Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection Full Patch Notes

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection gets its first major update, and it brings fan-requested features and a host of improvements.

Better yet, TMNT IV: Turtles in Time (SNES) online multiplayer will also be included in this patch. Developer Digital Eclipse also confirmed that TMNT III: The Manhattan Project (NES) will receive online play capabilities in its future update.
Here’s the full patch list:
TMNT: COWABUNGA COLLECTION LATEST ADDITION

The Home Menu icon will change to the box art (Switch)
Arcade controller for Playstation 4 is now supported. Playstation 4 joystick support has now been implemented (Playstation 5)
Xbox arcade stick is now supported. Implemented the Xbox joystick support (Xbox One/Xbox Series)
Player can now set the lobby size for two arcade games when creating an online lobby. The host can limit it to two, three, or four players.
A new enhancement was added to TMNT: Tournament Fighters (SNES / Super Famicom). Ultimate-Attacks are now enabled in Story Mode ON/OFF.
A new enhancement was added to TMNT: Tournament Fighters (Super Famicom). “Group Mode” can now be enabled ON / OFF. (Exclusive only in the Japanese version.)
A new enhancement was added to TMNT (Arcade) (United States / Japan). The number of lives per coin can be adjusted from one to five.
A new enhancement was added to TMNT: Turtles in Time (Arcade) (United States). The number of lives per coin can be adjusted from 1-8.
A new enhancement was added to TMNT (Arcade) (United States / Japan). Difficulty modes can now be adjusted.
A new enhancement was added to TMNT: Turtles in Time (Arcade) (United States). Difficulty modes can now be adjusted.
A new enhancement was added to TMNT: Turtles in Time (Arcade) (United States). The Game Loop can now be turned ON / OFF. While ON, the game will restart from the beginning after the credits.
New button action added to “Arcade US/JP TMNT”, “Arcade US Turtles in Time”, “SNES/Super Famicom Turtles in Time”, and “Genesis/MegaDrive Hyperstone Heist”. Players can now assign a button to “Special”. This button presses “Attack” and “Jump” together to make it easier for special attacks.
New color enhancement was added to all Game Boy games. Added Game Boy Color Mode ON / OFF. A new “Color Palette” option is included in the Pause Menu for all Game Boy games. In addition to other filters, players can choose between four color palettes: 1. black and white, 2. Game Boy green, 3. Game Boy Pocket green, 4. Game Boy Light blue.
Audio for various games and the Main Menu is adjusted.
Additional pages for NES Tournament Fighters and Genesis Tournament Fighters are added to the Strategy Guide.
An additional page for Genesis Tournament Fighters and Genesis Hyperstone Heist is added to the Strategy Guide.
Visual settings are saved per game.

FIXED ISSUES

The German translation for “Punch repeatedly” for Strategy guide page 11 has been fixed.
In the music player, the cassette tape icon for the arcade TMNT show now shows the correct icon.
On page 5 of the Strategy Guide (SNES Turtles in Time), Turtle Tip 3 screenshot has been replaced.
In SNES Turtles in Time, Stage Select enhancements now work even after settings are changed in Options.
In TMNT: Hyperstone Heist, Stage Select enhancements currently works when selecting two players.
Easy Menu Navigation enhancement for TMNT III Manhattan Project (NES) /TMNT 2 The Manhattan Project (Famicom) now work.
Extra Credits enhancements to SNES Tournament Fighters now work.
SNES Turtles in Time manual in the museum now includes missing pages 18 to 19.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is now available for Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Check out the full Cowabunga collection here.


Coffee Talk Studio Launches Southeast Asia Game Developer Funding Program

Toge Productions, the Indonesian developer of last year’s awesome chillax visual novel Coffee Talk, has launched the Toge Game Fund Initiative.
The initiative will support Southeast Asian game developers who can pitch games to the publisher. If successfully, the budding game devs can receive up to US$10,000 in funding. Aside from that, the initiative will provide mentorship, consultation, and project management to assist with the creation of prototypes or minimum viable products (MVP).

Toge Productionsproudly presents
?? TOGE GAME FUND INITIATIVE ??
If you're from Southeast Asia and you're looking for a fund for your game project, submit your pitch deck to us and get up to 10K USD!
For more info?? https://t.co/DRIqPRRBFZ#indiegame #gamedev #indiedev pic.twitter.com/7eGer0kfmK
— Toge Productions ? (@togeproductions) June 8, 2021

Toge will have the right of first refusal to sign a game project to a publishing deal, though the developers will retain ownership of the IP and its supported projects. Understandable, since they are a publishing house themselves.
“In order to help marginalized and underrepresented game developers of Southeast Asia turn their game ideas into reality, we want to provide a safety net for you to experiment and iterate.”
So if you have a lovely game idea to pitch, you can try your luck here.Â


New Apex Legends Leak Hints At More Titanfall Weapons

We’re not very far away from the launch of the third season of Apex Legends. With more leaks coming out almost every few days, Respawn should just let data miners do the announcements for new content. Hmm, maybe that’s exactly what they’re doing…
The latest leak comes from a data miner from Reddit named Smurfson who has compiled all the reload animations of yet unreleased weapons into a video complete with familiar voices calling out the names of the weapons.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMXjMY4N3aY&w=560&h=315]
Titanfall fans will note that all these weapons have been taken directly from their beloved game series. The appearance and reload animations are pretty much identical. Game developers reuse assets all the time so this isn’t entirely surprising. It saves time and cost.
Most intriguing out of all the leaks are the two last ones: the data knife and its animation for hacking. Seeing as how we’re constantly getting teased with clues of the hacker Crypto being the next playable legend, this could very well be one of his unique weapons and skills.
Still, I won’t rule out the possibility that the data knife could also be a weapon exclusively made for the speculated PVE mode. Other leaks have been hinting at the addition of Titanfall-esque pilotable mechs and unique enemy flyers (those dragon-like creatures that started appearing in Season 2) which all point to the possibility of a PVE mode.
As always, take the leaks with a pinch of salt. We won’t have to wait very long for the unveiling for Season 3 so stay tuned!


Gamescom 2019: Paradox Shows Off More Empire Of Sin Gameplay; Combat And Mafia Empire Management

You ever wanted to build up your own mafia empire where you could manage your protection rackets, take your gang members out for turf wars, and build diplomatic relations through baseball bat persuasion?
Well, you’re in luck because Romero Games and Paradox Interactive are bringing us Empire of Sin next year. It’s a real time strategy shooter similar to the X-COM games but with a Prohibition Era gangster twist. Capiche?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_izLa5D5NY&w=560&h=315]
As part of fulfilling your Godfather/Goodfellas fantasy, you’ll be placed in the shoes of a crime boss in 1920s Chicago. Use any means necessary to expand your influence and get more movers and shakers on your side. Sometimes, things will get messy so make sure you bring some guns to the negotiation table.
There will be more than 60 characters that you can interact with. Some can be recruited to join your gang as on-the-ground mobsters while others can provide diplomatic and management benefits such as bonus income and better trade deals.

No specific release date yet but it’s expected that Empire of Sin will be released around April or May 2020. The game is being developed for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Check out the official website here.


BlazBlue Is Turning Into A Mobile RPG Gacha Game…

The wheel of fate wants some extra cash.
Arc System Works announces a spin-off game in the 2D fighting game BlazBlue franchise. The game type? It’s a mobile RPG called Blazblue Alternative Darkwar for iOS and Android. The gacha game featuring such creatively-named heroes like Ragnar Bloodedge and Iron Tager will act as a sequel to the long-running fighting game series. The game’s story takes place during the “Dark War” and will have its script and writing supervised by series creator Toshimichi Mori.
The game is on pre-reg mode right now; if you pre-register early, you’ll get an S-Class Noel Vermillion in a school uniform for free. If pre-reg numbers are over 10 million users, all players will get character advancement and upgrade items.
The game will be out in February 2021 in Japan. No English version has been announced yet. Check out the trailer below.


Dying Light 2 Is Delayed To 2022

In an expected but warranted move, Techland will be delaying its first-person zombie parkour game Dying Light 2.
Originally slated for 7th December this year, the upcoming title will instead be out on 4th February, 2022, for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. The official reason is that the game needs more work.
“The game is complete and we are currently playtesting itâ€¦Unfortunately, weâ€™ve realized [that] for us to bring the game to the level we envision, we need more time to polish and optimize it. We are sorry to keep you all waiting a little longer, but we want the game to meet your highest expectations on release and we donâ€™t want to compromise on this.”

Update regarding release date. pic.twitter.com/xAx1RMbw0X
— Dying Light (@DyingLightGame) September 14, 2021

This also means that February is going to be 2022’s most-stacked year for gaming. Dying Light 2 will have to vie for everyone’s attention alongside games like the new Saints Row reboot, the PS5/PC action game Sifu, Destiny 2’s new expansion The Witch Queen, the new Evil Dead game, and Horizon: Forbidden West.


Six Flagship-Like Experiences That Are Now Available On The Galaxy A Series

This article is in partnership with Samsung.
Almost our whole lives revolve around our phones in this day and age, from accessing financial services, to shopping, to ordering food, to entertainment. To know just how much time we spend on our phones, the Digital Wellbeing feature lets you check screen time.
Knowing how important our phones are in running our daily activities, Samsung brings six distinctively flagship-like experiences to the Galaxy A Series.
Link To Windows

Connect on a whole new level with Link to Windows on your Galaxy A Series phones and the Phone Link app on your PC. You can seamlessly transfer content between your devices and use your mobile apps right on your PC, and more.
Samsung Pay

With Samsung Pay digital wallet service, you won’t have to worry about bringing cash with you whenever you step out. You can with your debit or credit card using your phone.
Galaxy Buds Auto-Switching

Enjoy a seamless listening experience with the Galaxy Buds’ Auto Switch1 feature which is now available on the Galaxy A Series. Auto Switch can automatically detect active devices, so you can go from watching a movie on your Galaxy Tab, to answering a call on your phone, then back to your movie once you end the call, without having to toggle your audio source!
Bixby Routines

Enjoy a seamless listening experience with the Galaxy Buds’ Auto Switch1 feature which is now available on the Galaxy A Series. Auto Switch can automatically detect active devices, so you can go from watching a movie on your Galaxy Tab, to answering a call on your phone, then back to your movie once you end the call, without having to toggle your audio source!
For example, when you connect your Galaxy A Series to the Bluetooth in your car2, Bixby Routines can run relevant apps and settings – like the Maps app, music app, and keeping your phone unlocked for easy access – to add convenience to your drive. Or if you fall asleep without putting your phone on the charger at night, it will shut down unnecessary functions to save on battery life. You also have the option to create a custom routine that meets your individual needs with My Routine.
Single Take

Never miss any of your favourite moments with the brilliant AI technology on the Single Take Feature. You won’t have to worry about trying to capture the perfect photo as it takes just one tap to capture multiple content for any moment. The Single Take feature will automatically select the best shots and line them up with your preferred shot.
App Continuity

With App Continuity, you can continue your activities between your Galaxy A Series phone and Galaxy Tab seamlessly. This feature can make your life so much easier, whether you’re making video calls on your phone or tablet, sharing files between devices, copying information over, extending your screen and more. Just pick up where you left off.
You certainly wouldn’t want to miss this incredible flagship experience right at your fingertips! Take advantage of the current Overtrade promotion and save up to RM150 on a Samsung Galaxy A Series smartphone.
Check out and explore the Galaxy A Series today https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-a- series/


AMD & Windows 11 Partner With India’s Largest Gaming Event, Skyesports Masters

India’s largest gaming event, the Skyesports Masters, is set to be bigger and better than ever before. The tournament, featuring eight franchised teams competing in CS:GO for a record-breaking prize pool of Rs. 2 Crores, will take place in Mumbai and promises to be a groundbreaking event. And with the addition of two industry powerhouses, AMD and Windows 11, as sponsors, the tournament is set to be taken to new heights.
AMD, known for its impressive range of graphics cards, is the perfect partner to elevate the gameplay of the tournament. Mukesh Bajpai, Marketing Head of AMD India, expressed excitement about connecting with the esports community and offering an immersive gaming experience to a wide audience. Meanwhile, Windows 11, the world’s leading operating system, will be powering the tournament and providing an enhanced visual and seamless gaming experience to the athletes.
The Skyesports Masters offers the perfect platform for both brands to showcase their products to a highly engaged gaming audience. The CEO of Skyesports, Shiva Nandy, expressed his excitement about having AMD and Windows 11 onboard for the tournament and providing players with the best infrastructure for competing. The tournament will kick off next month with gaming cafe qualifiers in over 20 cities across India, recognizing the best CS:GO talent and ushering in a revival for the title from the grassroots level.


Tips & Tricks To Survive Far Cry New Dawn: Perks & Ability List, Crafting, & So Forth

Far Cry New Dawn is Far Cry 5 but on a smaller scale. As such some tips from that game should apply here in this technicolour-savvy post-apocalypse.
Still, there are some differences you should be aware of in this new Hope County. Kakuchopurei will get you sorted out; here are our tips & tricks to survive the New Dawn.
Enemies & Weapons Have Rank
Nothing in this new future is created equally; that goes for bad guys and weapons. Each of them are ranked I, II, III, and Elite. Elites are obviously the hardest hitters and they take way less damage from low-ranked weapons.
How can you tell an enemy’s rank? Simple: by looking/aiming at them when marking them. And how do you improve weapon ranks or get higher ranked weapons? Easy peasy: just upgrade your Workbench to Level 3 in Prosperity. Speaking of which…
Ethanol > Everything Else

To improve your bases in Prosperity, you need ethanol. Lots of it. To get it, you need to liberate outposts. You can get more ethanol if an outpost is repopulated with bigger bad guys.
There are also other ways: the Highwaymen drive around in big oil tankers which you can hijack and drive back to Prosperity. Easier said than done; you need to take out the driver, try not to blow up the tanker, and then risk being chased by trigger-happy Highwaymen with guns. To make your life easier, unlock the Repair perk early on so your tanker can be repaired on the fly.
Time and again you’ll see airdrop notifications in New Dawn. The drop will always be close to you, so head there, kill off the Highwaymen within the vicinity, then loot your spoils and that sweet sweet ethanol.
Don’t Be Afraid Of Having Your Outposts Repopulated
Like we mentioned before, you can get more rewards if you let one of your captured outposts be repopulated with tougher Highwaymen. All you have to do is head to the Scavenge table for additional ethanol. Of course, once it’s repopulated you’ll have bigger and badder Highwaymen, more alarms, and higher-ranked challenges. Have fun!
Play Expeditions For More Supplies

Later in the game, you’ll get to partake in Expeditions. In this mode, you’ll head out of Montana to other parts of the country, raid a huge outpost and find a specific package, then get out.
The catch? The package has a GPS on it, so if you collect it, all enemies within the area will hunt you down. A chopper will pick you up from a designated extraction zone after a few minutes, so you have to stay alive against a wave of Highwaymen until it arrives. Think of this as Far Cry New Dawn’s random dungeon sessions from the Diablo series: lots of loot but lots of chaos.
Expeditions are also important because it’s the only reliable way to get circuit boards. Among all the other materials like springs, gears, duct tape, and components, circuit boards can be tough to find in Hope County.
Where Else Can You Get Circuit Boards From?

From airdrops.
Trading in elite animal skins at crafting benches or with traders on the road.

Spend Your Perk Points On Weapon Slots ASAP
Sure, you can use your perk points on Repair and Grapple first, but once you get more, use it for more weapon slots. In a game where you need more guns to survive and to liberate outposts, it’s essential. You can’t play the game on stealth mode most of the time, so it doesn’t hurt to have an extra shotgun or assault rifle in case things go sour. And they will.
And Now, Here’s Far Cry New Dawn Perks List

Tactical BinocularsÂ â€“Â equip binoculars to tag enemies more quickly, from greater distances, and in a wider radiusÂ (unlocked from the beginning).
Well-Armed â€“Â carry a third weaponÂ (unlocked from the beginning).
Grapple (2)Â â€“Â attach a grapple to a grapple point. Fall damage is reduced.
Fishing Rod (2) â€“Â adds a fishing rod to your weapon wheel.
More Lung Capacity (2) â€“Â increases half breath duration while sniping and while underwater. Increases sprint duration.
Repair Torch (3) â€“Â adds the Repair Torch to the weapon wheel. Repairs vehicles, cracks open safes, and burns enemies.
Skydiver (3) â€“Â use a wingsuit while falling. Fall damage is reduced.
More Fist Damage (3) â€“Â increases fist and kick damage.
More Medkits (3)Â â€“ increases carry amount for med kits.
More Melee Weapons (3) â€“Â increases carry amount for melee weapons
More Throwables (3)Â â€“ increases carry amount for Explosives, Throwing Knives and Bait
More Light Ammo (3) â€“Â increases ammo carry amount for the Handgun, Shotgun, SMG, Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, and Arrows.
More Heavy Ammo (3) â€“Â increases ammo carry for the LMG, RPG, Grenade Launcher, Flamethrower, and Saw Launcher.
Hotwire (4) â€“Â automatically disables booby-traps on Highwaymen vehicles.
Heavily Armed (4) â€“Â carry a fourth weapon.Â UnlockÂ Well Armed first.
Locked and Loaded (5) â€“Â reload weapons while aiming with semi-automatic handguns or sniper rifles. Switch to the last equipped weapon more quickly.
Lock Picking (6) â€“Â  pick locks on doors and safes.
Mechanics (6) â€“Â reduces weapons overheating on machine guns. When in a vehicle, it will slowly repair itself.
Outdoor Enthusiast (7) â€“Â prey wonâ€™t flee as easily. Fish are easier to reel in once hooked.Â Â UnlockÂ Fishing Rod first.
Dexterity (7) â€“Â accelerates consumable crafting, sabotage, disabling alarms, and opening safes and supply drops. Throwback incoming dynamite.
Advanced Takedowns (7) â€“Â takedown Rank II enemies. During a Takedown, throw melee weapon at a nearby enemy.
Saboteur (8)Â â€“ explode vehicles after 10 seconds. Explode vehicles when they hit an obstacle at high speeds. Explode alarms and mounted weapons when used.
Covert (8) â€“Â decreases noise level when moving. Increases movement speed when crouched.
Expert Takedowns (8) â€“Â takedown Rank III enemies. During a Takedown, shoot with your sidearm.Â Unlock Advanced Takedowns first.
Master Takedowns (10) â€“Â takedown Elite enemies. During a Takedown and perform another takedown on an adjacent enemy.Â Unlock Expert Takedowns and Advanced Takedowns first.

Far Cry New Dawn’s Scavenging & Crafting List
Here’s a list of craftable materials you can find in the game and where to get them.

Ethanol:Â Upgrades facilities in Prosperity â€“ liberating outposts, looting supply drops, and stealing tankers.
Duct Tape:Â Crafts weapons and vehicles â€“ at marked locations, treasure hunts, expeditions, and by trading animal skins/fish.
Components:Â Crafts weapons and vehicles â€“Â at marked locations, treasure hunts, expeditions, and by trading animal skins/fish.
Gear:Â Crafts weapons â€“Â at marked locations, treasure hunts, expeditions, and by trading animal skins.
Spring:Â Crafts vehicles â€“Â at marked locations, treasure hunts, expeditions, and by trading animal skins/fish.
Titanium:Â Crafts weapons and vehicles â€“ expeditions, loot enemy trucks, safes, animal skins.
Circuit Board:Â Crafts weapons and vehicles â€“ expeditions, trade animal skins.
Carbon Fiber:Â Crafts weapons and vehicles -liberating outposts, trading animal skins.
Copper:Â Crafts ammunition and consumables â€“ in containers (the big yellow ones), looting enemies, trading animal skins/fish.
Blasting Cap:Â Crafts molotovs, dynamite, pipe bombs, proximity mines, and smoke grenades â€“Â in containers (the big yellow ones), looting enemies, trading animal skins/fish.
Black Powder:Â Crafts explosives and smoke grenades â€“Â in containers (the big yellow ones), looting enemies, trading animal skins/fish.
Solvent:Â Crafts molotovs and heals guns for hire â€“Â in containers (the big yellow ones), looting enemies, trading animal skins/fish.
Yucca:Â Heals guns for hire â€“ in forestry.
Bougainvillea:Â Heals guns for hire and crafts medkits â€“ by lakes and in riverbeds
Cistanche:Â Crafts medkits â€“ in caves and alongside roads.
Meat:Â Crafts bait, medkits and heals Fangs for Hire â€“ loot animals.


GC Busan Wins APEX Season 4 To Complete Removal of the Korean â€˜Old Guardâ€™

As GC Busan lifted the OGN APEX trophy, it also complete the change of guard from the old to new in the Korean Overwatch scene. With both Lunatic-Hai and Cloud9KongDoo shifting focus to the Overwatch League, it is up to GC Busan to fill in their shoes as the new giants in the thriving APEX circuit.

But in front of them laid one last hurdle before they are able to stamp their authority and position as the â€˜newâ€™ big dog that runs the yard. En route to the APEX S4 Grand Finals, GC Busan defeated both finalists from Season 3 – Lunatic-Hai and Cloud9KongDoo in three back-to-back matches with a 10-0 record; and aim to add another APEX finalistâ€™s scalp to their trophy wall in the form of APEX Season 2 losing finalists, RunAway.

Being in this position is not new as RunAway reached their APEX career high by finishing second in APEX Season 2. Denied by Lunatic-Hai back then, they definitely want to finally finish the job which they failed the last time they were at this stage. After a very disappointing APEX Season 3 where they finished below 9th, RunAway are back with a vengeance and despite a relatively quiet journey to the Grand Finals, are not one to be underestimated with as they were the only team to have defeated GC Busan since the tournament moved into Group Stage #2.

The stage is set. The crowd is pumped up. An up-and-coming team who disposed two giants en-route to the final, aiming to cap their fairytale season with another giant-killing feat in the final. And on the other side, a redeemed sleeping giant aiming to claim what is rightfully theirs. Two contrasting storylines but with one main goal. The title of APEX Season 4 Champions and more to come with it.

Map 1: Nepal – Not-So-Friendly Skies for RunAway as Hooreg Dominate
This seasonâ€™s surprise package GC Busan started the first match on Sanctum with Hooreg on Pharah. Â Aggressively raining rockets onto the hitscan-less RunAway opening lineup, he went unchallenged as GC Busan raced to an early 91% lead.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8MWRiqR2LI?start=11&w=560&h=315]
A brief retake by RunAway was swiftly answered by a quick retake by GC Busan to secure a morale boosting win. On Shrine, RunAway decided to have Haksal run on Genji while Stitch on Tracer with instant impact as they made life harder for Hooregâ€™s Pharah to secure the win and tie the score 1-1.
Still undeterred, Hooreg stayed on Pharah on third map – village – and his effective zoning due to his splash damage saw GC Busan jump to 99% lead. Still not running a proper hitscan to counter Pharah, Haksalâ€™s effective Genji ult did took out GC Busanâ€™s Pharmercy combo forcing a flip at 99% but their control didnâ€™t last long as GC Busan who had the ult advantage managed again turned the tide. The closing minutes of Nepal saw a big team fight which was won by GC Busan to win Nepal 2-1, and earn an early 1-0 overall lead.

Map 2: Hollywood – Â RunAway put Style Points Second with Comeback Win On Hollywood
Starting the map on defense, GC Busan lured members of RunAway into the room on the right before turning it into a quick grave for the unsuspecting boys in pink. GC Busan were on a high after the big opening team fight and managed to again deny a subsequent RunAway push.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8MWRiqR2LI?start=1065&w=560&h=315]
Perhaps it was GC Busanâ€™s overconfidence, or RunAway managing to dig deeper into their reserves, RunAway somehow managed to secure the payload and snowballed it to a strong, full push despite the rough start. Haksal (Genji) & Stitch (Tracer) led the line with effective flanking and decisive kills which in turn awarded them a completion with a good time bank.
On the reverse, GC Busan also managed a full push but only after a last-ditch attempt on overtime. They struggled to contain Haksal who was on a roll and had the impossible task of denying RunAway who only needed a single tick in the extra-time round. They failed (obviously) and with the win, RunAway ties the score at 1-1. Â A standout, however was â€˜Profitâ€™ who in spite of playing on the losing side, was the most impressive player of the round with a +13 Kills-to-Deaths difference. Another interesting titbit from Hollywood was that despite winning the round, everyone in RunAway had a negative k/d ratio – save for â€˜Stitchâ€™.

Map 3: Hanamura – Kox & Bumper Lead the Way for RunAway Decisive Win
Following a slow start with their loss on Nepal, RunAway finally found their groove and again showed their collective offensive strength as they mowed down GC Busanâ€™s defense for a quick capture on the first point. However they were stalled at least twice for the second; not even getting a single tick as GC Busan set up a very solid defence. Alas the last push from RunAway was finally successful – again thanks to â€˜Haksalâ€™s effective dragon blades which secured the capture with considerable time remaining on the clock.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxWmf_ozWuY?start=371&w=560&h=315]
GC Busan were clearly frazzled on the reverse and were unable to manage a full capture, stopped at 70% on point B to see RunAway take the overall 2-1 lead as they head into the fourth map. Just like the first two maps, â€˜Profitâ€™ was the star for GC Busan but the difference makers on Hanamura were certainly the RunAway support players as the combination of â€˜Koxâ€™ and â€˜Bumperâ€™ allowed room for â€˜Haksalâ€™ and â€˜Stitchâ€™ to roam free. The impressive â€˜Profitâ€™ with a +7 k/d record wasnâ€™t enough to carry his team past a more robust RunAway crew.

Map 4: Watchpoint Gibraltar – HagoPeun Catalyst to GC Busan Counter
Down 1-2, it was GC Busanâ€™s turn to choose the next map which saw them going for their comfort pick, Watchpoint Gibraltar where they carry a 75% win-rate heading into the match. In a counter-intuitive approach, â€˜Profitâ€™ (Genji) and â€˜Hooregâ€™ (Tracer – soldier) tried to go toe-to-toe with â€˜Haksalâ€™ (Genji) and â€˜Stitchâ€™ (Tracer) but found themselves at the back foot early on as the RunAway duo proved to be a more potent combo, leading their teamâ€™s march past the first two points.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxWmf_ozWuY?start=1147&w=560&h=315]
So quick was the RunAway payload that at a point, they were close to completing a full-push close to record time but GC Busanâ€™s â€˜HagoPeunâ€™ on support had other plans. His smart uses of Anaâ€™s biotic grenades, sleep darts and nano boosts stymied RunAwayâ€™s march and they were stopped meters short of the final point. This was indeed the morale boost GC Busan needed as they responded with a very rampant march on offense. The whole team stepped up their game and it was â€˜Hooregâ€™ who played catalyst as he led his team to out-frag the RunAway squad, with a +16 k/d difference.
â€˜HagoPeunâ€™s extraordinary play on support also saw him amass a very impressive overall rating with Ana and Zenyatta. Just like the earlier match on Hanamura, while the DPS get all the flashy kills and highlights, it is the support players who played the biggest sway in deciding the outcome of a match. Two points apiece, now it was RunAwayâ€™s turn to pick the next map.

Map 5: Temple of Anubis – RunAway Plans Derailed
Confident of their ability to pull off quick captures, RunAway chose Temple Anubis for the fifth map. As conventional wisdom go, RunAway intend to let their advantage on firepower play the defining trait to win on Anubis. Defending first, RunAway were easily swept on point A as GC Busan carried on the momentum for a comfortable capture of point B. On offense, RunAway responded as expected with an even more impressive capture time of Point A yet things didnâ€™t go as planned as GC Busan time and time again denied RunAway the capture on Point B.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgVWTP_sbm0?start=1026&w=560&h=315]
â€˜HagoPeunâ€™sâ€™ Sombra pick denied Runaway players the health packs that in turn dialled down their aggressiveness as they strived to capture the point. â€˜Haksalâ€™sâ€™ Genji was ineffective against GC Busan who added with a much shorter walk from spawn, were playing with great confidence as they also effectively nullified â€˜Koxâ€™ and â€˜Stitchâ€™. GC Busanâ€™s constant hero switches threw RunAwayâ€™s attack plans out of the window as they struggled to organize an effective capture of point B.

RunAway players were literally dropping like flies with at least three pushes failing to capture the second tick, in spite of them investing on multiple ults on each of them. RunAwayâ€™s final desperate attempt saw them caught off guard with â€˜Profitâ€™sâ€™ surprise shift to Bastion which cut down the boys in pink like hot knife through butter. So impressive was GC Busan on Anubis that everyone in the squad registered a better k/d record compared to RunAway who were all in the red.
RunAwayâ€™s comfort pick didnâ€™t go as planned and now they are one match away from losing another APEX Grand Final.

Map 6: Dorado – RunAways Not Done Yet
Staring at a second OGN APEX Grand Final loss in the span of three seasons, RunAway threw in everything theyâ€™ve got to halt the GC Busan momentum. Both teams fielded a mirror comp; aiming to counter their oppositionâ€™s dive comp with a dive comp of their own and RunAway emerge victorious in this gamble. Save for â€˜Closerâ€™ (Lucio) out-performing his opposite number, â€˜Bumperâ€™ (Lucio) – the rest of GC Busan players wilted as they were denied a full completion as the payload stopped just inside the garage entrance. â€˜Profitâ€™sâ€™ attempt to out-Genji â€˜Haksalâ€™ backfired as he only managed a +5 k/d difference, and even at a point, had his Dragon Blade shut down during casting stage.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgVWTP_sbm0?start=1880&w=560&h=315]
On the reverse, RunAway literally ran away with the payload as they toyed with GC Busanâ€™s defense, even pulling off two team-wipes en route to a very strong push, and forcing another seventh game in an APEX Grand Final match. â€˜Stitchâ€™ and â€˜Haksalâ€™ were again the difference makers for RunAway as they carved through the GC Busan defense with decisive strikes to show they are not out of this contest yet.
By the end of the round, GC Busan had a collective team k/d difference of -20, while RunAway was at +20.

Map 7: Eichenwalde -Â
With the score tied 3-3 after over four hours of non-stop top-tier Overwatch action, both teams head to Eichenwalde to determine the next APEX Champion. Not dropping a gear, GC Busan who starts the round on offense bounced from a weak showing on Dorado with a strong capture of Point A. Unwilling to walk home as runners-up again, RunAway showed great determination on defense by constantly halting GC Busanâ€™s payload push throughout, and managed to chip the timebank considerably as GC Busan only reached the drawbridge on their final yet successful push. Once they were in the castle, it was all GC Busan as they secured a full push and one hand on the trophy.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgVWTP_sbm0?start=2600&w=560&h=315]
On attack, RunAway were constantly denied and were even on the receiving end of a full team-wipe as GC Busan mounted a strong defense. Although it took a longer time to secure the payload, RunAway were finally able to get it going to remain in contention for the title. Haksalâ€™s heroics on Genji was a glimmer of hope for RunAway to get the payload to the end, but it was not meant to be. As shown on their defense of the payload earlier, GC Busan mounted an epic stand just outside of the drawbridge to hold the RunAway push and ultimately secure the title as OGN APEX Season 4 Champions.

Even more impressive was that on Eichenwalde, the k/d count was so jarring with GC Busan reversing the script on Dorado, now scoring a +35 while RunAway only managed an abysmal -35.
With the win, GC Busan walked home with the trophy, along with â‚©103,600,000 (about US$91,000) prize money. Many are already calling for Overwatch League team owners to sign up several standouts from this Grand Final including â€˜Profitâ€™ into their franchises but word has it, that players of both RunAway and GC Busan will only move as a collective group. But enough about OWL. The torch has been fully passed on in the Korean Overwatch scene and while some are worried about the recent â€˜talent drainâ€™, GC Busan is proof that APEX will remain relevant for many seasons to come.


Legend of Mana Gets Physical Release In Southeast Asia This June

If you need a special version of Square Enix’s underrated storybook JRPG Legend of Mana, you’re in luck.
Square Enix Asia announced that the physical version of Legend of Mana will be out in Southeast Asia for Nintendo Switch and PS4 later this year on 24th June. The physical version of the game will feature:

A download code for two tracks from the game,
A sticker set featuring artwork from the game,
Digital downloads for an original PS4 theme and avatar set.

It’s not as grand as the Japanese collector’s edition set though, which features the game, art book, a Li’l Catcus plush, and a physical OST CD pack for the game. Hopefully, Square Enix Asia can up their game and follow this line of collector’s edition thought.

The HD remaster of the game features high-resolution graphics, new arrangements for certain songs by Yoko Shimomura (the original composer for the game), a gallery mode and music mode, the ability to turn off encounters, and an auto-save/save anywhere function for easier grinding and playthroughs.


Wargaming Launching Action RPG Pagan Online Next Year

World of Tanks publisher Wargaming has announced Pagan Online, which is slated to launch sometime in 2019. Developed by Mad Head Games, the upcoming game is an action RPG hack-and-slash game for the PC.
In Pagan Online, players will have to fight ancient gods and demons from pre-Christian mythologies, collecting loads of loot and gear in the process. The game can be described as a classic dungeon crawler featuring reinvented MOBA-style combat.
â€œWith Pagan Online weâ€™ve modernized how combat in a top-down action RPG works, taking cues from MOBAs to create something thatâ€™s fast-paced, overwhelming with enemies, and super challenging,â€ said Mad Head Games Co-Founder and Creative Director Uros Banjesevic. â€œItâ€™s a thrill to finally be able to share this game, the product of our blood, sweat, and tears, with the world!â€
Additionally, Pagan Online features multiple game modes and difficulties, as well as a lengthy single-player mode which will be constantly updated with episodic content expansions called â€œBattle Chaptersâ€.
Registration is now open for pre-launch tests called “Trials.” Head on over to the official website here to sign up for the Trials!
Check out the three characters revealed so far; Anya, Istok, and Marco.Â  These three are also featured in the Pagan Online trailer below.
Anya
Istok
Marco
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKfBGC2aCA0&w=560&h=315]


Razer Game Store To Close Down On 28 February; Here’s Why

With digital game store giants like Valve’s Steam and Epic Games’ Store ruling the roost, it’s no surprise that surviving in this space is hard no matter how big your name is. Such is the case of Razer, whose game store is ceasing operations on 28 February at 1am Pacific Time (5pm GMT+8).
The store is closing down due to the company’s realignment plan. Razer has prepared a bunch of answers following this sad news to the cult of Razer:

Your purchased games on the store will still work. Just make sure to get your respective game keys before 28 February.
You’ll have to use up your Razer Gold and Razer Silver if you have any balance left. This goes without saying, but don’t spend money on Razer Gold.
You’ll also have to use up your Razer Game Store discount vouchers too before they’re null and void by 28 February.

So Why Is It Closing Down?
Like we said before, it’s hard to open up a digital game store and survive in an environment ruled by Valve’s Steam, EA’s Origin, Epic Games’ store, and Ubisoft’s UPlay. These stores have exclusive games and game deals, and they’re the source of said games. Razer is a third party in context even if its peripherals are first-party.
Despite the game deals and discounts and its strong brand name, it isn’t enough to stand out among the big boys. They might as well cut their losses; at least they still have their physical boutique stores, right?


Journey Is Officially No Longer A PlayStation Exclusive

The PlayStation exclusive game Journey was a simple yet stellar game. It was developed by Thatgamecompany and released on 2012, and then remastered for the PlayStation 4 in 2015. It was a Sony only thing, until now.
Journey will arrive on PC via Epic Games Store, and PC publisher Annapurna Interactive has revealed a release date, which is 6 June.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU3nNT4rcFg]
The magnificent masterpiece of a game allows you to explore the desert in finding aÂ great mountain in a barren desert. You’ll be playing a red-robed figure equipped with a magical scarf that allows you to fly for a short period of time which can be extended as the scarf grows through magical runes and cloth found along the journey.
Players will meet friendly creatures as well as hostile ones, and it’s possible to bump into another player, although direct communication isn’t a feature.

The indie game was received with critical acclaim, landing a sky-high score of 92/100 on Metacritic.
So far, no system requirements were revealed. Although, Annapurna Interactive has said that it will support 4K resolution and online play is a feature.
JourneyÂ is available for pre-purchase on the Epic Games Store for USD15 (RM63), but it’s currently priced at USD5 (RM21) thanks to the store’s Mega Sale that’s running until 13 June.


Jack Black’s New Tenacious D Song Pays Tribute To Games Like God Of War, Mario & More

It’s not news that Jack Black is a bonafide gamer, but now he’s showing his love for video games for everyone to see with an awesome new song performed by his band, Tenacious D. The music video for the song, simply titled “Video Games”, is animated by YouTuber Chris O’Neill and pays tribute to many iconic game franchises.
Here are the references we caught:

2018’s God Of War
Fallout 4
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Legend Of Zelda
Street Fighter
Minecraft
Tomb Raider
Team Fortress 2
Mega Man
Super Mario Bros.

The music video is brief at less than two minutes long, but it’s just so awesome. Jack Black has been on a roll recently, especially with his amazing rendition of “Peaches” for the Super Mario Bros. Movie.
See for yourself:


Rurouni Kenshin Reboot One-Day Special Screening In Malaysia Happens This July

Malaysian cinema chain GSC Cinemas has announced that the upcoming Rurouni Kenshin anime reboot is getting a one-day special screening on 2 July 2023. However, tickets will be available to purchase on 22 June 2023.

Rurouni Kenshin Fan's Screening will be held on 2nd July at GSC Mid Valley! ?
What you'll get for RM 180:1 x Acrylic Stand set with collectible box (4 characters)1 x T-Shirt1 x Japan Import Mini Shikishi1 x Signature Card (4 designs)1 x Character Can Badge (4 designs)… pic.twitter.com/tJ1z11xg4Y
— GSC ? (@GSCinemas) June 22, 2023

The screening is slated to feature the first four episodes of the Rurouni Kenshin anime reboot. We originally reported that a Malaysian screening would be happening back in May 2023.
Rurouni Kenshin creator Nobuhiro Watsuki originally launched his Rurouni Kenshin manga in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1994. The manga has more than 72 million copies in circulation worldwide. The manga follows Kenshin Himura, who was once a deadly assassin during the Meiji Restoration and is trying to find a new life beyond violence. Back in November 2017, police discovered DVDs with footage of naked girls in their early teens in Watsuki’s Tokyo office. He was later charged with child pornography and fined ¥200,000.
The manga was previously adapted into a 95-episode TV anime series, an anime film, three original video anime projects, five live-action films, and a stage musical by the all-female musical theatre troupe Takarazuka Revue.
The Rurouni Kenshin reboot anime is slated to premiere on 6 July 2023.
Check out their trailer:


Introducing Web Stories: Our New Kakuchopurei Feature

News, features, and content consumption are usually associated with either a ton of text walls or videos/trailers. So why not combine them to get the best of both worlds?
Introducing Web Stories, a brand-new way to read awesome content and the latest updates about video games and pop culture hailing from Southeast Asia & the world. It’s graphics-heavy, it’s easy to digest, and highly sharable to friends & family!
Here’s how you can check it out:

Click on the Stories tab on our front page.

Then, click on any of our unique Stories that are available on the hub page. Easy!

Stories we publish will be on a daily basis from Mondays to Fridays. They’ll be an awesome mix of short text, graphics, infographics, and video content. Click on the picture below for a preview.
Game Reviews January 2023 List

Keep in mind that this new feature is still a work in progress. If you have any comments or problems, do message us on our site, Twitter, and Facebook.
– The Kakuchopurei Team


Ubisoft Lunar New Year Sale Is Live Across Platforms

In celebration of Lunar New Year 2020, Ubisoft is hosting a Lunar New Year Sale with special discount across digital stores platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Ubisoft Store for Windows PC.Â Â
The promotional discount includes the latest releases to the most awarding games.
Some of the key titles include the following:

Immortal Fenyx Rising (check out our review here)
Just Dance 2021
Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla (check out our review here)

You can enjoy up to 40 percent off for the recent releases, and up to 85 percent off for classic and must-buy games. You can visit the respective digital stores below for each platform:

Play Station Asia Store: 3 to 17 February 2021.
Nintendo Switch Hong Kong eShop:Â  4 to 17 February 2021.
Xbox Marketplace: 9 to 15 February 2021.
Ubisoft Store: 9 to 22 February 2021.


Final Fantasy XVI To Finish British English Voice Recordings First

According to Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida during his guest appearance on the latest episode of Washagana TV, he said that facial/motion capture for the upcoming game and the voice recordings will be completed in English first, with a focus on British English.
British English certainly fits the medieval vibe and style of Final Fantasy XVI, and other JRPGs like Dragon Quest XI Echoes Of An Elusive Age has managed to successfully pull off the heavily British and European English accents of the voices without coming off as cringeworthy.
Here is the full comment from Yoshida (via Gematsu):
Iâ€™ve been working onÂ Final Fantasy XIVÂ for eight years now, but Iâ€™ve never been to a voice recording session. I have my own policies about this. If I go, since I also write some dialogue I would want to step in and say my opinions, making the whole session seem like there are two sound directors. And I think the voice actors may have a hard time if the producer / director comes in and says different things from what they were told from the sound director. So I donâ€™t go to voice recording sessions.
Iâ€™m also not going toÂ Final Fantasy XVIÂ recording sessions. Since Iâ€™m not the one writing the story. During story meetings, I do say my opinions like, â€˜I think this line should be changed, considering the protagonist Cliveâ€™s emotionsâ€¦â€™ Although the team has been doing a great job of taking my opinions into consideration.
This time, English recording is going first. And we have been focusing on British English.
Also we have to record facial movements. We canâ€™t possibly hand-animate every cut of a scene. So this time we are doing full facial motion captures and then adding voices to that. Those works are not entirely cutscenes though. So this is one of the reasons why the English version is ahead of others. We are going to start the Japanese version soon.
Final Fantasy XVI is currently in development for the PS5. In other recent news, Yoshida also confirmed that we probably won’t see anything from Final Fantasy XVI at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2021, which usually takes place sometime in September.


Fortnite Pro Streamer Ninja To Write Book About “Getting Good”

Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins may be one of the most popular streamers in the world but no one in their right mind would call him the best pro gamer. Despite that, he will soon be able to add ‘Published Author’ to his resume because he’s writing not one, but a set of books through publisher Random House (via PCGamesN).
The first book may be the most pretentious as it is titled, ‘Get Good: My Ultimate Guide to Gaming’. Scheduled to release on 20 August 2019, this book will offer tips on building gaming PCs, improving your gaming skills, how to build the right team and forming an online community.
Here’s what the official description for the book actually states:

â€œVideogames come and go, but Ninjaâ€™s lessons are timeless.â€

The next book (also scheduled for 20 August 2019) will be the Ninja Notebook, containing a journal and sticker set for children (who are the majority of his fans anyway). Last but not least, there will also be a graphic novel titled, ‘Ninja: The Most Dangerous Game’, which is set to release on 3 December 2019.
In the graphic novel or comic, Ninja himself will star in it, where he will be teleported to a universe of a new battle royale game and will have to find a way to save the virtual world. If that sounds familiar, that’s basically the plot of every isekai manga or anime out there.
I don’t know if his fans are even old enough to read yet (or just fumbling through his Fortnite streams) but it won’t be long until other pro streamers and esports athletes will be getting the same book deals.


Here’s A Boatload Of Anime Coming Out This Summer

Another season from the Gregorian calendar, another bunch of anime you should tune into. Just like last time, we’ll be listing down the standout shows for the next four months.
Keep in mind that the release dates are for Japan broadcasting, so you’ll have to figure out how to stream all these new animes on your own.
High Score Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S51PKANf92c
What’s It About? Let’s start with our top pick: a slice-of-life show about a young arcade gamer whose life turns upside-down when a new girl who has a huge love for video games enter his territory. Features renditions of classic games like Final Fight, the first Street Fighter, and even goddamn Splatterhouse. Out 13 July.
Bonus: Yoko “Kingdom Hearts OST” Shimomura is doing the music for this anime.
Hanebad!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njaPemKHPus
What’s It About? MALAYSIA REJOICE! There is finally a goddamn sports anime about our country’s beloved sport: Badminton! I will be very disappointed if the final team these girls face in the obligatory final season aren’t from our country.
I’ll accept team China or team South Korea though. The first episode is out now.
Aguu: Tensai Ningyou
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0eNlKZt8N0
What’s It About? A story of two dancers and how they got famous. One of them has a deep dark secret regarding her talents. It’s like a Black Swan anime, but lighter in tone and contrast. Slated for a 9 July release.
100 Sleeping Princes & The Kingdom of Dreams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5d8nOlDzhk
What’s It About? Animes based on mobile games aren’t new; you can now add this semi-obscure game about bishies and Wonderland tropes onto the list. The anime is about a king who must save these handsome sleeping princes from a dream-eating plague of sorts. It’s showing on 5 July.
Harukana Receive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TausPasStxs
What’s It About? Girls in bikinis battling it out over volleyball in Okinawa. Haruka and Kanata are your main girls in the sport, so expect to see some high-level volleyball action here. As you can tell from the many peculiar angles of the trailer here, I’m very sure people are watching this for the sport. Yep, really.
The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Theater Season 3

What’s It About? Exhibit No.#3424 on why anime is typecasted as that genre filled with schoolgirls that guys perv on about. In all seriousness, this show is about the daily life of idols made out of different anime tropes.
How NOT To Summon A Demon Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlhUse6IMEw
What’s It About? Another anime in the long line of “guys stuck in MMOs with virtual characters they befriended/made enemies with”. Only this time he’s stuck with two female avatars who are his slaves. This is classified as an “ecchi” title, so you know where this is going.
Sirius The Jaeger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1zgQyxJDio
What’s It About? A group of vampire hunters team up to fight evil in 1930s Tokyo. It’s no Vampire Hunter D, but it’s just as imaginative. Expect this one to come out 13 July.


Respawn Confirms Apex Legends New Mode

When Apex Legends dropped to the scene, a lot of players flocked to the game, especially a lot of players from PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). While PUBG features a few modes; namely solo, duos, and squads, Apex Legends only offered trios. So, as usual, the fourth member of your squad has to drop to make way for the other friends to start kicking ass on Respawn’s battle royale.
A few weeks back, I reported a leak stating there will be new modes. While I did remind readers to take it with a grain of salt, the leak did come to fruition.
A Reddit user asked over on the subreddit if there will be new modes in the game. The community manager, u/JayFresh_Respawn responded with a short yet complete response;

At this point, no details have been shared, although we think it might be somewhat similar to Fortnite’s Save The World mode. It could also indicate duos, or solos, or even full squads of four. Other leaks include vehicles, NPCs, and maybe even a flamethrower.
Whatever it is, we should wait for any official announcements and still take leaks cautiously.


Just Cause 4 Is a Fun but Outdated and Flawed Open-World Sandbox

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Open-World Sandbox, Action-Adventure
Remember the good old days of sandbox games, where the narrative and plot were there only as an excuse for the player to explore the open-world and blow stuff up? Games like Volition’s Red Faction: GuerillaÂ (now-defunct), Pandemic Studios’ MercenariesÂ (also defunct), Radical Entertainment’s Prototype and of course, Avalanche Studios‘ Just Cause franchise.
Some of those developers shut down because no one really plays sandbox games anymore. Somehow, Avalanche Studios is still going strong, and Just Cause 4 is the result.

If you’ve played any of the games I’ve mentioned above (or any similar open-world sandbox games), you will already be familiar with almost everything Just Cause 4 has to offer.

Fresh off other recent open-world games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2, I was initially reluctant on taking on yet another massive open-world game. Stricken with open-world fatigue, I hated the first hour or so of Just Cause 4. The opening levels were derivative and bland, like a gazillion other sandbox games before it.
I hated the game with a passion. It was all too familiar, and the game offered nothing new or exciting to a gamer like me. However, I miraculously started to change my mind after spending a few hours with the game. It was then that things finally “clicked” and I realized that I’ve completely missed the point of Just Cause 4.
I suddenly found myself unexpectedly enjoying the game for what it is, despite the non-existent narrative, terrible graphics, and often-repetitive gameplay content. Just Cause 4 is definitely fun in short bursts, and like I mentioned in my Fallout 76 review; what is the purpose of a game if not for fun?
Someone Call The Police; The Plot Is Missing

No one plays a sandbox game like Just Cause 4 for the narrative and plot. Why? Because there isn’t one, to begin with. I would still have liked to have at least semblance of a plot but there was none.

Just like previous games in the franchise, Just Cause 4 is set in a fictional exotic South American country, where protagonist Rico Rodriguez will have to overthrow the local regime and tyrannical despotic leader. That’s it. That’s all you need to know to play the game because that’s all that happens from the beginning to the very end of the game.

The game certainly tries to offer a thin plot of Rico’s late father, who is discovered to have worked with the bad guys but ultimately the storyline goes nowhere. The game ends as abruptly as it began, so don’t look for sophisticated and engaging family drama here, folks.
It also doesn’t help that Rico Rodriguez is as charismatic and interesting as a wet sheet of paper. He’s the archetypal badass action hero, and he goes through the events of the game with no character development whatsoever. The Rico at the end of Just Cause 4 is virtually the same Rico from probably the first three games. The supporting characters are also bland and forgettable, only serving as plot devices for the story to chug along.
Can Fun Be Repetitious & Unoriginal?

Just Cause 4 offers the same open-world sandbox tropes from ten years ago. The third-person shooting is basic, and the map consists of regions that the player has to take control of by completing missions involving the same cycle of bases and missions.
These include escorting missions, find the terminals and flip switches missions, as well as disposing of bomb-rigged vehicles by driving them into the water missions. These constitute the bulk of the main gameplay missions, and they’re repetitive as hell. However, Just Cause 4 has one unique mechanic that other common sandbox games lack and that’s the grappling hook, wingsuit, and parachute.
It’s incredible how much fun these seemingly unimpressive pieces of equipment could be. Remember when I said that I only started enjoying the game several hours into Just Cause 4? That’s because once I mastered (or understood) how to really utilize these gadgets during combat and while traversing the open-world; it really made all the difference.

The game’s mechanic of using the grappling hook, wingsuit, and parachute to move and get around is reminiscent of Insomniac’s recent Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Rico zips around with his grappling hook and glides with his wingsuit, while destruction and chaos happening all around him, making me feel like Ethan Hunt from the Mission Impossible movies. It’s glorious, it feels great, and most importantly: it’s fun.

I would like to point out something that both Avalanche Studios and Square Enix kept promoting before the launch of Just Cause 4; the weather effects. In the game, I had to battle against the forces of nature, including tornados, sandstorms, blizzards, and thunderstorms. It sounds fun, but it’s not, especially as it’s bogged down by the terrible graphics and choppy framerate (making them more annoying than thrilling).
Is This a PS2 Game?

If you think I’m exaggerating, I’m not. The worst thing about Just Cause 4 has to be the visuals and graphics.

For the love of god, the game looks like a PS2 game at the worst of times and a PS3 game at best.

Some videos on YouTube have even compared this game to its 2010 predecessor Just Cause 2 and it’s simply unbelievable that an 8-year-old title from two generations ago can look better than a current-gen 2018 game.
Avalanche Studios and Square Enix both emphasized that Just Cause 4 is powered by their new Apex engine. This new technology supposedly allows for the best and most realistic weather effects ever seen in a video game, but that’s not what I see in the game.
For instance, one of the game’s main missions had me chasing a tornado in a specialized vehicle. It should have been an epic and exciting sequence, one that the game’s marketing kept pressing prior to the game’s launch. I was disappointed to encounter choppy and sluggish framerate, making the entire experience underwhelming and a chore to play.
The game does manage to look decent at times, especially when I’m soaring through the air on my wingsuit. I could appreciate the game’s tropical setting at times, but not when the water looks so bad. I have to say; Just Cause 4 has some of the worst water effects and physics I’ve seen in a long time. It’s atrocious. If this is what the Apex engine is capable of, then I’m afraid it’s already obsolete.

I wouldn’t recommend this game to anybody but the most ardent defenders of similar open-world sandbox games. If you fancy a throwback to the times when games were nothing but mindless fun and explosions, perhaps Just Cause 4 is the game for you, flaws and all.

In the end, I somehow managed to enjoy the game, despite its crippling flaws. Maybe that’s the only saving grace for Just Cause 4:Â it still motivated me enough to finish the game at least once.

You’re better off just playing the previous games instead; they cost way less for the exact same experience.
Pros:

Fun gameplay.
Familiar sandbox mechanics for fans of the genre.
Traversing with your grappling hook, wingsuit, and parachute never gets old.

Cons:

Non-existent narrative and barebones plot.
Looks like a PS2 game at the worst of times, and a PS3 game at best.
Repetitive missions and the same old sandbox mechanics from ten years ago.
Game crashes on several occasions.

Score: 50/100
Just Cause 4 was reviewed on the PlayStation 4 Pro, via a review copy courtesy of Square Enix.


The 30 Best Games Of 2021: #28

Every day from December to January, we’ll be posting our top 30 games of 2021 daily. Here’s number 28.
#28: Resident Evil Village

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The Resident Evil franchise has experienced a sort of resurgence these past few years, since 2017’s Resident Evil 7, and followed by both 2019’s Resident Evil 2 Remake and 2020’s Resident Evil 3 Remake. 2021’s Resident Evil Village continues that trend with a story that picks up on Resident Evil 7 and features the same protagonist, Ethan Winters.
What makes Resident Evil Village fun is that it brought back the action-heavy elements and European countryside vibe of Resident Evil 4, while still somewhat maintaining the new scary and atmospheric vibe that started with Resident Evil 7. Resident Evil 4‘s iconic inventory system also makes a much-awaited return and there’s a lot of thrills to be had in Resident Evil Village.
What other Resident Evil game has freaking werewolves and witches who turn into insects and dragons? Capcom found a way to make all these monsters work without changing the established lore involving the Umbrella Corporation or delving into crazy nonsense. Add gameplay that refines the mechanics introduced in Resident Evil 7, and this game is a must-play for all Resident Evil and horror game fans.


Dream Raider Is A Cerebral Sci-Fi Drama & More Than An Asian Inception

HBO Asia Original’s Dream Raider is the network’s first science-fiction series and it may seem like simply an Asian version of Christopher Nolan’s Inception, but there’s a lot more to it than that.
You see, Dream Raider is set in the near future, featuring a misfit team of scientists and cops that are trying to get to the bottom of a criminal conspiracy that exploits human consciousness. How do they achieve this? Well, mostly by using cutting-edge technology that enables them to enter the dreamscapes of others. Yeah, like literally enter the dreams of people, which may feel like a familiar concept to fans of Inception.
However, Dream Raider features a much more cerebral and prescient story.
Brain Power

Dream Raider is ultimately structured like a crime procedural science fiction drama of sorts, the show begins with the main lead character detective Li Xiao (played by Weber Yang) trying to investigate the mysterious circumstances of a girl’s death.
That leads him to meet the other main lead character of the series, Dr. Anya Cheng as portrayed by Taiwanese actress Ellen Wu, to ask for the help of her and her father, Dr. Tianli Cheng (played by Jason Wang), who is the creator of the dream raiding technology, which is what enables them to enter the dreamscapes.
From then on, they work together to solve weird tech-based cases, which usually involves the brain and neural science. I was given access to seven out of eight total episodes for the first season of Dream Raider and each episode features a self-contained case which advances the main narrative forward.

What’s intriguing is that a lot of these tech-based problems and crimes in each episode are not that farfetched from current tech in the real world, or where it’s heading to, at least, which is why I described Dream Raider as particularly prescient. Many of these tech crimes or scientific possibilities feel frighteningly close to home.

For instance, one episode centred around a mobile game as the main focal point while another focused on a VR-like entertainment service. We’ve all seen the use of retina and fingerprint scans to unlock doors, but Dream Raider depicts the potential of using brain waves to do the same thing. Viewers should expect a lot of exposition scenes for these, but they are executed fairly well and don’t disrupt the plot pacing.
Thanks to all that, Dream Raider feels more like speculative fiction to me than simply science-fiction, which adds a certain realism to everything that’s happening. You feel like these things that you’re watching could be potentially realized in the future, or even in the near future. Obviously, there’s a lot more, but I won’t spoil them. Still, the main attraction remains the dreamscapes.
The dreamscapes in Dream Raider come with their own set of rules, but they’re never as overly-complicated as the ones in Inception, which featured layers of dreams over more layers of dreams. Plus, the show finds ways to add visual flair to dreamscapes. While the dreamscapes in Inception had reality shifts and layers, they were mostly mirrors of the real world.
In Dream Raider, the dreamscapes can be anything, as it differs from individual to individual. For instance, that aforementioned episode with a mobile game featured a dreamscape that’s like the world in the game, with a chaotic city under attack from aliens. These inject the concept of dreamscapes in Dream Raider with more personality and style, as there’s always something new with every dreamscape.
Alas, Dream Raider probably doesn’t have the benefit of a massive Hollywood budget, so that means that there’s a limit to what the showrunners can do. Still, the result is pretty imaginative and visually interesting. Just don’t expect lavish production values and cinematography like HBO’s other shows like Westworld or Game Of Thrones.
Emotional Resonance

There’s all that, and I haven’t even touched on the characters in Dream Raider. The highlight of the show has to be Ellen Wu’s Dr. Anya Cheng. She’s strong, smart, capable, independent, and likeable. I got attached to her only one or two episodes into the show, as her estranged relationship with her emotionally-distant and cold father forms one of the biggest emotional cruxes in Dream Raider.
That’s not even mentioning her great dynamic and chemistry with the other main lead, Weber Yang’s detective Li Xiao, who also has some emotional issues of his own to deal with throughout the series. He has to share joint custody of his daughter with his divorced wife, which makes for some heartwarming scenes.
Amidst the dreamscapes and investigating a shady criminal organization, not everything is all gloom and doom in Dream Raider. Viewers can still expect a lot of comedy and humour sprinkled throughout the series’ eight episodes for moments of levity and laughter. Well, as much as can be expected from a series about entering the minds and dreams of people.

The rest of the cast do great jobs as well, with good performances all around. My favourites include Jun Kunimura’s Watanabe (one of the only Japanese actors in the series and whom you might recognise from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films or the recent 2019 war film Midway) and the antagonist of the series (whom I can’t reveal without spoiling important plot points).

A Great Start

Dream Raider is the twenty-third HBO Asian Original to premiere since productions started in 2012, but it’s the first one to go fully into the realm of science fiction. In my opinion, directing duo Daniel Fu and Simon Hung have done an admirable job. It’s definitely a recommended watch for fans of the genre.
It might not be genre-breaking or particularly innovative, but Dream Raider has the potential to pave the way for more Asian filmmakers to dabble into the wide pool of science fiction in the near future.
FINAL SCORE: 70/100
Dream Raider is slated to release on Sunday, 16 August 2020 at 9pm GMT+8 exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD), with new episodes premiering on a weekly basis. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_SGdNlcW60&w=560&h=315]


James Gunn & Peter Safran Are New CEOs Of DC Studios

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran will lead DC’s film, TV and animation efforts as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, a newly formed division at Warner Bros. that will replace DC Films.
Gunn will focus on the creative side of things, while Safran will focus on the business and production side. However, they are both expected to continue to direct and produce projects, respectively. They will report directly to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and work closely with Warners film bosses De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
The deal is allegedly a multiple-year contract and Gunn will exclusively be at DC. This means that the upcoming Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 will likely be his last Marvel film for the foreseeable future.
In a joint statement, they said:
“We’re honored to be the stewards of these DC characters we’ve loved since we were children,” Gunn and Safran said in a statement. “We look forward to collaborating with the most talented writers, directors, and actors in the world to create an integrated, multilayered universe that still allows for the individual expression of the artists involved.
Our commitment to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Harley Quinn, and the rest of the DC stable of characters is only equaled by our commitment to the wonder of human possibility these characters represent. We’re excited to invigorate the theatrical experience around the world as we tell some of the biggest, most beautiful, and grandest stories ever told.”


Capcom Announces New Mega Man X Game, But….

As you can tell from the headline, it’s gearing up to say “it’s mobile”. Yep, the upcoming Mega Man X entry will not be a continuation of Mega Man X8 back in 2004, but as an action RPG for iOS and Android. Truly some Wishmaster bulls*** here.
Take a look and see what has become of our precious X and Zero; they’re now in an all-stars project featuring characters from all the X series, including that Command Missions RPG.

This game is developed by Capcom Taiwan and it looks like a 2D action RPG game. You most likely will level up, gain a bunch of Hunters and Mavericks to use, and probably gacha better ones with real money if the currency you’re getting in the game runs out. Yep, this may be X’s so-called revival, unless Capcom is truly making a real sequel to X8 following the critical acclaim of Mega Man 11 and the Mega Man X Legacy Collections.
In which case can you please make that goshdarn announcement by the end of 2019? Thanks!


Animal Crossing: New Horizon Sold 11 Million Units In A Span Of 11 Days

We would start this piece with phrases like “new normal” and “the COVID-19 pandemic has done so-and-so”, but you’re probably sick of that. Let’s cut to the chase then: Nintendo Switch exclusive raccoon debt settlement simulation Animal Crossing: New Horizons is making more bank for the Big N due to the past month or so.
According to a recent Nintendo financial data report (results as of 31st March of this year), Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold 11.77 million units in the span of 11 days. The game’s sales numbers for the first six weeks is a staggering 13.41 million units. This sequel outperformed previous Animal Crossing titles like the Nintendo DS Animal Crossing: Wild World and the 3DS Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

Other noteworthy stats are as follows:

PokÃ©mon Sword/Shield, regarded as one of the more divisive mothership PokÃ©mon titles in the series, basically beat out every other 3DS PokÃ©mon game’s sales with an impressive 17.37 million units. The only titles that outperformed it are PokÃ©mon Red/Green/Blue, PokÃ©mon Gold/Silver, and PokÃ©mon Diamond/Pearl.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are still going strong, with 24.77 million and 18.84 million units sold respectively.

Given how pleasant and meme-worthy Animal Crossing: New Horizon is, and the fact that it reminds people of a happier time before the pandemic, these high volume numbers for an exclusive family-friendly title are expected. The phrase “right place, right time” comes heavily into play here; I doubt New Horizon would sell this fast and this high during any other time.


Minecraft Legends Has Strategy Game Potential, But That’s All It Has

Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
PIGLINS! That is all.
In all seriousness, Mojang Studios has recently released Minecraft Legends, an open-world real-time strategy game, or “action strategy” in their words. The game is all about farming resources, building defenses and summons mercenaries to help protect the realm. There are numerous elements in the world that will look familiar to you if you’ve played Minecraft as the game takes a lot of its visual cues from it but it’s not the Minecraft you know. This however makes it easier for players to familiarize themselves with the world.

Back To Basics
The game starts off with a world where Minecraft’s NPCs all get along happily. Yay! We’re friends with the horrible creepers. You become acquainted with the 3 Hosts -Foresight, Knowledge and Action- who will guide you into defending the world from the oink hordes. The first few hours of exploring and listening to the Hosts which was like a ‘voice in my head’ felt like an awkward first date.
But like an awkward first date in an amazing place. The environments and biomes were done amazingly. As I was trying to explore the lands, I’d have an annoying voice in my head guiding me to do other things when all I wanted to do was explore.

The campaign drops the player into the world with multiple villages scattered around with the piglin horde shifting all over building forts and taking over areas. You farm resources, build defenses to protect the poor villagers, and assemble your army to send the piglins back to the Nether. What sets the game apart from Minecraft is in Legends you are given small creatures called allays to gather resources and build structures, a lute to command mobs you spawn in, as well as a banner to give commands to your small army.
The amount of resources you can get is slimmed down to the many materials that Minecraft has to offer. You start out with wood and stone, and then you expand slowly into getting iron, redstone, diamonds, and so forth. There are 3 types of buildings in which you can build; defensive structures like walls, gates and even arrow towers, small spawners for your tiny combat army, and improvements (upgrades) that you can construct at the huge Well of Fate. You don’t actually have to do any of these yourself.
However, you use allays to gather resources in flagged areas rather than mining them yourself. This strips all the fun and accomplishment out of the process. I have always been a huge fan of games in which farming resources are vital to the gameplay. I also feel like this takes away so much replayability.

Rally To Me
But don’t worry, you do get to lead your own army into battle, which you’d think would add more layers to the mix. You get to choose your own character, bless their souls, there were a variety of cute ones. You start off on horseback as you direct your troops. I like the fact that you are the general on the field taking charge of the army, rather than just being someone who observes.
However, it becomes bothersome and more like a babysitting job the more you play. You can command your army to follow you, stop following you, focus on a particular target, or charge ahead, as well as specify which units you want to issue the order to. It became frustrating to lead armies into battle to the point I just ended up building defenses to take down the piglin camps.
Combat was pretty much spawning a blob of troops of a varying kind, holding up my banner, running up and down to keep them in tow, and then aiming at buildings or targets I wanted them to attack. There really wasn’t a lot to it.
Another thing that irked me is that there is no real way to separate your units from one another. The only way you could do so if by making your spawners at a distance from each other so the units don’t end up mixing them. Then you group the individual units and use the advanced controls to order and split them up again. Oh yes, I forgot to mention: you get a tiny sword to wave around in the face of the piglins. The units also felt like they were walking blindfolded as they would constantly fall off of bridges and ramps, so pathfinding is more miss than hit, which isn’t something you want in an “action strategy” title.

Most would find the passive building a good choice, however, I hated it. The camera angles and the controls on keyboard and mouse felt awkward. Placing structures felt like a chore but the third-person view made the controls a whole lot harder than what they should have been. ALSO, building restrictions with making a ramp. Why was it so hard to just place a damn ramp across an area? or to build a ramp going upwards…
Minecraft to me has always been about creativity, and being able to experiment with things, but there is no room for any of that here. I tried making different structures with arrow towers and ramps to see if I could make overhead bridges and so on, but it would not allow me.

Also, why can’t I interact with the adorable animals? I felt like that would have been a great way for players to feel a bit more engaged with the game.
Battle With Or Against Friends

The game does come with cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes because of course everything is better with friends! Minecraft Legends especially. I cannot imagine playing this entire campaign solo. Unless you decide to take a full-on mental health break day, to relax to the calming music in the game, then I suppose you can.
Still, I find it extremely fun to delegate villages and duties to friends. I even had my best friend going around protecting the creepers and zombies’ bases, screaming “BE LIBERATED” as she’d charge into battle with the piglins. While my partner would farm for more resources by clearing piglin camps. Luckily, the game allows cross-platform with every platform so you need not worry if your friends are on a different platform.
The classic PVP can be basically open up a lobby to play 4 vs 4 against randoms all over the world, or 4 vs 4 in your own private lobby if you have enough friends. If you start a PvP playthrough, the game is more balanced toward competitive play. The one thing I like about this mode is the fact that every player has access to a total of 40 units and need to protect their own bases.
The gameplay is really basic in which players need to upgrade their bases to get better materials to farm for more units and to reinforce their base with better items. The goal is to protect your base from the pesky piglins as well as your opponents. A standard multiplayer PvP game lasts around 20 minutes, so it’s not too long and draggy. Connectivity-wise, I did not have issues.

It’s quite clear that the game excels in the multiplayer section, and the game is significantly more fun with friends. However, I think there are better games that you can play with friends, especially at the cost Minecraft Legends is at, if you do not own the X box Game Pass. Just go and play Minecraft instead.
You will not notice the negative parts of Minecraft Legends when you first start playing it. As you keep at it after an hour or two, you will soon realize that the world is just a hollow mimic of the original. I was told the game was made to be catered to kids, but the gameplay feels too overwhelming. I also felt that the suicide bombers may be a bit… too much for kids.
As for a more mature audience, I think it’s too simplistic and gets boring very fast especially if played alone. The story is very juvenile; while the cutscenes are done well, the older crowd will skip the nonsense.
There is so much potential in the game, but I fear they might have missed the mark with this one. But don’t worry, the piglins are still there. And cute.

Pros

Fun concept and initial execution.
Multiplayer PvE seems enticing.

Cons

Not much depth, especially for strategy game enthusiasts.
Too simplistic, even for a kid-tailored title.
Keyboard controls are borked.

Final Score: 50/100


Cosplay Thailand 2022 Sets the Stage for The Next Big Thing in Cosplay

How did you spend your last weekend? We at Kakuchopurei spent ours surrounded by thousands of pop culture fans and cosplayers at the Union Mall in Bangkok.
After over two years of being bound to Malaysia due to the global pandemic, Team KKP is finally back to covering regional events. Suffice to say, expect more of similar vein in the upcoming months!

Well accustomed to the local pop culture and cosplay scene, it was indeed an eye-opening experience for us to witness how similar yet different the scene is across the border. As our Head of Events, Fazri pointed out, cosplay events are good indicators of what’s hot and what has gone out of style in the pop culture realm.
Rewinding back the clock, one cannot walk more than a few steps in a convention hall before encountering ANOTHER Akatsuki member or Konoha Jonin. These days, guess which character tops the most-cosplayed list?
Go ahead. Take a wild guess.
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By a country mile, Spy X Family’s Anya. Anya cosplayers come in either their homemade costume or via the low-effort Taobao getup. They. Were. Everywhere.

				Pics Credit: Cosplay Thailand 2022 FB

				Pics Credit: Cosplay Thailand 2022 FB

				Pics Credit: Cosplay Thailand 2022 FB

				Pics Credit: Cosplay Thailand 2022 FB

				Pics Credit: Cosplay Thailand 2022 FB

				Pics Credit: Cosplay Thailand 2022 FB

				Pics Credit: Cosplay Thailand 2022 FB

No doubt that cosplay scene in Thailand is a mature one. Unlike, say in Malaysia where the fan-made items were mostly dominated by self-published art and manga, the doujin section were mostly by cosplayers who were selling personalized items and collectibles such as photo prints and autographed artworks.
And just like in any hobby, there are those who go several levels up, standing out from the rest. These cosplayers have amassed a considerable following enabling them to experiment with new forms of items and products to connect with their adoring fans.
The calm before the storm
Interestingly, non-fungible tokens have found its way into the scene, with several of Thailands most iconic cosplayers such as Thames, Kozei and Anong banding together with Singapore-based company, FrostyWhale. With the aim of expanding and diversifying their content, FrostyWhale helps these top-tier cosplayers connect with the fans with ‘Digital Originals’. Fans who purchase these items can then curate them in the platform prepared by FrostyWhale.

(Pic Credit: FrostyWhale)
We aren’t here to judge whether NFTs as a whole are a good thing or not. At the end of the day, it boils down to those participating in the transaction. Willing seller and willing buyer, right? But what we support is FrostyWhale’s endeavor and approach of attempting something considered new and untested.
This also allows participating cosplayers to explore new opportunities never thought possible in the past and in the grand scheme of things, for content creators, is a positive development. As for whether the cosplay scene will accept NFTs or not, only time will tell.


UTeM’s DARKHORSE Crowned Malaysia’s Best PUBG Mobile Varsity Team

With more than 6,000 students and a total of 231 teams participating, the PUBG Mobile Campus Championship (PMCC) Malaysia 2019 has been a grand event for young PUBG Mobile fans throughout the country. The Grand Finals concluded today and the champion is…

…DARKHORSE from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM)!

After securing themselves not one, not two, but three chicken dinners in the Grand Finals, DARKHORSE already left every other team in the dust before the 5th match even began.
They received the grand prize of RM18,000 plus other sponsored goodies such as a year of free Boost credit and a year of free Yoodo mobile plan. We’ll be seeing more of them next year in the PUBG Mobile National Championship (PMNC) Malaysia.
Coming in at second place is AKA Esports from Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARC) who didn’t get any chicken dinners but always ended up in the top spots thanks to how good they were at racking up kills and surviving long enough to become the top 7 teams in almost every match. They walk home with RM8,000.
The PMCC Malaysia 2019 was held at IOI Mall Puchong and organised by ESL.
2nd runner-up is another equine ensemble, KUDA Esport from Management and Science University (MSU). They nabbed themselves one chicken dinner from the second match and persistently came close to winning every other match. The shoutcasters frequently joked about how the two horse-themed teams were having an intense rivalry. KUDA Esport got a prize of RM5,000.
To cut back on the intensity, those who came down to IOI Mall Puchong to watch the tournament live was treated with a showmatch featuring Malaysian celebrities and influencers including singer Elizabeth Tan and popular streamer and esports veteran Firdaus “MasterRamen” Hashim. MasterRamen employed his usual tactic of staying put and camped himself to victory.
MasterRamen and his mini-musketeers who won the celebrity showmatch.
After every match, the crowd was given opportunities to win cool prizes by answering quizzes. Aside from jerseys and electronics sponsored by the tournament’s sponsors, some lucky participants also won themselves tickets to the PUBG Mobile Club Open (PMCO) 2019 Fall Split Global Finals which will be happening from 29 November to 1 December 2019 at the Putra World Trade Center (PWTC).
Overall, it was a great day for PUBG Mobile fans all throughout Malaysia, especially those who watched the tournament live at IOI Mall Puchong. Next up is the PMCO 2019 Fall Split Global Finals and everyone is excited to not just see PUBG Mobile players all around the world come to Malaysia but to also support the only Malaysian team that made into the Global Finals: Yoodo Gank.
Good luck to Yoodo Gank for the PMCO Global Finals and good luck to DARKHORSE for PMNC 2020!


We’re Getting A Final Rurouni Kenshin 2-Part Live-Action Film Next Year

Did you love the three-part Rurouni Kenshin film? Because I sure did! While the first film tried to find its footing, the movies after that were awesome. So I’m pretty hyped at the fact that there’s going to be another Rurouni Kenshin live-action film next year announced by Warner Bros Japan.
No wait, make that TWO films next year. The adaptations will mark the last chapter of the live-action film series; the first is titled JÅ«ji Kizu no Nazo (Mystery of the Cross-Shaped Scar) and the second is SaikyÅ no Tekiãƒ»Enishi (Most Terrifying Enemy – Enishi).
Takeru Satoh will be playing Kenshin Himura again, and Keishi Otomo will helm director duties once more. With the success of the previous films -they garnered US$160 million internationally- it’s no surprise that WB wants to make lightning strike twice.


New Diablo 4 Video Brings You Inside The World Of The Game

Over the course of the new Inside the Game video series, players will sit down with resident Diablo 4 experts, including members of the development team, to walk you through elements of the game.
The first video in this series is The World of Sanctuary, an ode to the rich world that you will soon traverse and reclaim from Lilith’s grasp.
Now, join senior quest designer II Harrison Pink, game director Joe Shely, senior dungeon designer Dini McMurry, and art director John Mueller as they expound upon these aspects of Diablo IV in the below developer video: art direction, environment, monsters, gameplay innovations, and world-building.
In the meantime, head on over here to find out how to join the upcoming closed beta.


Michelle “Lylia” Tan’s 10 Best Games Of 2020

Few things were worth looking back on in 2020, the year where everything could (and did) go wrong – but games were one bright spot that, dare I say, kept a lot of us sane. Iâ€™d always thought of myself as an introvert and thus, never fully realized how much I derived joy from interactions with friends…until the year 2020 hit.
Games and Discord, thank you for being my MVP this year. Truly.
Here are the games that got me through 2020, in no particular order:
Among Us

This year was undoubtedly the year of casual games with friends – for more reasons than one – and this was just what I needed. Among Us exploded into popularity out of nowhere, and with its mobile game being free and thus highly accessible to my friends and colleagues alike – we were soon playing this everywhere, including at office TGIFs.
Animal Crossing: New Horizon
With prices doubling at the height of the lockdown, this game allowed me to spend a calm, relaxing time hanging out with my villagers and checking out my friendsâ€™ villages. This year was finally the year I decided I needed my very own Nintendo Switch.
No Straight Roads

Rhythm action game made by a local studio + my voice is in it. Enough said! You should 200% check it out. #notbiased
Phasmophobia
Yet another game youâ€™d play with friends, except this blended my love (or should I say masochistic love) for horror and the ability to inflict it on friends as we tried to navigate haunted houses together. *evil laughter* That aside, Phasmophobia was truly a game that surprised me with how polished the concept was and how much fun being a ghost detective could actually be. And boy, was high school scary..
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

If you know me, youâ€™ll know that I hang out quite frequently with a group of friends who were former COD pros. There was a point in 2020 when I played this game every single night with them without fail, accompanied by voice comms on Discord – the main stressbuster that got me through the early months of lockdown.
Iâ€™m ever grateful for this bunch. Thank you, Team ESP!
RingFit Adventure
Ate too much during the lockdown. Had to work out. Why not make use of my Nintendo Switch? No-brainer.
League of Legends: Wild Rift
Truth be told, I never really got excited about Mobile Legends. It had always felt like a watered-down version of League of Legends, so when Riot finally released Wild Rift, it was like a nostalgia trip come true. I enjoyed the beta tremendously, but again, another game Iâ€™d play only if my friends were playing.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

I didnâ€™t buy this one or play it myself but watched Letâ€™s Plays on YouTube purely for the amazing story. Itâ€™s an engaging one, and I think a gem that a lot of people may have missed out on.
Giant robots, schoolgirls, incredible art, great voice acting, and a plot that jumps across multiple time periods and settings – if that sounds like your thing, you may want to check it out.
Genshin Impact
Again, not a game I played, but a game that everyone else around me did. The voice acting was incredibly impressive across both English and Japanese, and with crossplay making it super accessible – really, the only reason why I havenâ€™t picked it up yet lies in the cautionary tales of hearing friends spend thousands just to roll for their favourite anime waifu. (I have terrible RNG)
Jackbox Party Pack
Give thanks for the Jackbox franchise, for bringing together people across the internet, even those who arenâ€™t proper gamers, to be able to play together and have fun. My favourite party pack offering this year would have to be Talking Points, a new improv-style game that I really enjoyed playing with the No Straight Roads voice actors on stream. You can find the VOD here.
—
Michelle â€œLyliaâ€ Tan is an emerging voice actress, livestreamer, and former esports shoutcaster. She can be found across the internet at her website lyliatan.com, or on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @lyliasea.


Check Out Brimstone, Valorant’s Soldier Guy

I guess it’s a tradition for a hero shooter (even if Valorant isn’t going as far as Overwatch or Paladins) to feature a more straightforward soldier-type character. In Valorant, Brimstone is that guy.
In Riot’s new teaser, Brimstone is shown calling in smoke artillery like it’s a Call of Duty killstreak/scorestreak, firing an incendiary grenade launcher, and shooting guns like a soldier’s meant to do.

BRIMSTONE /// United States“Pay attention. Might learn something.”#VALORANT pic.twitter.com/n0gy0OrIj3
— VALORANT (@PlayVALORANT) April 16, 2020

Not shown are his Stim Beacon ability and Orbital Strike. According to Liquipedia, the former grants players within it Rapidfire (the shooting buff affects not just allies but everyone, from the various descriptions I’ve seen), while the latter fires a devastating laser at an area.
In other Valorant news, the closed beta broke another Twitch record recently, while Riot has a no-blood display requirement for third-party tournaments.


Xbox Summer Game Fest Event Features 40 Playable Demos

Last week, we reported that Xbox is hosting a Summer Game Fest Demo event this year, where anyone who has an Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S can play over 40 demos of upcoming and unreleased games for an entire week, from 15 to 21 June 2021.
Now that it has officially started, we finally have the full list of games, all of which you can download and play in the comfort of your own home.
These include:
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Arietta of SpiritsÂ (Third Spirit Games)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â BattleCakesÂ (Volcano Bean)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Button CityÂ (Subliminal)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Catlateral Damage: RemeowsteredÂ (Manekoware)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â DreamersÂ (PlaySys)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Faraday ProtocolÂ (Red Koi Box)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Get Packed: Fully LoadedÂ (Coatsink)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Paint the Town RedÂ (South East Games)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â TanknarokÂ (Polyblock Studio)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â The Strange Story Of Brian Fisher: Chapter 2Â (Intetic)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â The Tale of BistunÂ (Black Cube Games)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Wreck OutÂ (Four5Six)

Along with those titles, there are a great variety of games that will be available to try, including the following:
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â A Jugglerâ€™s TaleÂ (kaleidoscube)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Antipole DXÂ (Saturnine Games)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Arietta of SpiritsÂ (Third Spirit Games)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â BattleCakesÂ (Volcano Bean)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Black BookÂ (Morteshka)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Button CityÂ (Subliminal)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Cardaclysm: Shards of the FourÂ (Elder Games)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Catlateral Damage: RemeowsteredÂ (Manekoware)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Clone Drone in the Danger ZoneÂ (Doborog)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Clouzy!Â (Tinymoon)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â ConnecTankÂ (YummyYummyTummy)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Death TrashÂ (Crafting Legends)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Deathtrap Dungeon: The Golden RoomÂ (Good Gate Media)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â DreamersÂ (PlaySys)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Echo GenerationÂ (Cococucumber)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Faraday ProtocolÂ (Red Koi Box)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Fractal SpaceÂ (Haze Games)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Get Packed: Fully LoadedÂ (Coatsink)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â GodstrikeÂ (Overpowered)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Justice Sucks: RechargedÂ (Samurai Punk)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â LakeÂ (Gamious)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Lawn Mowing SimulatorÂ (Skyhook Games)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Mad StreetsÂ (Craftshop)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Mayhem BrawlerÂ (Hero Concept)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Paint the Town RedÂ (South East Games)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Princess FarmerÂ (Samobee Games)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â SableÂ (Shedworks)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Sail ForthÂ (David Evans Games)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Strings TheoryÂ (BeautifulBee)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â TanknarokÂ (Polyblock Studio)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â TeacupÂ (Smarto Club)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â The Eternal CylinderÂ (ACE Team)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â The RiftbreakerÂ (EXOR Studios)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â The Strange Story Of Brian Fisher: Chapter 2Â (Intetic)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â The Tale of BistunÂ (Black Cube Games)

â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Trigger WitchÂ (Rainbite)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â TunicÂ (Isometricorp)
â€¢Â Â Â Â Â Wreck OutÂ (Four5Six)

You can head over to your Xbox and start enjoying these fantastic game demos on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. It’s important to note that some demos are subject to regional availability.


Apex Legends Defiance Is Out Now; Features Mad Maggie & Refurbished Olympus

Apex Legends is expanding with its 12th Season, with a new character and modified map of old.
In this 12th Season, Apex Legends: Defiance, players will get to use new character Mad Maggie, who has a ton of moves that make her rush up-close to opponents in combat easily. She runs faster when using a shotgun, and uses a Riot Drill that bores through defenses. She’s one of the most offensive and aggressive legends in the game, and that’s saying a lot given the current roster.

The Olympus map has also gone through a number of drastic changes. The map has new points of interest and a new coat of paint to make it stand out from other maps like Kings Canyon and Storm Point. It’ll be in Apex Legends: Defiance seasonal rotation.
Apex Legends: Defiance also has Control, a limited-time mode that puts two teams of nine players against each other in a King of the Hill-style rumble.Â Check out the launch trailer below:


Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV Is Getting A 4K Remaster Release

Square Enix has announced that Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV is getting a new 4K remaster box set, which will launch on 9 February 2022. It will cost 13,200 yen or roughly RM492+.
The Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV 4K remaster box set will come with two Blu-Ray discs, an art card, a scenario book, and â€œFile Fragments.â€ As reported by Gamer, it will also feature audio commentary from the production team, including the game’s Director Takeshi Nozue.
To celebrate the release of the 4K remaster, Square Enix has also launched a special promotional website, which features several screenshots featuring remastered scenes from Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV and pre-order bonuses for certain stores.
For those unfamiliar, Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV is a 3D CG animated movie that runs parallel with the events at the beginning of Final Fantasy XV, focusing on the Kingsglaive, an elite combat corps who protect King Regis (Noctis’ father) and defend the kingdom of Lucis and its Crystal from the invading empire of Niflheim.
Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XVÂ was originally released in July 2016, several months before Final Fantasy XVÂ launched in November 2016.


The World Cup 2018 Is Over; Let’s Celebrate With Some Retro Footie Games

Happy Monday! Are you all feeling groggy yet happy/sad from yesterday’s spectacular footie display? We would like to congratulate France for a well-deserved win and to Croatia for putting up an awesome fight.
Now with the World Cup 2018 already finished, we may need our football fix soon enough. How about we bring up our favourite classic football games from the bygone era when FIFA and PES weren’t so prominent? Here’s our quick video of the best football games from the past, complete with an appropriate soundtrack.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1489218257849251/