All The Big News From Nintendo Direct September 2021

I’m not sure how Tokyo Game Show 2021 will fare next week, but I’m sure it already paled compared to what Nintendo has announced this morning during its surprise Nintendo Direct video.
Here are the big bombshell announcements during the showcase.

Kirby’s First 3D Game In Forever

Nintendo announces a new Kirby game, which was leaked hours ago. It’s called Kirby and the Forgotten Land, it features the pink puffball from Smash Bros still platforming and absorbing enemies, and it’s got a Spring 2022 release date.
Mario Movie News

Remember that Mario Illumination-made 3D movie? The one from the Despicable Me creators? That’s still going on. Nintendo’s lead game designer guru Shigeru Miyamoto popped up during the Nintendo Direct to talk about the movie’s release date and English voice cast.
You heard right: it’s coming out in December 2022 and it stars Chris “Jurassic World” Pratt as Mario. More on this recap news we did earlier.
Splatoon 3 Details

The next multiplayer shooter offering from Nintendo, Splatoon 3, just showed off some new gameplay footage. It’s still 4v4 competitive paint-the-map shooter gameplay, but now your Inklings have new special powers in addition to their weapons of choice like a “grappling hook” paint-themed superpower for vertical map climbing (it’s called a Zipcaster, according to the screenshot filename).

 Splatoon 3 will have its own story campaign, now focused on the return of the Mammalians, a post-apocalyptic city ruin setting, and the return of the Squid Sisters from the first game.

Ten bucks says it’s going to have its own battle royale mode down the line. There’s no release date for the game though; we suspect it’ll be in 2022.
Bayonetta 3!

Last but certainly not least is PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta 3 gameplay reveal. After a long silence since 2017, the Nintendo Direct livestream showcased a ton of Bayonetta 3: new look for the main character (tailored after Cereza in part 1), the same 60fps crisp gameplay in motion, new bad guys and monsters to fight, and the ability to summon Bayonetta’s Hell-born pets in the battlefield and controlling them ala Astral Chain’s Legion.

Oh, and there’s also a teaser at the end showing off the possible new antagonist for the sequel: he sure looks like he came from Scalebound and Devil May Cry, huh?

There were a few other titles worth mentioning like an Actraiser remake and the Castlevania Advance Collection made official; both of them are out now. That Square Enix strategy game Project Triangle Strategy will officially be called Triangle Strategy, if you’re into SRPGs.Â But the game news above are the main highlights of today’s show, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.


Activision’s New Patent Application Is Dodgy As F**K

Update 1:
Responding to feedback, an Activision Publishing spokesperson has responded toÂ KotakuÂ with the following statement:
â€œThis was an exploratory patent filed in 2015 by an R&D team working independently from our game studios. It has not been implemented in-game.â€
In addition to that, Bungie community manager David “Deej” Dague has confirmed via Twitter that “None of this functionality appears in Destiny.”

Yep. We meant to say that in our title because that’s how we genuinely feel about this situation. Here at Kakuchopurei.com, we do not mince our words hence we apologize to those who are offended by it. But we cannot tolerate blatant exploitation of gamers and their gaming experience.
A recent patent application (and was approved last Monday) by the publishers of Destiny and Call of Duty, Activision sounds too fishy to be true. But it is. And it’s coming our way. As explained and discussed by YouTuber Downward Thrust, the approved application describes a new in-game engine that will manipulate one’s in-game experience to subtly but surely drive them to engage with the in-game microtransaction system.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb_7_o538dM&w=560&h=315]
In short, the engine will create a specific profile that reflects on one’s gaming experience. Be it latency, matchmaking wait, overall skill and tendencies. Theoretically, this can be used to improve one’s overall gaming experience. But the patent suggests something much more sinister underneath all that.

In short, the engine is designed to manipulate one’s data and put them at a disadvantage when playing against other players, which in turn, encourages them to engage with the microtransaction portion of the game. One may claim that we are overreacting here but it is blatantly detailed in the patent description:

In a time where microtransactions are plaguing full-priced games, affecting our overall experience, this is easily the cherry on the cake. Publishers aren’t beating around the bush anymore in regards to this practice and are openly and actively punishing those who do not engage in microtransactions. This. Has. To. Stop.

So what do you think of Activision’s application? Do you partake in full-priced game microtransactions and/or where do you draw the line? We’d love to hear your opinion on this and we appreciate if you folks keep the discussions civil.
You can get hold of the full patent text via the USPTO here.


E3 2018: Is This The Best Time To Remake Resident Evil 2?

Between 1996 to 1998, the Capcom team comprising of producer Shinji Mikami, director Hideki Kamiya, and 50 others alongside professional scriptwriter Noboru Sugimura created a sequel to Resident Evil/Biohazard. Against all odds like a development overhaul, the game managed to supercede the original because it surpasses its ambitions.

Thanks to Mikami, the original plans for an RE 1.5 was overhauled to a two character-focused survival horror game. With Kamiya’s vision, the game looked, sounded, and felt like a Hollywood horror masterpiece in its PS1 glory. And with Sugimura’s writing talent, the plot beats come together as RE2 made a ton of references and connections to the first game and also opened the path for a lucrative Capcom franchise.
Yet at the same time, we felt that Resident Evil 2 was the perfect sequel was because of its development kerfuffles, technical constraints of its platform, and do-or-die attitude of its creators. Its design, its scares, its batshit insane climax, and its patented “Zap” system where you play as both Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield in different intervals to see both the A and B sides of the overarching story.

Which begs the question: what can the Resident Evil 2 remake add to amplify its source material apart from pretty graphics and loads of shadows & muted palettes? Simple: the Resident Evil 4 camera system and the Resident Evil 7 first-person perspective shift.
The RE4 controls and perspective make sure that a trained combatant like Leon can get around in a scuffle but also get that sense of dread since you’re not that agile. At the same time, a first-person perspective adds a sense of claustrophobia and vulnerableness when navigating the giant-as-heck Raccoon City. Capcom should pick between the two while also giving them modern controls so that they feel like they aren’t too frustrated.
At the same time, ramp up the challenge and the infected/zombie count. Make sure that when a player comes across the dreaded Licker(s) that they’re forced to run probably due to low health or low ammo count. The original RE2 gave you enough options to fight off certain threats but you still had to play it smart and be careful against the tougher and more limber foes. The remake should capitalize on that while taking advantage of its new colour scheme and lighting techniques.
We don’t know much about what’s going on with the remake and whether it will deviate from the source material or even do some retconning. All we know is that with a city setting this time around, and an underground lab, the scares and the zombie horrors have to be magnified. Capcom might be shooting themselves in the foot in remaking this classic, but this is also their time to shine and prove that they still can make a zombie dog pull off new tricks.
Also, we hope whoever this guy is can shake things up in this Resident Evil. The remake will be out 25 January for PS4.


WarnerMedia Announces HBO Max Streaming Service, Features CW Arrowverse & More

WarnerMedia has announced their very own streaming service, HBO Max. It is set to launch sometime in spring 2020 with over 10,000 hours of content. It is set to be the company’s answer to Netflix and Disney Plus, amongst others.
HBO Max will be home to the following series and movies:

All episodes of the 90s hit sitcom Friends.
All CW shows, which includes those set in the Arrowverse (old shows like Arrow and The Flash, as well as new upcoming ones like Batwoman and more) and others like Riverdale.
All episodes of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
All episodes of Pretty Little Liars.
All current HBO series like Game Of Thrones.
Upcoming HBO originals like Watchmen, Stephen King’s The Outsider, J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele’s Lovecraft Country, Joss Whedon’s The Nevers, David Simon’s The Plot Against America and Issa Rae’s Insecure.
Content from Warner Bros, New Line, DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, TruTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and more.
HBO Max originals like Dune: The Sisterhood, Gremlins animated series, and more.

According to sources from The Hollywood Reporter, existing streaming services under WarnerMedia like DC Universe, HBO Now, HBO Go, and CW Seed will remain operating as usual for now.
The DC Universe is producing some of the best ongoing comic book adaptation offerings, with the likes of Swamp Thing (unfortunately, this one’s been canceled), Doom Patrol, and Young Justice. It’ll be a shame to see it all go to waste and getting absorbed into another streaming service.
However, since DC Universe content will be available on HBO Max, let’s hope the folks at WarnerMedia don’t see the existence of DC Universe and the other streaming services as redundant. That said, it would still make more sense for everything to be under one massive streaming service.
The problem with other smaller streaming services like DC Universe is that they are often only available for US and Canadian citizens. For example, I can’t subscribe to the DC Universe because I live in Malaysia. If HBO Max can fix that by offering DC Universe content in more regions worldwide, it’ll benefit consumers like me as well.
Check out the trailer for HBO Max, with glimpses of all the shows and movies you can expect on the upcoming new streaming service.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCS4CaZ9dwg&w=560&h=315]


Genshin Impact Launches Slime Paradise Event, A Cute Little Park-Building Sim For Monsters

Mihoyo is giving you a chance for amnesty with its wildlife and monsterish denizens with its new Genshin Impact event: Slime Paradise.

Basically, this opens up a cute browser minigame where you have to build a park for monsters and slimes for rewards.
All you have to do is visit this link. Just make sure you have your Genshin Impact account ready. Oh, and that you’re Adventure Rank 10 or above.
Travellers can purchase decorations and arrange them in the park. Certain decorations will attract certain slimes to move in and certain monsters to visit the park. The more decorations you purchase, the more lively the park will be.
Here’s an example:

You will also need to spend Paradise Coins to purchase things in the Decorations Shop. Earn Paradise Coins by completing daily tasks. You also need to earn Paradise Tickets to trade in useful items like Primogems and Mora. To get them, you need to:

Complete certain tasks to make the park flourish.
Build decorations. These objects generate Paradise Tickets.
Attract slimes and monsters. First-timers will bring you a greeting gift of Paradise Tickets.

Long story short: use gold to build park amenities, get Paradise Tickets from visiting slimes and monsters, then cash in tickets for in-game loot. Fun!
The event will run from today until 31st January. On a related note, Mihoyo will be hosting a special live stream event detailing the 1.3 update and “All That Glitters” storyline on 23rd January 0:00 (that’s 12 hours from now). Check it out here.


Gran Turismo 7 Is A True PS5 Exclusive, Might Be Delayed

A new PlayStation advertisement trailer seems to confirm that the highly-anticipatedÂ game from Polyphony Digital will be a true PS5 exclusive and not cross-gen.
The ad also confirms the release windows for several other games, includingÂ Horizon Forbidden West,Â Returnal,Â Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart andÂ Gran Turismo 7.Â
Originally, Gran Turismo 7 was slated to launch in the first half of 2021 but the new footage states that it is only “in development for PlayStation”, which means that it might have been delayed to later than expected.
However, it’s important to note that PlayStation has yet to confirm the delay or announce a new release date, so nothing is set in stone as of yet.
In the meantime, check out the advertisement, which also confirmed that Square Enix’s Project Athia will be a two-year PS5 exclusive:


Team 17 Is Publishing This Malaysian Game

Team 17, the publisher of games like Worms, Overcooked, and Yooka-Laylee, will be handling publishing duties for Malaysian game Ageless.

Set to launch on Steam and Switch, Ageless is a puzzle-platformer by One More Dream Studios where, as the title suggests, age plays a factor. Your character, Kiara, uses a bow that allows her to control the age of plants and animals.
“Dash off animals and plant-life to navigate through interesting puzzles and intricate platforming challenges”, says Team 17’s post.
The game also promises a “compelling story” and a beautiful hand-drawn world. No release date yet, but it’ll be out sometime in 2020.


Was Japan’s Kimba The Original Lion King & Not Disney’s The Lying King?

Disney’s The Lion King (1994) is one of the most beloved animated classics in cinematic history and is a fondly nostalgic piece of many childhoods. However, was it ever truly an original product of Disney or is there something nefarious behind it all?
Is The Lion King actually more like The Lying King?
King By Proxy?
Since its initial release, Disney’s The Lion King has been decried by certain people who point out the uncanny similarities between the beloved animated classic and Kimba The White Lion, a Japanese anime based on a manga by the late legendary Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Black Jack, etc).
Throughout the years, the House of Mouse has defiantly denied any claims that The Lion King was influenced or inspired in any capacity by Kimba The White Lion. The company’s official stance is that those involved with developing and animating The Lion King had no prior knowledge of Tezuka’s work.
In an interview with The LA Times, The Lion King co-director Rob Minkoff said that he wasn’t familiar with Kimba The White Lion (when making The Lion King) and that it wasn’t unusual for a movie set in Africa “to have characters like a baboon, a bird or hyenas.”

“I know for a fact that [“Kimba“] has never been discussed as long as I’ve been on the project.
In my experience, if Disney becomes aware of anything like that, they say you will not do it.
People are claiming copyright infringement all the time.”

One does wonder: is there any truth to that? Let’s look at the facts, shall we?
In Plain(s) Sight
Kimba The White Lion‘s anime adaptation aired in Japan from 1965 to 1967, becoming the first Japanese animated television series with featuring colour. It later started airing in the US in 1966.
What this means is that by the time that The Lion King was released in 1994, Kimba The White Lion has already been airing in the US for almost three decades.

It is highly unlikely that those who worked on The Lion King at Disney (at the time) were totally unfamiliar with the Japanese anime, especially considering that these were professionals, seniors and otherwise, who animate for a living.
They should at least have an inkling of knowledge about Osamu Tezuka’s major works and anime in general.

What about the alleged similarities between The Lion King and Kimba The White Lion? It’s true that both movies feature what seems to be two entirely different stories.Â The Lion King is about Simba, a cub who leaves the pride after believing that he was responsible for his father’s death and later returns to take his rightful place on the throne.
Meanwhile, Kimba The White Lion is about Kimba (or Jungle Emperor Leo if you’re from Japan), a cub whose family is captured by poachers and supposedly died during the journey. Kimba survives, but finds himself in the middle of human civilization, making friends with them in the process.
There are no humans in The Lion King but certain plot points and designs do seem remarkably similar. These include:

Both feature an evil lion villain with a scar and black mane who takes over the throne in the absence of the protagonist.

Claw in Kimba The White Lion (left) / Scar in The Lion King (right).

Both cubs grow up to eventually retake the throne and succeed their kingly fathers
Simba in The Lion KingÂ (left) / Kimba in Kimba The White LionÂ (right).

Both feature the symbolic scene of the protagonist standing on a rock.
Kimba standing on a rock that looks like Pride Rock in Kimba The White Lion (left) / Simba standing on Pride Rock in The Lion King (right).

A lioness love interest for the protagonist.

				Kitty in Kimba The White Lion

				Nala in The Lion King

Kitty in Kimba The White Lion (left) / Nala in The Lion King (right).

Both films feature animal characters who fulfill similar roles, such as a wise baboon character, a mentoring bird, and bumbling hyenas.
(Dan’l Baboon in Kimba The White Lion (left) / Rafiki in The Lion King (right).Pauly Parrot in Kimba The White Lion (left) / Zazu in The Lion King (right).The hyenas in Kimba The White Lion (left) / The hyenas in The Lion King (right).

There are actually a lot more similarities between The Lion King and Kimba The White Lion than the ones listed above. You can check out the side-by-side comparisons of both in the video below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHps2iC8W3o&w=560&h=315]
A True Circle (Of Life) Indeed
It’s not totally unheard of artists and creators paying homage to one another. For instance, Marvel and DC Comics have always done this to a point, with characters like Darkseid and Thanos, Namor and Aquaman, Superman and Hyperion, and countless more.
However, in the case of The Lion King and Kimba The White Lion, Disney’s claim that something so clearly similar hasn’t influenced their work in any way sounds absurd and arrogant. There are too many near-identical plot details and designs (some of which I listed above) that are impossible to simply dismiss.
This particular controversy may never be solved but ultimately it doesn’t diminish the valued standings of both The Lion King and Kimba The White Lion in the annals of pop culture. Both of them should be appreciated for the legendary animated heritage that they are, in spite of everything.
In the meantime, check out our officialÂ review of Disney’s The Lion King live-action remake here. It is slated to release in Malaysian cinemas on 17 July 2019.
(Image Credits: scroll.in and Alli Kat YouTube channel)


Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection To Feature A Ton Of Minigames

The upcoming Mega Man collection featuring X’s buddy Zero may be delayed, but at least Capcom’s devs are packing in a ton of stuff to make up for it.
Not only will the collection feature new artwork from Mega Man X series artist Keisuke Mizuno (featured on this article), but will also contain a total of 20 mini-games. These include:

Copy X, where you control Mega Man X’s clone in Mega Man Zero 3 and use elemental attacks in a real-time puzzle game.
Hidden Phantom, where you control the ninja Neo Arcadia Guardian and jump atop one shuriken to another to reach the end.
Energy Converter, a minigame in Mega Man ZX that’s part Tetris, part Columns.
Quiz Advent, a short quiz game that challenges your trivia knowledge of the ZX series.

In spite of the pushback, I’m just glad future generations will get to experience the joyful torture feeling I went through with the Zero and ZX series. This time, they get to play it on a bigger screen than the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Consider yourselves blessed, boomers.


Justice League Snyder Cut Is Coming To HBO GO Asia In March 2021

(Updated on 17 March 2021)
It’s been officially confirmed.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League will also debut on HBO GO Asia in the following countries on the same day as HBO Max; on 18 March 2021 at 3.01pm:

 Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
Hong Kong
Taiwan

In the meantime, you can check outÂ my own review ofÂ Zack Snyderâ€™s Justice LeagueÂ here, or if you donâ€™t have the four hours to spare and watch the movie later this week,Â head on over hereÂ for my breakdown ofÂ Zack Snyderâ€™s Justice LeagueÂ (along with the biggest changes).

Director Zack Snyder has officially revealed the release date for the upcoming Justice League Snyder Cut on HBO Max. It is slated to premiere on 18 March 2021 on the streaming service.
Snyder announced the official release date via his Twitter account:

Fallen #SnyderCut pic.twitter.com/o7mjiRXTvc
— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) January 29, 2021

Risen #SnyderCut pic.twitter.com/hVmc4L68Qz
— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) January 29, 2021

That’s only two months away at this point. Several months ago, HBO AsiaÂ confirmedÂ that the upcomingÂ Justice League Snyder Cut will premiere on HBO GO in Asia (including Malaysia and wherever the platform is available), but it’s currently unclear on whether it will premiere on the same date as HBO Max.
Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for the latest news, and check out the trailer below in the meantime.


Here’s What To Expect From Level Up KL 2020 Play Day

The biggest game festival in Malaysia is back. The Level Up KL 2020: Play Day main the main online stream show will be held on the final two days, 28 and 29 November 2020, on the official Play app.
You can download the app for mobile, or play it on the browser from your PC via this link.

The two-day event will host gameplay showcases, guest interviews, esports, as well as feature local influencers and streamers.
Check out the schedule below:

Main Event Show

The main online stream show will feature speakers and games from developers like the following:
Nier Automata Creator Yoko Taro Interview
Yoko Taro (Nier Automata, Drakengard 3, SINoALICE) will be appearing in an exclusive interview session, sharing with fans a behind-the-scenes look into his creative process, as well as insights and ideas that led to the creation of best-selling games on multiple platforms.
This stream will happen at 10.30am GMT+8 on 28 November 2020.

Larian Studios Founder Swen Vincke: Spotlight On Baldur’s Gate 3
Want to learn more about Baldur’s Gate 3? Well, Swen Vincke will talk all about the highly-anticipated game (which is currently in Early Access on Steam) at 12pm GMT+8 on 28 November 2020.

Short Creepy Tales: 7PM by Cellar Vault Games Showcase
Short Creepy Tales: 7PM is a horror adventure visual novel game by Malaysian studio Cellar Vault Games. It’s out now on Steam, but this stream at 10.30am GMT+8 on 29 November 2020 will shine a spotlight on the game directly from the developers.

No Straight Roads by Metronomik Showcase
No Straight Roads is a game that every Malaysian gamer is proud of. This stream at 11.30am GMT+8 on 29 November 2020 will feature the game’s creative director Daim Dziauddin, as well as Steven Bones and Su Ling Chan, the voice actors of protagonists Zuke and Mayday, respectively.

Bake ‘N Switch by Streamline Studios Showcase
Bake â€˜N Switch by Malaysian studio Streamline Studios is a multiplayer couch co-op game, which is currently available for the PC (via Steam) and Nintendo Switch. This stream at 4pm GMT+8 on 28 November 2020 will feature the developers in a special interview.

Blood Moon Genesis by Project G Showcase
Blood Moon: Genesis is an action, boss battle game where the player takes control of the Solar and Lunar foxes that bonded together as one physical body named Aiko and was sent to the underworld by the divine.
You can download the game here.
This stream at 2.30pm at 28 November 2020 will feature the developers, who hail from UOW Malaysia KDU.

Don’t Stop The Party by Avalon Games Showcase
Don’t Stop The Party is a local co-op fighting game about an endless party. This stream at 2.30pm on 28 November 2020 will feature an exclusive interview with the developers.

Doctor Who The Lonely Assassins by Kaigan Games Showcase
Doctor Who The Lonely Assassins will see players uncover and decipher the mystery of a â€˜found phoneâ€™, unravelling a sinister series of events taking place at Wester Drumlins, the iconic â€˜uninhabitedâ€™ home featured in the legendary Doctor Who episode Blink.
This stream at 3.30pm GMT+8 on 29 November 2020 will feature an interview with the Malaysian-based developers.

SEA Games Showcase

You can check out the latest games developed by Southeast Asian studios and even vote for your favourite by heading to this link.
The SEA Game Awards 2020 will take place on 27 November 2020 from 8pm to 9.15pm GMT+8. The show will air live on Astro EGG Network and stream live on TikTok.

Esports
You can watch your favourite pro-players compete in the game tournament at Level Up KL 2020 Esports Zone. The featured tournaments and games will be:
Valorant Showmatch
Pro Valorant teams Todak Valorant and Kingsmen go head to head in an ultimate showdown at 5pm GMT+8 on 28 November 2020.

Mobile Legends Showmatch
2019 champion Todak MLBB and 2020 champion RSG Resurgence will battle for supremacy in this special showmatch.

FV CUP 2020
Games: Street Fighter V, Tekken 7Esports Organiser: Flash VisionPrize Pool: RM4,000Live Stream Date: 28 November 2020
Registration is open, and sign up now at this link.

TM PRESENT: LEVEL UP KL JUNIOR CUP 2020
Games: Mobile Legends Bang BangEsports Organiser: KitamenPrize Pool: RM10,000Live Stream Date: 28 – 29 November 2020

LEVEL UP KL ESPORTS OPEN 2020 : FIFA21PRO CLUB
Games: FIFA 21Esports Organiser: GamesbondPrize Pool: RM5,000Live Stream Date: 28 – 29 November 2020Registration is open, and sign up now at this link.

PREDATOR PRESENT: LEVEL UP KL ESPORTS OPEN 2020 – DOTA 2
Games: Dota 2Esports Organiser: Epulze/ ACERPrize Pool: RM3,000Live Stream Date: 28 – 29 November 2020

LEVEL UP KL 2020: ESPORTS OPEN – MLBB
Games: Mobile Legends Bang BangEsports Organiser: Esports Organiser: Malaysia Esports Arena (MEA)Prize Pool: RM3,000Live Stream Date: 28 – 29 November 2020
Registration is open for 256 teams so hurry, form your team and sign up now at this link.

FIGHT ESPORTS PRESENT: LEVEL UP KL ESPORTS OPEN 2020 CALL OF DUTY MOBILE
Games: Call Of Duty MobileEsports Organiser: Forest InteractivePrize Pool: RM5,000 and 20,000 CPLive Stream Date: 28 – 29 November 2020

Magic Rain
Our friends at Magic Rain will also feature several special streams of their own, which you can check out at the times below:
Saturday12pm – 1.30pm: SEA Games Spotlight1.30pm – 3.30pm: Legends Of Runeterra Showcase3.30pm – 4.30pm: Epulze Slot 14.30pm – 6.00pm: Among Us
Sunday12pm – 1.30pm: Call Of Duty Tournament Finals1.30pm – 3.30pm: League Of Legends Wild Rift Showcase3.30pm – 5pm: Epulze Slot 2 & 35pm – 6pm: Phasmaphobia

https://www.facebook.com/lvlupkualalumpur/videos/283248309680840


ALGS Championship Held Alongside Insomnia The Gaming Festival

Tier-one Apex, the Apex Legends Global Series Championship, returns in September for the final event of the season.
The event will take place in Birmingham from September 6-10. This is the final and biggest event of the current esports season. The stakes are also doubled at the ALGS Championship, where the $1 million prize pools of the year’s previous two LANs becomes $2 million. The best part? It will be held alongside the biggest UK gaming festival, the Insomnia The Gaming Festival.
Teams qualify for ALGS Champs by accumulating enough points throughout the various Splits and Playoffs during the regular season. 10 more teams will be decided during the Last Chance Qualifiers which will take place over 3 days from July 21 to July 23, 2023. Two teams from each of the five regions will qualify for ALGS Champs via the LCQ.
These are all the teams that have secured their spot for the ALGS Championships 2023:

North America

TSM (920 points)
XSET (680 points)
DarkZero Esports (640 points)
Oxygen Esports (380 points)
LG Chivas (330 points)
FaZe Clan (300 points)
OpTiC Gaming (220 points)
100 Thieves (182 points)
Complexity Gaming (148 points)
Sentinels (100 points)
TBD [LCQ]
TBD [LCQ]

EMEA

Alliance (500 points)
Acend (450 points)
Pioneers (300 points)
Element 6 (248 points)
Fire Beavers (102 points)
JLINGZ Esports (80 points)
TBD [LCQ]
TBD [LCQ]

APAC-N

Fnatic (400 points)
Ganbare otousan (270 points)
REALIZE (190 points)
PULVEREX (170 points)
FC Destroy (168 points)
Riddle (90 points)
Enter Force.36 (90 points)
TBD [LCQ]
TBD [LCQ]

APAC-S

Moist Esports (500 points)
Onic esports (276 points)
Dreamfire (114 points)
BLVKHVND (80 points)
Tom Yum Kung (80 points)
TBD [LCQ]
TBD [LCQ]

South America

Team Singularity
TBD [LCQ]
TBD [LCQ]

WHERE AND WHEN?
The Apex Legends Global Series Championship 2023 is set to take place from September 6th to 10th 2023 at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. This venue will be right beside the Birmingham NEC, where Insomnia Gaming Festival is being held. Insomnia i71 will be taking place at the same time as ALGS. However i71 will run from September 7th to the 10th.

This year, Insomnia i71 will take place at the same time as ALGS, as i71 runs from September 7th to 10th.
Tickets for the ALGS Championship 2023 will go on sale on Friday July 21st at 4pm BST (8am PST).
Two of the  ALGS events have taken place in the UK this year in which the last 2 were held at the Copper Box Arena in London: the Split 1 Playoffs, and the Split 2 Playoffs. The Copper Box Arena has a seating of around 7,500, while Resorts World Arena has a capacity of 15,685. So it’s just over twice the seating capacity of the Copper Box.


Eldest Souls Gets New Animated Trailer

Want a taste of an intro to a pixel art boss rush game? Well, here’s the intro to Eldest Souls, a new game from indie publisher United Label.
The animation is called “At The Door of Death” and it features the main hero of the game taking on a monster or two.

Despite the not-so-creative title, Eldest Souls seems to focus more on gameplay and brutal combat. Players will get to explore a 16-bit pixel art style rendition of a dark fantasy world and fight countless monsters and badass bosses along the way. Eldest Souls will be out for PC and consoles on 29th July.


Genshin Impact’s Upcoming Hypostatic Genocide Event Starts This Weekend

Want to be the best elemental block-murdering assassin out there in the world of Teyvat? Well, this upcoming Genshin Impact event will sate your block party bloodlust.
With Genshin Impact’s Lost Riches event coming to a close, developer Mihoyo has revealed details on the next one: the Hypostatic Symphony. This event will feature Pure versions of the elemental Hypostases for players to fight against. Players will fight these never-seen-before versions of the Hypostases to gain points in a series of challenges that unlock within 7 days from the event’s starting date.
Each of these challenges with the Geo, Anemo, and Electro Hypostases will offer different difficulty levels and Variations (modifiers for the fight). Players can either attempt this solo or co-op. They can change the same stage multiple times to attempt a new high score.
If your total score hits a certain amount, you can claim the event-exclusive namecard style “Celebration: Hypostasis”. Oh, and you’ll get Primogems for your troubles too.
The event will last from 16th January 10am to 31st January 3:59am; the event is eligible for players at Adventure Rank 20 and above. If they’re anything like the regular Hypostases battles, players will need to watch out for the boss’ final phase where they summon cubes and shards that need destroying, otherwise they come back to life again with a fraction of their health.


This Anime-Inspired Rhythm Game Just Launched Its Kickstarter; Demo Oncoming

Need a rhythm game that’s full of “music and emotions”? D-Cell Games’ Kickstarter gaming project may be the cure that ails your gaming ennui.
The developer is creating an “anime-juiced” rhythm adventure game called Unbeatable, where you use two buttons to be in sync with the rhythm to defeat foes. The game is set in a world where music is illegal, and you play a girl who wants to bring it back by any means necessary. It’s got that FLCL vibe going on, I’ll tell you that.

If you’re not convinced with the video above and need tangible playable proof, you can check out the demo on Steam called Unbeatable [white label] which should be out later tonight. The demo features six songs from the game and lets players learn more about the game’s world and lore. You can also turn on the VHS filters and post-processing. Or off if that’s not your cup of visual tea.
In any case, I’m a believer; you can support the Kickstarter here.


Stranger Things Day 2021 Reveals Season 4 Release Window, Trailers & More

Stranger Things Day recently took place on 6 November 2021, celebrating the series’ anniversary. To commemorate, Netflix revealed Stranger Things Season 4 teases and exclusive content on our social channels, live fan experiences, and limited edition merchandise around the world.Â
Stranger Things Season 4 will premiere sometime in summer 2022.
Stranger Things 4 Teaser: Welcome to California with this teaser of the final locale for the upcoming season.

Hawkins Map: Explore the world of Stranger Things like never before with the first official map of Hawkins, created by artist Kyle Lambert.Â

Stranger Things 4 Title Tease: Get a sneak peek at the Stranger Things 4 episode titles ahead of the Summer 2022 premiere.

Retail Pop-Up Tour: Join Randy Havens (Mr. Clarke) on a tour of our first-ever Stranger Things pop-up stores now open in New York Cityâ€™s Times Square and at The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles.
These retail experiences will offer fans access to unique memorabilia and merchandise as well as the chance to journey through iconic show locations like Joyceâ€™s house, the Palace Arcade, Starcourt Mall, the Russian Lab, the Upside Down, and Hawkins High.
You can sign up to visit here. Check out the sneak peek here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

everyone's fav is science teacher taking us on yet another curiosity adventure. for those in LA or NYC – the stranger store opens today! link in bio for deets ?  #strangerthingsday pic.twitter.com/DftWzDopgR
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) November 6, 2021

How We Stranger Things Day Spotlight: An inside look at how to celebrate the day from some of our amazing creators and collectors. Great inspo for next year or any day you want to celebrate Stranger Things! Check it out here on Instagram and Twitter!

tell me how u #strangerthingsday? pic.twitter.com/xDOPkKGJOn
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) November 6, 2021

Cast Transformations: From streetwear to stranger, watch the cast transform into their new looks for Stranger Things 4.Â  Check it out here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

s4 fits engage ? #strangerthingsday pic.twitter.com/674pYYylv1
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) November 6, 2021

We can’t wait for Stranger Things Season 4. In the meantime, you can check outÂ my spoiler-filled discussion and theories on whatâ€™s coming inÂ Stranger ThingsÂ Season 4, which I wrote way back in 2019.


Battle Pass For Dota Underlords Coming This Week

Dota Underlords, Valve’s response to the hugely popular Dota Auto Chess, is getting a “Proto-Battle Pass” in the next patch scheduled to release on 4Â July 2019. No specific details were given in the post but players are speculating that it will function more or less similar to the Dota 2 battle pass.

On the official Underlords website, it’s stated that the Battle Pass will “introduce progression, cosmetics, custom boards, and a host of other new features” to the game. Here are the features players can look forward to when the update arrives:

Warlock Alliance rework.
Warlock Units tweaks.
Shaman Alliance rework.
Shaman Units tweaks.
3 New Items.
Tweaks to the Alliance Items and how they work.
Tweaks to Win and Lose Streaks.
Large Scoreboard.
And some experimental features.

The week after you’ll see the release of progression and what we call the Proto-Battle Pass. This beta Battle Pass will let us iterate on the system with you and get your feedback on what works and what doesn’t plus what kind of content you’d like the Season 1 Battle Pass to include.
See you all later this week.
– Valve programmer Adrian Finol (Steam Community News Post)
As stated above, the patch also comes with several reworks and tweaks aimed at balancing the game plus new items and more experimental features. The game is still in Early Access and Valve seeks to get as much feedback as possible on the improvements and changes they’re making.
Dota Underlords is currently available for free on Steam so go ahead and check it out while also making use of our guide on how to strategically and effortlessly win any match.


The First-Ever LGBTQ Captain America Is Coming To Marvel Comics

Marvel has announced a new five-issue limited comic series called The United States Of Captain America. Written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Dale Eaglesham, it will see the current (Steve Rogers) and past Captain Americas (Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson and John Walker) on a road trip across the country in the U.S.
What’s most interesting is that they will encounter the first-ever LGBTQ Captain America in the form of a gay teenager named Aaron Fischer. This new character will be designed and created by writer Josh Trujillo and artist Jan Balzadua, who will feature in a special tale included in The United States Of Captain America.
We don’t know much about the new gay Captain America, besides what he looks like:

Speaking with Nerdist, artist Balzadua said:
â€œI really enjoyed designing him, and as a transgender person, I am happy to be able to present an openly gay person who admires Captain America and fights against evil to help those who are almost invisible to society.â€
Writer Trujillo added:
â€œAaron is inspired by heroes of the queer community. Activists, leaders, and everyday folks pushing for a better life. He stands for the oppressed, and the forgotten. I hope his debut story resonates with readers, and helps inspire the next generation of heroes.â€
The United States Of Captain America issue #1 will be released on 2 June 2021.
The synopsis reads:
The incredible saga kicks off when Captain Americaâ€™s shield is stolen.
No one understands the value of the shield like those whoâ€™ve wielded it, so Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson set out on a road trip across America to chase down the thief.
But instead, they find the Captains, everyday people from all walks of life whoâ€™ve taken up the mantle of Captain America to defend their communities. And for some reason, the shield thief wants them all dead.
Can Sam and Steve get to them first?


RIP Turn-Based Battles In JRPGs?

2D co-op beat-em-ups. GTA clones with open-world concepts. Quick Time Events. Once these were thriving gimmicks and mechanics in their respective generations; now they’re relics of the past that’s brought up once in a while from indie game devs.
The next casualty? Turn-based combat mechanics in JRPGs. According to a 4Gamer interview, director Tetsuya “multibelts & leather fetish” Nomura said that real-time fights were always the plan for Final Fantasy 7 Remake due to their modern popularity.

“Real-time battles are the trend for games these days. While some may reject it, if we were going to make Final Fantasy 7 in todayâ€™s generation, then we must steer towards real-time. We decided that from the very start of planning.”

That’s quite a statement right there, not just for Square Enix remakes but for their games in general. And possibly for other game companies who make JRPGs. Even if earlier Final Fantasy games on the SNES were technically running in real-time, it’s still using turn-based elements overshadowed by the active system that keeps the pace fast & evergoing. It’s more of an evolution of their ideology than anything, which came full circle in games like Crisis Core, Lightning Returns FFXIII, and Final Fantasy XV.
Still, turn-based combat isn’t going the way of the dodo, but you won’t see that many of them adopted for mainstream games. Cases like Fire Emblem: Three Houses are a huge exception, but not a regular occurrence. Of course, you can always count on the indie gaming scene for your turn-based fix.


Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 Out In 2023

Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive will be releasing the sequel to Warhammer 40K Space Marine in 2023.
The companies showcased a new gameplay trailer during The Game Awards 2022, with the game coming out for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. A Collector’s Edition of the game was announced and features the following:

A hand-painted, 21-centimeter resin statuette of Lieutenant Titus fighting a Tyranid.
The Art and Making of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, a 64-page hardcover book.
A Steelbook.
The game on the platform of your choice, with the downloadable content “Macragge’s Chosen”!

Check out the Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 trailer below, featuring a lot of Tyranid genocide.


Amy Hennig’s Marvel Game Features Captain America & Black Panther In A World War 2 Setting

During the Disney & Marvel Games Showcase at D23, Skydance New Media unveiled our first look at their upcoming untitled Marvel game. The only details we know about the game so far is that it will feature playable Captain America and Black Panther in a World War 2 setting.
The trailer also reveals two other playable characters, who might be Howling Commandos member Gabriel Jones and Nanali, the leader of the Wakandan Spy Network.
The official synopsis for the game is as follows:
Skydance New Media and Marvel Entertainment’s upcoming narrative-driven, ensemble adventure game set in the Marvel Universe, which marks the first initiative from the new AAA game studio, features an original story that will take players on a World War II-era adventure with four playable heroes at different points in the story:

A young Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America
Azzuri, T’Challa’s grandfather and the World War II-era Black Panther
Gabriel Jones, a U.S. soldier and member of the Howling Commandos
Nanali, leader of the fledgling Wakandan Spy Network

Players can look forward to intuitive controls and exhilarating second-to-second gameplay that captures the action and excitement of Marvel, inspired by landmark comics, television, and films, as they navigate this all-new globe-trotting adventure.
Skydance New Media was founded by Amy Hennig, who is best known for being the creative director and one of the driving forces of Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. This Marvel game will be one of their debut titles, and the project was originally announced back in October 2021.
In a press release, Skydance New Media president Amy Hennig said:
“We’re so grateful for all the enthusiasm and support we’ve received from fans, and we’re thrilled to finally unveil a first glimpse of the game during this year’s D23 Expo. Marvel has been an incredible partner throughout the creative process as we develop an original story and build an exciting new team of characters. We hope fans are intrigued by this sneak peek, and we’re excited to share more down the road.”
However, the fact that the game doesn’t even have an official title or confirmed platforms means that the project is probably still in early development. That also means that we’re still a long way off from the game being released anytime soon. We also don’t know what the gameplay will be like yet.
That said, if it turns out to be anything like Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy by Square Enix and Eidos Montreal or Marvel’s Spider-Man by Insomniac Games, we would definitely be happy.
In the meantime, check out the teaser trailer below:


Friday The 13th: The Game Has One Last Surprise In Its Final Update

Friday the 13th: The Game, an asymmetric horror multiplayer game, will be delisted after 31 December 2023 due to an expiring license, meaning it will no longer be available for purchase in physical or digital formats.
Earlier this week, publisher Gun Media announced the game’s final update, slated to launch on 6 July 2023. The update offers players access to 30 Legendary Perks (players looking to clean up any remaining trophies or achievements won’t have to undertake a long grind before the servers shut down), access to all of the kills from the base game, and many more. The team confirmed this was to reduce dependence on database servers.
Wes Keltner, CEO of Gun Media said in a tweet that the move was “the best way we knew how to give you, the players, the best experience and a heartfelt thank you, as we move towards an inevitable goodbye.”
Here’s a breakdown of the final patch notes:

30 Legendary Perks
Awarded to All
Most Popular Perks
No Negative Effects
All Best Roll Possible
All Players: Level 150
All Kills Unlocked
All Challenged Skulls Unlocked
No XP/CP Earned
No Matchmaking Functionality Lost

While Friday the 13th: The Game closing may disappoint players seeking an alternative multiplayer horror game, Gun Media is doing its best to make sure players get the most out of it before being removed from digital storefronts. The game has permanently reduced its price to US$ 4.99/ RM13.99 across all platforms and accompanying DLC for US$0.99/RM3.00 each.
Originally released in 2017, Friday the 13th: The Game is based on the 1980s slasher franchise of the same name. It is a semi-open world third-person survival horror game developed by IllFonic in which players try to survive a night at Camp Crystal Lake in order to defeat the serial killer, Jason Vorhees. One player controls Jason Voorhees, while the remaining 7 players control camp counsellors at Crystal Lake.
After the game was released, IllFonic was forced to suspend production across the entire franchise as a result of a bitter lawsuit over the Friday the 13th IP.
Friday the 13th: The Game is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.


Far Cry 6’s Vaas DLC Will Be Out Next Week

Far Cry 6’s first DLC expansion, Vaas: Insanity, will be out later this month on 16th November.
The DLC will put players in the shoes of Vaas Montenegro, the main bad guy of Far Cry 3. Michael Mando will be playing the role of Vaas yet again, with the game being a roguelike-style shooter with a new map and new gameplay system. Here’s a back-of-the-box quote from Ubisoft:
“Vaas: InsanityÂ will provide a unique opportunity to better understand Vaasâ€™ past, personal demons, and motivations.”
So yeah, loads of secrets & story bits in this DLC.
This DLC is part of the US$39.99 season pass where players will get to play a special stage featuring the series’ deranged villains. The remaining two DLC will focus on Chef Wan Pagan Min (from Far Cry 4) and Joseph Seed (Far Cry 5).
This month, Far Cry 6 will also get two more special operations -Puerta del Eden and Malagua- and three crossover missions with Danny Trejo, Rambo, and the Stranger Things Netflix series. All these missions are free and will be out from November onward.
For more on Far Cry 6, read our review and guides.Â


Fourth Batch Of PS5 Pre-Orders In Malaysia Starts Tonight (Update)

(Updated on 18 March 2021):
Sony Malaysia has announced that they are opening the fourth batch of official pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 starting from tonight at 12.01am on 19 March 2021.
PS5 pre-orders will be available online exclusively via the Sony Malaysia Official Store on Lazada.
https://www.facebook.com/SonyMalaysia/posts/10165295111430601
The PS5 Digital Edition will be available at RM1,869 while the PS5 Standard Edition will be available for RM2,299.
However, itâ€™s worth pointing out that while pre-orders for the fourth batch will begin next week, we still donâ€™t know when the new PS5 stock will arrive or even how many of them will be available.
Due to that reason, anyone interested in grabbing their own PS5 will have to be quick and save the link now.
At the time of writing, other PlayStation-authorized stores have not revealed if they’re opening any new pre-orders for next week, but we’ll update this article if any news comes. For the full list of PlayStation-authorized stores, head on over here.


Uncharted Dual Pack Drops Today

Missed out on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and its standalone expansion, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy yet itching for some treasure hunting action on the PS4? Well lucky you as Sony PlayStation (via Sony Interactive Entertainment Asia) just made the Uncharted Double Pack which contains both games available in the market starting today.

Continuing the adventures of Nathan Drake as well as delving into his past in A Thief’s End, players will then get into the shoes of Drake’s ex-girlfriend, Chloe Frazer as she bands together with another treasure hunter, Nadine Ross in the hunt for the Tusk of Ganesh in India.
Priced at MYR229, theÂ PlayStation 4 Dual Pack: Uncharted Double Pack include both full games at the price of one and you should be able to pick it up at your nearest Sony store or any good games stores near you.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh5HV4iic1Y&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8qzBkHjk_0&w=560&h=315]


Esports At Sea Games 2019 Surpasses 1 Million Views On First Day

The first day of Esports at SEA Games 2019 has just concluded. It’s good to see that everything went well for the players, organisers, and audience. Razer, the official esports partner at SEA Games 2019 has just shared some very encouraging stats.
Fans at the SEA Games 2019 Esports opening ceremony. Photo from Razer.
According to Razer, Day 1 of the Esports tournaments at SEA Games 2019 managed to rake in almost 2 million views throughout online streaming platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. The company is predicting the numbers to go beyond 100 million upon the official closure of the games.
For those of you interested in checking out all the scores and results of the matches and games played on Day 1, we’ve prepared an article for that.


Infinix To Host Mobile Legends Tournament In Malaysia This October

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is partnering up with phone company and manufacturer Infinix to hold a semi-professional tournament aimed at talented MLBB players in Malaysia.
Infinix is a Hong Kong-based smartphone company founded in 2013 and one of the fastest-growing mobile brands in the world at the moment. Infinix is giving the Malaysian community a taste of its quality mobile gaming experience, through its collaboration with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) to host a semi-professional national tournament in Malaysia called Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Next Star (MNS).

The MNS tournament’s main focus is to aspire to and shape the community’s young potential amateur players. Besides that, it is also aiming to encourage these gifted individuals to discover new skills, as well as gather memorable experiences in this national league, living up to the tournament’s slogan, “You Are The Next Star!”.
Carrying Infinix’s latest #GameOnzwithInfinix campaign message, this collaboration serves as a platform for the brand to showcase to avid mobile gamers their latest innovative and trendy gaming smartphones, packed with one of the strongest gaming processors, the Helio G99 6nm High-Performance Monster Engine. By delivering hi-tech products at an affordable price, Infinix aims to inspire and nurture promising amateur players to level up in the gaming industry.
“At Infinix, we believe that our brand has the capability to empower today’s youths and their fast paced lifestyle. With the #GameOnzwithInfinix campaign, we are dedicated to encourage our youth community to get inspired, be who they want to be, and to reach for the stars. By delivering high quality products with attainable prices, younger consumers today will be able to invest and gain access to the digital life. We look forward to inspiring and nurturing talented amateur players in taking the next step in their gaming journey through the collaboration with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the MNS tournament.”
– Richard Tang, Infinix Malaysia’s Country Director
The MNS Finals, formerly known as Malaysian MLBB Championship (MMC) and Clash of States (COS), will be hosted in Quill City Mall, Kuala Lumpur on 1 October. A hefty cash prize of RM30,000 and 300,000 MLBB Diamonds, which has increased from the previous years, will be up for grabs. In addition, Malaysians can expect a number of huge names within the local gaming industry to attend the Showmatch during the finals.


PS Plus December 2021 Offers A Whopping Four Games

Gamers will have four new games to look forward to in the PlayStation Plus Asia December 2021Â lineup.Â From 7 December 2021 to 3 January 2021, PS Plus subscribers will be able to redeem Godfall Challenger Edition (PS5/PS4), Judgment (PS4), LEGO DC Super-Villains (PS4), and Mortal Shell (PS4).
Check them out below:
Godfall Challenger Edition | PS5 & PS4

Godfall is a looter-slasher set in a bright fantasy universe filled with heroic knights and arcane magic. Embark on an adventure in a fantasy action RPG that utilizes high-impact third-person melee combat to engage players as they hunt for loot, don legendary armour sets and defeat vicious enemies. The Challenger Edition focuses on three unique modes: Lightbringer, Dreamstones, and the Ascended Tower of Trials.
All three are endgame-level content, but youâ€™ll be immediately equipped with a spread of deadly weapons and skill points, letting you team up with up to two other players in co-op. Perfect your build and smash your enemies. Challenger Editionâ€™s endgame co-op is compatible with all upgraded editions of Godfall & supports cross-gen play. Godfall Challenger Edition players can upgrade at any time to the Deluxe Edition gaining access to both Godfall and Fire & Darkness campaigns.
Lego DC Super-Villains | PS4

Itâ€™s good to be badâ€¦ Embark on an all-new DC Lego adventure by becoming the best villain the universe has seen. Players will create and play as an all-new super-villain throughout the game, unleashing mischievous antics and wreaking havoc in an action-packed story.
Set in an open world experience within the DC universe, the Justice League has disappeared, leaving Earthâ€™s protection to their counterparts, who have proclaimed themselves as the â€˜Justice Syndicateâ€™. Itâ€™s up to you and a crazy group of misfits to uncover the intentions of Earthâ€™s new, strange, wannabe superheroes. Joined by renowned DC Super-Villains: The Joker, Harley Quinn, and countless others from the Injustice League, players will set out on an epic adventure.
Mortal Shell | PS4

Mortal Shell is a ruthless and deep single-player action RPG that tests your sanity and resilience in a shattered world. As the remains of humanity wither and rot, zealous foes fester in the ruins. They spare no mercy, with survival demanding superior awareness, precision, and instincts. Track down hidden sanctums of devout followers and discover your true purpose.
Judgment | PS4

Judgment is a spinoff of RGG Studio’s Yakuza games with an emphasis on legal matters and investigations alongside the franchise’s trademark combat. Check out our review of the game by heading over here.


10 Reasons Why Dragon Ball FighterZ Will Go Farther Than Other Anime Fighting Games

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Update: we played the online portion of the game. The review is updated to reflect this change. Long story short, it’s still awesome.Â
(Disclaimer: we haven’t played Dragon Ball FighterZ’s online component yet apart from a few tests here and there on the closed and (expectedly filled-up) open beta. We’ll update the review with our thoughts on that bit soon enough. We are also hosting a Malaysian launch party for the game, but that isn’t going to affect our overall view of the final product)
January 26 is indeed a day for anime, manga, and fighting game fans. It’s the release date of Arc System Works’ Dragon Ball FighterZ, which is obviously a fighting game if you’ve been keeping in check with the series’ game licensing history.
Fun fact: there are 94 games based on the Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z series. A few of them are fighting game marvels in their own rights like the Tenkaichi Budokai series and the Super Butouden series. We’re bringing this up because it seems that the devs are starting off 2018 with the revival of those 2D-focused series for this generation’s fighting game fans and anime lovers wishing to look back to the past.
After playing a ton of offline games on the final build of Dragon Ball FighterZ, we’re pretty confident that this is THE quintessential game based on the license that’s fun for both casual fans and the hardcore tier list-whoring fighting game fan. Here are our reasons tenfold.
Heaven or Hfil? Let’s rock!
Dance, Ginyu, dance!
#1: Great Graphics & Music
It’s no secret that the 2.5D aesthetics in Guilty Gear Xrd is a thing of beauty. The game moves and feels like an animated 2D game, yet it can also do 360 camera rotations to see all angles of the character models in cel shaded-esque glory. The game’s battle music seems to be channelling riffs and melodies from past Butouden and Budokai games back in the SNES and PS2 eras respectively. Without the plagiarism, of course.
First impressions do count in games, and DBFZ is off to a strong start with how it looks and sounds from the get-go.
#2: The Roster That Caters To Old-School & New Fans
Goku. Vegeta. Gohan SSJ2 and adult Gohan. Frieza. Cell. Friggin’ Gotenks. Yamcha. Hit. Beerus. DBFZ’s roster is cohesive in bringing classic Dragon Ball fans over. And they all have their different styles of fighting here: Frieza and Beerus are your zoners while Gohan SSJ2 is a relentless rushdown character all the way.
Fighters like Nappa and Captain Ginyu have their gimmicks that higher-level players will have fun experimenting and exploiting. The former can plant Seibermen who act as midget assists to harass opponents, while the latter relies on his Ginyu Force assist attacks -that come out in a certain order- while also having the last-ditch ability to switch bodies with his opponent.
Beerus can summon black balls of darkness to toss around and play keepaway and midrange poking games; like an amped-up version of Guilty Gear’s gay pool player Venom. Newcomer (and boss character) Android 21 can use a special grab to absorb powers ala Rogue in X-Men vs. Street Fighter.
In short, there’s a ton of combinations of three you can mix and match with for that perfect complement to your hyper fighting playstyle. With their moves tailored to the manga and anime, it’s clear as day that the roster and the recreation of their fighting styles is a love letter to fans.
#3: TheÂ Actual 3-on-3 Fighting
DBFZ opts for the five button setup: three basic buttons for your Light, Medium, and Heavy attacks, one Unique button for your Ki blasts and various projectiles -Dragon Ball characters have LOTS of those-Â  and a Tag Assist/Switch button. If you’ve played Marvel vs. Capcom 3, you know what you’re getting yourself into.
All those fancy Dragon Ball Z moves where you teleport behind opponents and do Kamehamehas? You need Super Meter for that; you can build that up by attacking. Vanishing techniques, Sparkling Blasts to push back opponents away from you while you get powered up, Repel techniques: these and the aforementioned basics are what makes up a bout in DBFZ. Oh, and if your opponents are defence-heavy, a Dragon Rush can sort them out (it’s basically the “throw” move in the game).
You can pull off auto combos up-close by mashing Light and/or Medium, but the game’s flexible moves-and-specials-cancellingÂ techniques and leniency let you pull off simple combo strings that put you back to a neutral position.

These aren’t brainless combos, mind you. Instead of having some moves with quarter circle inputs, Arc System Works is clever in putting in specific cross-up/mixup moves that can only be used when mixing up your Light, Medium, and Heavy combos.
Plus, you can pull off the equivalent of EX moves (regular moves powered up by burning a bar of your Super meter) by doing the Heavy version of that move
Each character can air-dash and double-jump to get around the screen, as well as use a Super Dash to home to your opponent while avoiding projectile attacks (you can still get hit by other moves though, so be careful).
It’s easy to get into thanks to the auto-combos and flexibility of movement since every special move have universal inputs: quarter circles back or forward plus a button or two, or down, down, and a button or two.
However, it gets deeper once you take into account that you can bait opponents to pull off an attack and then teleport behind them/Super Dash to them for maximum punishment. There’s a ton more to consider, but as of now the game’s fine balance of the two dynamics make for lovely spectacles of superhuman fisticuffs.
DBFZ proves that like in Smash Bros., just because the controls and inputs are accessible doesn’t mean the game is a cakewalk to master.
The first cut is the deepest. And the explodiest.
#4: Dramatic Intros & Re-Enactments
Remember when Frieza killed Krillin and then Goku went Super Saiyan for the first time? Remember also when Gohan got so mad he turned Super Saiyan Jin 2 and through all of it did the father-and-son Kamehamaha on Perfect Cell?
You can relive those vignettes in the game’s Dramatic Intros and Dramatic Finishes, assuming you know the conditions of pulling them off. Just like the moves in the game, these were done with a huge level of care and attention to tingle the hearts of shonen anime fans everywhere. Yes, we’re talking about us too, back when we get our Bahasa Melaya manga fix in places like Kota Raya in the early 90s because they were available on the cheap.
Protip: Trigger the Dramatic Finish between Yamcha and Nappa. You won’t regret it.
#5: That Brand-New Story Mode That Hearkens Back To The Old Story Modes In 90s Fighting Games
Story Mode is looking pretty swell; it’s an actual campaign with maps, special fights with handicaps, a levelling-up system, and a brand new Toriyama-sanctioned story involving a new android that’s smarter than Dr. Gero. Or is she?! Somehow she’s in the centre of the mystery of the many Z-Fighter clones running amok and the resurrection of Frieza and Cell.
This special mode takes about a few hours to complete if you’re just aiming for the ending. If you want to unlock everything inside, it can take you about 10 hours or so. Fans especially will get a kick out of seeing scenes play out through different perspectives among the three story arcs. Why aren’t fighting games doing more of this?
We should also point out how silly it becomes when it involves the player as a character in the game. Turns out that you’re a spirit who inhabits Goku and company when you need to get into battle because they’re powered down in the story. It’s not the worse attempt at contextualizing players in the game we’ve experienced, but it’s rather contrived.
Still, this is a series about aliens from another planet who transform into giant apes when the moon is up and superhumans who can combine with each other through goofy synchronized dances and female earrings. So that spirit gimmick is most likely keeping in line with the series’ zaniness. Well played, we guess?
Ever since Android 21 was announced, the Tumblrs and DeviantArts were on fire. Please Google search responsibly and with filters.
#6: The Fighting Game Community Hype
Ever since the game was revealed at E3 2017, the fighting game community was beyond excited. It’s been far too long since they’ve seen a viable Dragon Ball Z game for the tournament scene.
We’ve seen guys like SonicFox, Hellpockets, and Guilty Gear veteran Nakkiel going at it with high-level fights.
If you want a good lowdown on the roster, you have Maximillian’s channel to sort you out on the basics and what their schticks are. It’ll help you prepare for that one launch party this month in KL that also comes with its own launch tournament called Double Trouble.Â
#7: The Potential DLC To Expand The Roster
42 manga volumes. 300+ anime episodes and animated films. With those numbers, you’d expect the Dragon Ball roster to be incredibly large. And you’re right: there’s a ton of characters and fan-favourites who can end up on the roster post-release.
We are aware that Bardock, Broly, base Goku, and base Vegeta might be the first batch of DLC characters. We do hope that more of them show up: our wish list includesÂ Janemba, Bojack, Zangya, Cooler, Dabura, Android 13 (trucker hat and all), Caulifla, Kale, Chi Chi, and Mr. Satan.
Yes, we’re dead serious about the last two additions. Did people suddenly forget how badass Chi Chi was back in the original series?
#8: Female Producers Represent!
Dragon Ball FighterZ’s producer is Tomoko Hiroki, who is also known for being an associate producer for both Dragon Ball Xenoverse games and DS game Solatorobo. Based on the streams for the game, she definitely presents herself as a very experienced producer who knows her brand inside-out.

It’s rather rare to find a female game industry member leading a fighting game project. The last female fighting game producer/designer off the top of our heads is Emiko Iwasaki who spearheaded most of Battle Fantasia, another influential Arc System Works fighting game.
#9: More Future Work From TeamFourStar
TeamFourStar is arguably the go-to team for all things Dragon Ball, comedy dubbing, and anime/Japan culture. With this game coming out a few weeks after their exhaustive “Best Dragon Ball Game” video series, we’ll bet they’ll do a special Dragon Ball Z Abridged episode on the game’s Story Mode in the far future.

#10: More Work For Arc System Works
Assuming this game will do mega gangbusters sales-wise and become a standout crowd favourite in this year’s annual EVO tournament this August, developer Arc System Work might end up doing more fighting games with anime licenses in 2D/2.5D format. Think of all the anime games they can make after they’re done with BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.
Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Hunter x Hunter; all lovingly-animated in that 2D-esque style. Just think of the possibilities.
That’s All Well & Good, But…
Is the online portion of the game good? After playing through the Story Mode and had a ton of fights, we took the fight online apart from the closed and open beta experiences. We’ll be sure to update this review with that report and our experience has been mostly accommodating.
True, we got our asses kicked by the surprising amount of anime fighter experts out there. Or maybe we shouldn’t be; this is Southeast Asia. But the fights have been smooth with only 1 to 3 frames worth of lag for 80% of the matches. Good job, Arc System Works & Bandai Namco!
And while the roster is favouring quality over quantity, we do wish there were more characters to choose from, given its 3v3 nature. Like we mentioned in #7, that’s all up to the DLC bit. Oh and the lootbox system here can go eat a dick.
Despite this, we’ll give this one the Kakuchopurei seal of recommendation, just because Arc System Works shows the rest of the world how to do an anime game license justice. Gameplay first, fan service second: this method of development should be the focus of all publishers before they attempt to do a license game tie-in.
Dragon Ball FighterZ leads the new fighting game revolution loud and proud, just like the many words its heroes yell out before unleashing a big blue bolt of destruction.
TL; DR
Pros

Excellent fighting game system
A variable cast of characters with different moves and playstyles
Visuals and effects that emulate the spirit and tone of the source material

Cons

Story mode can get a tad long and repetitive
Additional game mechanics aren’t explained well

SCORE: 90/100


E3 2022 Cancelled, Comeback Planned For 2023

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced that E3 2022 has been completely cancelled, including the previously-announced online event.
In a statement to Polygon, the ESA said:
E3 will return in 2023 with a reinvigorated showcase that celebrates new and exciting video games and industry innovations.
We previously announced that E3 would not be held in person in 2022 due to the ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19. Today, we announce that there will also be no digital E3 showcase in 2022.
Instead, we will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalized physical and digital E3 experience next summer. Whether enjoyed from the show floor or your favorite devices, the 2023 showcase will bring the community, media, and industry back together in an all-new format and interactive experience.
We look forward to presenting E3 to fans around the world live from Los Angeles in 2023.
Look for more news and announcements soon.
It looks like all we can look forward to this year is Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest 2022, which will take place in June 2022.


[Leak] Promo Material Details Sonic Frontiers Release Date & DLC

As spotted by a Reddit user, a Taiwanese seller from Shopee has seemingly acquired promotional material for Sonic Frontiers ahead of its publication date, slating the game’s release for 15 November along with a claim that DLC is already being planned for the game.
In addition to this information, new art shows returning characters from the series including Tails, Knuckles and Amy. They will seemingly join Sonic in the upcoming game, along with new creatures that can be seen throughout the promotional material.
Nothing is shared about the DLC besides it being in development. However, this isn’t the first time a specific November date has been attributed to the new Sonic title.
Back in December 2021, the PlayStation Network also listed a 15 November release date, which was initially spotted by PlayStation Game Size.
Gamescom Opening Night Live host Geoff Keighley said earlier this month that “a world premiere new look and news about Sonic Frontiers” will be shown during the live show on 23 August.

You can check out the posting here.
Officially, Sonic Frontiers is slated to release sometime in 2022 for Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch and PC, and Sega has said it’s targeting high review scores for the game.
However, the publisher has still to officially confirm the game’s exact release date.


A History of Game of Thrones Actors in Star Wars

Recently, we ran a story on Game of Thrones alum Indira Virma, who played Ellaria Sand, joining the Star Wars universe. Set to play a yet-to-be-confirmed character, Indira follows the tracks of not just her on-screen hubby Oberyn Martell in trading Westeros for a galaxy far, far away – but a host of other former Game of Thrones stars who has looked up to the sky for their next project once the epic HBO series came to a close.
Today we are going to talk about citizens of the Seven Kingdoms who made the lightspeed jump to the stars. To keep this list compact, we will only focus on GoT characters who made decent and significant live-action screen time.
Pedro Pascal – Oberyn Martell to Din Djarin in The Mandalorian

Let’s start with the biggest one on the list. From being a fan-favourite oversexed flashy side character renowned for not wearing protective headgear in a death duel to a stoic and brooding bounty hunter with a heart of gold, you have to admit – Pedro Pascal has range.
Currently the most well-known and successful GoT alum, Pascal played a narc officer in Netflix’s Narcos, Agent Whiskey in Kingsman: The Golden Circle and most recently seen as the main baddie Maxwell Lord in 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984. Speaking of Wonder Woman, did you know he was cast as a minor character in the unaired Wonder Woman TV pilot starring Adrianne Palicki?
Anyways, expect to see more of him as he was recently confirmed to play Joel in the TV series adaptation of The Last of Us.

Indira Varma – Ellaria Sand to Tala in Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi

As reported earlier, Varma joins the Star Wars universe in Disney Plus’ upcoming series which focuses on one of our favourite Jedi of all time, Obi-Wan.
She plays Tala Durith, a female human Imperial officer who was stationed on Mapuzo. While initially joining the Galactic Empire to try and make a difference for good, she became disillusioned and eventually saw it for the tyranny it really was. She then secretly became a member of an underground movement that helped smuggle surviving Jedi to safety. She tried to help Obi-Wan Kenobi return Leia Organa to her homeplanet Alderaan and saved him from being captured by Darth Vader.[1]
Jessica Henwick – Nymeria Sand to Jessika Pava in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Surprise, surprise! We have another Martell family member who made the lightspeed jump to Star Wars.
Next up is Jessica Henwick who played ace pilot Jessika ‘Jess’ Pava in 2015’s The Force Awakens. Part of Poe Dameron’s Black Squadron, Jess piloted the X-Wing and played a pivotal role in their successful raid on the Starkiller base.
Henwick’s involvement with Disney does not stop there, as she starred in the Netflix Marvel superhero series, Marvel’s The Immortal Iron Fist, The Defenders, and Luke Cage as Colleen Wing.

Keisha Castle-Hughes – Obara Sand to Queen Apailana in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
While the jump from Game of Thrones to Star Wars seems to be the career trajectory for most GoT cast, one actress did the opposite. A fifteen-year-old Castle-Hughes landed the gig of a lifetime in 2005 when she appeared as Queen Apailana in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.
As Queen Apailana, she served as the Queen of Naboo towards the end of The Clone Wars. In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene, she was briefly seen during the funeral procession of Padme Amidala.

Emilia Clarke – Daenerys Targaryen to Qi’ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story
Interestingly, one of the main GoT characters only landed a very minor role in one of the most forgettable Star Wars movies in recent memory.
Playing Han Solo’s old flame, Qi’ra rose from being once sold as a slave to be one of Dryden Vos’ (Paul Bettany) top lieutenants. She later climbed higher up the ladder after killing Vos, last seen working directly under Darth Maul.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster – Jojen Reed to First Order Petty Officer Thanisson in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Brodie-Sangster played a very minor role in The Force Awakens, portraying Petty Office Thanisson who was seen on the bridge of General Hux’s flagship, Finalizer. He was most recently seen as Benny Watts on Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.
Â
Gwendoline Christie – Brienne of Tarth to Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens onward
Christie reprised the role of a strong, capable and confident woman when she suits up as Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Unlike in Game of Thrones, Captain Phasma was underutilized severely in the new Star Wars trilogy no thanks to bad scriptwriting and poor direction overall.
Still, she had a kickass armour though.

Natalia Tena – Osha to Xi’an in The Mandalorian
In the sixth chapter of Season One of The Mandalorian, ‘The Prisoner’, Tena played Xi’an, a Twi’lek who had a brief history with Din Djarin.
Together with a band of mercenaries, they reluctantly teamed up to rescue who was later revealed to be her brother Qin. Prior to Game of Thrones, Tena was best known for her portrayal as the coolest Hufflepuff ever, Nymphadora Tonks in a small, obscure franchise called Harry Potter.
 Â
Julian Glover – Grand Maester Pycelle to General Maximilian Veers
This next entrant is as OG as it gets. Remember the General who led the attack on Hoth from the AT-AT in Empire Strikes Back? Yep. General Maximilian Veers was played by the same actor who played the backstabbing old weasel, Grand Maester Pycelle.

Max von Sydow – The Three-eyed Raven to Lor San Tekka
The late, great Max von Sydow played two very important characters who delivered the macguffin that carried the plots of Game of Thrones and the new trilogy. The first being the premonition of the arrival of the White Walkers.
And the second? The map to Luke Skywalker. He was also the first character to die on-screen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

So there you have it. A brief list of actors and actresses who crossed the Game of Thrones & Star Wars divide by making appearances on both major franchises. With many still active, jumping onto the next big projects, expect this list to be outdated in the next year or so, moreover with Disney Plus milking the Star Wars IP to its last drop.
Did we miss out on any big names? Do let us know in the comments section or on Facebook!


Deca Police Is A New Detective JRPG Slated For 2023

Level 5 games has announced a new JRPG in a form of a detective mystery game set in a virtual world called Deca Police.
You play a detective named Harvard. He solves crimes with his group and engages in turn-based combat when apprehending criminals in a digital space. You use your Deca Bracelet to solve puzzles, deduce who suspects are with evidence provided, and then deal justice using your weapons at your disposal.

Deca Police will be out in 2023 for Nintendo Switch.


Overwatch League – LA Teams Off to Fliers While Dynasty & Fuel Gave Potential Preview of Grand Finals

The inaugural season of the Overwatch League kicked off to a blast earlier today as the best of the best in professional Overwatch scene duked it out to a sold out crowd at the Blizzard Arena in Los Angeles. ‘Home teams’ Los Angeles Valiant and Gladiators as expected came out winners in their respective opening matches while early season favorites Dallas Fuel and Seoul Dynasty gave everyone what may be a preview of the Season 1’s Grand Finals come June this year.
Valiant Triumphant In Pre-Season Rematch vs. Shock
The opening match saw Los Angeles Valiant facing familiar foes in San Francisco Shock whom they defeated 3-2 during pre-season. While many expected this match to be close, the final results cannot be any further than the truth as the much more coordinated Valiant shut down the rusty-looking Shock. Babybay was Shock’s standout performer but he alone was powerless to stop a rampant Valiant team led by Agilities who was making his debut, having missed out on pre-season.

Death from above! @KING_BABYBAY with the efficient triple kill on Genji. #OWL2018
Watch Game 3: https://t.co/U6dIipgQGs pic.twitter.com/9WyF3dSWLv
â€” Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) January 11, 2018

Gladiators Became Dragon Slayers
While not much was expected from the Shanghai Dragons, no one expected them to capitulate the way they did against Los Angeles Gladiators. Hardly giving the Gladiators any fight, the Dragons only managed to win one point in the entirety of the contest – Point A on Temple of Anubis – en route to a disappointing start to their Overwatch League campaign. One cannot blame the Dragons for not trying as they gave their all yet the gulf of tactics and overall mechanical skill was too far between the teams.

ðŸ˜±ðŸ˜±ðŸ˜±
Someone remind @Shaz_OW he’s a support! #OWL2018 pic.twitter.com/n0R2n2YwZR
â€” Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) January 11, 2018

Dynasty Fends of FuelÂ
In the match of the day, Dallas Fuel, spurred on with chants of ‘USA! USA!’ by the crowd opened up their campaign in the most convincing fashion they can ever imagine by steamrolling over the heavily favored Seoul Dynasty on Junkertown. Undeterred, Dynasty responded the only way possible and thanks to key eliminations mainly by Fleta, clawed one back following an epic showdown on Temple of Anubis. Dynasty’s next win on Ilios proved to be pivotal as both teams played to a stalemate on Numbani , closing out the series 2-1.

An impressive quad kill from @ow_fleta and this is only the second map! #OWL2018 https://t.co/U6dIipgQGs pic.twitter.com/KZKGyFTL2Z
â€” Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) January 11, 2018

The Overwatch League continues tomorrow with three more matches, the first of the three at 6AM local time (Kuala Lumpur/ Singapore) and you can catch them all live on Twitch.


The Peaky Blinders Prequel Game Reminds Us Of Invisible Inc.

It’ll probably be a while before we get a new season of Peaky Blinders, considering that the latest season ended only several months ago in September 2019. However, fans of the show will be glad to learn that a prequel video game is in the works by Futurlab, best known for their 2014 side-scrolling shoot ’em up Velocity 2X.
Published by Curve Digital, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a puzzle-adventure game with a top-down isometric perspective for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Every level will have players controlling six members of the Shelby family simultaneously. Entire levels can be rewound and replayed, allowing players to adjust the actions of each character in order to progress.
Each member of the Shelby family comes with their own unique abilities. For instance, Tommy can be ‘threatening’, Arthur has ‘brawling and door kicking’, Polly has ‘bribing and lock picking’, John has ‘arson and brawling’, Ada can ‘distract’, while Finn has ‘sneaking and pickpocketing’.
The game is basically a strategy game of sorts where players have to use the abilities of each character to overcome obstacles and pull off heists. The gameplay looks similar to other isometric games like Invisible Inc. or Shadowrun Returns.
Developed with showrunner Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind takes place before the show’s first season, as the Shelby family discovers a plot to put their burgeoning criminal empire out of business.
Meanwhile, the game’s soundtrack is by Feverist, the very same art-rock band that scored the show’s first season. Game director James Marsden said (about the game’s core mechanics, via IGN):

â€œThereâ€™s a point in the show where Tommy Shelby explains he has no concern for the past, nor the future; all he cares about is a crucial moment he calls the soldierâ€™s minute.
We designed our game around that idea, allowing the player to plan actions backwards and forward in time, choreographing an ensemble cast of characters to synchronise their actions during these crucial moments.
The player gets to feel like the smart and sophisticated leader that Tommy is, so we think becoming the mastermind will resonate with fans of the show and gamers alike.â€

There’s no official release date for the game as of yet, but it is slated to launch sometime in summer 2020. You can also Wishlist the game on Steam. In the meantime, check out the trailer (and some gameplay footage) below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0p8Eg9ShRc&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y8ZW-sumrs&w=560&h=315]


Frozen 2 Is A Worthy Sequel That Unfortunately Plays It Safe

[Review originally publishedÂ  onÂ  15th November.]
The more things change, the more they stay the same. If you’re Disney these days, sometimes change doesn’t come that often, especially when you take into accountÂ The Lion King’s (2019 version) disgusting box office numbers.
So we should be glad that the team of Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck are expanding the backstory and world in enchanting ways with the expected Frozen sequel. While the musical adventureÂ Frozen 2 isn’t a revelatory experience that channels the Disney Renaissance style of storytelling much like part 1 attempts to be six years ago, it at least does a great job at being a remarkable follow-up.
A Chilling Tale
Frozen 2 keeps its plot simple: two sisters, the ice queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) and younger and warier Anna (Kristen Bell),Â  have to save the kingdom of Arendelle after it has been waylaid by forces from beyond the north. In their quest beckoned by a mysterious voice only Elsa can hear, the duo and their party end up getting stuck in a magical forest where two factions are in a midst of conflict, as well as uncover their shrouded past and how it ties to Elsa’s powers.
Also, they’re accompanied by a talking maturing permafrost snowman Olaf (Josh Gad), moose Swen, and Anna’s boyfriend Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) who wants to marry her in a side-story meant for cheap laughs. Even if you’re not sure what happened in part 1, the show recaps that bit in a comical fashion. Think Michael Pena’s story-telling in the Ant-Man films, but more animated. It’s a nice bit of comedy to balance out the dire situation of the show’s narrative that involves rectifying the sins of the past.
What I appreciate about this sequel is that it’s not so much trying to challenge Disney story trope in the studio’s attempt to be “woke”, but it focuses on a grand adventure that expands upon the world of Arendelle and its unanswered mysteries in the first film. It gets the job done thanks to its pacing,Â  its quick-yet-detailed-for-a-kid’s-movie character-building, and its lovely, lovely visuals.

It’s easy to get immersed in Arendelle and the mystery forest when taking in the sights and sounds of the film, as well as uncovering the show’s mystical elements and Elsa’s ever-expanding power kit. I’m also glad the show didn’t take the traditional route when it comes to villains and opposing forces.
The film takes a few dark turns here and there halfway through, which is a welcome sight for older animation fans. Something needs to happen to take these charming characters out of their comfort zone and shake up the status quo, and I’m glad the show attempts to shake things up.

If anything, Frozen 2 could have taken a darker and more PG-13 route, particularly with the fate of one of its characters.Â  I rather it turned out permanent.

Unfortunately, Walt Disney Animation and company are playing it safe by reverting the show back to the status quo like all current animated G-rated movies do. As such, the show’s narrative is decent and arguably better than the sum of its parts; just a shy away from greatness to be able to stand alongside the earlier darker Don Bluth films and the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy.
But How’s The Music?

To keep in line with the power ballads and musical numbers of the first film, Frozen 2 comes equipped with brand-new songs thatÂ attempt to top the juggernaut 2013 hit song “Let It Go” with a few new attempts.
Time will tell if any of these tracksÂ  -particularly the first act key song “Into The Unknown”, the 80s boy band parody “Lost in the Woods” and the Frozen anthem follow-up “Show Yourself”- will top Frozen’s anthem. I’ll say this: they’re well-made and crafted songs that fit into the film’s narrative and scope.

Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff,Â  and Kristen Bell unsurprisingly did a bang-up job showcasing their musical prowess in the film’s soundtrack. In time, I’m sure you’ll be humming these tunes after repeated listens, especially their rock-laden covers from Panic! At The Disco and Weezer.

That last one caught me by surprise, by the by. It’s a pleasant one to say the least and will make you want to stream the entirety of it on your music streaming tool of choice.
Season’s Greeting

Is Frozen 2 going to blow people’s minds with its storytelling and message? Heavens no. But it will entertain.

It adds a lot to the worldbuilding of Arendelle and beyond while sticking to the narrative of changing seasons. While its leads Elsa and Anna fall into their predicted separation story trope halfway in the film, it’s not the worst way to forward the plot while delivering the best aspects of the film: the visuals, the character chemistry, and power ballads.
I’m just happy that for all the faults Disney has when it comes to selling its past films in glossier packages, they at least entrust their best writers and directors to create a sequel that isn’t phoned in. Bring the folks and the kids for this icecapade; you won’t regret it.
FINAL SCORE: 80/100


Australian Twitch Streamer Uses Channel To Raise Awareness On Wildfires

In case you haven’t been paying attention, Australia is facing one of its worst disasters in history. Wildfires have consumed 12 million hectares of land and possibly killed half a billion animals. Needless to say, Australians are suffering immensely.
PaladinAmber, an Australian Twitch streamer, is taking things into her own hands. According to her, there’s been a notable lack of coverage on the issue in mainstream news. It also doesn’t help that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison isn’t giving his people a lot of assurance.

No one will break the news worldwide, so here it is… pic.twitter.com/eB7qZHsJxc
— Paladin (@PaladinAmber) January 2, 2020

Using her Twitch channel, Amber made an equally humourous and serious PSA about the wildfires. Aside from requesting for more people to raise awareness about the issue, she also wants donations to be given to brave Australian firefighters.
This isn’t the first time a Twitch streamer has used their platform to do good. A lot of charity streams have been done on the platform by many people. Just last month, American streamer Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo raised more than US$2 million to support a hospital that treats cancer-stricken children.
Australian firefighters on the frontline. Photo from CNN.
With more than 68,000 followers on Twitch and almost double that number on Twitter, Amber has a chance to make a difference. Here’s hoping that more people join her cause and do whatever they can to help Australia.
Thanks, Dexerto.


5 Things Asia Comic Con 2018 Did Right & Wrong

After a week of digestion, itâ€™s time to unpack Asia Comic Con (ACC) 2018! Held on 13-15 July at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, this geek convention was pretty hyped up in the past few weeks. If you had read our previous ACC write-up, you probably had a good guess regarding whatâ€™s on the menu for this convention.
The Good #1: Eye Candy Galore

As mentioned in our previous article regarding ACC, this eventâ€™s main draws were the â€œfigurine and toy display areaâ€, â€œthe Dragon Quest Museumâ€ and the â€œesports sectionâ€. Special mention deservingly goes to the life-sized statues and Batmanâ€™s cool vehicles (the Tumbler and Batpod), which were 100% selfie and photography material.
Speaking of Instagram-worthy beauties, XM Studiosâ€™ gorgeous and premium statues were hands down great in both the aesthetic and price tag departments.
The Good #2: Triple Treat
Topics of the visual variety aside, I also wanted to call attention to the board games/tabletop section of ACC, which was an unsung highlight. One can immerse oneself into the Warhammer painting sessions and of course the Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering demos.

For curious folks and enthusiasts of these fine titles, ACC genuinely provided them with opportunities to learn and play these hit games. Come to the geek side, we have multiple fictional universes and adventures for you to explore and have fun!
The Bad #1: Bare Bones
ACC had a stage for performances, a large dedicated area for cool statues, cosplayer signing schedules, VIP meet-and-greets and multiple sections for different kind of booths. Despite all this, the entire event itself felt bare and lacking. With the word “Asia” boasted in its title, it wouldnâ€™t be wrong for one to possess a certain level of expectations, especially when the entry ticket was a steep RM30/SG$10.08 per day.

On top of that, ACC was held on the same weekend as other ACG fests such as World Cosplay Summit Malaysia 2018, Animuzic Night 2018 Vol. 2 and Anime Saiko 2018. The competition was undeniably stiff and itâ€™s evident in ACCâ€™s Saturdayâ€™s small crowd size.
The Bad #2: You Can Speedrun Through The Event

Frankly, for attendees who had no interest in the performers (that catered more towards anime and idol fans) and guest cosplayers, there wasnâ€™t anything much to do and see besides some photo-taking. After all, there were zero special talks/panels and the actual artist booths were small in number.
Itâ€™s in the realm of possibility that one could actually finish walking around the event hall in less than an hour. Hashtag underwhelming.
The Bad #3: “Comic Con”?

In Malaysia, it has become a norm to insert the phrase, “Comic Con” in almost all geek conventionsâ€™ names, even if said events werenâ€™t comic-centric at all. So, itâ€™s not surprising that you can count the number of actual comic-related booths in ACC with only one hand. Honestly, you probably need only three fingers or lesser.
Overall, judging from some reviews on the eventâ€™s Facebook page, the disappointment was real. *sigh*
Ironically, ACC actually had most of the elements that could make it a comprehensive geek convention; games, special guests, comics, artists (both the drawing and singing kind), cosplays, art booths, performances, statues, merchandises etc. While it wasnâ€™t all bad, it did fell short of expectations.
Believe it or not, I also attended the FV x SEA Major Malaysia 2018 event on the same weekend as Asia Comic Con 2018. You can read about the event in this article!
Speaking of geeky cons, you can read our write-up on the recently-concluded CAFKL too.
Do follow us onÂ FacebookÂ andÂ TwitterÂ for more action!Â We donâ€™t bite!


Disgaea 7 Announced For Consoles; Features New Kaiju-Sized Giant Battles

The seventh Disgaea mothership game is making its way onto consoles next year.
Nippon Ichi Software has announced that the next major strategy RPG with all the avenues of leveling up beyond Level 99, wacky classes and monsters for your party, and demon parliament, will launch on 26 January 2023 in Japan. Based on the gameplay trailer and the key artwork/box art below, the game looks to be samurai-themed. Prinnies will still be part and parcel of the title, given that they’re the company and developer’s mascot.

Here’s the plot synopsis:
“In Disgaea 7, the story is set in a world called “Hinomoto Netherworld Cluster,” which is inspired by Japanese culture. The protagonists, wandering samurai Fuji and otaku girl Piririka, will fight through the world in order to regain the impoverished Hinomoto from invaders and overthrow the Ooedo Shogunate.
On the game systems front, the series’ signature replayability features return, alongside even more over-the-top new systems. Please look forward to a completely new Disgaea experience!
Your cast of characters you control in your army includes a love-hating lone samurai named Fuji, a CEO otaku catgirl named Piririka, an alleged daughter of Fuji named Ao, an incompetent shogun named Wey-yasu, a thief named Seefour, and a ton more.
Also, characters can now turn into giants to deal absurd damage to enemies on-screen via the Dodeka MAX mechanic. That’s pretty nifty and fits in theme with the game’s “all things are fair game” combat and “infinite character development system” approach to levelling up.

You can also make edible weapons; basically they work like any other weapon you create except you can eat them to heal and/or buff yourself on the fly. Disgaea 7 also features a reincarnation system (reincarnate a fully leveled-up character to another class for additional stats and bonuses) and perhaps the most content and story out of any Disgaea game in existence.
In addition, Nippon Ichi will be releasing a Japan-only Collector’s Box which features:

Soundtrack CD (two discs, 34 tracks) – Includes the main theme song “Hinomoto Unlock” sung by Hiyori Nitta, ending theme “Fuji no Gaika o Hibikasete” sung by Tomo Sakurai, and featured track “Akuma Zamurai Ai no Theme” sung by Kenyu Horiuchi, plus other game background music
Art book (A5 size, full color, 40 pages)
Special box (stores both the soundtrack CD and art book)
A 3,300 yen price tag (US$330+)

So far, Nippon Ichi has announced the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch versions of the game. No English version has been announced at this point in time, but you can be sure that’s happening in the next few months.