Octopath Traveler 2 Is A Superior JRPG Sequel, Bar None

Platform(s): PS5 (version played), PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch
Genre: 90s JRPG with eight protagonists, tailored for a 2023 audience
If you’re looking for an epic JRPG experience, you don’t have to wait until Final Fantasy XVI to arrive this June. Instead, you should spend way more time with the gorgeous-looking-and-epic-sounding Octopath Traveler 2, the sequel to 2018’s hit JRPG title that has you playing through 8 unique character storylines and have them team up together in their respective fantasy tales.
In fact, the sequel itself is a huge improvement over the first just because it actually cares about tying each of the new eight party member’s stories to one epic finale.
Table Two, Party Of Eight

At the start, you pick either one as your “main character” -from noble young warrior Hikari to framed scholar Osvald who seeks revenge on those who wronged him- and then proceed to explore the world of Solistia any way you want after their initial Story chapter. Since each character’s second and third chapters start off at high levels, this would be the part where you recruit all eight party members to your team; the modus operandi of the game is in the title after all: Octopath = eight paths to experience.
You want to maximize your time seeing through everyone’s story from start to finish, which will take you about 40 hours plus, and I’m proud to report that there aren’t any bad eggs storywise. Everyone’s tale from merchant Partitio to thief Throne has its twists, turns, revelations, and insightful story beats punctuated with appropriate bookends. The developers clearly took the first game’s feedback to heart, and even learn some lessons from last year’s Live A Live remake. Now, every party member acknowledges each other better than in the first game where they’re treated separately narrative-wise. The battle quips, the cross-paths stories between two party members as they team up and make you care for everyone more, the frequent traveller banter, and the final story quest that ties it all together: it all works.
Taking Turns Hitting Each Other In 2023

None of this would matter if the combat sucks. Thankfully, Octopath Traveler 2 has many improvements over the first game. You still take turns hitting each other and rely on BP points to power up your attacks and spells from various Jobs (classes) -both default and secret ones which you have to go out of your way to find. You also have access to Latent Powers where you can fill up its gauge by getting hit a lot, and then unleash special skills like taking two actions in one turn or getting access to powerful samurai attacks; all of them are awesome and useful. The enemies you fight as you go past the 10 hour mark also gets tougher than usual, requiring you to use all your skills in JRPGing to get through. You can still grind your way through the game, and at least you get the option to speed up the process.
My only gripes with the sequel are the basic dungeon design and reserve party members not getting XP while your main members are out. It’s pretty old-school to a fault in this regard; the dungeons are all straight pathways to the story’s boss or main treasure spot, and having to switch out party members and leveling them up alongside your higher-levelled characters does take time. It’s not a huge issue as JRPGs are meant to be timesinks, but some form of XP osmosis would be nice to cut down grinding time.
Despite all that, everything else about Octopath Traveler 2 is superior to its prequel in every way. From the little touches like party members bantering with each other during combat to the cross tales, to even the improved story beats and combat, it’s no wonder Square Enix and Acquire are still looked-up to when it come to throwback-tailored JRPG beats. Octopath Traveler 2 is 40+ hours JRPGing well-spent that will keep you engrossed in the genre for the whole year, amplified by its HD-2D art style and its amazing music from composer Yasunori Nishiki.
Pros

A strong cast of characters with great stories & unique abilities.
Day and Night system is flexible and equals freeform exploration options.
Deep combat system with much-needed improvements.
Amazing art and music.

Cons

Dungeon layout and designs are basic.

Final Score: 90/100


Kakuchopurei’s Best Of 2019: Katana Zero

Any game that starts with a pitch that goes “You play as a samurai…” is already enough to convince a lot of folks. Katana Zero takes that pitch and slaps on a bunch of other really cool video game ideas.

The premise is simple and cool. You play as a samurai assassin called The Dragon. It all starts out with you doing what you do best but the story becomes a tad interesting as you dive deeper into the identities of The Dragon and the characters around him. While it ends up being overwhelming after a few hours, its 2D action gameplay is anything but.
Fast is the primary adjective in Katana Zero. Regular opponents die in one hit but so do you. Levels are relatively short and restarting just takes a few seconds. You also have access to a slow-motion mechanic which helps you deflect bullets with your katana plus items you can pick up throughout the levels. It’s pretty intense and gratifying to string combo kills while not getting slaughtered yourself, then seeing all the action on replay.

Presentation is what separates a decent game from a memorable one. Katana Zero’s neon-lit pixel graphics and synth-wave beats make it an absolute joy to play. It also helps that the animations are so well done that sometimes you forget you’re playing an indie game.


Silent Hill F Announced, Coming From Higurashi When They Cry Creator

During the Silent Hill Transmission, Konami announced Silent Hill F, which will be developed by Neobards Entertainment. What’s most interesting is that Ryukishi07, who is best known for creating the When They Cry visual novel series (including Higurashi When They Cry) will be writing the story for Silent Hill F.
All we know about Silent Hill F so far is that it will be a completely new story set in 1960s Japan featuring a beautiful, yet horrifying world. No platforms or release dates were revealed.
Check out the trailer below:


Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Collector’s Edition Contents and Price in Malaysia Revealed

Sony Interactive Entertainment Hong Kong Limited Singapore Branch (SIES) has announced the contents and price of the Sekiro: Shadows Twice Collector’s Edition in Malaysia. Developed by From Software, the upcoming game is slated to release worldwide on March 22, 2019.

At the price of RM479, the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Collector’s Edition will contain the following:

A copy of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
An 18 cm Shinobi statue of the game’s protagonist
A collectible artbook
A physical map
A steelbook
Several replica game coins
The digital soundtrack of the game

Meanwhile, early buyers of the standard physical/digital edition of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will not be missing out on receiving bonus content of their own. Both versions will arrive with digital artworks (concept art) and an original mini soundtrack.
Early purchase bonus for physical/digital editions
Besides that, the physical edition will net gamers an additional special package whereas the digital edition will come with an exclusive theme. The physical and digital editions of the game will be priced at RM209 and RM199, respectively.
For more on what to expect from the highly-anticipated game from the developer of Bloodborne and the Dark Souls franchise, check out our gameplay analysis of the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Gamescom 2018 demo here.


Crash Bandicoot 4 Drops On PS5, Xbox Series & Switch This March

Publisher Activision and developer Toys for Bob have announced that they will release Crash Bandicoot 4 Itâ€™s About Time for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on 12 March 2021, followed by PC via Battle.net sometime later in 2021.
Crash Bandicoot 4 Itâ€™s About Time originally launched for PS4 and Xbox One on 2 October 2020 (check out our review of the game here). Those who already own the last-gen versions of the game will be able to upgrade to the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions for free (except in Japan). Save data can also be carried over across generations.
On next-gen consoles, the game will run in 4K at 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and upscaled to 4K on Xbox Series S, as well as feature quicker load times and 3D audio.
In addition, the PS5 version will also utilize the DualSense controllerâ€™s adaptive triggers to feel the force of Neo Cortexâ€™s DNA-changing blaster, or experience the grip as they grapple with Tawnaâ€™s Hookshot. The PS5â€™s Activity Card feature will also give players a breakdown of their progress throughout each of the gameâ€™s dimensions, providing guidance to achieve objectives and more.
Activision also teased that “fans can expect more information on the PC edition at a later date, along with other fun happenings in celebration of the franchiseâ€™s 25th anniversary.â€


Cobra Kai Season 6 Will Be The Final Season Of The Series

It’s a bittersweet announcement for Cobra Kai and Karate Kid fans as Netflix has announced that Cobra Kai Season 6 will be the final season of the series.
In a tweet, Cobra Kai creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg said:
“Reacquainting the world with the Karate Kid universe has been our humble honor. Making Cobra Kai has allowed us to join the same hallowed dojo once inhabited by the great Robert Mark Kamen, John Avildsen, Jerry Weintraub, and all the amazing original cast members. It has also enabled us to play sensei, expanding the original storylines and birthing a new generation of underdogs. We’ve never once taken this opportunity for granted.
“Our day one goal with Cobra Kai has always been to end it on our terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we’ve always imagined. So it is with immense pride and thankfulness that we are able to announce that achievement. The upcoming season six will mark the conclusion of Cobra Kai.”
Cobra Kai is a series that was developed for YouTube Red by Sony that is a direct sequel to the original Karate Kid films by Robert Mark Kamen. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprised their roles of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence from the original films released in 1984. After two seasons on YouTube Red, the series moved to Netflix where it has aired for three additional seasons.
The series takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. All five seasons of Cobra Kai are currently streaming on Netflix. Check out our review of Season 5 here.
One reason why the series is ending could be attributed to the fact that Sony Pictures is currently working on a new Karate Kid movie that’s not related to Cobra Kai.
There is currently no release date or release window for Cobra Kai Season 6.
Check out the teaser below:


Netflix June 2022: Our Picks & Highlights

I’m sure you won’t want to waste time sifting through Netflix’s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming giant updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so I’m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for Netflix Malaysia’s June 2022 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
86 EIGHTY-SIX Season 1 (1 June 2022)

The Republic of San Magnolia has been at war with the Empire of Giad for nine years. Though it initially suffered devastating losses to the Empire’s autonomous mechanized Legions, the Republic has since developed its own autonomous units, called Juggernauts, which are directed remotely by a Handler. While on the surface, the public believes the war is being fought between machines, in reality, the Juggernauts are being piloted by humans, all of whom are “86”, the designation given to the Colorata minority of San Magnolia. The 86 originally had equal rights, but were persecuted and scapegoated by the dominant Alba race and the Alba-supremacist Republic government to the point where Colorata were both officially designated and popularly considered subhuman. The 86 were not permitted to have personal names and were immured in internment camps in the 86th District (their namesake); all the while being forced to fight in the Republic’s war with the Empire to receive better treatment.
Major Vladilena “Lena” Milizé, an Alba noble and military officer in the San Magnolian military, is an outspoken activist against the grave mistreatment of the nation’s Colorata minority, and the willful deception of the general public by the Republic government. She is assigned as the Handler of the Spearhead Squadron of the Eastern Front: an elite unit composed entirely of 86 veterans who have earned names. Led by their squad leader, Shinei “The Undertaker” Nouzen, the Spearhead Squadron is infamous among military officials. Its notoriety stems from the state in which its commanding officers are left: Handlers presiding over the squad have descended into insanity and some have gone as far as committing suicide. Lena, an avowed 86 sympathizer, gets to know the Spearhead Squadron in her time as head of the contingent. At the same time, Lena and Shinei learn a dark secret: the Republic and the war with the Empire are not what they seem.

Hustle (8 June 2022)
HUSTLE. (L-R) Juancho Hernangomez as Bo Cruz and Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugerman in Hustle. Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2022.
Adam Sandler and Queen Latifah stars in the American sports drama film, Hustle. When a down-on-his-luck basketball scout finds a potential superstar in Spain, he sets out to prove they both have what it takes to make it in the NBA.
After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad, a down on his luck basketball scout (Adam Sandler) takes it upon himself to bring the phenom to the States without his team’s approval. Against the odds, they have one final shot to prove they have what it takes to make it in the NBA.

Peaky Blinders Season 6 (10 June 2022)

The Shelbys suffer a crushing loss. Four years later, Prohibition’s end turns Tommy toward the opium trade, forcing him to ally with his worst enemies.

Spiderhead (17 June 2022)
SPIDERHEAD. Chris Hemsworth as Abnesti in Spiderhead. Netflix © 2022
In the near future, two convicts confront their pasts in a facility run by a visionary who gives them emotion-altering drugs. Starring Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller.
Two inmates (Miles Teller & Jurnee Smollett) form a connection while grappling with their pasts in a state-of-the-art penitentiary run by a brilliant visionary (Chris Hemsworth) who experiments on his subjects with mind-altering drugs. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, Tron: Legacy). Based on The New Yorker short story, “Escape From Spiderhead,” by George Saunders.

Spriggan (18 June 2022)

A great civilization once existed on this Earth. Possessing knowledge and scientific prowess far exceeding that of modern man, the relics of this ancient civilization remain hidden across this world even now. As high-speed communications networks cover the globe and the peering eyes of satellites are able to expose all secrets, the armies of great nations clash as they seek to uncover and research these artifacts, which possess an unfathomable “power.”
A member of this ancient civilization carved a message into a plate: “Protect our relics from evil-doers.” Taking this message to heart, one organization aims to seal away this ancient civilization for good. The elite secret agents of this organization are known as… Spriggans.
The legendary comic which took the 1990s by storm has been vividly reimagined in 2D animation and 3D CG! Reborn after over 30 years, experience an authentic adventure series packed with intense action scenes and a love of ancient civilizations! Based on the manga written by Hiroshi Takashige and illustrated by Ryoji Minagawa (published by Shogakukan in “Shonen Sunday Comics”).

The Umbrella Academy Season 3 (22 June 2022)
The Umbrella Academy. (L to R) Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves, Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy. Cr. Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix © 2022
The Emmy-nominated series about a dysfunctional family of superheroes returns for a new season.
Returning cast members for Season 3 include Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David CastaÃ±eda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, and Colm Feore. Steve Blackman will also return as showrunner and executive producer.
The Umbrella Academy Season 3 will feature 10 one-hour episodes, just like previous seasons.
In the meantime, check out our review of The Umbrella Academy Season 2 here, or head on over here to find out more about what to expect from The Umbrella Academy Season 3.

Money Heist Korea Joint Economic Area (24 June 2022)

As a border looks set to vanish, the people of a long-divided peninsula seem about to reunite — but there are unsettling consequences. That’s the intriguing premise of Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area. As the series’ new teaser reveals today, under the new economic union, “only the rich got richer.” Into this ruthless new world of inequality steps a crew of thieves from North and South Korea, led by the Professor, who set out to pull off a history-making heist.
A remake of Spanish series La Casa De Papel, Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area is the first Korean blockbuster to kick off the second half of the year, and it will feature director Kim Hong-sun and writer Ryu Yong-jae’s distinct take on this popular story.
In this new retelling, there is a Joint Security Area – located where today’s North and South Korea are divided – which contains a mint that becomes the focus of the action. Amid reunification, the mint is printing a new unified currency as the groundwork to build a stable joint economy. Besides unveiling a new crew dressed in Money Heist’s signature red jumpsuits, fans also got a first look at the striking traditional Hahoe masks sported by this gang of thieves.
They have also caught a glimpse of “The Professor”, played by Yoo ji-tae (from the iconic Korean movie Old Boy). This genius strategist trying to change the world through this heist is joined by a formidable cast, including Park Hae-soo from the blockbuster hit Squid Game and Kim Yunjin from the legendary US series Lost.

Man Vs Bee (24 June 2022)

British comedian Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”) stars in this almost silent comedy about a house sitter’s war with a bee.

Those are just several selected highlights from next month’s offerings of new TV series and movies on Netflix. Now you can plan your Netflix binge-fest for June 2022.


RIP Heroes Of Newerth: 2009 – 2022

One of the original MOBAs in existence, Heroes of Newerth, has shut down after 13 years of service.
The game was one of the main competitors in the MOBA circuit alongside League of Legends and Dota 2. The impending shutdown, announced last year in December, was due to the game’s long and slow decline in player numbers. The game was made and maintained by game company S2. The company’s other MOBA, Strife, did not fare as well as Heroes of Newerth and was shut down in 2018. While Heroes of Newerth was passed over to Frostburn Studios and had regular updates, people rather play League of Legends and Dota 2 instead; why settle for a third wheel in the MOBA space unless it was a mobile game like Mobile Legends?
Here are some parting words from the Heroes of Newerth Facebook page:
“Even though the journey of HoN has come to an end, we believe that all the valuable memories of our players through all these years will never fade away.”
At the very least, 13 years is a damn good run. Most games wished they lasted this long.


EA Scraps BioWare Points, Makes Dragon Age & Mass Effect DLC Free

EA has been sending emails to people with BioWare Points in their account, announcing that they will be removing the system starting from 11 October 2022. What are BioWare Points? Years ago, the only way to purchase DLC for Mass Effect and Dragon Age games were by buying BioWare Points The cheapest BP pack was 800 but the DLC often cost more than that, which means that players would always have leftover BP that they couldn’t do anything with.
The email from EA states:
Hello,
We’re reaching out to let you know that starting October 11, 2022, BioWare Points will no longer be available as a form of currency in the Origin store. Other currencies like Crystals and Platinum in other BioWare titles remain unaffected.
To support you through this change, most DLC (downloadable content) that was previously only purchasable with BioWare Points are now available free of charge. This includes DLC for the following titles:

Dragon Age II
Dragon Age: Origins
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3 (except Multiplayer Packs)

For the next 90 days, you can use your BioWare Points to purchase Multiplayer Packs for Mass Effect 3. After October 11, 2022, Multiplayer Packs will only be redeemable using Credits you’ve earned in-game.
Don’t worry — you’ll still have access to any content previously purchased using BioWare Points.
What this means is that the Dragon Age and Mass Effect DLC are now freeSome of the add-ons for classic BioWare RPGs that could previously only be bought with BioWare points are now available for free. You can log into Origin and grab the DLC by selecting the games in your library, clicking on Extra Content, then selecting “Get it Free”. However, you can use leftover BioWare Points to purchase Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Packs.


New Pokemon Legends: Arceus & Diamond/Pearl Remake Trailers Are Out In The Wild

The PokÃ©mon Company and developer Game Freak have released new information and trailers for their upcoming PokÃ©mon games: PokÃ©mon Legends: Arceus and PokÃ©mon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
The new trailer showcases the game’s Arc Phone, Alpha PokÃ©mon (uber PokÃ©mon you can fight & tame), rideable Pokemon, and Jubilife Village (your home base). It’s definitely shaping up to be the open-world RPG PokÃ©mon fans always wanted since they’ve been stuck with the same kind of game for 20+ years.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus will be out on 28th January, 2022.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl

Speaking of the same f***ing game for 20+ years, we have the Nintendo Switch remakes of the Nintendo DS mothership Pokemon games. At the very least, this remake is adding new improvements to existing mechanics, while also looking cute.

The remakes will be out on 19th November.


This Dragon Quest Wireless Charging Pad Is Now Up For Pre-Order

Square Enix has unveiled a new Dragon Quest Square Enix Wireless Charging Pad Zing with Glowing Slime Figure. It is priced at ¥6,500, or roughly RM214+. It is slated to release sometime in December 2022.
It’s an adorable piece of merchandise for any Dragon Quest fan to have, especially because it comes with a cute slime figure of its own. You can pre-order it now on the website here.

Square Enix is currently working on a bunch of Dragon Quest titles, including Dragon Quest XII The Flames Of Fate; the 12th mainline entry in the long-running JRPG franchise.


Quantic Dream Promotes Own Game Amidst “Black Lives Matter” Protests

In recent news of an outspoken game developer company who do not know how to read the room, Quantic Dream’s co-CEO Guillaume de FondaumiÃ¨re posted a seemingly innocuous tweet. The Tweet was about the recent protests and riots going on in the US of A concerning the death of George Floyd caused by police brutality.

Why was this a screenshot? Because it was taken down and was replaced with this.
https://twitter.com/GdeFondaumiere/status/1267344347198078976
See the problem here? The message is fine, until the very last sentence about Detroit: Become Human popped up. The tweet was received as well as you expect from a tone-deaf mouthpiece.

It’s no secret that corporations are masquerading as philanthropists as a means to shill and sell their products. But to say it outright or allude to a recent product that’s going to come out on PC? That’s just asking for trouble.


Eldest Souls Guide: How To Be The Best 2D Pixel Soulslike Swordsperson

This guide is still under development.
Eldest Souls may have a conventional name, but its gameplay is anything but mundane. It’s a boss rush game with a Soulslike flavour to it; they’re tough as nails to deal with. As such, here’s a guide on how to survive your ordeal, along with a list of shards and infusions you can gain.
Disclaimer: there will be some spoilers, so if you want to keep each boss reveal a secret, don’t go beyond the fighting styles & skill tree portion of the guide.
Basic Tips
Be patient. Most of your deaths will be attributed to you being careless, not paying attention, or just being greedy when attacking enemies. Watch and study the boss you’re fighting; you’ll find a pattern or two you can punish.
Your charge attack will heal you. There are no potions to gulp in Eldest Souls; you have to land a charged forward slash to heal yourself and be in a Bloodthirst state. When in this state, you can pull off either multiple slashes to heal you or do a Bloodburst attack that buffs you & deals burst damage. The charge is slow, so time it right.
Practice perfect dodges through enemy attacks. If you dodge through an attack and you flash green, you’ve landed a perfect dodge. Some skills in Eldest Souls will reward you for dodging right.
You can switch your fighting styles anytime before a fight. If you feel like your Windslide isn’t effective against one boss, just switch to a different tree. You can respec anytime for free; there’s no additional cost or penalty for doing so.
Eldest Souls Fighting Styles

Eldest Souls features three different skill trees. Once you gain points from defeating each Elder God, you can allocate them in any of the trees. If you pick on tree, you have to commit to it. Don’t worry: you can respec the points anytime you like at no additional cost.
Windslide is for players who like to dart around the screen and deal bits of damage while on the move. Each hit you dish out can summon green “wind satellites” that home in on bosses for extra damage and some healing/buffs. This is our favourite skill tree.
Berserk Slash style is for pure damage. The additional shockwaves from this tree can help deal massive damage the more hits you land.
Counter style is best for players who like to play defensively. If you’re familiar with how a boss fights, you can turn it around with big damage and additional shield (to absorb extra hits). Just press the Counter button when you see a boss attack coming.
Eldest Souls Shards & Infusion System
When you defeat a boss, you get a Shard that you can use to power up one of the following:

Active Shard slot
Bloodburst slot
Charged Attack slot
Dash slot
Windslide/Berserk/Counter slot

Different Shards will bestow new and interesting abilities to complement your fighting style. It’s really up to you to customize your swordsperson depending on your playstyle.

The Guardian Shard
This shard buffs up your attacks and gives it enemy-stopping tendrils.

Active Shard: Corrupted Grasp. Dark tendrils sprout, reaching forward. If they collide with an object or enemy, you will grapple towards it. Hitting an enemy deals 25 damage and grants 100% Bloodthirst bar.
Bloodburst: Corrupted Burst. Bloodburst causes a patch of corruption to linger on the ground. The corruption lastas for 3 seconds, deals 2 damage every 0.5 second and heals for the same amount.
Charged Attack: Corrupted Attack. Every 3rd Charged Attack unleashes a swarm of corruption, dealing 15 damage and healing for 150%.
Dash: Corrupted Dash. Using Dash through attacks creates a swarm of corruption around you, dealing 10 damage and healing for 5% HP.
Windslide:
Corrupted Slide. Windslide travels slower, but leaves a trail of corruption on its path, dealing 3 damage every 0.5 s and healing 100% damage done.
Corrupted Eye (Tree A). Upon Storm’s Eye spawn, a swirl of tendrilis follows you, dealing 5 damage and healing you for the same amount every second for 5 seconds.
Corrupted Storm (Tree B). Stormleaves leave a trail of of corruption on their path, dealing 3 damage every 0.5s an dealing you for 1% HP.
Berserk Slash:
Corrupted Slash. Berserk Slash causes a violent explosion of corruption, dealing 20 damage and healing for 200%.
Corrupted Breaker (Tree A). Hitting with World Breaker causes all Fury Fragments to gain unique properties: When a Fury Fragment is collected, a swirl of dark tendrils follows you for 3 seconds, dealing 5 damage and healing you for 100% of the damage dealt.
Corrupted Shock (Tree B). Tectonic Shock leaves a circle of corruption on the ground, dealing 4 damage every second and healing for 100% of the damage done for 4 seconds.
Counter Slot:
Corrupted Counter. Counter swing is replaced by a slower swirl of tendrils, lasting 1.25 seconds.
Corrupted Blade (Tree A). Fatal Blade shield also causes waves of corruption to erupt from you while the shield holds, dealing 5 damage and healing you for 100% of the damage every second.
Corrupted Ground (Tree B). Stand Your Ground area now also leaves a corrupted area on the ground, dealing 2 damage every 0.65 seconds and healing you for the same amount.
Eos, God of Unity Shard

This Shard will deal a lot of damage but hurts you when you’re at high health. If your health is lower than half, however, you’ll start using water attacks that heal your HP and stamina.
Active Shard: United’s Blessing. When >50% HP, engulf your sword in flames and perform a fiery thrust, dealing 65 damage but damaging you for 20% HP. When <50% HP: engulf your sword in pure water, and perform a fluid thrust, dealing 40 damage and healing you for 25% HP and stamina.
Bloodburst: Adaptative Burst. When >50% HP, Bloodburst deals +25% damage but damages you for 5% HP 3 times. When <50% HP, Bloodburst grants you 4% HP and Stamina 3 times.
Charged Attack: Adaptative Attack. When >50% HP, every 3rd Charged Attack deals 35 extra damage but also deals 15 damage to yourself. When <50% HP, every 3rd Charged Attack heals you for 4% HP and Stamina 3 times.
Dash: Adaptative Dash. When >50% HP, using Dash through attacks grants you a +30% damage increase for 3 seconds, but damages you for 5% HP every second.
Windslide:
Adaptative Slide. When >50% HP, Windslide increases the damage of Windleaves by 300% but also deal 6 damage to you every time they hit. When <50% HP, Windslide causes each Windleaf to regenerate 3%HP every time they hit.
Adaptative Eye (Tree A). When >50% HP, Storm’s Eye activation increases damage by +20% but deals 5%HP damage to you every 1 second for 4 seconds.
Adaptative Storm (Tree B). When >50% HP, Stormleaves explode in a fiery burst on contact, dealing 22% extra damage. When <50% HP, Stormleaves explode in a watery splash on contact, healing for 11 HP in close proximity.
Berserk Slash:
Adaptative Slash. When >50% HP, Berserk Slash deals +35% damage but burns you for 10 damage as it hits. When <50% HP, Berserk Slash deals only 80% damage but grants you 5% HP and stamina every 0.5 seconds during Furious Buff.
Adaptative Breaker (Tree A). When >50% HP and a Fury Fragment is collected, your damage is increased by 20% but also damages you for 5% HP every 1 second for 3 seconds. When <50% HP and a Fury Fragment is collected, you gain 4% HP and stamina every 0.5 second for 3 seconds.
Adaptative Shock (Tree B). When >50% HP, Tectonic Shock deals +30% damage but also damages you for 20% of your max HP. When <50% HP, Tectonic Shock deals only 80% damage but grants you 4%HP and stamina for 1.5 seconds during Furious Buff.
Counter:
Adaptative Counter. When >50% HP, Coutner deals 130% damage but burns you for 10% HP four times. When <50% HP, Counter deals only 90% damage but grants you 5% HP and Stamina 5 times.
Adaptative Blade (Tree A). When >50% HP, Fatal Blade deals 3 damage every 1.25 seconds, but grants +33% damage. When <50% HP, Fatal Blade shield is reduced by 30% but you gain 4% HP and Stamina while the shield holds.
Adaptative Ground (Tree B). When >50% HP, Stand Your Ground area deals 8 damage to enemies but also 3 to you while in it. When <50% HP, Stand Your Ground area also grants you 2% HP, and Stamina while in it.
Azikel, God of Light Shard

This Shard powers up your attacks with light blasts. Lovely, lovely light beams and columns.
Active Shard: Lightbringer. Unleash a torrent of pure light, dealing 8 damage 6 times over 2 seconds. You move 20% faster for the duration.
Bloodburst: Shining Burst. Activating Bloodburst causes a ray of pure light to extend forward, dealing 22 extra damage and increasing your speed by 40% for 3 seconds.
Charged Attack: Shining Attack. Every 3rd Charged Attack causes you to erupt into pure light, dealing 20 extra damage and increasing your speed by 45% for 1.5 seconds.
Dash: Shining Dash. Using Dash through attacks triggers a Spear of Light to fall on the ground, dealing 10 damage. When 3 Spears of Light are present, they trigger an explosion in a crossed pattern, each dealing 20 damage and fading soon after.
Windslide
Shining Slide. Windslide speed is doubled, as a ray of pure light follows along your slide, dealing 18 extra damage and boosting your speed by 60% for 3 seconds.
Shining Eye (Tree A). Upon Storm’s Eye spawn, a ray of pure light falls upon the spot, dealing an additional 15 damage and granting you +50% Speed for 3 seconds.
Shining Storm (Tree B). After a brief delay, Stormleaves are followed by a ray of pure light, dealing 10 extra damage and boosting your Speed by 45% for 1 second.
Berserk Slash
Shining Slash. Upon activating Berserk Slash, a ray of pure light falls upon you, dealing 20 damage to nearby enemies and increasing your Speed by 50% for 1 second.
Shining Breaker (Tree A). Hitting with World Breaker causes all Fury Fragments to gain unique properties: When a Fury Fragment is collected, a cross of pure light is created, dealing 20 damage and granting you +50% Speed for 2 seconds.
Shining Shock (Tree B). Tectonic Shock causes a ray of light to fall upon the spot, dealing 22 damage and granting you +15% Speed for each active Berserker Buff.
Counter
Shining Counter. A ray of pure light spins along your Counter, dealing an additional 30% damage and increasing your Speed by 45% for 2.5 seconds.
Shining Blade (Tree A). Fatal Blade also causes you to move +50% faster. A Lightning strike falls upon your position every 1 second, dealing 10 damage while the shield holds.
Shining Ground (Tree B). When Stand Your Ground expires, a ray of pure light falls upon it, dealing 22 damage to enemies and increasing your Speed by 50% for 3 seconds.
Hyem of the Frigid Waste Shard

This Shard adds cold attacks that give you a huge buff to damage.
Active Shard: Winter Fangs. Slash forward with icy speed, dealing 10 damage. The shard can be reactivated for 1.6 seconds to execute a greater slash that deals 60 damage and cuts through enemies.
Bloodburst: Frigid Burst. Landing a Bloodburst creates a massive spike of ice on hit.
Charged Attack: Frigid Attack. Every 4th Charged Attack grants you the “In Cold Blood” buff, where your next attack damage is amplified by +70%.
Dash: Frigid Dash. Successfully dashing through attacks causes your next Dash within 1.5 seconds to cost no Stamina.
The Deer God Shard

This Shard adds esoteric big burst damage attacks that harm you, and also gives you “unlimited dashing” at the cost of health.
Active Shard: Wild Hunt. You swing your sword forward in a half-moon, dealing 5 damage but damaging yourself for 2% HP. If the attack lands, you’re able to reactivate the Shard within 3.5 seconds, increasing the damage and self damage with each consecutive swing.
Bloodburst: Crimson Burst. Bloodburst gives you the Crimson Frenzy buff, lasting 5 seconds and can stack up to 3 times. You increase damage dealt by 10% for 9 seconds. Activating another Bloodburst attack causes you to take 10% HP damage.
Charged Attack: Crimson Attack. Every 3rd Charged Attack deals +100% damage, but damages you for 10% of your max HP.
Dash: Crimson Dash. You can now Dash while at 0 Stamina, but it will cost 22% of your max HP instead. You can still dash even if your HP is at 1%.
Aryana, First of the Moon Shard

This Shard offers different attack and defense buffs depending on which moon cycle you triggered.
Active Shard: Lunar Inspiration. Activating the Shard cycles through the Moon phases (new, crescent, full). Performs a long/mid/short ranged attack, dealing low/mid/high damage.
Bloodburst: Lunar Burst. Bloodburst causes a Lunar Effigy to materialize, following you for 9 seconds. Every 4.5 seconds, the Effigy pulsates, granting you +2/+3/+5 Shield for 3 seconds, and +15%/+20%/+30% Bloodburst damage increase for 3 seconds.
Charged Attack: Lunar Attack. Every 3rd Charged Attack causes a Lunar Effigy to materialize, following you for 9 seconds. Every 4.5 seconds, the Effigy pulsates, granting you +2/+3/+5 Shield for 3 seconds, and a +5%/+10%/+15% damage increase for 3 seconds.
Dash: Lunar Dash. Using Dash through attacks causes a Lunar Effigy to materialize, following you for 9 seconds. Every 4.5 seconds, the Effigy pulsates, granting you +2/+3/+5 Shield for 3 seconds and +5%/+10%/+15% stamina.
Drakmur The Nightmare Shard
This Shard gives you a slow-moving orb attack that deals damage-over-time and teleportation shenanigans.
Active Shard: Singularity Orb. A slow-moving orb of darkness is launched forward, pulsating and dealing 5 damage to nearby enemies. The Shard can be reactivated within 3 seconds to instantly teleport to the orb’s position, and deal 35 to 100 damage depending on the orb’s life-time.
Bloodburst: Fragmented Burst. Activating Bloodburst leaves a copy behind. Activating Bloodburst again causes you to
Charged Attack: Fragmented Attack. Every 2nd Charged Attack deals +20% extra damage on hit and causes you to instantly teleport back to your original position.
Dash: Fragmented Dash. Using Dash through attacks instantly causes you to teleport forward and deal 25 damage.
Recommended Shards & Infusions
Here’s what we ran with for our regular and New Game+ playthroughs.
Active: Drakmur’s Singularity Orb. We don’t use the Active Shard much, but it’s pretty useful to have an orb that sticks around and explodes for big damage.
Bloodburst: The Guardian’s Corrupted Burst. We like having lingering DOTs that heal you over time once you pull of a Bloodburst attack on an enemy multiple times.
Charged Attack: Hyem’s Frigid Attack. Gives you massive damage for every 4th Charged Attack.
Dash Slot: Shining Dash. We managed to perfect our dashes most of the time, so having “landmines” that deal damage after 3 perfect dashes is always nice to have.
NEXT: Boss Walkthrough


All 8 Anthem Players Celebrate The Arrival Of Winter In Latest Update

The true Christmas miracle of 2019 is that there are people still playing Anthem. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, of course. There are people at BioWare still doing their best to turn the game into something great and it’s good to see players who support that.

Anthem 1.6.0 game update has just arrived and it brings snow to the game. It seems that the universe of Anthem has its own version of Christmas called Icetide which is celebrated whenever winter arrives. The new update comes with a ton of new things to do including challenges, time trials, and more.
As per usual of previous Anthem major updates, there will be new content unlocked weekly. This time, it’s Seasonal Themed Strongholds. These Strongholds also have score leaderboards. That means everyone playing Anthem has a solid chance of making it into the top 10 ranking.
If you’re in the mood for some modern and less-boring Superman 64 flying, they’ve also introduced Freeplay Time Trials. To do these time trials, just join Freeplay and race through any of the eight time trials in Bastion. Beat BioWare’s Gold times and you can proudly best being the person most eligible to pilot a real Iron Man suit if one ever gets made.

There are still tons of other stuff to do so check out the full patch notes:
Welcome to Icetide – Shaper devices have brought localized ice storms into Bastion, bringing excitement with every glittering snowflake across the region. Ice is rare here, but when it arrives, people know that Icetide celebrations will soon follow. Holiday lights shine throughout Fort Tarsis, their bright colors sparkling on blankets of snow
Seasonal Themed Strongholds – Each week a different featured seasonal Stronghold will unlock for playersâ€”now including score leaderboards. If you’re up to the challenge, compete with other Freelancers for the highest score. Visit the Seasonal Store to exchange your CrystalÂ  for War Chests.
Freeplay Time Trials – Have you ever wanted to put your javelin flight and navigation skills to the test? Join Freeplay, and race through eight time trials that can be found in Bastion. Try to beat our Gold times!
New Legendary World Event: Icetide Coolant Harvesting – Help the Arcanist harvest precious coolant resources while fighting off the outlaw forces that are trying to steal it from you.
New ChallengesÂ – Explore the Challenges to see vanity rewards! Gain new armor sets, special time trial wraps, and more.
New Hidden Collectables – Explore the region to find all Festive Wreaths.
Icetide Cortex Entries – Explore the region to find new story entries to add to your Cortex.
More Powerful Drops in Grandmaster 3 – All Legendary loot drops on GM3 now drop with +5 Gear Score.
New Tomb of Legionnaires Offering – New Guardians’ Tokens are granted through daily and weekly challenges. Freelancers can make offerings of a Guardian Token and additional crafting materials within the Tombs of the Legionnaires to gain a random Legendary item. Each tomb grants different items, but all items have a +5 gear score.

Tomb of Artinia: Legendary Weapons
Tomb of Cariff: Legendary Gear
Tomb of Yvenia: Legendary Melee Weapons and Javelin-Specific Components
Tomb of Gawnes: Legendary Support Gear and Universal Components

New Seasonal Cosmetic Items – Visit the Featured Store throughout the season for new Icetide-themed cosmetics.
New Short Stories – In addition to these new features, keep an eye on ourÂ Anthem News PageÂ for all new Icetide-themed short stories from our writing team!
Bug Fixes & Improvements

Fixed various crashes to improve stabilization.
Fixed various texture and lighting scenarios.
Fixed various art collision issues that allowed players to access unintended areas.
Fixed various audio issues.
Fixed multiple breadcrumbing trails appearing in Freeplay. Fast Travel to the Tomb of Legionnaires is now enabled. Map pins have been updated to better communicate the ability to fast travel.
Added new options to disable various parts of the UI

These options are visible under Settings -> Interface -> HUD

Added a tutorial for the self-respawn feature.

You can respawn yourself closer to your squadmates by holding down the R3 button

The Colossus can no longer become stuck in cages within Temple of Scar.
The Sunken Cell stronghold mission now correctly appears above the Heart of Rage mission in the journal.
Resolved an issue causing the Forge Menu to not appear while in the Forge Screen.
Fixed an issue that allowed the Synchronized Frame to trigger without an enemy being hit.
The Ranger Combo Augment component craft recipe now displays “Impact Combo Damage”.
Fixed an issue causing Incremental Archives to not spawn as often as expected.
Fixed an issue preventing the fog wall from vanishing after the objective is completed in Temple of Scar.
Forge Icons for Barrage, Garroter, and Stampede have been updated to match the default color scheme of the javelin.
Increased the health of the generators for the Sleeping Titan event.
Legendary Fortress of Dawn now spawns its chest and finishes appropriately.
Fixed an issue where Balm of Gavinicus was incorrectly dealing damage on impact.
Fixed an issue causing Rainmaker to fire more projectiles than intended.

Dev Note: This bug was causing a large imbalance in weapon selection among players due to it essentially being almost 200% stronger than intended. This fix puts it back in line with its expected damage output. The Rainmaker should still be a viable weapon and the fix shouldn’t disrupt any current play styles and hopefully makes other weapons more viable choices.

The update probably won’t be bringing in a lot of new players to the game but it’s definitely great to see the developers still updating the game with more new content. Seeing as how some stores are selling Anthem at dirt cheap prices, it’s a good time to get the game if you ever felt interested in jumping in.


Call Of Duty Warzone & Vanguard RICOCHET Anti-Cheat Initiative Is Now Live

RICOCHET Anti-Cheat is already live across Call Of Duty Vanguard and Call Of Duty Warzone with server-side updates and other backend elements to combat cheating. The Asia Pacific is the first region in the world to receive the update, before expanding to other regions worldwide.
For those unfamiliar, RICOCHET Anti-Cheat is a PC kernel-level driver developed internally for Call of Duty and is an evolving initiative that will grow stronger as its systems learn more about cheating behaviour. The driver monitors the machine and processes interacting with Call Of Duty Warzone to determine if they are manipulating the game. This data helps identify cheaters as well as helps the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat team to strengthen the overall anti-cheating security.
This was already originally announced back in October 2021.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


You’ll Need A Lot Of Space For Call Of Duty Modern Warfare On PC [Update]

Update 11/10/19:
In a new blog post, Activision has revealed the reason players will need such an ungodly amount of storage space. According to the publisher, 175GB is only the recommended initial storage space so that players will be able to download the game’s post-launch content.
Activision also stated that the initial download or install size for Call Of Duty Modern Warfare on PC will be smaller than 175GB at launch, though they neglected to mention an exact or approximate number.
In addition, they also announced the final hardware specs required to play Call Of Duty Modern Warfare on PC for different gameplay situations:
Minimum Specs:
Here are the Minimum specs needed to playÂ Modern Warfare:

Requires DirectX 12 compatible system
OS:Â Windows 7 64-Bit (SP1) or Windows 10 64-Bit
CPU:Â Intel Core i3-4340 or AMD FX-6300
Video:Â NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 / GeForce GTX 1650 or Radeon HD 7950
RAM:Â 8GB RAM
HDD:Â 175GB HD space
Network:Â Broadband Internet connection
Sound Card:Â DirectX Compatible

Recommended Specs:
Here are Recommended Specs to run at 60fps in most situations with all options set to medium:

Requires DirectX 12 compatible system
OS:Â Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)
CPU:Â Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600X processor
Video:Â NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / GTX 1660 or Radeon R9 390 / AMD RX 580
RAM:Â 12GB RAM
HDD:Â 175GB HD space
Network:Â Broadband Internet connection
Sound Card:Â DirectX Compatible

Recommended Specs (additional):
Here are the Recommended specs for use with Ray Tracing:

Requires DirectX 12 compatible system
OS:Â Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)
CPU:Â Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600X processor
Video:Â NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
RAM:Â 16GB RAM
HDD:Â 45GB HD space
Network:Â Broadband Internet connection
Sound Card:Â DirectX Compatible

Competitive Specs:
Here are the Competitive specs to run at a high fps for use with a high refresh monitor:

Requires DirectX 12 compatible system
OS:Â Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)
CPU:Â Intel i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 1800X
Video:Â NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 / RTX 2070 SUPER or Radeon RX Vegaâ¶â´ Graphics
RAM:Â 16GB RAM
HDD:Â 175GB HD space
Network:Â Broadband Internet connection
Sound Card:Â DirectX Compatible

Ultra RTX Specs:
Finally, here are the Ultra RTX specs to run the game at a high FPS in 4K resolution with Ray Tracing:

Requires DirectX 12 compatible system
OS:Â Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update)
CPU:Â Intel i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 2700X
Video:Â NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER
RAM:Â 16GB RAM
HDD: 175GB HD space
Network:Â Broadband Internet connection
Sound Card:Â DirectX Compatible

We’re only two weeks away from the release of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare, and the PC specs have been leaked ahead of time. Players might be surprised to discover how much actual space they’ll need to install the game on their rigs, let alone start playing it.
According to leaked specs from Battle.net (via Windows Central), Call Of Duty Modern Warfare will require a mindboggling 175GB on PC, which is absolutely insane. One wonders how big the game will be on consoles, though only truly massive open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey have previously breached the 100GB threshold.
Here are the minimum and recommended spec requirements for Call Of Duty Modern Warfare on PC:
Minimum requirements

Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i3-4340 or AMD FX-6300
Video: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, or AMD Radeon HD 7950 that are DirectX 12 compatible
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 175 GB hard drive space
Internet: Broadband connection

Recommended requirements

Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit latest update
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600X
Video: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, AMD Radeon R9 390, or AMD Radeon RX 580 that are DirectX 12 compatible
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Storage: 175 GB hard drive space
Internet: Broadband connection

Call Of Duty Modern WarfareÂ is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 25 October 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGjUSyETd1U&w=560&h=315]


Guilty Gear Strive’s Last DLC Character For 2021 Is Gunning For An End Of Month Release

Guilty Gear Strive is killing it with the DLC and patches as of late, with the latest announcement gunning for everyone’s affection.
During the Red Bull Kumite 2021 fighting game tournament featuring Guilty Gear Strive, Arc System Works announced the next DLC character for its Season 1 Pass: Happy Chaos, the blue antagonist in Guilty Gear Strive’s story mode.

As you can see, the Gunslinging Broken Messiah fights with a revolver, has a couple of moves where he walks forward and guns his opponent down, and can summon decoys to distract or buff him up. Honestly, I have no idea if he’s going to be a pure zoner or a rushdown character; guess we’ll find out in a character overview video soon enough.
Happy Chaos the Restorer of Humanity Gunslinging Broken Messiah will be out for Season Pass Holders on 30th November. He will be offered as an individual DLC on 3rd December. So if you want to try him out early, you’ll have to buy the game’s Season Pass 1.
Update [26/11/2021]: check out his idle and crouch animations courtesy of the Arc System Works Twitter feed.

The countdown begins!?7 days remaining until Happy Chaos makes his playable debut in Guilty Gear -Strive- !??For more information visit the official website:https://t.co/Z782dHyQUv#GuiltyGearStrive #HappyChaos pic.twitter.com/RUT43jg7sr
— ArcSystemWorks (@ArcSystemWorksU) November 24, 2021

Bravo! Bravo!??Just 6 more days!You can do it ! Can't you???#GuiltyGearStrive #HappyChaos pic.twitter.com/zi6gNmZVbO
— ArcSystemWorks (@ArcSystemWorksU) November 25, 2021


Bloober Team Provides Update On Silent Hill 2 Remake Development

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything concrete about the Silent Hill 2 Remake, so developer Bloober Team has provided an update to clear the air and clarify any fake rumours swirling around.
In a post on Twitter, Bloober Team said:
“As the Bloober Team, we don’t comment on rumors. However, this time we need to take the floor, as some recent statements have been taken out of context, due to inaccurate translations. Our company’s messages did not contain sales forecasters of specific titles. The figures connected to Silent Hill 2 refer to the potential success of the type of games we will be focusing on in the future.
It is also not true that we have announced that Silent Hill 2 is ready for release. Regardless of the development stage, all of our activities are focused on obtaining the highest quality for the finished product—the quality that fans of Silent Hill 2 deserve. We are aware that players are waiting for more information about Silent Hill 2. As soon as such information becomes available, we are sure that Konami, the publisher for the game, will share it with fans.”

pic.twitter.com/OeMPmvOMjk
— Bloober Team (@BlooberTeam) March 28, 2023

The Silent Hill 2 Remake was originally announced back in October 2022 during a PlayStation State Of Play live stream, but the game hasn’t received a proper release date or release window yet. It is slated to launch for the PS5 and PC.
In the meantime, re-watch the trailer below:


How To Play Google Play Movies & TV Content On Your PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 is more than just a gaming console; it’s a media box which can be a substitute for many other forms of entertainment. By now you are probably adept at watching your favourite Netflix shows on the Sony console, and at times, opting to browse YouTube and Twitch on it as well.
But what about Google Play Movies?

We aren’t sure if you’ve figured it out already but we figure we’d share this lesser-known tip which is useful for those who have purchased shows and movies via Google’s shop. Here are the simple steps:

Purchase whatever show you want via Google Movies.
Link the Google account used to your PlayStation account.
Open YouTube app on your PlayStation 4.
Under ‘Purchases’, play that movie and voila. New ways to maximize the usage of your PlayStation 4!

https://www.kakuchopurei.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/VID_20190209_123227.mp4


[Rumour] A Persona 3 RPG Remake Is In The Works By Atlus

Last year, Atlus teased several unannounced new titles for 2023. The JRPG-making company has also been busy making ports of the third Persona game that last appeared on the PSP, slated for Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
According to a recent rumour, Persona 3 will also be getting a full-fledged remake. The news is via the same person who leaked the existence of all three Persona games coming out for Xbox Game Pass (via ResetEra & My Nintendo News). The remake will feature Persona 5-quality graphics and aesthetics, as well as many quality-of-life improvements.
Perhaps that Persona anniversary graphic made last year was too huge a hint as it emulated the cover art of Persona 3.

There is no date or year set for the Persona 3 remake. In fact, these are all just rumours and speculation at this point in time, so take it with a grain of salt. However, I am curious if the remake will retcon the Persona 3 and FES endings so that a particular person ends up alive.
It’s good to know that Persona 3 is getting a bit more love, considering the JRPG was the first game in 2006 to shake up the foundations of the series, giving it its distinctive combat, art style, soundtrack tone, and social mechanics that carry the spin-off to mainstream heights up until today. And if this news and reception turns out successful, we might see old-school JRPGs Persona and Persona 2 (both of them) get equally-tailored remakes.


Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance Co-Op RPG Drops This June

Publisher Wizards Of The Coast and developer Tuque Games have announced the release date for co-op action RPG Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance. It is slated to launch for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via SteamÂ on 22 June 2021.
The game will be available in RM156 for the Standard Edition and RM234 for the Digital Deluxe Edition. The standard edition includes the game and â€œBeholder Weapon Set”. Meanwhile, the Digital Deluxe Edition includes all of that, as well as the â€œLich Weapon Setâ€ and â€œEchoes of the Blood Warâ€ expansion content.

Unfortunately, Dungeons & Dragons Dark Alliance won’t include an offline couch or split-screen co-op mode at launch. Speaking with Polygon, the gameâ€™s creative director Jeff Hattem said:
â€œAll the environments are very unique looking, and we wanted to bring the Forgotten Realms to life.
Icewind Dale, particularly, is a very harsh environment.
We wanted to bring that to life, and thatâ€™s partially why we got we got ahead of ourselves and why local co-op is not in the build at launch. We had to make a choice at some point.
Do we fully realize these environments, these monsters, and make it as immersive as possible?
We put the foot on the gas on that front.â€
Thankfully, Hattem also confirmed that couch co-op play could potentially come at a later date alongside other new content like new missions, new locations, new characters, and new gear sets.
In the meantime, check out the trailer and gameplay footage below:


Video Game Voice Actor Troy Baker Partners With NFT Company; Gets Slammed Online

Troy Baker, a prolific video game voice actor who isn’t known for his humility, is throwing his hat into the NFT ring. He is partnering with company Voiceverse NFT to probably get other people to buy digital receipts that comprise of customized digital artworks in his likeness, probably.
Keep in mind that Voiceverse is the first company to create VoiceNFTs that lets you create all kinds of voice content and you owning all of the IP if you own a Voice NFT, probably for a ludicrous amount of money.

I’m partnering with @VoiceverseNFT to explore ways where together we might bring new tools to new creators to make new things, and allow everyone a chance to own & invest in the IP’s they create. We all have a story to tell. You can hate.Or you can create.What’ll it be? pic.twitter.com/cfDGi4q0AZ
— Troy Baker (@TroyBakerVA) January 14, 2022

He even went out of his way to add in the famous “you can hate or you can create” line. This is coming from a guy who took offense at a games journalist because he thought games take too long to complete, which is a fair comment to make.
The internet is indeed quick to react, though not for the better. Here are a few key responses:

hey look at this new jpeg I found and also own pic.twitter.com/BJTR5aw8YR
— fanbyte (@FanbyteMedia) January 14, 2022

What a massive, absolute L.
— Matt McMuscles (@MattMcMuscles) January 14, 2022

That’s a no from me dawg
— Anisa Sanusi (@studioanisa) January 14, 2022

God fucking damn it man.
— Scott Frerichs ???? (@KaiserNeko) January 14, 2022

create a culturally bereft wasteland in exchange for a few quick bucks? pic.twitter.com/IyXMhzZXu9
— Aoife Wilson (@AoifeLockhart) January 14, 2022

You can create THIS. pic.twitter.com/1SOViKxHa2
— Suzi Hunter (@TheSphereHunter) January 14, 2022

Damn man, even Google Search is pissed about this https://t.co/NKyN8Tx5lz pic.twitter.com/pxxAg52Aw9
— Skill Up (@SkillUpYT) January 14, 2022

All jesting aside, I do believe that Voiceverse might have some good intentions here: it’s not like they’re having their NFT ideas plaguing video games or any other medium that doesn’t need it. It’s a transaction between Voiceverse, the VO in question, the artist who did the work, and the buyer who probably has a lot of money for these kinds of endeavours. That environmental damage blockchain and NFTs are doing needs to be fixed ASAP, but as long as they keep it within these parties, folks should let them do whatever they want in the most legal sense possible.
Of course, there’s also the other issue of Voiceverse allegedly stealing and profiting off of somebody’s work.

The NFT scheme that Troy Baker is promoting is already finding itself in trouble after stealing and profiting off of somebody else's work. Who could've seen this coming. pic.twitter.com/WHpbw5Ljun
— YongYea (@YongYea) January 14, 2022


Apex Legends Season 16 Class System: An In-Depth Look

With Season 16 just around the corner, the build-up towards it continues to hype the fans up. After 4 years of success, Apex Legends are launching the most exciting season since it’s been launched. The new season, which drops February 14th, will introduce a huge rework to the Legends Class system. Having been given the chance to participate in an early playtest for Season 16 Revelry, I will be covering the class rework and the legend changes in-depth right here.

NEW APEX LEGENDS CLASS SYSTEM

The new class system will feature 5 different classes, Assault, Skirmisher, Recon, Support and Controller. The rework system implements a passive perk for each class which will give players a more strategic value in combat.

The Assault Class will be a Combat Initiator in which they will instigate and initiate plays to force enemies to take fights.

Legends : Bangalore, Ash, Fuse, Mad Maggie, Revenant
Unique Perk: They are able to access a hidden shelf in a new Weapon Supply Bin. Similar to Lifeline’s Ultimate, her Care Package, the bins follow a smart loot system which provides upgrades for your current weapon. The bins will also provide weapon attachments. An additional perk this class will have is that they can carry an extra stack of ammo in their inventory slot. So instead of 60, they will now carry 80 ammo per slot.

The Skirmisher Class are more focused on mobility and escape, or if you are more of an aggressive player, zooming into fights.

Legends : Wraith, Valkyrie, Octane, Horizon, Mirage, Pathfinder
Unique Perk: They are able to see what weapon is in a Care Package even before it drops.  As long as they ping the Care Package, they are able to track and see when the weapon is picked up.

The Recon Class are the more information gatherers. They will focus on tracking and getting enemy intel.

Legends : Crypto, Seer, Vantage, Bloodhound
Unique Perk: In the past, Recon legends were able to scan beacons for the next ring data. Instead, they will now scan the Survey Beacon, which has been reworked, to reveal enemy locations on their map. The scan lasts for 30 seconds and acts like Crypto’s Map Room which is on King’s Canyon. However, nearby enemies will be alerted of the location of the Beacon being scanned.

The Support Class essentially focuses heavily on team survival. They are the backup of the team providing useful supplies.

Legends : Newcastle, Lifeline, Loba, Gibby
Unique Perk: Now Lifeline’s old passive of opening hidden shelves from blue bins has been removed, and given to all support legends instead. The blue bins will now provide healing and survival items, which include the Mobile Respawn Beacon as well as Heat Shields. The best part about this class? They can now craft ally banners even after they have timed out.

The Controller class are your camp-out bunker-in and area-denier gamers. This class will focus on controlling designated areas. So yes, you know which legends will fall under this.

Legends : Catalyst, Wattson, Caustic, Rampart
Unique Perk: So Controller legends will now receive the old Recon passive, which is to scan beacons, but instead of beacons, Respawn is introducing a Ring Console, which replaces the beacon for scanning next ring locations. This is so our friendly resident Caustic can bunker up and set up. 😉

MAJOR LEGEND CHANGES
Since Seer was introduced into Apex Legends in Season 10, he has been a MUST PICK for competitive players. Scan meta has been dominating the meta over the course of many seasons, and it’s about time the meta shifts away from that. Revelry addresses all these issues, shake up the meta completely, and gives some legends some well-deserved love.

SEER is FINALLY getting the nerf he needed (and deserves). He will no longer be able to jump around and use his passive scan freely, Heart Seeker. Seer will now have a small wind-up time and enemies will hear an audible noise of him using it nearby. The range of hearing it is pretty far, so you will now be able to pounce on those free scanners. His ultimate, Exhibit, has also been given a bigger cooldown time, which means Seers will not be able to use it at every fight they get into.
Speaking of scans, Bloodhound, one of the original legends from release, is taking a small hit to their ultimate. To shift away from the scan meta, Respawn has now reverted Bloodhound where their tactical will still remain the same even during their ultimate, Beast of the Hunt. To compensate this, Bloodhound will be getting a new passive, which is a White Raven. White Ravens are found near enemy locations and will fly towards them and reveal them when they are approached.

Horizon, which has been a hard legend to balance, has also taken a hit in Revelry. While using her tactical ability Gravity Lift, gun accuracy will be greatly reduced. However, her vertical rise speed and distance on the lift have been increased, which makes it harder for players who are on the lift to shoot freely down below.

Wraith mains, who have been begging for some form of buff for seasons, after being nerfed for some time, will finally be getting some love. Wraith was a day one competitive legend and it’s about time she gets back up in there. Her ultimate, Dimensional Rift, in which she places her portal will now go double the distance. She will also be getting a speed buff while in her ultimate.

Our wholesome Pathfinder will also be getting some love. His Ziplines will be stretching twice as far, as well as he and his teammates will be able to travel faster on the zips. This is similar to zip rails on Broken Moon, but just a tad bit slower.

Mirage fans will be happy to know that they have buffed his passive a little bit more. Now when Mirage revives, he and his teammate will both remain cloaked for about 3 seconds, IF you don’t pull your gun out.  Another buff Mirage fans will enjoy is that when his clone is shot and someone is Bamboozled, Mirage and his teammates will be able to track the enemy for a short period of time, as it will be shown on the map.

Our WIFELINE mains will rejoice as her slow penalty when reviving a teammate has been greatly reduced. Testing it felt like the revive animation would happen almost instantly. Her drop time on her Care Package has also been increased, as well as the distance she can drop it from.
With all these BIG changes coming in Season 16 for Apex Legends, Respawn is hoping to stir up the competitive meta as well as help with some low pick rates of some legends. Season 16 will be introducing a lot of content which has got many fans excited. Here’s to hoping Revelry lives up to the hype!


Xbox Game Pass Has 31 Games Confirmed For 2022 So Far

2021 was a great year for Xbox and its Xbox Game Pass service. Players received major games like Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, Psychonauts 2, and many more. In 2022, players can look forward to even more Xbox Game Pass Day One games coming to them.
So far, there have been 31 confirmed games to release on the same launch day and date on Xbox Game Pass. These 31 Xbox Game Pass Day One games are not all there is, as there will be more games announced throughout 2022 itself.
For instance, in January 2022 alone, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will receive The Anacrusis, a Left 4 Dead-inspired co-op shooter game set in space, as well as Pupperazzi and the long-awaited Windjammers 2.
These are the confirmed Xbox Game Pass Day One games for 2022 so far:

The Anacrusis – 13 January 2022
Pupperazzi – 20 January 2022
Windjammers 2 – 20 January 2022
Shredders – February 2022
Edge of Eternity – 10 February 2022
Total War: Warhammer 3 – 17 February 2022
Weird West – 31 March 2022
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – Spring 2022
STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl – 28 April 2022
Midnight Fight Express – Summer 2022
Redfall – Summer 2022
Scorn – October 2022
Starfield – 11 November 2022
A Plague Tale: Requiem – 2022
Atomic Heart – 2022
Bushiden – 2022
Chinatown Detective Agency – 2022
Crusader Kings 3 – 2022
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising – 2022
Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery – 2022
Hello Neighbor 2 – 2022
Loot River – 2022
Nobody Saves The World – 2022
Party Animals – 2022
Pigeon Simulator – 2022
Replaced – 2022
Signalis – 2022
Slime Rancher 2 – 2022
Sniper Elite 5 – 2022
Somerville – 2022
Trek To Yomi – 2022

However, keep in mind that most of these games don’t have definitive release dates as of yet, with a general 2022 release window. However, they are assured to be Day One games on Xbox Game Pass, so players can look forward to that. Let’s hope 2022 is filled with great games.


Retro Horror Game World Of Horror To Launch In Summer 2023

Developed by panstasz and published by Ysbryd Games, survival horror indie game World of Horror will leave Early Access after three years. It will launch sometime in summer 2023.
World Of Horror follows the rural residents of a seaside Japanese town facing inhuman terrors, as reality frays and tears at the edges. Investigate the eldritch mysteries striking your town, and seek the truth behind the depredations of man and monster. Players will solve puzzles to collect precious items and arcane spells and struggle against malevolent legends of Japanese folklore while trying to hold onto your sanity and survive in this horrific 1-bit roguelike RPG.
Players will also invoke dark rituals, uncover disturbing clues, and solve puzzles across multiple randomized mysteries. Each perplexing case unravels into a series of random encounters with nightmarish figures inspired by the works of horror legends Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft.
The game is currently on sale (at a 13 percent discount) for a few more days on Steam.


Rainbow Six Parasite Gameplay Leaks Show Off Hot Alien-Killing & Gadget-Using Action

There’s a leak going about regarding the next Rainbow Six game, and it features something out of left field. At least for the tone of the whole series anyway.
The leak of Rainbow Six Parasite/Rainbow Six Quarantine gameplay footage is out on YouTube, and it features main character Ela shooting down creepy aliens while completing a rescue mission. It’s what you would expect from a Rainbow Six game, but with a sci-fi slant (via DBL Online).

One can say that this is Ubisoft’s way of pulling off a Call of Duty Infinite: take a modern times military shooter with tactical elements, and then change things up a little with an outerworldly concept. It still retains the series’ propensity for new gadgets like scan grenades, nitro cell, and recon drones. You’re also still graded for objectives completed, how well you pull off the mission, and whether you master techniques during the rescue.
This video will be taken down quickly, so watch it while you can. Rainbow Six Parasite might not have a date announced, but we’re guessing it’ll be out this year.


Cowboy Bebop: Let’s Compare The Key Scenes From The Original With The 2021 Netflix Adaptation

When you make an adaptation or remake, you’re going to draw comparisons with the source material. The same will hold true for the Cowboy Bebop 2021 live-action adaptation series, which is an adaptation of the late 90s hit anime sci-fi series.
Thankfully, the show isn’t a complete shot-by-shot remake. However, it does at least pay homage by adapting key scenes in live-action. We’ll show you how in this picture-heavy feature: we’ll start with the key scenes that are already revealed in promos and trailers, then work our way to spoiler territory. We’ll be sure to warn you with the usual red-and-white when it crops up.
Asimov & Katerina
The criminal couple in the first episode of the anime. There’s a bit more added in the live-action version.

Punch & Judy
The hosts of the bounty hunter show Big Shot in the Cowboy Bebop universe gets recreated, camp and all. Props for having the live-action truly react to what’s going on with the second episode bounty.

Teddy Bomber
The madcap bomber in the Cowboy Funk episode. The live-action serious version appears in the second episode of the show.

Ana
One owns a convenience store, the other owns a renowned nightclub called Ana’s. Both have dealings with the syndicate in some way or other.

Abdul Hakim
Crook who stole a data dog in Episode 2 of the anime, a thief sticking it to the rich in Episode 3 of the live-action adaptation.

Julia
The lynchpin character in the original anime’s main story arc. She plays a vital role in the adaptation as well; we’ll get to that later.

Vicious
The Syndicate antagonist. The live-action version is missing his giant-ass crow pet. And arguably the anime version’s coolness.

The makers really made the actor (Alex Hassell) go ham with this guy, for better or worse.

Maria “Mama” Murdock
The eco-terrorist group leader in the anime episode “Gateway Shuffle”.

Mad Pierrot
The psychotic killing machine in the anime, now a bit more svelte but no less scary in the live-action version.

Ballad Of Fallen Angels Spike vs Vicious Standoff
The very first thing teased after the Cowboy Bebop production shots came out months ago.

The following scenes are major spoilers for the live-action adaptation on Netflix; you’ve been warned.

Asimov’s Red Eye Effect
Asimov takes the Red Eye drug to boost his combat skills. It’s actually more terrifying in the live-adaptation.

Katerina’s Death
The climax of the first episode involves a botched Red Eye chemical robbery; the criminal couple died as a result.

The Syndicate Leaders

The head honchos who govern Vicious. Or at least try to anyway.
Faye (in yellow)
For those asking for Faye to be as anime accurate as possible, here’s your answer. Anyway, it should be noted that Faye is still wearing hotpants when in combat; the lighting just makes her seem like her leggings are one with her pants.

Whitney
In the anime, Whitney is a guy who conned Faye into taking his debts, pretending to represent a law firm.
In the live-action show, Whitney is a woman who steals identity kits for profit and scams; she teamed up with Faye before eventually betraying her, leading her to be a bounty hunter in Episode 1 of the show.
Both versions basically impact Faye’s life and personality post-cryosleep, albeit in different ways.

Udai
The crook who supposedly shot up Jet’s arm out of cold blood in the anime (Session 16: Black Dog Serenade) and live-action show.

Fad
Jet Black’s former partner in the police force in the anime (Session 16: Black Dog Serenade) and TV series. In the latter, both of them suspect one of the cops Chalmers for being crooked and setting Jet Black up.

Faye’s Flashback Moments
Just like in the anime, Faye rediscovers her past through a videocassette. The circumstances are different, but the shot-by-shot still hits hard. And they used the same piano track here.

The Ballad Of Fallen Angels Climax
The big twist for this moment (in the last episode “Supernova Symphony) is that Julia ends up taking over the Syndicate and screws over Spike and Vicious. This makes Spike’s literal fall from grace all the more painful.

Ed
Surprise, surprise: the adaptation saved the best for last. She/he (played by Eden Perkins) appears in the last few minutes of the final episode to give Spike a new job.


KKP Best Of 2020: Game #30

Is 2020 really the best year? It depends on how you look at it.
Despite the very long year of a worldwide pandemic, online events up the wazoo, and a struggling economy, video games seem to be doing just great. Since people already have their consoles and platforms from a year or so ago and are mostly indoors, it’s only a matter of buying games that are complete to entertain yourself.
Granted, the end of 2020 is arguably a questionable time for folks to spend RM2,000+ for a luxury next-gen console. However, if you can snag one, you’re still in for a treat.

But we’re here to talk about the best games and the best game-related things of 2020. What are they? Why are they?
Starting today from 14th December to 15th January (Mondays to Fridays), we’ll be counting down our 30 best games of the year. Technically we’ve already mentioned our top 16, but we’ll be putting it in word form for the sake of this month-long feature to celebrate the best of 2020 gaming. This is despite the year being, well, crummy.
Just a few amendments & stipulations:
-We are only including games that received a score of 70 and above on our site. Having said that, we will make acceptions for a few titles that we played but didn’t review in full form.
-We are not including compilations, remasters that aren’t full-on remakes), and legacy collections on our final 2020 games list. Sorry, Mega Man Zero/Zero Legacy Collection, Mr Driller Drilland, and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. You’ll have to make do on the Honorable Mentions list or something, but with July arrivals and onward, we have to make room for other newer titles that need attention.
–We will also not be putting in games made in 2018 on a 2020 list for obvious reasons. We’re definitely excluding you, Among Us.
So in no particular order, here is game #30, which should not come as a surprise to many of you who follow our JRPG and Final Fantasy antics.
#30. Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4)

We canâ€™t help it: thereâ€™s just a lot to unpack from Final Fantasy VII Remake. It’s one-half a nostalgia trip and one-half revisionist history exercise that forms a 30 to 40-hour action RPG title with a neat battle system and a boatload of challenges.
Even when itâ€™s long in the tooth with some of its dungeons, the overall experience ended up being a grand experiment that succeeds in all fronts. It serves both as a gateway drug for newer Final Fantasy fans, kinda. But mostly as a love letter to old-school fans who want to see a new take on a game they cherished 20 plus years ago.
Plus, the appearance of the Whispers and that last chapter further proves that the “Remake” moniker is pretty inaccurate. This one’s truly for the fans who have stuck around the Final Fantasy VII name and legacy for god-knows-how-long. Yes, even through the dark ages when Square Enix thought it was a good idea to make Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus.


Gatekeeping Sim Game Who is Zombie Launches Today

Who is Zombie, a visual novel styled, gatekeeping zombie game set in the year 2033 launches today for the Nintendo Switch and on Steam.
Who is Zombie puts you in the shoes of inspector protagonist, Aiden, who is pressed for time in determining which of the hordes of people seeking shelter has been infected with the zombie virus and which should be let inside. Imagine the game Papers Please, but set in a zombie apocalypse.

In the game, players will have to study the profiles of the citizens seeking shelter and ask the right questions to determine if the person in question has been infected or not. Since these peopleâ€™s lives are on the line, players will need to carefully check the data given to them and watch for symptoms of the zombie virus, making sure they donâ€™t turn away a survivor who could have been saved or accidentally bring in that one person who always hides their zombie bite.

Judging conditions will change and multiply as the days pass by, changing it up for the core gameplay loop while looking out for special zombie variants, making your job as inspector increasingly difficult with each day.
Gatekeeping wonâ€™t be what you only do as events involving drama taking place within the walls of the shelter will occur, putting their personal values and judgment skills to the test in a visual novel style format. The game contains multiple endings depending on how you navigate your job but aside from the story mode, the survival mode will put players through random obstacles and judging conditions for those wanting a more arcade-y experience.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBTDRKn5wwo
The game is available for Nintendo Switch and Steam for RM21.50, but you can snag a 10% discount that will last until the 2nd of March.


Granblue Fantasy Versus Season 2 Will Be Out This September; Teases New Character

Anime fighting game fans can look forward to a lovely second season of 2D fighting game wunderkind Granblue Fantasy Versus.
Arc System Works has announced the date for Season 2: 24th September. The highlight of the bottom trailer is Belial, now playable later this year. He shows up in GBVS’ story as the secondary antagonist, so he’ll definitely play a bigger role here. Moves-wise, he seems tailored to be a rushdown mixup-plenty character who sets up traps and punishes mistakes with fast moves and distance-closing shenanigans.

The Season 2 pass also features balance changes for all characters, Versus Rank reset, and an additional 5 new characters. If you buy the Season pass, you also get to dress shotos Gran and Djeeta with Malevolent Alter Ego bonus outfits.

Oh yeah, there’s going to be a story update for the game’s RPG mode. There will be five new chapters and a Zooey boss battle, as well as rankings for the Boss Rush Mode.

And to cap off this good news, Arc System Works teased the next character: the female wizard Cagliostro. She’ll be out as a playable character late October. Which may confirm that the next four slots may involve these character predictions. It’s only a matter of time until Sandalphon pops up.

The third Season 2 character will be out later this year, while the fourth, fifth, and sixth will be out in 2021.


Genshin Impact’s Latest Character Announcement Sports A Six-Pack

Mihoyo’s latest character announcement for its online RPG Genshin Impact is certainly making waves on Twitter.
Announced ahead of time and way before he appears in story mode, we now get a first look at Genshin Impact’s latest upcoming character: Arataki Itto, the first and greatest head of the Arataki Gang.

"Hello, I'm the deputy of the Arataki Gang. If you come across any inappropriate behavior on the part of our boss, Arataki Itto, please contact me immediately. " — Kuki Shinobu
? Arataki Itto? The First and Greatest Head of the Arataki Gang? Geo? Taurus Iracundus pic.twitter.com/c7Nb9LKDAL
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) October 11, 2021

He’s a Geo user who fights with a claymore, and now competes with Zhongli for the title of “Geo Daddy”. Naturally, the internet reacts to this handsome fellow with the six-pack, comparing him to strong characters from other anime and gaming mediums.

rengoku and itto !!! just because !!! pic.twitter.com/TBVyPpt3k8
— yushi ??..???? (@poruvoron) October 11, 2021

// genshin leaks (on the left)
can we just take a moment to appreciate itto model leak's hair and how it kinda looks like ibaraki douji's from onmyouji pic.twitter.com/guHV2GF97j
— min | kamisato ayato ? (@HUTAO1ST) October 6, 2021

Given his elemental and weapon of choice, he may be the 5-star equivalent of current 4-star Knight of Favonius Noelle, though he might have an emphasis on higher DPS since that’s the current meta. Itto has no release date as of yet, but the internet is clearly clamouring for his impending arrival.

Here's Genshin Monday featuring the new GEO DADDY: Arataki Ittohttps://t.co/AQkhj5R2i4https://t.co/AQkhj5R2i4https://t.co/AQkhj5R2i4 pic.twitter.com/HLVPBn4JhK
— Atsu ?? CONQuest ?? (@AsianGuyStream) October 11, 2021

If this guy ain't voiced by the same dude as DIO, then… then… pic.twitter.com/tHFFeJNX8w
— GLOCO?? (@GLOCOgaming) October 11, 2021

Welcome to the gang pic.twitter.com/b3crQEzVm2
— Genshin Impact Memes (@Genshinmem) October 11, 2021

Ayato hasn't slept for days #thomato #thoma #GenshinImpact #?? pic.twitter.com/YkzPDvU55i
— rinrin20 (@rinrink20) October 11, 2021

What you will find when you look up the definition of beautiful: pic.twitter.com/0HpIhLZV6B
— Atsu ?? CONQuest ?? (@AsianGuyStream) October 11, 2021

#GenshinImpact #?? pic.twitter.com/YQbgSHKlmt
— Genshin Impact Memes (@Genshinmem) October 11, 2021

im sorry childe pic.twitter.com/YyIW5JtGPa
— yan (@hihkoo) October 11, 2021


Marvel’s Avengers Is An Alright Destiny-Like Game With Marketing Issues

When Square Enix’s Marvel Avengers was announced during E3 2019, people were wondering what the hell kind of title it was thanks to buzzwords like “live services” and “online play” thrown into the mix. Now that it’s closer to the game’s release month of September, we know what it is: a team-based third-person action title that developer Crystal Dynamics will let loose with graphics-wise.
Say what you will about the game’s past trailers, but the Marvel Avengers beta controls & plays just find and dandy. Once you’re done with the HARM tutorial segments where you learn the ins and outs of your selectable heroes -Iron Man, Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Hulk, and Black Widow – and the co-op partner bits, you can jump right in the story mission slices and War Zone/Drop Zone online co-op modes.
The early story bits give you a broad scope of the story: the Avengers are in hiding after a catastrophe on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Captain America is dead(?) and there’s a disease turning everyone into Inhumans (basically the terragen mist story in video game form). The science-based organization AIM plans to find a cure, but if you’ve at least read a single superhero comic book in your life, things will go sideways.
Embiggen

This is where Kamala Khan comes in. She gets affected by the disease, ends up getting superpowers, somehow meets Bruce Banner/Hulk by sheer coincidence, and plans to bring the Avengers back together again in this new video game comic book adaptation story. This is a great way to introduce folks to your already-common story: bring someone who is green like Kamala and tell the story through her perspective. It’s not unique, but the VO who portrays Kamala and the rest of the cast makes the story all the more enriching.
When you start playing, each character has the same basic control scheme and set of moves. You have your light melee attack, a heavy attack, a ranged attack, a dodge, a parry, and the hero’s distinct special and ultimate moves with cooldown timers. Each character will have an Intrinsic Meter that lets you use a character’s special unique skill once it’s filled up. To do that is entirely dependant on the character: some of them fill it up by just letting it recharge while idle, while others fill it by busting AIM heads.

And these abilities do help: Hulk’s Intrinsic Meter lets you tank and keep enemies distracted while soaking up damage, while Ms. Marvel’s skill let her power up her large sweeping melee attacks by extending their range a lot more than usual. Black Widow zips around the field and does burst damage and combos like Tifa in FFVII Remake, while Iron Man focuses on long-range shooty shooty bang bang laser abilities. The game’s multitude of skill trees for each character extends their skillset further: you can either prioritize Ms. Marvel’s light or heavy attacks, or make Iron Man focus either on rocket attacks or DPS-consistent laser beams.
To add further customization and play styles, Marvel Avengers is really taking the online action-adventure RPG route with its mission structure and gear system. The story missions are about what you expect: follow the pathway and beat up enemies, or survive waves while protecting something. Maybe some platforming or two. Then you have the multiplayer missions where the whole point is to team up, fight enemies, get your gear, and repeat ad nauseum. While not as fun as the story missions, they serve their purpose for end-game looting.
Gear Box

And loot you will! Marvel Avengers‘ gear system is similar to titles like Destiny, where you improve your stats with high-numbered gear that come with various colours that represent tiers. The best ones will give you additional buffs like inflicting more elemental damage or adding extra attacks and kits to your Avengers’ existing attacks. The better your gear, the higher your Power level is, and the higher that value is, the tougher the stages will get that will become available.
So far, the entire experience is pretty solid. It’s basically what happens when last year’s Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 gets a sorta-serious Marvel Cinematic Universe-esque makeover, have tweaked third-person controls and better group dynamic, and is give the Crystal Dynamic touch that’s prevalent in the company’s Tomb Raider and Soul Reaver titles. Think Destiny 2 but using Marvel characters, and you’re pretty much on track.
And it holds a lot of promise for both story-savvy comic book gamers and folks looking for a Marvel-themed online instance-based action game. Even if there are some unknowns that will only be debunked once the full game is out, there’s a lot to like here.

So What’s The Problem?
In a recent announcement, people who will buy the PC and Xbox versions of Marvel Avengers will not be getting Spider-Man post-launch. Essentially, it seems that the PS4 version is the “correct” version of the game you should buy if you want some hot 2020 Marvel action. To put it simply: a good chunk of the final game will be locked out for non-PlayStation users.
Since Spider-Man is an IP that is mostly owned by Sony (game, movie rights, and so forth), this is not surprising. But it is still disappointing from a consumer perspective. This is an extreme version of a publisher locking out content for exclusivity’s sake (ie: Call of Duty maps & Destiny content for PS first) that should be in a Marvel game, considering the insane popularity and significance of Spider-Man.

I do hope PlayStation can play ball and at least allow Crystal Dynamics, Square Enix, and co. to allow access to the web-headed wizard for all console versions of the game because this is pretty unfair for others. Yes, a sizeable number of folks in Southeast Asia have PlayStations and will probably get the PS version of the game, but that’s not the point here.
The point here is that a marketing decision is excluding a game of its post-launch content that should be shared by all. It isn’t really a competitive decision if you’re devaluing or nerfing your own product on other consoles you aren’t making exclusivity deals with.
Marvel Avengers will be out 4th September and will be Spider-Man-less on non-PlayStation platformers.


Twitch Partners Can Now Stream On Other Platforms Too

Earlier today, Twitch published an update to its Partner program. According to the newly-updated FAQ, Twitch Partners can now stream on other platforms, albeit with a caveat. They can stream simulcast on platforms like TikTok and Instagram but not “Twitch-like” services like YouTube and Facebook.
The full statement reads:
We do not allow simulcasting on web-based, Twitch-like services that support streaming for extended periods of time, such as YouTube and Facebook, because we believe engaging with two streams at once can lead to a sub-optimal experience for your community. However, we know many of you want to use other services to grow your community, so simulcasting on short form, mobile services, such as TikTok or Instagram Live, is allowed.
Despite there still being restrictions, at least Twitch Partners can now expand their horizons and try out other platforms. For instance, TikTok alone could be huge in increasing a Twitch Partner’s viewers, considering how popular the platform currently is amongst younger users.