What do they keep in there? The Monstrums, of course.
Under story circumstances, Adol has to work alongside these Monstrums (or kill them and take their power; that isn’t clear yet) while also explore the city and unlocking its mysteries.
The city size isn’t for show either. The developers said that any area that you can see within a distance can be reached with a specific Monstrum ability. And you’ll be spending a lot of time in it: 50 percent of the game’s entire map is the city. Because of the location, the devs are using different sections and tilesets to make things look aesthetically interesting, like slums and indoor gardens.
There Are Lots Of Things To Do In The New World
In Ys IX, you’ll be able to form a guild. Adol needs a place to stay and can’t make camp, so he’ll need to create a clubhouse of sort that serves as a side-mission hub, if it’s anything like Ys VIII.
You’ll also be able to participate in the city’s Colosseum, where you’ll most likely fight a lot of monsters in a controlled environment.
It’ll Probably Have Rockin’ Music
Ys VIII stole my heart not because of just its addictive action RPG gameplay, but because of its awesome soundtrack. Check out the video below if you’re still not convinced; even Kenny Omega’s a fan of Ys VIII’s music.

Ys IX will probably have the same kind of soundtrack if it still has its Falcom jdk Band on-board for this entry.
It’ll Be Out Fall 2019 On PlayStation 4…
…in Japan. There’s no word on an English release yet. Let’s hope it gets better localization than the last game.

If you’re looking forward to more Ys, let us know here or on Facebook.


Twitch Streamer Accuses Platform Of Banning Her For Being ‘Black & Curvy’

So there’s been some drama in the streaming world recently. Streamer ExoHydraX is claiming that Twitch banned her because of her race and body shape. Apparently, she got suspended on May 19, just a few days after Twitch lifted a ban on another streamer named Mira.
ExoHydraX started out on YouTube but eventually made her way to Twitch, hoping to reach a bigger audience with non-gaming content. But her relationship with the platform has been rocky, to say the least. She’s had a number of suspensions over the years, including one permanent ban that was later reversed by Twitch.
Last week, ExoHydraX took to Twitter to let her followers know that she had been hit with another permanent ban from Twitch. According to her, the reason given was that she violated the platform’s guidelines on suggestive content. But she’s calling BS on that, saying she followed the rules and her stream wasn’t controversial at all. In fact, she claims she wasn’t even doing a hot tub stream and was fully dressed the whole time.

if you're black and curvy sorry to say but there's no point streaming on twitch.
The moderators on there will automatically see you as being more s3xual.
Even if you're following their rules. It doesn't matter to them your body is more "s3xual"
DO BETTER #twitch
— EXO ? (@ExoHydraX) May 19, 2023

So why does ExoHydraX think she was banned? Well, she believes it’s because of her skin colour and body type. In a tweet, she said that streaming on Twitch is pointless for people who are black and curvy. Some of her fans agreed and suggested she move to another platform called Kick, which has been gaining popularity among streamers lately. At the time of her ban, ExoHydraX had over 264,000 followers on Twitch.
Twitch, being the big company that it is, isn’t likely to comment on individual bans, so we probably won’t hear their side of the story. But this isn’t the first time Twitch has faced accusations of racism. ExoHydraX was previously banned for a hot tub stream in 2021, and some fans were upset that white streamers like Amouranth face little consequences for similar content. According to StreamerBans, Twitch has banned Amouranth six times since 2019, but each ban only lasted a few days.
It’s a messy situation, and it remains to be seen how it will play out. For now, ExoHydraX is without a platform, and her fans are left wondering if there’s a double standard at play in the streaming world.


So What Is Going On With Singapore’s First Major Dota 2 Tournament Of 2021?

This story is still developing…
ONE Esports and Dota Pro Circuit have announced the ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021 Dota 2 tournament, which is quite a big deal as it is one of the first-ever Dota 2 major tournaments of the year following the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember, that still-lingering plague that has cancelled a number of offline esports events?
Anyway, the first-ever Dota 2 major of the 2021 Dota Pro Circuit season means all the best teams will be competing in Singapore at the Fairmont Singapore, with the Singapore Tourism Board also organizing the tournament alongside ONE Esports and PGL. And to play it safe, the event will not have a live audience but instead be a livestream for all to see in the comforts of every Dota 2 fan’s home for obvious safety reasons.
The event will be happening on 27th March, which is this Saturday, and will last until 4th April. And the teams involved have already pledged their commitment and support to make this a good major tournament.

Team Secret
Invictus Gaming (China)
Fnatic (Southeast Asia)
Virtus.Pro
Evil Geniuses
beastcoast
Alliance
Team Aster
Neon Esports (Southeast Asia)
Natus Vincere
Quincy Crew
Thunder Predator

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
As it turns out, anything. This is in spite of the many, many precautions taken.
Ahead of the Singapore Majors, Virtus Pro, Egor “Nightfall” Grigorenko may need a stand-in as he said on 18th March that he was feeling sick. This was despite the fact that he tested negative for the virus. The stand-in in question? It’s Igor “iLTW” Filatov.
Virtus Pro has stated their support for the upcoming major via an official Twitter post.

pic.twitter.com/UFmpTwp4jS
— Virtus.pro (@virtuspro) March 18, 2021

On 20th March, Natus Vincere’s player Bogdan “Iceberg” Vasilenko and team captain Andrii “ALWAYSWANNAFLY” Bondarenko have been tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the team’s departure to Singapore. The stand-ins include former Virtus Pro and EG player Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev and coach Andrey “Mag” Chipenko.

Revealing the details about our forced roster changes for #SingaporeMajor 2021.
?: https://t.co/iUnM5zKJzk#dota2 #navination pic.twitter.com/3ATsEBd9cy
— NAVI (@natusvincere) March 20, 2021

On 21st March, Neon Esports’ John Anthony “Natsumi” Vargas will not be participating due to being “unfit to travel” to Singapore. His stand-in will be Rafael “Rapy” Sicat”, which means Rolen “skem” Ong will be moving from position four to carry (via Dotesports).

Update #SingaporeMajor pic.twitter.com/qPnLzSTojW
— Plae8 Neon (@neonesportsdota) March 21, 2021

Quincy Crew manager Jack “KBBQ” Chen confirmed on 22nd March that Arif “MSS” Anwar has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to travel to the event. The team has secured his substitute: Milan “MiLAN” Kozomara, formerly of the team mudgolems.

Quincy Crew is happy and thankful to have @milandota2 standing in for @MSSDota in Singapore (assuming he gets the rest of his docs and negative test in time, of course). pic.twitter.com/S9SMLz0ysP
— Jack Chen (@KBBQDotA) March 23, 2021

On 24th March, Team Nigma announced that Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov will not compete as he is tested positive for COVID-19. His stand-in will be Team Nigma’s coach Roman “rmN-” Paley.

We wish @NigmaMC a speedy recovery!#StarsAlign pic.twitter.com/oH6fIqX18L
— Nigma Galaxy (@NigmaGalaxy) March 24, 2021

In any case, the respective teams have their stand-ins all confirmed and accounted for. It should be smooth sailing for them, right?
Abuzz On Twitter
Things don’t seem so hot on Twitter. At about 7 hours ago, Moonduck TV managing director Andrew Campbell made a critique about the DPC League 2021 statement on 12th March on its participating team’s full support for the event, in order to quell rumours about players hoping the event is cancelled:

Is it coming into focus yet, how insanely irresponsible this press statement was?
5 players and 1 caster have tested positive for COVID already.
Why are we still pretending that a 48 hour arrival quarantine is enough to keep everyone safe? https://t.co/U7vM2J1Tms
— Andrew Campbell (@ZyoriTV) March 24, 2021

Team Secret, Evil Geniuses, Alliance, and others declare full support for upcoming Singapore Dota Majorhttps://t.co/lDbJLs1wN9
— Dota Pro Circuit (@DPCLeague) March 12, 2021

Singapore esports StarCraft 2 player Kelly “Milkies” Ong responded like any person who has a huge stake in a major Singapore-based event like this would:

I AM SO TIRED OF THIS FINGER FUCKING POINTING. THIS IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
WE ARE ORGS WHO HAVE TO RISK CALCULATE AND OUR PLAYERS HAVE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND RISKS TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.
PGL AND VALVE ARE IN CHARGE OF ORGANIZING THIS TOURNAMENT. NOT THE ORGS.
— kelly (@kellymilkies) March 24, 2021

Maybe we shouldn't have killed ourselves trying to bring a major to fans. At the end of the day it seems like all of this was for nothing if you guys think so badly of the orgs.
Just really sad to see.
— kelly (@kellymilkies) March 24, 2021

As for ONE Esports’ Twitter feed? Well, the accounted retweeted professional Dota 2 caster Jorien “Sheever ” van der Heijden’s teaser picture. Basically, the event is still a-go despite the supposed drama surrounding the event.

A bit of a teaser for you ??#SingaporeMajor pic.twitter.com/LRFWqbFRkt
— Sheever (@SheeverGaming) March 24, 2021

What Now?
These kinds of events, even without a live audience, will always have a calculated amount of risks that organizers have contingencies for, especially in a COVID-19 era. You can plan as much as you like, but as anyone who has worked in events management can tell you, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Tournament organizers for bigwig events like these will always plan ahead and prepare for the worst.
What I’m getting at is that so far, Singapore’s biggest Dota 2 tournament is looking alright so far and will be going ahead this weekend. However, there is a chance that players will need to go through a 2-week isolation period, which means they need to have their accommodations sorted during that period. We’re not sure if a company like ONE Esports has enough of a budget to accommodate all of its participants in the Fairmont for more than two weeks.
Still, we’ll be sure to keep this story updated if there are any new developments, positive or otherwise. In the meantime, catch the streams here:


Valkyrie Elysium’s Action Glory Is Hampered By Its Budget

Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (version played), PlayStation 4
Genre: Action RPG using the Valkyrie Square Enix legacy brand
When your Square Enix title (mothership or spin-off) has the Final Fantasy name anywhere, the sky’s the limit. If it doesn’t, the limit’s the sky.
Such is the case of Valkyrie Elysium, a fun action game that’s a spin-off of a legacy Square Enix franchise that is unfortunately saddled with presentation restrictions, making it look and feel like it’s a second-rate game.
Riding High

The gist of Valkyrie Elysium’s story is this: you’re a new Valkyrie who has to release and purify souls for your boss Odin The All-Father. You also get to recruit and summon Einherjars -fallen warriors- to aid you in purging the undead and all sorts of monsters threatening the human realm of Midgard. As you can tell, this is Square Enix’s retelling of Norse mythology but as an anime RPG; it even has backstories involving your main character that needs uncovering via the collectibles in each of the game’s many chapters.
From start to finish, you fight enemies in real-time action combat. Less Final Fantasy VII Remake and more Nier Automata/Devil May Cry, where your Valkyrie can evade, parry, dodge, and counterattack enemies with stylish and hard-hitting moves with various weapons she collects in her holy pilgrimage. Your Valkyrie’s spells can also deal Elemental damage and status effects; use a fire wall spell on enemies weak to fire, and you’ll stun and cripple them, making you either wail on them easily or focus on other active threats.
She also has a Soul Chain that lets you grapple and zip to enemies far away from you. At first, you only start with a basic dodge and attack kit, but as you progress and level up, you can get Attack, Defense, and Support upgrades to equip and peruse as you see fit. Pretty soon, you’ll be doing a lot of Soul Chain shenanigans, while also dodging and parrying blows and attacks to get the game’s version of Bullet Time/Witch Time, slowing down time to a crawl while you attack and combo enemies like normal. When the fighting gets intense, you’ll start using all your tools to the fullest; all this plethora of action and fighting is Valkyrie Elysium at its finest. And if you’re terrible at it? You can practice at the game’s training stage, and the levels have generous checkpoint spots so that restarting your progress is only just a few minutes’ worth of lost time, much like your Devil May Cry and Bayonetta entries.

While I applaud developer Soleil for putting their efforts into the one core aspect that matters -the fighting and combat- it’s clear as they that the team had to allocate a majority of their budget onto this portion. The game’s presentation, many talking head moments that could have been meaningful in-game cutscenes, cookie cutter level design, and story isn’t anything to shout about, nor is it gripping and enthralling. The game has a story that unfolds over time and it involves a conspiracy involving your Norse warrior role and the Einherjars involved. However, you’ve seen this plot a number of times in other JRPGs and Japanese-made action titles.
In fact, most of Valkyrie Elysium’s story is a dumbed-down retelling of 2000’s Valkyrie Profile story, but with different names and none of the intrigue and Einherjar backstories that made the original as epic as a Völsunga. You’re just on the main quests and side content for the Valkyrie powerups and combat options, not so much for the characters and story payoff. I will give credit for the devs giving players multiple endings that are accessible in the same playthrough though, rather than forcing players to start new playthroughs. But for the most parts, I’m just skipping to the good parts: the mythological magic-filled ass-kicking.
Broken Wings

Valkyrie Elysium may not look like much, but underneath its modest budget lies a really fun and “chillax” action game you can grind and have fun with. The Einherjar summoning system and elemental exploitation system, coupled with chain attacks and your Spider-Man-like Soul Chain grapple all gel together for one entertaining action-packed experience. The game’s bigger enemies can be challenging, but it’s nothing a few rounds of practice cannot handle, backed by how easy and fast it is to continue from where you left off a few seconds ago. I won’t lie to you: it’s a joy to see a couple of your cooler-looking Einherjars fighting on-screen while you’re flanking the undead with your Valkyrie-version Stingers and air combos, after tossing a few fire and lightning AoE spells to soften them up.
At its current price tag, it may be a bit too much unless you’re really craving a real-time action game from a long-lost Square Enix 90s brand. But if you can get it for a discount or wait a while, you can do a lot worse.
Pros

Fun combat and elemental exploiting mechanics.
Great controls and feel.
Decent music & English VO work.

Cons

Bland story & subpar presentation.
Rote side missions & levels.

Final Score: 70/100


Kickstarter Campaign For Tag-Team Beat-Em-Up Genokids Launched

Genokids is this new, super-fast action game by Valencia-based studio Nukefist. You play as a band of musicians with some serious motivation, taking on an alien invasion that has come to Earth to ruin your concert and your vibe. The game is set to be released on Steam in November 2025, but Nukefist needs to raise €30,000 to make it happen.
Now, here’s the lowdown on what you can expect from Genokids, according to its Steam page: You’ll be fighting off the invading forces with some seriously powerful abilities. And let’s not forget about your motivation—it’s going to be your biggest weapon in this game. As you blast your way through the levels, you’ll be able to unlock even more techniques to take down those pesky aliens. Plus, your fans will be following you every step of the way, and if you sign them an autograph, they’ll become some seriously powerful allies.
If you want to learn more about the game and help fund it, head over to Kickstarter and check it out.


Shoji Meguro Of Shin Megami Tensei/Persona Fame Announces New RPG: Guns Undarkness

Shoji Meguro, the famous music composer for the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona spin-off series who recently left Atlus to be a freelancer music-maker, just announced his new game.
It’s called Guns Undarkness, and it’s a turn-based RPG set in a sci-fi universe and has guns, along with some subterfuge and espionage elements. Announced during the Indie Live Expo Winter livestream, the game is being made & published under Kodansha Lab.
Game description’s below:
“Guns Undarkness” is a “Stealth RPG” that combines typical stealth game features such as remaining undetected and invading antagonistâ€™s territory, with the traditional command type JRPG. The gameplay is roughly divided into two parts: a stealth part that hides on the field and a battle part that is developed by a turn-based command-type battle system. Encountering without being found by the enemy allows you to enter the battle in an advantageous manner. Aim for the depths of the antagonistâ€™s territory while managing your resources well.
The main weapons of the protagonists are firearms such as hand guns and assault rifles. By defeating enemies and obtaining materials, you can customize the equipped gun more powerfully.
The story takes place in the year 2045, in a devastated world after a nuclear war, where you become a member of a PMC (Private Military Company) and carry out missions with your peers. Amid fierce battles, the protagonists realize the â€œtrue loveâ€ that will lead humanity to a higher level of existence.”
The game will be out for PC (Steam), though it currently has no release window as of yet. Check out the gameplay trailer below.


We Now Know The Plot Of The Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Movie

Sonic The Hedgehog fans have been waiting to discover what’s next for the blue streak. Thanks to an eagle-eyed fan who was browsing through some government copyright listings, we now know what the sequel movie’s plot is. Obligatory spoiler tag if you want to go into the sequel to an all-ages film blind.

Thankfully, the story for Sonic The Hedgehog 2 sounds like it’s a lot more faithful to the games. Here’s the synopsis (via Twitter user Ninja_Risu)
After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is ready for more freedom, and Tom and Maddie agree to leave him home while they go on vacation. But, no sooner are they gone, when Dr. Robotnik comes back, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to both build and destroy civilizations.
Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

So, was just looking to see what Sega has done lately and ran past the Sonic 2 movie copyright and not sure anyone has posted this yet.#SonicMovie2 #sonicthehedghog pic.twitter.com/a6CrCyk4bG
— Rocks the Squirrel (@RocksDSquirrel) May 19, 2021

Long story short, it’ll be less Tom and Maddie (the humans in the first film), more Dr. Robotnik (played by Jim Carrey), and more CGI anthropomorphic animals fighting each other and eventually teaming up against the Eggman. With Tails himself appearing at the end of the first Sonic The Hedgehog movie (as well as the appearance of the echidna tribe in the first film), the live-slash-CGI adaptations will definitely be sticking to the video games narrative-wise.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 will be out in April 2022. In the meantime, here’s what we thought of the first film.


Alienware Celebrates 25th Anniversary with a Lovely New Aurora Design

Dell just revealed the new Alienware Aurora desktop design to celebrate the gaming desktop/laptop brand’s 25th anniversary. And it looks about as alien & as sleek as you would imagine.

The new Alienware Aurora desktop, which hopefully does not turn sentient, grow mechanical legs with attached laser guns, and eradicate any living organism around it, features an all-new open-air design that reorganises inner components for better accessibility and airflow. Also, your cables will be managed better with the new chassis design.
Let’s list down the features in bullet point form:

New thermal design that supports up to four 120mm fans and liquid cooling options.
Transparent left-side panel that has a window for the dark new motherboard illuminated by up to eight unique zones of AlienFX customisable lighting.
New optional magnetic cable cover that neatly stow cables and conceals ports on the rear side.
New chassis to allow opposite right-side door to be removed with cable management features intended to isolate wires mechanically and thermally for better airflow.

Needless to say, the specs are top-drawer stuff by today’s standards.
We will update you on the additional details as we receive them. In the meantime, check out the pics of the desktop below:


PlayStation Plus June Catalogue Update

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced their June 2023 Game Catalog lineup for Extra and Premium subscribers, and Classics Catalog titles for Premium subscribers. The company also revealed that they are currently conducting tests for cloud streaming of select PlayStation 5 games. This includes PlayStation 5 titles available in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as digital PlayStation 5 games that players own. Once it’s officially launched, cloud game streaming for these supported PlayStation 5 titles will be accessible directly on the console for subscribers of PlayStation Plus Premium.

All these titles will be available from June 20.
GAME CATALOG

A Hat in Time (PS4)
Carto (PS4)
DC League of Super-Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace (PS5, PS4)
Dodgeball Academia (PS4)
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4)
ELEX II (PS5, PS4)
Far Cry 6 (PS5, PS4)
Forager (PS4)
Hundred Days: Wine Making Simulator (PS5, PS4)
Inscryption (PS5, PS4)
Killing Floor 2 (PS4)
Lonely Mountains: Downhill (PS4)
MX vs. ATV Legends (PS5, PS4)
My Friend Peppa Pig (PS5, PS4)
Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay (PS5, PS4)
Rogue Legacy 2 (PS5, PS4)
Redout II (PS5, PS4)
Soulstice (PS5)
Tacoma (PS4)
The Talos Principle Deluxe Edition (PS4)
Thief (PS4)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (PS5, PS4)
Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York (PS4)
The Wild at Heart (PS4)

CLASSICS CATALOG
PlayStation

Herc’s Adventures
Worms

PSP

Killzone: Liberation


Cyberpunk 2077 Is The Top-Selling PC Game On Steam Right Now

CD Projekt might be getting the break from the past PR flak it deserved less than a year ago.
Thanks to the recent Steam Autumn sale, CD Projekt’s then-broken computer RPG Cyberpunk 2077 is seeing some modicum positive feedback from the PC-gaming community. That’s probably because the game is getting a half-price discount: it costs RM109.50 instead of the RM219 full price it touted since launch. The game has received a huge number of patches, bug fixes, and loads more wetness. No, really.

Cyberpunk 2077 quest director Pawel Sasko also took to Twitter to express joy for the recent windfall of the title.

Last days #Cyberpunk2077 received a flood of very positive reviews on Steam from the new players ?
You can’t imagine what it means to me ? pic.twitter.com/bz3xElKixT
— Pawe? Sasko (@PaweSasko) November 25, 2021

Over 15K very positive reviews in the last days, while both #Cyberpunk2077 and #TheWitcher3 are on the global list of Steam top sellers ?
Thank you so much! ? pic.twitter.com/SMEMErm5Hm
— Pawe? Sasko (@PaweSasko) November 26, 2021

Of course, this means that the pressure of fixing the console versions is still mounting. But for now, rest assured that it’s safe for PC gamers to buy Cyberpunk 2077 almost bug-free. This is still an open-world game after all.


For Honor Is Getting A New Viking Hero Next Month

Ubisoft has announced that a new hero will be joining the Viking faction as part of For Honor Year 3 Season 3. Owners of the Year 3 Pass will gain access to the new Viking hero Jormugandr starting from 12pm PT on 1 August 2019, while other players can purchase him from 11am PT on 8Â August 2019 for 15,000 Steel.
The Jormungandr is a Viking sectarian group, who worship the Great Serpent Jormungandr instead of the Norse pantheon of gods and goddesses like Odin or Thor. They are led by Hulda or Gretar, the respective female and male version of the new Viking hero the player will control.
According to the lore, they seek to crush the weak before Ragnarok comes, as they believe only the most worthy must remain for the Great Battle. Wielding their mighty War Hamarr during fights, they cull their opponents with their powerful attacks.
A new Breach mapÂ called the Viking fortress of Storr Stronghold will also arrive soon in the upcoming Year 3 Season 3 of For Honor, as well as further balancing updates for the existing roster, including the Nobushi, Shinobi, Orochi, and other heroes.
Players can catch an exclusive first look at For Honor Year 3 Season 3 on the official For Honor Twitch channel during the Warriorâ€™s Den live stream at 9am PT on Thursday, 25 July 2019.
In the meantime, check out the trailer introducing the Jormungandr below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRiY7SvdaDE&w=560&h=315]


Halo Infinite Finally Add Fan-Made Map Playlist

Halo Infinite has addressed a significant issue by introducing a fan-made map playlist. This playlist allows players to access and play custom maps created by the Halo community, providing a much-needed solution to a problem that had been affecting the gaming experience for many players.
This new playlist is a huge step forward for Halo Infinite, as it gives players access to a much wider variety of maps, created by fans, who are often more creative and passionate about the game. This will improve the overall multiplayer experience and provide players with fresh and exciting new content to play with.
With the addition of this playlist, Halo Infinite is taking a big step towards fixing one of its biggest problems, the lack of maps. The community-created map playlist is a great example of how developers can listen to their fans and make improvements to the game based on their feedback.
Halo Infinite’s multiplayer offerings were criticized for a lack of maps, but now with the introduction of a custom game browser and a matchmaking playlist focused on community-created maps, players have access to a wider selection of maps.
The in-game map editor, Forge, has been a source of creativity and innovation for players, who have been creating their own maps since November or even before that due to leaks. With the new playlist, players can easily find and play these cool new maps.

Jump into the Community Collection playlist today, featuring maps created in Forge by the community!
?? https://t.co/Xt1qilTXzU pic.twitter.com/uumlSohK4T
— Halo (@Halo) February 7, 2023

343 Industries has launched the Halo Infinite Community Collection playlist across all platforms, consisting of four maps created by fans. This is a dedicated playlist which allows players to easily play and match up with others on selected custom Forge maps, chosen by 343 Industries. The Community Collection includes a mixture of new and classic Halo-inspired maps.
The first four maps added to this new playlist are:

Starboard – A remake of Halo 2’s Midship,
Perilous – A new map partly inspired by Lockout.
Absolution – A new arena made mostly of stone.
Salvation – A Banish-themed remake of the classic Halo map, Hang ‘Em High.

I’m thrilled to hear about the release of new maps, including updated versions of classic battlefields, in Halo Infinite. However, what excites me, even more, is that this is just the beginning. 343 Industries has stated that they plan to include more maps created by fans in the Community Collection playlist in the future and will announce more details later. For now, let’s enjoy this great new addition to Halo Infinite.


The Master’s Pupil Takes You Across The Monet-Verse

Have you seen The Master’s Pupil on social media? It’s an amazing-looking game that takes you through the eyeball of French painter Claude Monet, painstakingly created through a mixture of both digital and traditional mediums by solo developer Pat Naoum. It’s impossible to not look at the game and its development cycle and not be in constant awe.
We had the opportunity to have an interview with the Sydney-based game developer, and you can read all about it below!

Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, I’m Pat Naoum, the solo designer and developer for The Master’s Pupil. I grew up and live in Sydney Australia. I originally did a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in Painting, and then went through a Film diploma at AFTRS.
I’ve been working freelance since then, in graphic design and film, though eventually started up a web design company with a developer friend. All before eventually getting into game design.

How did you get your start in the games industry?
For me it was always about finding a great project to work on. Visual Art and Film are both great creative outlets and industries. Art is great but can be quite specialised, Film is broader, working with a lot of mediums, but it’s quite hard to get your own projects up and running.
Game design was something I picked up because I could chip away at these large projects every day. Plus games have a little bit of everything: writing, coding, design, art, animation, acting, music, sound design, even architecture, and then at the end you get to play it! So after about 3 years learning to code and creating a vertical slice for The Master’s Pupil, I thought I should make more time for it, so I reduced my freelance hours and started working part time. Then last year I got the Expansion Pack Grant from Screen Australia, which was wonderful and has allowed me to go full time.

Tell us about the Master’s Pupil!
The Master’s Pupil is a hand-painted 2D puzzle platformer set inside Claude Monet’s eyeball. Players solve puzzles and play across his iris, and through his life. Players also don’t need to know about Monet, it’s not a direct biography.
There’s no language, written or spoken, it’s more of this elaborate abstract journey that goes along with the puzzles. And it’s actually hand-painted, with real paint and paper, evolving along with Monet’s life, and his paintings too, of which about 47 feature in the game.

The art style and execution of it in The Master’s Pupil is so incredibly unique – what are some of the challenges you’ve faced while working on it?
Well, thanks! Hand-painting is tough in a lot of ways. Everything from buying a high res film negative scanner to capture all the detail, to meticulously cleaning that scanner to make sure there’s no dust on the paintings!
And of course then having to resave nearly a thousand pieces because the original build was around 50gbs. But I think the real challenge is the time it takes, it’s a long process to get it just right!

How long has the development of The Master’s Pupil taken so far?
I’ve been saying 7 years for about a year now, so 8?
About 3 years of hobby, 4 of part time, then it’s about a year of full time. Though I think I’ve got notes about a game set inside an eye from about 10 or so years ago. So yes, very long!

How did you decide to make a hand-painted game?
Honestly, it’s the uniqueness you mentioned earlier. I wanted to try something different, and when I made that first vertical slice, there was something inherently interesting about these textures. Something I wanted to follow and look into.

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to attempt a similar art style for their game in the future?
Go for it! But know it takes a while, and don’t be afraid to ‘cheat’. It took me a long time to realise how modular pieces could work for the background layers. I just wish I had worked that out for the actual ground pieces!

What do you think about art styles within the games industry at the moment? Are there any particular styles you’ve seen that really stand out to you?
I think the AAA space is a little too obsessed with realism, and I think it holds back interesting gameplay. Realism has baggage, it creates assumptions with the player. If people can see something they know in the real world, they will expect it to act like that in game.
When people play games, it’s a great opportunity for them to discover something unique and totally outside of the real world. But then on the other hand, indie games have really relied too much on pixel art for the last ten years!
For styles I’ve always liked Limbo, Braid, Inside and Journey to name a few that stood out and inspired me. But more recently Sable, it’s a line-drawn Moebius style, which is awesome. And look out for Skate Story, an awesome style tied really well to the story and concepts.

Finally – what advice do you have for aspiring game developers?
Get learning and creating as quickly as possible, and enjoy the process. Game dev is wonderful and exciting, but there’s a lot to do, so get going and enjoy the journey.

Check out The Master’s Pupil on Steam, Twitter, and sign up for their newsletter today!


This Splatoon 3-Themed Nintendo Switch OLED Model Is A Helluva Catch

If your shelf isn’t completely loaded with limited-edition Nintendo Switch consoles, here’s one more to add to the list.
Nintendo has announced a Splatoon 3-themed Nintendo Switch OLED Model Special Edition console, which is slated for 26 August for US$359.99. No, it doesn’t come with the game sadly since Splatoon 3 is coming out on 9th September.
The Switch OLED model will include a set of one blue and one yellow gradient Joy-Con controllers with white underbellies. It also comes with a white graffiti-themed Switch dock.

If you can wait a bit longer, you can also get a Splatoon 3-themed Switch Pro Controller for US$74.99. This is highly recommended if you plan on playing Splatoon 3 seriously.
Check out the announcement trailer for the limited edition console below, which looks pretty fresh if you ask me.


Mythic Quest Season 2 New Trailer Comes With A Surprising Cameo

Mythic Quest Season 2 has received a new trailer ahead of its upcoming 7 May 2021 premiere date.
The trailer doesnâ€™t reveal much of what to expect, but we’ll be seeing Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenney) and Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao) work together on a new expansion now that theyâ€™re both co-creative directors at the fictional game developer.
The trailer also features a cameo from Snoop Dogg, who even asks Grimm where the gameâ€™s next expansion is. It’s currently unknown if his role will be bigger than just a small cameo.
Hereâ€™s the full synopsis for season 2 from Apple:

With the quarantine finally over, season two of â€œMythic Questâ€ finds everyone back in the office (well, almost everyone), attempting to build upon the success ofÂ Ravenâ€™s BanquetÂ by launching an epic new expansion, but Ian (Rob McElhenney) and the newly promoted co-creative director, Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao), struggle with the gameâ€™s direction.
Meanwhile, C.W. (F. Murray Abraham) reconciles some unresolved issues from his past, the testers (Ashly Burch and Imani Hakim) test the bounds of an office romance, and David (David Hornsby) loses yet another woman in his life as Jo (Jessie Ennis) leaves him to assist Brad (Danny Pudi).
Mythic QuestÂ is a sitcom that focuses on a group of colleagues in a game development studio thatâ€™s making an MMO called Mythic Quest. The first season debuted inÂ February 2020, and now the second season isÂ slatedÂ to premiereÂ on 7 May 2021 on Apple TV Plus.
Check out the new Mythic Quest Season 2 trailer below:


Spoiler Alert: Here’s A Potential Look At Ronin In Avengers Endgame

We’re only a few months away from Avengers: Endgame at this point, and we still know very little about the sequel to last year’s Avengers: Infinity War. However, after a full-length trailer and a Super Bowl TV spot, we’ve managed to glean a few details.
A recent toy leak on Reddit has revealed our potential first look at the full Ronin costume in the upcoming movie. The promotional material has so far only shown snippets and glimpses of the Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye’s new superhero persona.
Take a look at the toy in question below:

The official Hasbro Ronin action figure essentially confirms that Avengers Endgame’s version of the character will be fairly accurate in design with his original comic book counterpart. However, the comic book Ronin has a full mask covering his entire face, while the movie version clearly does not, with his eyes being visible.
What Ronin looks like in the comics
While toy leaks are never 100% accurate, they’re always a great reference of sorts before the movie eventually releases. This Ronin action figure looks pretty legit, and it’s our first full look at the full costume thus far.
Avengers Endgame is slated to arrive in cinemas on 25 April 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer for the highly-anticipated movie, and let us know what you think of the Ronin’s full costume in the comments below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8&w=560&h=315]


Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Debuts A Really Tall SavathÃ»n

Bungie is gearing up its major Destiny 2 expansion reveal later this week, so here’s a sneak peek.
The teaser below showcases the next big bad in the series: Hive Witch Queen SavathÃ»n, who is renowned for destroying The Last City. She’s also pretty tall; about 21 feet according to a recent Bungie tweet. The reveal will be on 25th August 0:00 GMT+8; that’s later tonight just after 11:59pm in Malaysia/SG/Philippines time.

We have limited details on this embodiment of the Witch Queen Savathûn, but her stature suggests a height of 21 feet.
— Destiny 2 (@DestinyTheGame) August 23, 2021

According to rumours and leaks, the next Destiny 2 expansion will probably take place in Earth’s Old Chicago and may introduce a new elemental power, much like how the last expansion did with Stasis. The expansion’s full reveal date will also debut a new season called Season of the Lost and will feature the return of Queen Mara Sov, a key character in Destiny lore who has been absent for a while.

The Queen returns in Season of the Lost.
August 24 @ 9AM PT // https://t.co/P3UimOAtDM pic.twitter.com/ouGFFMh6as
— Destiny 2 (@DestinyTheGame) August 20, 2021


Bubble Is An Acrobatic-Heavy Netflix Anime From Attack On Titan Makers

Netflix has announced a new anime called Bubble, made by the studio responsible for the Attack on Titan anime series, Wit Studio.
Here’s the teaser, which showcases a post-apocalyptic world where gravity is effed and bubbles appear out of nowhere, while the youth of the future are doing parkour. The tagline of the film reads “Gravity is broken – leap as you like”. Sounds like a revisionist’s version of Mirror’s Edge.

Here’s the official synopsis:
In a Tokyo where gravity has broken, a boy and a girl are drawn to each other… The story is set in Tokyo, after bubbles that broke the laws of gravity rained down upon the world. Cut off from the outside world, Tokyo has become a playground for a group of young people who have lost their families, acting as a battlefield for parkour team battles as they leap from building to building.
Hibiki, a young ace known for his dangerous play style, makes a reckless move one day and plummets into the gravity-bending sea. His life is saved by Uta, a girl with mysterious powers. The pair then hear a unique sound audible only to them. Why did Uta appear before Hibiki? Their encounter leads to a revelation that will change the world.
Bubble is written by Gen Urobuchi and directed by Tetsuro Araki, featuring music by Hiroyuki Sawano and character designs by Takeshi Obata. It’ll be out on Netflix on 28th April 2022.


We Finally Get A Trailer For NBA 2K23

With just over a month to go, 2K Games has released the first official trailer for the highly anticipated release of this year’s rendition of NBA 2K23.
The minute-long clip showcases a bunch of gameplay sequences featuring some of NBA and WNBA‘s most notable athletes. These include LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, James Harden and Stephen Curry.
Other details revolving around the game remain scarce at the moment, but 2K will be releasing more information about the title next week, so fans of the franchise should definitely stay tuned for more updates to come. As for availability, NBA 2K23 will arrive on 9 September, with the Standard Edition for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC going for US$60 and the PS5 and Xbox Series versions for US$70, while a special Michael Jordan Edition will sell for US$100. Finally, there’ll also be a Championship Edition for US$150 that includes a 12-month NBA League Pass.
We can also use this as a template to imagine what the next FIFA game will look like as it was rumoured that 2K Games were in the running to be the new developers of the football simulation game after it was announced that EA Sports would no longer be partnering with FIFA.


Session Skate Sim Adds Four New Playable Skaters

With just a few days before the release of Session: Skate Sim, a new video provides a sneak peek of four new skaters in the game, which brings the total to 16 playable skaters on release.
As fans of skateboarding, you probably follow what the big names are up to, such as Torey Pudwill, Nora Vasconsellos, Samarria Brevard and Ryan Thompson, and they all appear in Session: Skate Sim.
Torey Pudwill

Torey is definitely one of the most creative skaters out there. This skateboarding addict is always looking to improve his technique and can never seem to stop!
Louie Barletta

Here is one of the best transition skateboarders out there. One of Louie’s major asset is that he has bundles of energy. We have only one advice to share: get some new wheels, he goes really fast!
Samarria Brevard

Samarria is naturally curious and always looking for new spots. And it seems she has a gift for finding the best. She also has amazing stamina, of which many skaters are in awe!
Ryan Thompson

This Austin native believes that skateboarding is the best way to spend your time and have fun. Ryan loves discovering new spots and adapting his skating to the cities where he finds them.
List of the 16 skaters available for the launch of the game:

Annie Guglia
Antiferg
Beagle
Billy Marks
Daewon Song
Dane Burman
Donovan Strain
Jahmir Brown
Louie Barletta
Manny Santiago
Mark Appleyard
Nora Vasconcellos
Ribs Man
Ryan Thompson
Samarria Brevard
Torey Pudwill

Session invites players to dive into the genuine 1990s skateboarding way of life, when each stretch of pavement and each stairway was a great location for your favourite stunt. The game’s ultra-realistic physics bring the sensations of skateboarding to life, and the studio has even integrated ground-breaking gameplay, a first in a skateboarding game: the “True Stance Stick”, where each foot is independently managed using two sticks.
With a learning curve that is just as demanding as in real life, players have to practise how to control their board and pull off all the different stunts available in the game, from the simplest to the most complicated. The integrated editing tool lets each player immortalise their greatest achievements on video.
Session Skate Sim is now available for digital preorders on PS4 and PS5, and is in early access on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC (Steam, Epic).
The game will be available on 22 September 2022 on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and PC (Steam, Epic).


The Hot Toys Hela 1/6th Action Figure is Hella Fine

Hot Toys recently revealed their latest prototype and with all the puns in the world intended, we say it without shame: “It’s hell of a fine figurine!” We’ve never considered getting a female Hot Toys figure prior simply because none of them piqued our interest but this one is a different case altogether.
Behold the Goddess of Death.

Bearing the screen-accurate likeness of the gorgeous Cate Blanchett, the figure comes with seven pieces of interchangeable hands including gesturing, relaxed, sword holding hands as well as a Mjolnir-holding hand so you can replicate that iconic movie moment. She stands approximately 31-cm tall and comes with 28 points of articulation. We aren’t sure about the make of the suit but from the prototype pics, we guess it’s the same material used for Hot Toys’ Deadpool figurine. And damn look at the sculpt and her headdress.
However she falls short in the accessories department as Hela only comes with two swords and a damaged Mjolnir to accompany the standard stand bearing her nameplate and movie logo. Fingers crossed that Hot Toys will include a head sculpt sans the headdress when they ship the figurine out circa late 2018.
More pics of the figurine can be found below:

It retails US$235 on Sideshow Collectibles so expect to shell out just shy of MYR1000 for this figurine at your nearest high-end collectible stores. Also don’t forget to check out our review of Thor: Ragnarok here.


Train To Busan Sequel Peninsula Arriving On Malaysian Shores Next Week

The highly-anticipated sequel to zombie Korean blockbuster 2016’s Train To Busan has been delayed for a while, but it now has an official release date in Malaysia. According to GSC Cinemas, Train To Busan Presents: Peninsula will premiere on 15 July 2020.

GOOD NEWS GUYS! Korang boleh tengok #TrainToBusan presents: #PENINSULA mulai 15 Julai ini, di seluruh pawagam GSC!
Advance sales coming soon! Tunggguuuuuuuu pic.twitter.com/CfOhmwXTKb
â€” GSC | WE ARE BACK (@GSCinemas) July 8, 2020
The official synopsis reads:

â€œFour years after South Koreaâ€™s total decimation inÂ TRAIN TO BUSAN, the zombie thriller that captivated audiences worldwide, acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho brings usÂ PENINSULA, the next nail-biting chapter in his post-apocalyptic world.
Jung-seok, a soldier who previously escaped the diseased wasteland, relives the horror when assigned to a covert operation with two simple objectives: retrieve and survive.
When his team unexpectedly stumbles upon survivors, their lives will depend on whether the bestâ€”or worstâ€”of human nature prevails in the direst of circumstances.â€

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urT_wBfIVtI&w=560&h=315]


HBO GO July 2022: Our Picks & Highlights

I’m sure you won’t want to waste time sifting through HBO GO’s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so I’m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for HBO GO July 2022 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Paranormal Activity Next Of Kin (16 July 2022)
Emily Bader in PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: NEXT OF KIN from Paramount Players. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Players.
A documentary filmmaker follows Margot as she heads to a secluded Amish community in the hopes of meeting and learning about her long-lost mother and extended family. Following a string of strange occurrences and discoveries, she soon realises this community that welcomed them into their home might be hiding something sinister… Stars Emily Bader.
Premieres Saturday, July 16 on HBO GO and at 10pm on HBO (Astro Channel 411).

Rap Sh!t (21 July 2022)

Two estranged high school friends from Miami, Shawna and Mia reunite to form a rap group. Faced with many challenges, will their unlikely musical partnership find them success in the male-dominated hip-hop industry? This eight-episode half-hour Max Original comedy series from Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee and Insecure co-creator Issa Rae plays out a friendship saga as chaotic, electric, and stylish as the Miami clubs. Stars Aida Osman and KaMillion.
Premieres Thursday, July 21 on HBO GO.

City Of Lies (23 July 2022)

Former Los Angeles Police Department detective Russell Poole has spent the past two decades trying to solve his biggest case – the murders of popular rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. Meanwhile, Jack Jackson, a journalist who produced a controversial (and inaccurate) news story on the murders, wants to amend his reporting. Relentless in their hunt for the truth and in seek of their own redemption, the two men becomes reluctant partners and unravel a growing web of institutional corruption and lies. Stars Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker.
Premieres Saturday, July 23 on HBO GO.

King Richard (23 July 2022)

This inspiring true story follows the journey of Richard Williams, an undeterred father who raised two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time, who would change the sport of tennis forever. Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard’s plan takes Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons. Stars Will Smith, who won an Academy Award® for his excellent portrayal of Richard Williams.
Premieres Saturday, July 23 at 9pm on HBO (Astro Channel 411).

Pretty Little Liars Original Sin (28 July 2022)

Twenty years ago, a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, in present day, a group of disparate teen girls – a brand-new set of Little Liars – find themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant who is hellbent on punishing them for the secret sin their parents committed two decades ago… as well as their own. In this new ten-episode dark, coming-of-age, horror-tinged Max Original series, viewers find themselves miles away from Rosewood, but within the existing Pretty Little Liars universe in a brand-new town, with a new generation of Little Liars. Stars Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles and Maia Reficco. Also revisit all seven seasons of Pretty Little Liars on HBO GO.
Premieres Thursday, July 28 on HBO GO.

Those are just several selected highlights from next monthâ€™s offerings of new TV series and movies on HBO GO next month. Now you can plan your HBO GO watchlist for July 2022.


Death Stranding Is Heading To PC In 2020

Sorry, PS4 fans, it looks like your precious Death Stranding won’t be a PS4 exclusive for long. Kojima Productions have confirmed that a PC version of Death Stranding will be releasing sometime in early summer 2020, which will only be about half a year or so after the game’s highly-anticipated release on the PS4 on 8 November 2019.
Death Stranding on PC will be published by 505 Games, the same publisher behind the release of Remedy Entertainment’s GOTY contender Control in August 2019. However, Control was an Epic Games Store exclusive at launch, so it remains to be seen if the same will apply to the PC version of Death Stranding next year.

Thanks to all of you who have been supporting #DEATHSTRANDING!
DEATH STRANDING release on PS4 is November 8, 2019!!
Furthermore, KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS is happy to announce that DEATH STRANDING will be coming to PC in early summer of 2020!!#kojimaproductions #deathstrandingpc pic.twitter.com/Sk4clWWY1X
â€” Kojima Productions (@KojiPro2015_EN) October 28, 2019
With less than two weeks to go until the PS4 release of Death Stranding on 8 November 2019, the hype is reaching ludicrous levels. In the meantime, head on over here to check out all our Death Stranding-related content.


Utada Hikaru Sings Kingdom Hearts Themes At Coachella 2022

This year’s music festival Coachella 2022 has a few surprises for video game fans, especially those who love Kingdom Hearts.
During the Rising88 segment featuring international artists like 2NE1, renowned Japanese singer Utada Hikaru sang “Simple and Clean” and “Face My Fears” from the Kingdom Hearts series. The first track is from the first Kingdom Hearts’ game ending while the latter is Kingdom Hearts 3’s opening theme. She also sang “Automatic” and “First Love”, two tracks that also put her on the international map.
You can check out the segment here, somewhere in the middle. The concert is still being livestreamed, so we can’t put a time stamp just yet.

UTADA HIKARU OPENED WITH SIMPLE AND CLEAN AT COACHELLA AHHHHH!!!!!! I CRIED ?? pic.twitter.com/FE4RCnM9er
— ??????Audrey? (@aitaikimochi) April 17, 2022

UTADA HIKARU ALSO SANG FACE MY FEARS AT COACHELLA- QUEEEEEN!!!!!! ?? pic.twitter.com/m0TqLROuc1
— ??????Audrey? (@aitaikimochi) April 17, 2022

For more Kingdom Hearts news, check out our thoughts on the Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal.


We May Not Be Hearing Jeremy Soule’s Awesome Music In The Elder Scrolls VI

This could be a sad day for game audio and OST fans. Composer Jeremy Soule just announced that he is currently not involved in making music for The Elder Scrolls VI (via TheNerdMag).
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJeremySoule/posts/2096845457069967
Notice the framing of the sentence on the tweet; clearly the game is allegedly early in pre-production, so it’s not like they have anyone on standby for music yet. Chances are it’s just a “no confirmation” post for now until Bethesda is ready to show off their game in the far future. Or at least until the whole Fallout 76 mess dies down.
Speaking of which, I should do a special SoundScape episode on his works. But until then, you’ll have to settle for this…
The Awesomesauce Music Of Jeremy Soule (via YouTube)
Let’s take a trip back to the past, where a Squaresoft game called Secret of Evermore debuted. This was Soule’s earlier works when he’s not working on the music of Freddi Fish, Putt-Putt, and Pajama Sam.

You can sense the hint of epicness in this calm and serene “Cartown” theme that the man’s destined for bigger and better things. Swear to god.

…and this is the real reason why Jeremy Soule is one of the best Western video game music composers of all time: the themes from the Icewind Dale games still resonates among every old-school CRPG player out there.

Since then, he’s had his hands full with many fantasy and triple-A game scores like the Dungeon Siege series, the Guild Wars titles, and even that one cool Warhammer 40k squad-based RTS title.

To cap off this short list, here are his most notable Elder Scrolls themes. Surprise, surprise; they’re all exploration music featuring lots of harps, string, and wind instruments.


A Brief Primer On Jane Foster The Mighty (Lady) Thor

One of the biggest surprises that came out of Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four reveal panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 was not only that Natalie Portman will be returning as Jane Foster in Thor: Love And Thunder, but that she will replace Chris Hemsworth’s Thor as, well, Thor.
The announcement reverberated throughout social media, confusing many MCU fans who simply can’t wrap their head around the concept of a female Thor. Blasphemy, you say? What if I tell you that there’s actually a precedent for this in the comics?
The source material has already established a female Thor, and fairly recently too.
The Origin Of The Mighty (Female) Thor

It was only five years ago in 2014 that writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman introduced a female Thor. To make things easier and understandable in context, let me start from the beginning.
2014 was also the year that Marvel Comics published their Original Sin crossover event, the end of which resulted with the original Thor Odinson deemed unworthy to wield his hammer Mjolnir.

What this means is that he could no longer even pick up Mjolnir, so it was left abandoned on the surface of the moon waiting for someone worthy again.

Fans were then eagerly waiting for someone to pick up Mjolnir. Sure, several characters have previously been worthy enough to wield Mjolnir temporarily, but who the heck is worthy enough to replace the original Thor?
They didn’t have to wait long, because a new female Thor miraculously appeared shortlyÂ  after the events of Original Sin to dish out some thunder on a few invading Frost Giants on Earth.

Aaron didn’t reveal the identity of this new Thor immediately, only doing so in issue #8 when the original Thor begged the new female Thor to reveal who she really is.

The bombshell dropped and the new Thor turned out to be Jane Foster, who is actually suffering from breast cancer and slowly dying due to her condition. She then drops another shocking revelation when she declared: â€œI am Dr. Jane Foster. And I will not stop being the mighty Thor. Even though it is killing me.â€

Yeah, one might assume that becoming Thor and wielding Mjolnir would somehow make her stronger or even cure her cancer. Instead, her condition worsens every time she summons Mjolnir and uses the power of Thor.

Comic book logic dictates that the transformation purges her body of all contaminants. Ironically, that includes the chemicals from her chemotherapy treatment but not her cancer cells.
Original Thor gives Jane his blessings, and she went on to become the Mighty Thor for a couple of years. It took a toll on her, and it all came to a point when Doctor Strange warned her that using the power of Thor just one more time will ultimately kill her.
However, when the vicious Mangog attacked Asgard (with the likes of Odin and original Thor unable to defeat him), she sacrificed both her life (by becoming Thor again) and Mjolnir by throwing it into the sun (along with Mangog).

Jane then finds herself in front of the gates of Valhalla. Odin uses what’s left of his remaining Odinforce to bring her back to life, healthy and sans cancer.
She swears to use her new life to continue being a doctor, but this is the Marvel universe we’re talking about, and soon another threat pops up in the form of Malekith and his War Of The Realms.
She takes part in the war by doing whatever she can to support the heroes behind the line, even without her powers. That is until she finds the Mjolnir from the Ultimate universe (Earth-1610) and becomes Thor once again to defeat Malekith.

The Mjolnir broke in the heat of battle but it turned out that she could reshape it into anything she wants (not necessarily a hammer), as it is actually an artifact called the All-Weapon (like All-Father or All-Mother, get it?).

The Valkyries all die (including Brunhilde, the hero also known as Valkyrie) during the war, but their spirits survived. They passed the responsibility of the Valkyries to Jane, and she is now the new Valkyrie (albeit with powers equal or potentially surpassing that of Thor).

What’s So Special About Jane Foster’s Thor?
Many accused Jason Aaron and Marvel of trying to appeal to social justice warriors by genderbending an established male character like Thor for seemingly no reason at all. Fans argue that the female Thor (and other similar gender-bend/racial-bend characters) were created simply for the sake of diversity, thus sacrificing compelling narratives and good character development in the process.
At first, I sincerely thought so too. It felt like they made the original Thor unworthy just to serve the introduction of a female version.

However, Jason Aaron has single-handedly been writing Thor comics since 2013, and since he’s already proven himself a brilliant writer, I gave him the benefit of a doubt.

It turned out that I was right to do so, as Jane Foster Thor was unique and different enough from the original Thor that it justified her existence.
She was able to control and manipulate Mjolnir in a way that’s graceful and more dynamic than the original Thor ever did. Thor Odinson used Mjolnir to bash heads and hurl it at enemies as hard as he can. That’s usually his primary strategies, which is frankly getting stale.

In comparison, Mjolnir comes alive in the hands of Jane Foster, flitting and flying around at breakneck speeds like a frisbee with a mind of its own.
I also like that Aaron didn’t simply go the lazy and frustrating route of having her spout feminist crap all the time. She challenged the Asgardian system of hierarchy and questioned Odin’s rule in a way that Thor never really did (until now, but that’s a story for a different piece).

Jane Foster is worthy because she is brave and ready to do the right thing, even at the expense of her own life. Instead of lying in a hospital bed awaiting her death, she uses her final remaining vestiges of life to fight as Thor.

There must always be a Thor, and for a while, she truly was one. She taught me that anyone deemed worthy enough can be Thor, even if they are mere mortals dying from a disease. You don’t need to be a god to be Thor. It’s part of her legacy that the inscription on Mjolnir now reads “they”, instead of “he” or “she”.

Is Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster Worthy To Be Thor?

Having said all that, the biggest question right now is whether Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster is worthy to be a female Thor.
As I recall, Portman’s Jane Foster was devoid of personality in the first two movies. Her character was underwritten, and she had no real chemistry with co-star Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.
To be fair, Jane Foster in the comics has never been interesting either. That’s part of the reason for fans’ backlash back in 2014, but at least she had a long history and relationship with Thor to capitalize on.
The MCU version of Jane Foster can’t really boast the same. The last time we saw her was in 2013’s Thor The Dark World, but she was recently mentioned and seen briefly in this year’s Avengers Endgame. Plus, Thor Odinson has developed into his own independent character in the absence of Jane Foster.
How the MCU version of Jane Foster could ever become Thor is another conundrum. Mjolnir is no longer available in the MCU, and the fact is that Thor Odinson is still very much worthy, as seen in Avengers Endgame.
Remind you of anything?
Thor: Love And Thunder could potentially reveal that Jane Foster is suffering from cancer, but besides that, none of the catalysts for her to become Thor actually line up.
Sure, Earth doesn’t technically have a Thor right now, but Thor Odinson is just away in space and could theoretically return at any time with Stormbreaker in hand. On the other hand, perhaps something could happen in Thor: Love And Thunder that makes Thor Odinson unworthy.

Natalie Portman is an award-winning actress. She could just be waiting for a great script that would elevate her version of Jane Foster beyond the bland love interest we’ve seen so far.

As I’ve previously pointed out in my Spider-Man: Far From Home review, Peter Parker is the MCU’s first true legacy character. With Jane Foster becoming Thor, she would be the second.
I didn’t like 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, but that won’t stop me from looking forward to Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love And Thunder. Thor: Love And Thunder is slated to release on 5 November 2021.


Football Manager 2022 Adds Depth to An Already Stacked Roster

Do you think you can do a better job than Ole Gunnar Solksjaer when it comes to managing Manchester United (or in this year’s game, ‘Man UFC’)? Or have you ever wondered how’d Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham fare playing together alongside Mohammad Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold? Do you enjoy staring at endless data and graphs, extrapolating them into a meaningful football formation just so you are able to bump up your team’s passing percentage by 0.3%?
If you answered “yes” to all of them and you prefer your football sim games to be free of predatory, loot-box style mechanisms, then step right up.
Football Manager 2022 (FM22) is the perfect game for you. Unlike EA Sports’ FIFA or Konami’s eFootball, FM22 puts you in the shoes (or tracksuit) of any professional football club on Earth rather than control of individual players on the field.
Football Is Life

For a typical follower of football, the Football Manager franchise needs no further explanation. But if you’re one of the many newly-converted football fans thanks to Ted Lasso, you essentially run the day-to-day operation of the club. From the recruitment of your analyst, to whether you want your left-winger to train his weak foot (the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’) to deciding where and when to start your senior squad’s preseason camp.
It is living the ultimate fantasy of running your own club the way you feel fit. Impart your own tactical philosophy, man management skills, wheeling and dealing and if you fancy getting into the nitty-gritty of things, individual player trainings, even down to your under-18 squad players.
Myself, I enjoy the man management aspect of a football club and it goes without saying, Football Manager is one of those games that I, without fail, pick up annually.
Thankfully, unlike other games released on a yearly basis which receive only surface improvements and very little else to show when it comes to the meat of it, Football Manager games have always introduced new mechanics to their already stats-packed game. This, in return sees me coming back for more formation tweaks, pre and post-match news conferences, balancing team finances and opening the U-23 players database to meet the European Cup player registration rules.
Tinkering, Trading, Scouting & Selling
It goes without saying that any Liverpool fan would mostly stick with the tried and tested 4-3-3 Gegenpressing strategy but what worked in FM21 won’t necessarily translate into this new edition. Opponents sniff out your tendencies faster than Nate betrayed Ted, and you will soon find yourself tinkering with selections and strategies to remain a step ahead of the next opponent. But this goes both ways.
Depending on how you deploy your scouting and sports science staff, you too can have a much more profound insight on what to expect. Despite being a data-heavy game, developers Sports Interactive ensures that these numbers and percentages are presented in an easier-to-digest graphs and scattergrams.
One of my best accomplishments to date in FM22 is to witness my players reach the top of the footballing world. Watching them develop from being just one of the top 50 players in the game to winning the biggest award available is cathartic.

If one asks me what the endgame of a Football Manager game is, my answer would simply be “you decide”. Do you want to take a lower league club to the pinnacle of European football? Or you just want to break the dominance of a particular club in a specific league? The choice is yours.
Nothing brings me more satisfaction than seeing a youth player work his way up from the academy into the senior team before sealing a multi-million dollar dream move overseas.
Then again, herein lies my only gripe with the game. I prefer scouting for gems in the rough. High-potential teenagers who will one day become the next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. What irks me is that there isn’t an evolving physical evolution of these youngsters as they mature as footballers. If you scouted a 16-year old weighing 50kgs and standing at 1.70m, that’s his height for the rest of his playing career. I’d certainly love to see players’ physical growth being reflected more clearly.
Those who have played more recent Football Manager games will find a similar game from last year, but with incremental yet significant improvements. The matchday game engine has improved and the players now move more realistically compared to last year’s game. Transfer actions are more robust too. One step above scouting a prospect, you can immediately approach their agent to gauge interest. Contract negotiations are much more straightforward as players tend to stick to their guns if you appear desperate to land them while are more willing to give in if offered a significant improvement in playing time compared to what they are getting at their current club.
The shrewd dealers would be thrilled to know that if played right, they can sign superstars in the likes of Kylian Mbappe for free, and have him in their first team at the start of the second season in the current save. It takes careful planning but rewarding at the same time.
Or they can just do the boring stuff and manage teams with endless pockets like Manchester City or Chelsea. Or, God forbid, Newcastle.
Post-Match Analysis
Football Manager 2022 is definitely NOT a game you will finish playing in one, ten, or even fifty sittings. You will be coming back for more, possibly for a game or two, or at least until the next transfer window. But believe me when I say this – the sheer depth, scope and reach of the database available ensures this is one of the games you’ll easily clock over a hundred hours worth of playtime.
As you can see in the screen capture above, as manager of Liverpool, I got to see Trent Alexander-Arnold become the best player in the world, for the second year running! Meanwhile, thanks to my meticulously crafted corner kick setups (it’s actually just focusing the corner kicks to near post), Virgil van Dijk scored 27 goals in one season. Football Manager 2022 lets players approach the game however they want with all the tools that will immerse players into this life-sapping football management sim.
And best of all, it doesn’t require a super-powerful machine to run.
One last bit; due to the recent firings and new appointments of managers, the game you will load once FM22 is available on sale won’t 100% reflect its real-life ongoings. As detailed by game director Miles Jacobson:

I've come to peace with it – data lock is in place, was in place before Koeman went, and we're not breaking the lock as it'll mean not being able to release on November 9th if we do.
— Miles Jacobson ? (@milesSI) October 31, 2021

Personally, it’s not a biggie. The game editor is there for your tinkering. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a Champions League game to play and I am considering fielding this 16-year-old with the aim of making him my club’s youngest ever goalscorer.
Pros

Still (and by far) the most immersive football management sim out there
Improved scouting and transfer dealings
Matchday game engine improvements
So much data
Presentation of said data
I love data

Cons

No option to edit player kits at the turn of a new season
Physical attributes for youth players are locked

Final Score: 90/100


One Of The Best & Genuine Game Expos In The World Is Cancelled Next Year…

It’s indeed a sad day for video game expos everywhere, as the best one of the lot is not happening in early 2021.
Super MAGFest 2021 this January will be cancelled for the first time in its 18-year streak history. Which means no awesome weekend of music, gaming, gaming culture, and non-profit genuine celebration for all willing to fly down to the USA for the best time of their lives. The reason? COVID-19 is still a factor and is affecting all live events, expos, and gatherings.

“Taking a year off from an in-person MAGFest is not something we take lightly. All year, we look forward to the chance to see our friends, have fun, and immerse ourselves in gaming, music, DeVito shrines, and everything in between. The proceeds from Super MAGFest go towards covering event costs, paying our employees, and nurturing our communities across MAGWest, MAGStock, Bitgen, and other events. Without Super in 2021, itâ€™s difficult to predict what our organizationâ€™s future will look like.”

Still, the MAGFest committee is pressing on and are hosting a stream on Twitch called MAGTelethon: The Big-Ass Big Ask on 14 September midnight, where you can ask about the status and how they’re moving forward. The link is here.Â
I’ve talked in detail below on why MAGFest is a video game expo unlike any other and why it’s worth going, but not forgetting the fact that a flight ticket to Washington D.C. & lodging is not cheap. It’s going to take a lot from your pocket, but it’s worth going once if you’re someone who loves video games, video game culture, retro gaming, music, and the combination of these. At least, it would be were it not for the pandemic; it’s really taking a toll on video game expos all around the world, be it Southeast Asia or North America.
Just check out the vids & pics below if you don’t believe me. You can help out by either donating to MAGFest, submitting a short 30-second video on why it’s awesome, or dishing out some artwork to keep the community alive.

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