Netflix July 2020: Our Highlights & Picks

Since everyone is (still mostly) staying home because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Iâ€™m sure you wonâ€™t want to waste time sifting through Netflixâ€™s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming giant updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so Iâ€™m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for Netflix Malaysiaâ€™s July 2020 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Unsolved Mysteries (1 July 2020)

The original Unsolved Mysteries covered creepy cold cases and unexplained paranormal phenomena, running from 1987 to 2010. Now the series is returning on Netflix, fusing signature elements from the original series with contemporary immersive, character-driven storytelling.
The first season will consist of 12 new episodes rooted in the experiences of ordinary people who have lived the unthinkable; from the trauma of a loved oneâ€™s unexplained disappearance or horrific death to the shock of a bizarre paranormal encounter.
Alongside detectives and journalists, family members offer clues, present theories, and identify suspects, hoping one viewer holds the key to solving the mystery.
Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries comes from the creators of the original docuseries, Cosgrove/Meurer Productions, and 21 Laps Entertainment; the producers behind Netflix’s own Stranger Things.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ4FrgGILM8&w=560&h=315]
Warrior Nun (2 July 2020)

Created by Simon Barry and based on the Antarctic Press comic book series by Ben Dunn, Warrior Nun looks like it’s the awesome live-action adaptation with a badass female lead to boot. Look beyond the generic name, and this has the potential to be the next Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
The synopsis reads:

Caught in the middle of an ancient war between good and evil, a young girl wakes up in a morgue with inexplicable powers.
Her search for answers brings her to The Order of the Cruciform Sword, a secret society of warrior nuns sworn to protect the world from evil.
While juggling her responsibilities as the chosen one with the normal obstacles of a teenage girl, this mysterious fantasy drama is full of mystery, action, adventure, and teenage romance, proving our main character might fight in the name of good, but sheâ€™s no angel.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An0bZpuhiBE&w=560&h=315]
Ju-On Origins (3 July 2020)

Remember the iconic Ju-On ghost with the croaking voice? The legendary Japanese horror franchise that has become a smash hit worldwide gets its first official TV drama adaptation with Ju-On Origins.
The synopsis reads:

Can the people haunted by this house escape from its curse? And what kind of grim incident occurred in this cursed house in the past?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJqHpN9b0U4&w=560&h=315]
The Protector Season 4 (9 July 2020)

Netflixâ€™s The Protector impressed me with its first three seasons, immersing me in an exotic world with a unique language, culture, and setting. The Turkish fantasy series is reinforced by a compelling cast of characters, albeit with a generic plot structure and suffering from typical Netflix bloat.
However, itâ€™s not every day that you see a series set in both modern and ancient Istanbul. Iâ€™m looking forward to seeing the epic conclusion of the series. That’s right; Season 4 will be The Protector‘s final season.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHC9ml-TOXg&w=560&h=315]
The Old Guard (10 July 2020)

It’s another comic book adaptation (based on Image Comics’ The Old Guard by acclaimed comic book writer Greg Rucka and artist Leandro Fernandez) and this time, it’s an action movie starring Charlize Theron in the lead role as an immortal ass-kicking warrior.
The synopsis reads:

Led by a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with a mysterious inability to die have fought to protect the mortal world for centuries.
But when the team is recruited to take on an emergency mission and their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed, itâ€™s up to Andy and Nile (Kiki Layne), the newest soldier to join their ranks, to help the group eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate and monetize their power by any means necessary.
Based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Greg Rucka and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (LOVE & BASKETBALL, BEYOND THE LIGHTS), THE OLD GUARD is a gritty, grounded, action-packed story that shows living forever is harder than it looks.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK-X2d0lJ_s&w=560&h=315]
Cursed (17 July 2020)

What if a woman picked up Excalibur instead of King Arthur? I know Saber exists in the Fate Type/Moon universe, but this new live-action fantasy series is based on the New York Times bestselling book by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller; a living legend in the comics industry, having written some of the best and most iconic graphic novels, many of which have been adapted into live-action movies.
These include Zack Snyderâ€™s 300 (the one with King Leonidas screaming â€œThis is Sparta!â€), The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, and more.
Cursed is a re-imagination of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a young woman with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake.
After her mother’s death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a humble mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword. Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XelS6fQbuo&w=560&h=315]
Transformers War For Cybertron Trilogy Siege (30 July 2020)

Transformers fans will finally be getting what they’ve been requesting for a long time; a series focused entirely on the Transformers themselves and set on planet Cybertron (without any pesky humans bothering them).
Transformers War for Cybertron Trilogy Siege will feature six 22-minute-long episodes, but two more seasons will follow; the second of which will be subtitled Earthrise. Polygon Pictures are in charge of animation, while Rooster Teeth (RWBY) will be handling production.
The synopsis reads:

On their dying planet, the Autobots and Decepticons battle fiercely for control of the AllSpark in the Transformers universe’s origin story.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYDB6skUqYw&w=560&h=315]
The Umbrella Academy Season 2 (31 July 2020)

It looks like I was correct while theorizing thatÂ The Umbrella AcademyÂ Season 2 will be adapting more content from the second arc of the comic book; Dallas.Â Check out what I have to say about that here.
The synopsis forÂ The Umbrella AcademyÂ Season 2 reads:

Five warned his family (so, so many times) that using his powers to escape from Vanyaâ€™s 2019 apocalypse was risky.
Well, he was right â€“ the time jump scatters the siblings in time in and around Dallas, Texas.
Over a three year period. Starting in 1960.
Some, having been stuck in the past for years, have built lives and moved on, certain theyâ€™re the only ones who survived.
Five is the last to land, smack dab in the middle of a nuclear doomsday, which â€“ spoiler alert! â€“ turns out is a result of the groupâ€™s disruption of the timeline (dÃ©jÃ  vu, anyone?).
Now the Umbrella Academy must find a way to reunite, figure out what caused doomsday, put a stop to it, and return to the present timeline to stop that other apocalypse.
All while being hunted by a trio of ruthless Swedish assassins. But seriously, no pressure or anything.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGAlNkI3mJQ&w=560&h=315]

Those are just several selected highlights from next monthâ€™s offerings of new TV series and movies on Netflix. Now you can plan your Netflix binge-fest for July 2020.


Netflix Anime Cyberpunk Edgerunners Wins Best Anime On Crunchyroll Awards Show

The 7th Annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards this year highlights the best of anime in 2022, and none deserve this acclaim more than Studio Trigger’s efforts.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners, a Netflix-produced 10-episode anime series, is so good that it won Best Anime Of 2022 in the Crunchyroll Anime Awards show which aired on Crunchyroll.com and on the streaming platform’s YouTube and Twitch pages. Other highlights included the following anime series of the shonen variant sweeping awards like Attack on Titan’s final season with the silly naming conventions, the new arc for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and everybody’s favourite new shonen treat Spy X Family.
The fact that the Best Anime category is mostly filled with the sort of common shonen stuff and sequels you’re used to seeing means the Cyberpunk Edgerunners victory is all the sweeter.
The full list of winners is below (via Anime News Network):
“Must Protect At All Costs” Character

Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY – Winner
Bojji, Ranking of Kings (Cour 2)
Kage, Ranking of Kings (Cour 2)
Komi Shouko, Komi Can’t Communicate (2nd series)
Kotaro Sato, Kotaro Lives Alone
Marin Kitagawa, My Dress-Up Darling

Best Opening Sequence

“Chikichiki Banban,” QUEENDOM, Ya Boy Kongming!
“Mixed Nuts,” Official HiGE DANdism, SPY x FAMILY
“Naked Hero,” Vaundy, Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
“The Rumbling,” SiM, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 – Winner
“This Fffire,” Franz Ferdinand, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
“Zankyousanka,” Aimer, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc

Best Ending Sequence

“Akuma no Ko,” Ai Higuchi, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
“Comedy,” Gen Hoshino, SPY x FAMILY – Winner
“My Heart Has Surrendered,” Airi Suzuki, Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic
“Koi no yukue,” Akari Akase, My Dress-Up Darling
“Koshaberibiyori,” FantasticYouth, Komi Can’t Communicate (2nd series)
“Yofukashino Uta,” Creepy Nuts, Call of the Night

Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese)

Atsumi Tanezaki, Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY
Chika Anzai, Chisato Nishikigi, Lycoris Recoil
Fairouz Ai, Jolyne Cujoh, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean
Misaki Kuno, Faputa and Irumyuui, Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun
Natsuki Hanae, Tanjiro Kamado, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Yuki Kaji, Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 – Winner

Best Voice Artist Performance (English)

Amanda Lee (Ama Lee), Marin Kitagawa, My Dress-Up Darling
Cherami Leigh, Kotaro Sato, Kotaro Lives Alone
Natalie Van Sistine, Yor Forger, SPY x FAMILY
SungWon Cho (AKA ProZD), Kage, Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
Zach Aguilar, David, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – Winner
Zeno Robinson, Gamma 2, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian)

Jaime Pérez de Sevilla, Yuta Okkotsu, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 – Winner
Lourdes Fabrés, Jolyne, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean
Alejandro Albaiceta, Gohan, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Marc Gómez, Daida, Ranking of Kings (1st Part)
Masumi Mutsuda, Yatora Yaguchi, Blue Period
Mónica Padrós, Hiling, Ranking of Kings (1st Part)

Best Voice Artist Performance (French)

Alexis Tomassian, Kage, Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
Brigitte Lecordier, Bojji, Ranking of Kings (2nd Part) – Winner
Dorothée Pousséo, Lucy, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Geneviève Doang, Vladilena Milizé, 86 EIGHTY-SIX Part 2
Laure Filiu, Jolyne Cujoh, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean
Martin Faliu, Miyuki, Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic

Best Voice Artist Performance (German)

Gabrielle Pietermann, Marin Kitagawa, My Dress-Up Darling
Jannik Endemann, Ritsuka Uenoyama, Given
Lara Trautmann, Belle, Belle
Nicolás Artajo, Y?ta Okkotsu, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 – Winner
Torsten Michaelis, Askeladd, Vinland Saga (Season 1)
Uwe Thomsen, Jotaro Kujo, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable

Best Voice Artist Performance (Portuguese)

Antônio Moreno, Heihachi Mishima, Tekken: Bloodline
Charles Emmanuel, Kazuya, Rent-A-Girlfriend (Season 2)
Mariana Dondi, Nagatoro, Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro
Nina Carvalho, Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY – Winner
Pedro Alcântara, Yuta Okkotsu, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
Yan Gesteira, Ashito Aoi, Aoashi

Best Voice Artist Performance (Spanish)

Alejandro Orozco, Gyutaro, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc – Winner
Diana Castañeda, Chisato Nishikigi, Lycoris Recoil
Elizabeth Infante, Chika Fujiwara, Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic
Erika Langarica, Marin Kitagawa, My Dress-Up Darling
Miguel de León, Loid Forger, SPY x FAMILY
Víctor Hugo Aguilar, Ains Ooal Gown, Overlord IV

Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic)

Adel Abo Hassoon, Kage, Ranking of Kings (1st Part)
Amal Hawija, Gon, Hunter x Hunter – Winner
Amal Saadalden, Conan, Detective Conan: The Bride of Shibuya (Movie)
Mohja AlSheak, Izuku Midoriya, My Hero Academia (Season 1)
Naji Makhoul, Ichigo, Bleach (Season 1)
Ula Zidan, Marin Kitagawa, My Dress-Up Darling

Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian)

Andrea La Greca, Rengoku, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc
Andrea Oldani, Daida, Ranking of Kings (Part 1)
Deborah Morese, Marin Kitagawa, My Dress-Up Darling
Elisa Giorgio, Maki Zen’in, JUJUTSU KAISEN (Part 1) – Winner
Giulia Maniglio, Riku, Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun
Simone Lupinacci, Shoyo Hinata, Haikyu!! To The Top

Best Drama

86 EIGHTY-SIX Part 2
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 – Winner
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Dance Dance Danseur
Kotaro Lives Alone
Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun

Best Action

Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc – Winner
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean
Lycoris Recoil
SPY x FAMILY

Best Supporting Character

Ai Hayasaka, Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic
Anya Forger, SPY x FAMILY – Winner
Kage, Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
Rebecca, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Tengen Uzui, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Yor Forger, SPY x FAMILY

Best Main Character

Bojji, Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
Chisato Nishikigi, Lycoris Recoil
David Martinez, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 – Winner
Loid Forger, SPY x FAMILY
Marin Kitagawa, My Dress-Up Darling

Best New Series

Call of the Night
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Lycoris Recoil
My Dress-Up Darling
SPY x FAMILY – Winner
Ya Boy Kongming!

Best Original Anime

Birdie Wing -Golf Girls’ Story-
Healer Girl
Lycoris Recoil – Winner
The Orbital Children
Vampire in the Garden
YUREI DECO

Best Character Design

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc – Winner
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean
My Dress-Up Darling
Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
SPY x FAMILY

Best Animation

Akebi’s Sailor Uniform
Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc – Winner
Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
SPY x FAMILY

Best Continuing Series

Attack on Titan (Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean)
Kaguya-sama: Love is War (Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic)
Made in Abyss (Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun)
One Piece – Winner

Best Romance

Call of the Night
Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic – Winner
Komi Can’t Communicate (2nd series)
Love After World Domination
My Dress-Up Darling
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie

Best Fantasy

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc – Winner
Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 1 Part 2
Overlord IV
Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
The Case Study of Vanitas (2nd Part)

Best Comedy

Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic
Kotaro Lives Alone
My Dress-Up Darling
SPY x FAMILY – Winner
Uncle From Another World
Ya Boy Kongming!

Best Score

Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 – Winner
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun
SPY x FAMILY
Ya Boy Kongming!

Best Anime Song

“Chikichiki Banban,” QUEENDOM, Ya Boy Kongming!
“Comedy,” Gen Hoshino, SPY x FAMILY
“My Nonfiction,” Miyuki Shirogane (CV: Makoto Furukawa) & Chika Fujiwara (CV: Konomi Kohara), Kaguya-sama: Love is War Ultra Romantic
“New Genesis,” Ado, One Piece Film Red
“Shall We Dance?,” ReoNa, SHADOWS HOUSE -2nd Season-
“The Rumbling,” SiM, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 – Winner

Best Film

Bubble
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
INU-OH
JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 – Winner
One Piece Film Red
The Deer King

Best Director

Haruo Sotozaki, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc – Winner
Hiroyuki Imaishi, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Kazuhiro Furuhashi, SPY x FAMILY
Shingo Adachi, Lycoris Recoil
Yousuke Hatta, Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
Yuichiro Hayashi, Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2

Anime of the Year

Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – Winner
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
Lycoris Recoil
Ranking of Kings (2nd Part)
SPY x FAMILY

A pity Rebecca of Cyberpunk Edgerunners fame didn’t win Best Supporting Character. It’s okay; you’re still a winner to us all at Kakuchopurei.


The PS5 DualSense Is Getting Two New Colours Next Month

PlayStation has announced two new colours that will be joining the DualSense controller lineup starting next month: Midnight Black and Cosmic Red.
Midnight Black features two subtly different shades of black with light grey detailing to reflect how we view space through the night sky, and Cosmic Red offers a striking black and red design inspired by the unique vivid shades of red found throughout the cosmos.
This new lineup of colours will be available at participating retailers globally starting next month. The exact date will vary by location, so check your local retailers for availability.
DualSense Cosmic Red.
DualSense Midnight Black.
In the meantime, you can check outÂ my in-depth and no-holds-barred thoughts on the PS5Â after having it for more than a month. However, if youâ€™re looking for a more straightforward review, you shouldÂ head on over here instead.


Blumhouse Boss Answers Question On Future Of The Insidious Franchise After Insidious The Red Door

Insidious The Red Door is the fifth entry in the Insidious franchise, which began with 2011’s Insidious. While this is being marketed as the end of a saga, many fans are wondering if this will truly be the final film in the franchise. In an interview with DiscussingFilm, Blumhouse boss Jason Blum confirms that there are no plans for a new Insidious movie anytime soon, and that the franchise will be taking a long break or hiatus.
He said:
You better see this Insidious, it’s the last one! (laughs) To give a more serious answer, [The Red Door] is going to be the last we’re going to see of Insidious for a while.
It may not be a forever rest, but it’s certainly going to be a very long rest. So, if someone comes up with some idea in 10 years, who knows? But there’s not a plan – as there has been with every prior Insidious movie – there’s no current plan in place for number six.
There you go, folks. Insidious The Red Door will be the last film in the franchise for a while, so take your chance to be scared by going to watch it at the cinemas.
Insidious The Red Door is now streaming in Malaysian cinemas. In the meantime, check out my review of the movie here.


HBO’s The Last Of Us Is More Than An Adaptation, It’s A Heartfelt Expansion

The Last Of Us. It’s still unbelievable how much of a pop-culture juggernaut it has become since it originally launched for the PS3 back in 2013. That was an entire decade ago. To this day, Naughty Dog’s brilliant masterpiece is still widely-regarded not only as one of the best video games in history but also as one of the games that’s meant to be a testament to how the medium should be seen as an art form, just as much as movies and music. In that case, can HBO’s The Last Of Us escape the video game adaptation curse and justify its existence considering how cinematic the game already is?
I’m happy to say that the answer to that question is a yes. Well, at least, that’s what I thought after having been given the opportunity to watch HBO’s The Last Of Us Season 1.
Americana

The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heart-breaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival. That’s the official synopsis for HBO’s The Last Of Us, but well, if you’ve played the original game, a lot of it will be very familiar (at least four episodes in).
If that’s so, then what does the adaptation do differently? HBO’s The Last Of Us fleshes out and expands upon the story of the games by featuring brand new scenes that have never been featured or seen in the games.
Without spoilers, for instance, the first episode begins similar to the original The Last Of Us Joel and Sarah but this time it’s been expanded upon with the series actually giving Sarah more time and development as a character. If anything, one of my criticisms about the game is that Sarah was never really much of a character on her own, but showrunner Craig Mazin has improved on that by making it so that viewers will have time to get more attached to Joel and Sarah before the inevitable happens.
It makes the impact of THAT scene even more powerful, and trust me, despite having played The Last Of Us multiple times, yes, I still cried.

That’s not all, as supporting characters like Bill (played by Nick Offerman in the series) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) also get more backstory and development. Some of these supporting characters don’t even have lines in the game, but the HBO series fleshes them into actual complex and realistic three-dimensional characters, which is an impressive feat. In addition, another element that surprised me was the authentic level of diversity. There are major scenes filmed in Indonesia with Indonesian actors speaking in Indonesian. It’s worth pointing out and notable because these are important to the overall plot and world-building of the franchise, as well as something that’s also brand new that has been added to further enrich and expand the lore of the franchise. I don’t even mind if all or at least some of this gets turned into official canon in the games as well.
For fans and players of the game, the best thing about HBO’s The Last Of Us is that it offers brand-new content that’s not in the games. It essentially fills in the blanks of the game. Sure, of course, there are still lots of easter eggs and authentic live-action reenactments of iconic moments from the games, but there are also things that expand upon existing characters and elements from the games.
You don’t just care about Ellie and Joel, but for Bill or Frank and the others just as much. There are heartbreaking and heartwarming scenes that will make you cry, many of which aren’t even in the games.
There’s this one episode (Episode 3) that will change how you view several supporting characters forever. That’s about one hour and a whole episode not even focusing on Joel and Ellie, and it’s probably my favourite episode of all the episodes provided by HBO Asia for the sake of this review.
Putting The Fun In Fungi

For those who have never played the games or know anything about them, you’re in for a treat. The best thing about both the game and HBO’s adaptation is how it shows how human the characters are and how the outbreak brings out the best or worst of any individual. It’s ultimately a story about people, not just about zombies or Clickers. You’re here to follow Joel and Ellie on their journey, and what a journey it is.
FINAL SCORE: 90/100
We received an early screener of The Last Of Us courtesy of HBO Asia. The Last Of Us is slated to premiere on HBO GO on 16 January 2023, with subsequent episodes released every week.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Walkthrough

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is out now for all platforms. If you love 2D beat-em-ups and the TMNT brand, you’ll definitely fall in love with this game.
It’s also a pretty challenging game, especially when you want to get through Arcade Mode and find the Story Mode collectibles. Here are a couple of walkthrough videos on how to get ahead in the shell game.
Basic Tips (Beyond The Tutorial)

This game is made for multiple players. Make use of your special co-op tools like the tag team attacks like the Sandwich attack (both players press the attack button on each side of the same opponent), Tubular Spin (press attack button while hit by a dive kick performed by another player), and the Homerun Swing (press attack button on an opponent sent flying by another player).
Taunt to get Ninja Power maxed out by 1 bar. You’ll be left vulnerable for the duration of the animation of the Taunt, so make sure to perform it if you know the coast is clear. Also, do max out your Ninja Bars before you head to the boss room, which is usually signalled by a nearby pizza near a room that looks foreboding.
Your uppercut move (Attack+Jump) has invincibility, and can be cancelled to a Dive Kick. You can chain these moves back and forth to deal with aerial enemies, or even bigger enemies like the annoying Giant Mousers.
You have a Dodge button to evade attacks and also initiate a follow-up attack that homes onto a nearby enemy. Use it, or you won’t get far. Enemies do hit hard and will eat up your lifebar if they gang up on you, so using either the uppercut or the dodge will at least save your skin for a second.
Your Dive Kick is powerful, but most enemies here have anti-air moves against that. Use your other tools like your running slide (dash, then press the Jump button) or your Dodge jump attack (Dodge, then press the Attack button) to get around these countermeasures.
If you want powerful attacks, go for Raphael or Splinter. If you like combos and speedy movement, go for April O’Neil or Michelangelo. If you want reach, Donatello or Splinter’s your main man. If you want a character whose Super Attack has a bit of movement, use April or Raphael.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Cameo Guide

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Boss Guide and Walkthrough

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge All Endings Guide

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Arcade Mode Full Walkthrough

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge 250x Hit Combo Achievement/Trophy Guide


What To Know Before Watching Kingdom Ashin Of The North

Kingdom Ashin Of The North is a special episode and part of the Korean historical period zombie Kingdom franchise. It’s better to have watched the first two seasons of Kingdom on Netflix (available right now!) before checking out Kingdom Ashin Of The North, but you technically don’t have to.
Here’s the reason why:
 Kingdom Ashin Of The North: Setting
From top to bottom: The Pajeowi tribe, the Seongjeoyains and the Joseon Koreans.
I previously mentioned above that you technically don’t have to watch Kingdom before checking out Kingdom Ashin Of The North and the reason why is simple.
Kingdom Ashin Of The North is where everything begins. It is a prequel to Kingdom, which means that it takes place before everything that happens in the main series.
The zombie plague that spreads in the first season of Kingdom takes place in the southern region Dongnae of Joseon-era Korea in the late 1500s/early 1600s.
However, the origin of the resurrection plant, and thus where Kingdom Ashin Of The North begins, is in the northern region of Joseon-era Korea. In case you didn’t know, the resurrection plant is what causes people and other living things to come back to life as zombies in the Kingdom series.
The northern border close to the Pajeowi tribe and the Seongjeoyains is where Kingdom Ashin Of The North will take place. Pyesa-gun, a place where the entrance is forbidden for 100 years, is where Kingdom Ashin Of The North protagonist young Ashin discovers the resurrection plant.
Historically, the Pajeowi tribe are not actually Koreans. They are of East Asian Tungusic ancestry, also known as the Jurchen people. The Jurchen consists of many tribes and not just the Pajeowi. They live in close proximity to China, Korea and Japan, which has often brought them in contact with their neighbours.
Meanwhile, the Seongjeoyains are Jurchens who have lived in Joseon Korean lands for over 100 years.
Kingdom Ashin Of The North: What Is The Resurrection Plant?
The resurrection plants.
In the Kingdom series, the resurrection plant is a rare purple flower that can resurrect the dead. Anyone who is resurrected by the plant becomes a bloodthirsty zombie. Disgustingly, the plant does this by having white eggs which hatch into parasitic worms when ingested. The worms infect the brain and turn the person into a monster.
Kingdom Ashin Of The North: The Context

Prior to the zombie problem, the Korean kingdom of Joseon faced various issues with its neighbours. One area of concern is the northern region where Jurchens have consolidated into a powerful group called the Pajeowi tribe (as previously mentioned above). Joseon Korea also keeps an eye on the tribe by using another group of Jurchens called the Seongjeoyains to spy on them.Â
Kingdom Ashin Of The North: Who Is Ashin?
Young Ashin (Kim Si-a).
The story will begin with young Ashin (Kim Si-a)â€™s life in her Seongjeoyain village. Her father is the head of their village and her mother is bedridden. Desperate to cure her ill mother, Ashin ventures deep into the forbidden area in search of something to help. She comes across the resurrection plant, but she experiences a great tragedy. As a result, adult Ashin (Gianna Jun) is intent on getting revenge.
Older adult Ashin (Gianna Jun).
Kingdom Ashin Of The North: Other Key Characters
From left to right: Min Chi-rok (Park Byung-eun), Tahab (Kim Roi-ha), Aidagan (Koo Kyo-hwan).
Besides the adult Ashin we see at the end of the Kingdom Season 2, the special episode also includes Min Chi-rok (Park Byung-eun) who was the Head of the Royal Commandery in Kingdom Season 2. Some new important characters include Ashinâ€™s father Tahab (Kim Roi-ha) who is the head of their Seongjeoyain village and Aidagan (Koo Kyo-hwan) who is the Pajeowi tribe leader.
Kingdom Ashin Of The North is slated to premiere on Netflix on 23 July 2021. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


ASUS Malaysia Announces Zenbook 14 Flip OLED & Zenbook 14X OLED

ASUS Malaysia announced the local availability and pricing of the Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404) at the 2023 ASUS Zenbook Launch Event which happened at Starbucks Reserve, Tropicana Gardens today. The Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404) makes its mark as the most powerful model in the Zenbook Classic series of premium thin-and-light laptops, which now offers even more performance and features than ever for discerning users.
For smooth multitasking productivity, Zenbook 14X OLED is powered by up to the latest 13th Gen Intel Core H-series processors and 32 GB of RAM, with an ASUS IceCool cooling system to maximize performance. The laptop now also features up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 discrete graphics for effortless creativity.

Visuals have been dramatically improved too, with a larger 14.5-inch 16:10 2.8K 120 Hz OLED HDR display replacing the previous-generation’s 14-inch model. A touchscreen version of this display is also available as an option. The display is super-responsive, with Pantone® Validated color fidelity, a cinema-grade DCI-P3 gamut, up to DisplayHDR™ True Black 600 certification, and SGS and TÜV Rheinland-certified eye care.
To ensure maximum on-the-go productivity, there’s a long-lasting 70 Wh battery with fast-charge technology, and USB-C® Easy Charge support, which allows a flexible choice of chargers.
The compact and elegant chassis measures just 16.9 mm thin and 1.5 kg light, and is available in two sophisticated colors, Inkwell Gray and Sandstone Beige. This latter color features a brand-new ceramic-like finish, created using an eco-friendly Plasma Ceramization coating process.
Master of any task
Zenbook 14X OLED makes light work of any task, thanks to the full multitasking power of up to the latest 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor combined with 32 GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 discrete graphics deliver high-performance graphics power to make productivity and light creation tasks such — such as photo editing or layout design — truly effortless. An ultrafast PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD ensures fast access to apps and data, and users can enjoy gigabit-class wireless connections with the latest WiFi 6E (802.11ax), enhanced with ASUS WiFi Master Premium technology for reliably fast and stable operation.
The advanced ASUS IceCool cooling system gives users full control over the balance between performance and fan noise. Performance mode maximizes the fan speed and raises the CPU power limit for top performance. Whisper mode provides cool and quiet power-saving operation, and Standard mode intelligently optimizes all parameters for everyday tasks.
See more incredible
Users can now enjoy clearer, brighter and more vivid colors with the bigger 14.5-inch NanoEdge OLED HDR display. With a resolution of 2.8K, a faster 120 Hz refresh rate and a 0.2 millisecond response time, this stunning display ensures that fast-moving visuals are smoother than ever.
It’s up to DisplayHDR True Black 600-certified for brilliant whites and the deepest blacks, and it’s Pantone Validated for industry-standard color fidelity. The cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 color gamut delivers ultravivid colors, and ASUS Splendid allows the user to easily switch between this gamut and sRGB, Display-P3 or the native gamut.
The display is also certified for eye care by TÜV Rheinland and SGS with low blue-light emissions, ensuring that the user’s eyes are comfortable for even during long viewing sessions.
Non-stop stamina
Zenbook 14X OLED frees users from the constraints of power outlets, with a long-lasting 70 Wh battery that will help them remain productive throughout the working day.
Fast charging allows the battery to be topped up quickly, so trips to the power outlet are minimized. USB-C Easy Charge support means that Zenbook 14X OLED can be used with a wide range of standard 5-20V USB-C chargers. Users can enjoy ultrafast charging with any PD (Power Delivery) certified charger, or juice up the device on the go with airline chargers, portable chargers or power banks.
Compact and elegant
The compact, thin-and-light design of Zenbook 14X OLED makes it perfect for serious on-the-go use, with a 16.9 mm profile and a weight of just 1.5 kg.
Zenbook 14X OLED is available in two sophisticated new colors for the perfect Zenbook experience. Inkwell Gray is an elegant and modern shade, while Sandstone Beige is warm and inviting. Additionally, the Sandstone Beige finish premieres a remarkable new PEO coating process. This creates a luxurious ceramic-like coating with an 8H hardness that shuns fingerprints, and is also resistant to fading and wear. This eco-friendly process is halogen-free and generates low toxic emissions, making the aluminum more durable with less environmental impact.
Availability & Pricing
The 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H-powered ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404) in both Inkwell Gray and Sandstone Beige are already available for purchase, priced at RM5,999. The other variants will be arriving on shelves by early April, with the Core i5-13500H variant priced at RM4,999, and the top-of-the-line option, featuring the Intel Core i9-13900H and GeForce RTX 3050, priced at RM6,999.

SPECIFICATIONS
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404)

CPU
Intel® Core™ i9-13900H
Intel® Core™ i7-13700H
Intel® Core™ i5-13500H

Display
14.5” 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) 120 Hz OLED non-touch screen, four-sided NanoEdge design with 89% screen-to-body ratio, up to 600-nit peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, DisplayHDR™ 600 True Black certification

Operating system
Windows 11 Home

Graphics
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3050
Intel® Iris® X? Graphics

Main memory
32 GB LPDDR5 4800 MHz RAM

Storage
Up to 1 TB PCIe® Gen 4 SSD

Connectivity
WiFi 6E (802.11ax)
Up to Bluetooth® 5.2

Camera
FHD IR 3DNR camera

I/O ports
2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C®
1 x USB 3.2
1 x HDMI® 2.1 (TMDS)
1 x Audio jack

Touchpad
ASUS ErgoSense Keyboard
NumberPad 2.0 (Optional)

Audio
Built-in speakers
Smart amplifier technology
Built-in microphone
Harman Kardon certified
Cortana and Alexa voice-recognition support

Battery
70 Wh

AC adapter
90 W / 100 W Adapter
Adapter Output: 5V~20V, 90 W / 100 W
Adapter Input: 100~240 V AC, 50 / 60 Hz universal

Dimensions
321.8 x 225.6 x 16.9 mm

Weight
1.5 kg

MSRP
Core i5-13500H + 16GB + 512GB (Inkwell Gray): RM4999
Core i7-13700H + 16GB+ 1TB (Sandstone Beige / Inkwell Gray): RM5999
Core i9-13900H + 32GB + 1TB + GeForce RTX 3050 (Inkwell Gray): RM6999

ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED

ASUS Malaysia announced the local availability and pricing of the Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (UP3404) at the 2023 ASUS Zenbook Launch Event which happened at Starbucks Reserve, Tropicana Gardens today. As the latest and most powerful 14-inch model in its premium thin-and-light convertible Zenbook Flip series, the Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is designed to be the perfect OLED convertible laptop for proactive professionals.
The elegant and versatile Zenbook 14 Flip OLED offers new levels of performance from its 13th Gen Intel Core processors, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 512GB PCIe SSD, 16 GB of RAM and a long-lasting 75 Wh battery. For easy I/O, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, and an HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) port. Fast and stable WiFi 6E (802.11ax) ensures reliable wireless connectivity.
Superb visuals are provided by the enlarged 14-inch 16:10 2.8K OLED touchscreen, which is PANTONE Validated and has a 100% DCI-P3 gamut. It’s also TÜV-certified for eye care, and supports an optional ASUS Pen 2.0 MPP 2.0 stylus.
The compact Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is just 15.9 mm thin and weighs only 1.5 kg, with a 360° any-position hinge. Thoughtful design features include an ambient light color sensor that automatically adjusts brightness and color temperature, and enables adaptive dimming to help maintain OLED display longevity. There’s also an IR camera for fast face login.
The full-size ASUS ErgoSense keyboard and touchpad offer unrivaled typing comfort, and the optional ASUS NumberPad 2.0 makes data entry easy. The powerful Harman Kardon-certified audio system features multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos sound, along with AI noise-canceling technology for crystal-clear conference calls.
ASUS is committed to protecting the earth, and so Zenbook 14 Flip OLED uses 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics and 100% recyclable packaging. Its energy efficiency also outperforms the ENERGY STAR standard. To ensure durability, the laptop is tested to the strictest MIL-STD-810 US military-grade standard.
Even more performance
Powering Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is the latest 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1340P processor, teamed with Intel Iris Xe graphics and up to 16 GB of fast RAM.  A 512GB PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD ensures plenty of ultrafast storage. With Zenbook 14 Flip OLED, users can tackle any task, wherever they are — in the office, at home or on the road — and enjoy all the performance they need for any situation.
The long-lasting 75 Wh battery features ASUS USB-C Easy Charge for convenient easy charging, and fast-charge technology allows it to be topped up to 60% in as little as 49 minutes.
For connecting the latest devices and peripherals, there are two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports as well as a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port. The HDMI 2.1 port supports external displays, and there’s a convenient 3.5 mm audio combo jack.
The WiFi 6E in Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is enhanced with ASUS WiFi Master Premium technology, including the WiFi SmartConnect feature in the MyASUS app that automatically selects the best WiFi source, so Zenbook 14 Flip OLED connects seamlessly to the best WiFi signal and known mobile hotspots. Additionally, Task First allows users to easily prioritize tasks or distribute bandwidth evenly between tasks.
More exciting visuals
The 14-inch 2.8K 90 Hz OLED slim-bezel NanoEdge touchscreen on Zenbook 14 Flip OLED has an expansive 16:10 aspect ratio that enlarges the visual workspace, and provides an 87% screen-to-body ratio. Users can enjoy stunningly vivid and detailed visuals, with DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification for the deepest blacks, industry-standard Pantone Validated color fidelity and a cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 color gamut for ultravivid colors. It’s also TÜV Rheinland-certified for eye care, so the user’s eyes won’t get as tired, even during marathon viewing sessions.
For natural and intuitive creative input, the display also supports the included ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus, which offers 4096 pressure levels and comes with four interchangeable tips that mimic different pencil hardnesses. It supports USB-C charging and Bluetooth shortcuts via a dedicated button.
More versatile, more elegant
Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is effortlessly portable and endlessly versatile, with a 15.9 mm-thin profile, a weight of just 1.5 kg, and a robust precision-engineered 360° any-position hinge. This elegant new convertible comes in a sophisticated sandblasted Foggy Silver finish, with the ASUS monogram design incorporated on the lid.
Thoughtful user-centric design is a key feature of ASUS laptops, and Zenbook 14 Flip OLED offers an outstanding user experience. For unrivaled typing comfort, the ASUS ErgoSense keyboard is engineered to perfection, with a full-size 19.05 mm key pitch, 1.4 mm key travel and 0.1 mm keycap relief. An anti-fingerprint and hydrophobic coating makes the ASUS ErgoSense touchpad comfortable and easy to clean.
An ambient light color sensor gives the laptop the ability to automatically adjust the brightness and color temperature of the display to provide the best images in any lighting conditions. The ASUS AiSense IR FHD camera has presence-detection features that enable adaptive dimming, a feature that dims the screen if the user moves away or looks away from the screen. This forms part of the ASUS OLED Care features that maximizes the longevity of the OLED display.
The AI-powered camera also supports ASUS 3D Noise Reduction technology to ensure that video noise is always minimized in video calls. Additionally, AI noise-canceling technology ensures that conference audio is always crystal clear, regardless of how many people are present. An immersive, multi-dimensional audio experience is provided by the Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos sound system.
Sustainable and durable
The ASUS commitment to protecting the earth while delivering the best products to its users is reflected in the design of Zenbook 14 Flip OLED. The device uses 30% PCR plastics, and packaging is now 100% recyclable. The energy consumption has been reduced to outperform the ENERGY STAR power-efficiency standard by up to 30%.
A longer laptop lifespan also reduces long-term waste, so Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is strictly tested to ensure its durability, using the latest MIL-STD-810H US military-grade standard, with up to 12 test methods and 26 individual tests — the industry’s most stringent testing regime.
Availability & Pricing
The Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (UP5404) will be available in Malaysia from late March onwards, priced at RM5,499. This latest addition to the Zenbook family joins the Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404), which is already available in the market right now, priced from RM4,999.

SPECIFICATIONS
ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (UP3404)

CPU
Intel Core i5-1340P processor

Display
14″ 2.8K (2880X1800) 16:10 90Hz OLED NanoEdge touchscreen with 87% screen-to-body ratio

Operating system
Windows 11 Home

Graphics
Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Main memory
16 GB LPDDR5-4800 memory onboard

Storage
512 GB PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD

Connectivity
Dual-band WiFi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth 5.2

Camera
1080p FHD 3DNR IR camera with light sensor and color sensor

I/O ports
2 x Thunderbolt 4
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A
1 x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS)
1 x audio jack

Touchpad
ASUS NumberPad 2.0 / ASUS ErgoSense touchpad

Audio
Harman Kardon-certified Dolby Atmos sound system with built-in speakers

Battery
75 Wh

AC adapter
65 W Type-C adapter

Dimensions
311.5 x 223.4 x 15.9 mm

Weight
1.5 kg

SRP
RM 5,499

Availability
Late March 2023 onwards


Roald Dahl’s The Witches Movie Is Coming HBO Max Later This Month

Robert Zemeckisâ€™ adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches is skipping cinemas in the US and heading straight toÂ HBO MaxÂ on 22 October 2020.
The dark fantasy comedy movie based on Roald Dahl’s classic 1983 children’s novel was originally supposed to release 9 October 2020 in the US. However, the movie will still premiere in international cinemas on 28 October 2020.
Speaking with Variety, Warner Bros. Pictures Group Chairman Toby Emmerich said:
The Witches is a wonderful reimagining of Roald Dahlâ€™s classic tale that combines world-class filmmaking with fantastic performances. Itâ€™s fun for the whole family and ideal for this time of year.â€
The Witches is based on Roald Dahlâ€™s childrenâ€™s novel about a young boy who, while staying with his grandmother at a hotel, happens upon a gathering of witches led by the Grand High Witch (Hathaway). With the help of his grandmother, he attempts to thwart their evil plot of turning the worldâ€™s children into mice.
The upcoming movie stars newcomer Jahzir Kadeem Bruno, along with Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci, Chris Rock and Kristin Chenoweth.
Zemeckis is best known for movies like Forrest Gump and Back To The Future. The screenplay for The Witches was also co-written with Guillermo del Toro and Kenya Barris.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


EAGate Scandal Erupts As FIFA 21 Employee Reportedly Sold FUT Cards For â‚¬1000 Euros

One of the biggest scandals ever has hit the FIFA franchise and EA after an employee allegedly sold FUT Ultimate Team cards for thousands of pounds.
The scandal began going viral when unverified direct messages on WhatsApp appear to show a company employee selling Icon cards in packages priced â‚¬750-â‚¬1000 euros. One screenshot even shows Prime Icon Moments cards being offered for a whopping â‚¬1700 euros.

#EAGATE
A special thanks to @RiberaRibell for the picture , he did an amazing work?? (continue in the comments)#fut #fifa pic.twitter.com/bJIg2rpWtI
— Arcade-Fut (@FutArcade) March 10, 2021

pic.twitter.com/DRsEAtAiqL
— Arcade-Fut (@FutArcade) March 10, 2021

So we grind/trade/open packs and can’t touch these PIM players but EA employees sell them to people secretly for $1,700?!?! LOL I respect the grind but my god… pic.twitter.com/CCnhjZbcgH
— Nick ?? (@Nick28T) March 10, 2021

Video proof?!? I mean this could just be an EA Dev though or an actual employee? Who knows anymore. It’s all allegations, let’s just hope EA makes a statement on this and stays honest with us. #FUT21 #FIFA21 pic.twitter.com/lzqGMDE5S3
— Nick ?? (@Nick28T) March 10, 2021

Icon cards are some of the rarest in FIFA Ultimate Team. They include legendary players such as Brazilian Ronaldo, Pele, Zinedine Zidane and Ruud Gullit. They’re also almost impossible to obtain through the game’s controversial loot boxes.
EAGate is now trending on Twitter, as this perpetuates a corrupt and unfair situation for other players. EA has since responded to the allegations, confirming that they have launched an investigation.
“We are aware of the allegations currently circulating within our community related to FIFA 21 Ultimate Team items.
A thorough investigation is underway, and if we identify improper conduct, we will take swift action.
We want to be clear – this type of behaviour is unacceptable, and we in no way condone what is alleged to have happened here.
We understand how this creates concern about unfair balance in the game and competition.
We will update the community as we get more clarity on the situation.”

pic.twitter.com/DtclTPandl
— EA SPORTS FIFA (@EASPORTSFIFA) March 10, 2021


Tactics Ogre Reborn Gets Final Trailer Ahead Of Launch

Square Enix has released the final trailer for the strategy RPG remaster Tactics Ogre Reborn.
Based on the 2010 release, the game features improved graphics and sound, as well as updated game design, bringing to life a new Tactics Ogre that remains true to its roots. Tactics Ogre veterans will experience a game that surpasses their fondest memories, while players new to Tactics Ogre will discover a game unlike any they’ve ever played. Reborn and deeper than ever, the game enables players to immerse themselves in the world and intrigue of Tactics Ogre like never before.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn is slated to release for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on 11 November 2022.


Kill la Kill: IF Demo Out Next Week; Here’s How You Can Play It

Got a PS4 Japanese account? Then you may want to get your hands on the upcoming Kill la Kill: IF demo, a 3D arena 1v1 fighting game where students and tailors beat the crap out of each other with super-powered scissors and clothes. It’s a Studio Trigger production, so of course, it’s bats*** insane.
The demo, featuring four playable characters and the first chapter of the story mode, will be out on 8th July. Just get it from the PSN Store when it’s ready on the date itself.
Your playable characters are Ryuko Matoi, the blade-wielding heroine,

Satsuki Kiryuin, her rival,

Ira Gamagoori, the giant ape guy in the Elite Four,

and Uzu Sanageyama, kendo-brandishing Elite Four guy.

Who Else Is Appearing In This Kill la Kill Game?
A lot of notable characters, if you’re a fan of the series. You have Elite Four member Nonon Jakuzure who fights with music,

Elite Four finance/strategy planner guy Houka Inumuta,

Psychopath tailor Nui Harime,

and Satsuki’s evil mom Ragyo Kiryuin.

Kill la Kill: IFÂ and its brand of hyper-action insanity will be out for PS4, PC, and Switch on 25th July in Japan and 26th July in the rest of the world.


All The Games From PlayStation Showcase September 2021

Itâ€™s unbelievable that the last PlayStation Showcase was back inÂ June 2020, which was about a year ago. It showed us games likeÂ Returnal,Â Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart,Â Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man Miles MoralesÂ and more. Most of those games have already been released since then, so itâ€™s the perfect time for another PlayStation Showcase.
During the PlayStation Showcase September 2021 presentation, Sony announced many of the upcoming games slated to arrive on the PlayStation 5 in the future. These include both third-party and first-party exclusives, which you can check out below:
Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic Remake

Sony Interactive Entertainment, Aspyr Media, and Lucasfilm Games have announced Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic Remake for the PlayStation 5. A release date was not announced.

Project Eve

Project EVE will launch for PlayStation 5, developer SHIFT-UP announced. A release date was not announced.
In the not-too-distant future, mankind is expelled from Earth after losing the battle against the invaders called the NA:tives. To win back Earth, the player becomes Eve, the survivor of the paratrooper squad deployed from the Colony, who must fight through powerful enemies with new comrades. If you fancy hyper-action games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, this one may be for you.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Tiny Tinaâ€™s Wonderlands will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on 25 March 2022, publisher 2K Games and developer Gearbox Software announced.

Forspoken

Forspoken will launch for PS5 and PC in spring 2022, publisher Square Enix and developer Luminous Productions announced.
Protagonist Frey is a directionless, gritty yet street smart young woman who has persevered despite her rough upbringing in New York City. And her life hasnâ€™t really gotten any easier now that sheâ€™s about to turn 21. Things take a turn for the unexpected when sheâ€™s magically transported to Athia, a land where fantasies and nightmares are suddenly very real.
Playing as Frey, youâ€™ll need to harness newly discovered magical abilities to battle the terrifying monsters that inhabit the land. To have a chance of returning home, sheâ€™ll also have to contend with the Tantas â€” destructive and twisted all-powerful matriarchs who have dominion over Athia.
As previously announced, Frey is performed by Ella Balinska, so I hope you enjoyed a longer look at her performance in the trailer. Iâ€™m excited to reveal more characters from Forspoken and some of the fantastic actors behind them too: Jonathan Cake plays Freyâ€™s companion â€œCuff.â€ Cuff is a magical, sentient bracelet of uncertain origin who helps Frey navigate through the sprawling landscapes of Athia.
Janina Gavankar plays Tanta Sila, the strongest and most formidable Tanta in Athia. While she once protected Athia with her unparalleled prowess in battle, Tanta Sila is now a dictatorial despot who is mad with power. Keala Settle plays Johedy, the hard-nosed archivist who provides Frey with guidance during her journey in Athia.
Monica Barbaro plays Auden, a kind and open-minded young woman who prioritizes the needs of others before her own. She is quick to accept Frey in Athia and sees more in her than Frey does in herself.
The game’s music was composed by the legendary Bear McCreary, who you may know from God Of War (2018) and The Walking Dead. In addition to Bear, the renowned Garry Schyman (BioShock) is also composing musical tracks for the game.
The game is also written by Gary Whitta (Rogue One), Amy Hennig (Uncharted series), Allison Rymer and Todd Stashwick.

Alan Wake Remastered

Alan Wake Remastered will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on 5 October 2021, Epic Games Publishing and developer Remedy Entertainment announced.
Alan Wake Remasteredâ€¯is the graphically enhanced version of the original game first released in 2010.â€¯Now, we are bringing you the completeâ€¯Alan Wakeâ€¯experience, including the two story-expansions The Signal and The Writer, originally released as DLCs, with all-new 4K visuals, updated environments, cutscenes, and a brand-new making-of commentary where I take a trip down memory lane.

GTA V

Experience the world of Grand Theft Auto V in brand new ways when GTA V and GTA Online come to PS5 in March 2022 – with additional bonuses now available for PlayStation Plus members.
Ghostwire Tokyo

Ghostwire Tokyo will launch for PS5 and PC in spring 2022, publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer Tango GameWorks announced.

Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy

Marvelâ€™s Guardians Of The GalaxyÂ will release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 26 October 2021.

Vampire The Masquerade Bloodhunt

Join the Bloodhunt and become the ultimate vampire! Bloodhunt is a free battle royale game set in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. A treacherous betrayal has stirred a war amongst the vampires, who are also being targeted for annihilation by a secret society known as the Entity. Use your supernatural powers, weapons and wits in this thrilling battle royale game to dominate the night and restore the Masquerade.

DeathloopÂ

“Blackreef is a mystery, and Colt is looking for answers. Who are the Visionaries? What is Blackreef? How does the timeloop work? Why does everyone on the island have amnesia? Why is Julianna always lurking behind the nearest corner ready to ambush Colt? Most importantly, Colt wants to know: â€œWho am I?â€
The deeper Colt goes down the rabbit hole, the more questions arise. One thing is for sure, Colt is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and break the timeloopâ€”no matter what answers he finds.
Deathloop will launch on 14 September 2021 on console exclusively for PlayStation 5.

Kid A Mnesia Exhibition

An upside-down digital/analogue universe created from original artwork and recordings to commemorate 21 years of Radioheadâ€™s Kid A and Amnesiac. Coming in November 2021.
Uncharted Legacy Of Thieves Collection

Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Naughty Dog have announced Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection for PS5 and PC.
This brand-new remastered bundle includes Uncharted 4: A Thiefâ€™s End, featuring Nathan Drake as he hunts for Captain Averyâ€™s long-lost treasure, setting off for one final far-flung adventure across the jungles of Madagascar to long lost pirate colony of Libertalia. It also includes Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which chronicles Chloe Frazerâ€™s breakout exploits as she moves from frenemy to hero. Enlisting the assistance of renowned mercenary Nadine Ross, Chloe ventures to Indiaâ€™s Western Ghats to locate the Golden Tusk of Ganesh.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection will be available in early 2022 for PS5. The PC version is in development by our partners at Iron Galaxy and will release shortly after the PS5 version.
Tchia

A Tropical Open-World adventure. Climb, glide, swim, and sail your boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox. Use Tchia’s Soul Jumping ability to take control of any animal or object you can find, and Jam on your fully playable Ukulele. A game inspired by New Caledonia.
Coming to PS4 and PS5 in 2022.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Insomniac Games have announced Marvelâ€™s Wolverine for PlayStation 5. A release date has not been announced.
Marvelâ€™s Wolverine is a standalone game being directed by Brian Horton (creative director) and Cameron Christian (game director), who recently led the creative efforts on Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a game weâ€™re extremely proud of at Insomniac.
However, the game is still in very early development stages, but we know that it will feature an emotional narrative and “cutting-edge gameplay”.

Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo 7 is coming to PS5 in March 2022.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Insomniac Games have announced Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man 2 for PS5. It will launch in 2023.
Much of the development team that brought you Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man is returning to produce Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man 2, including Bryan Intihar (creative director) and Ryan Smith (game director).
Tony Todd (of Candyman fame) will be voicing the symbiote-fueled Venom in Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man 2. Yuri Lowenthal and Nadji Jeter will reprise their roles as Peter and Miles respectively.
Also, that might be Kraven The Hunter we hear talking in the trailer.

God Of War Ragnarok

God Of War Ragnarok takes place a few years after God Of War (2018). Kratos is now trying to keep Atreus and himself out of conflict with the gods. The main antagonists will be Freya and Thor.
Players can look forward to new attacks, abilities, Runic summons, as well as visit all nine realms.
Check out the new God Of Ragnarok trailer below:

You can also watch the entire presentation below:

In the meantime,Â head on over here to check out all our other PS5-related news and feature articles.


Here’s Our First Horrifying Look At Sonic The Hedgehog In Live Action

As foretold in the end times, a blue hedgehog movie will appear in the end of the year to corrupt the already-degenerating youth of 2019. That movie is called Sonic The Hedgehog, and its very first trailer debuts today.

The film stars James Marsden as a cop named Tom Wachowski who teams up with Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz. The main bad guy is Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey. Its tagline? “Every hero has a genesis,” an obvious play on words involving Sega’s console. It showcases Sonic with powers ala Quicksilver from X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Also, his rings can teleport people and he’s apparently from space.
Already this film has garnered an equal amount of likes and dislikes on its YouTube page at this point in writing. Frankly, I’m not surprised.

Here are our favourite comments on YouTube. We’ll add more as time goes by since this trailer is pretty fresh.

Even “Weird” Al Yankovic is in on the bashing.

I'm not sure how comfortable I am with them using a parody of "Amish Paradise" in the Sonic the Hedgehog trailer.
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) April 30, 2019

It’s a kid’s film based on an iconic video game license, so it’s got to pander to a particular crowd of new Sonic fans. Though to be fair:

Why not make this animated or CGI and set in the already-rich Sonic lore created in comics and in the video game?
Will he make out with a human girl like in Sonic ’06? Because that will traumatize a lot of people.
What the hell is up with that dated Coolio trailer music? It fits just as well as Jim Carrey as a mad scientist in a film about a speedster hedgehog.

Sonic The Hedgehog will be out later this November. Bless you, SEGA and retro-gaming fans.


Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising Beta – Schedule & New Information

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is a 2D fighting game featuring Granblue Fantasy characters, and was going to be a veritable hit with its combat and gameplay. Unfortunately, it wasn’t played as much during COVID-19 due to its lackluster online play. Well, the game is getting a second lease on life with Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising.
The upcoming beta for this major revision of a game from Cygames and Arc System Works is happening this month, only available on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles.
Here are more details.
Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising Beta Dates
Pre-Access Beta
Entry Period: 3pm, 6 July to 3pm, 17 July (GMT+8)
Playable Date: 27 July – 28 July (GMT+8)
Open Beta Test
29 July-31 July (GMT+8)

What’s Missing?
So far, we don’t know which characters and modes will be available during the beta; we do hope more info comes to light in the coming weeks.
Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising will be out worldwide in 2023 for PS5, PS4, and PC.


The Ultimate Guide of FIFA 18 vs PES18

Both games have been out in the wild for quite sometime now and we’ve invested significant amount of time on both as well. The perennial question whenever these two franchises hit stores is “Which one do I go for?”. Now of course if you’re an avid follower of either franchise, then the answer to that question is pretty much a no-brainer for you. But what about those still on the fence; or those who intend to try out the other option?
Today we (finally) compile the ultimate buying guide for these two titles, for those who only have room for one. Before we go any further, we have to make it clear that this is purely based on the writer’s personal opinion as a gamer and most importantly, a football fan.
We are breaking down the selection criteria to several categories; Gameplay, Graphics, Presentation and Longevity. We will detail each of these categories as we discuss them separately and hopefully help you in making a decision.

GAMEPLAY
Dare we say that 99.9% those who pick up a FIFA or PES title are fans, viewers and to a certain degree, player (at any level) of the sport. We enjoy kickabouts and these games are extensions of our footballing fantasy. We can only dream pulling off the Elastico like Ronaldinho did but in these games – we now can.

So when we discuss about gameplays pertaining to football games, it encapsulates the realism and being as close as possible to actually playing football, how it compares to the real thing and most importantly, it has to be fun. Finding this balance is the core for any football sim and both FIFA and PES have been hammering down on this bit since their first iteration. In FIFA18, the gameplay is much better than last year’s iteration with more attention given to detail that accurately simulates the movements of these teams and players in real life. However, in FIFA18, it is a case of too much of a good thing which leads to a negative effect. The little movements on players in FIFA 18 cause the action to feel sluggish and in most cases a step slower than the commands you give them. Almost everyone takes a step-and-a-half before shifting positions, speed and direction which leads to a very frustrating game.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGgNxN0rQYw&w=560&h=315]
On PES2018, the gameplay is significantly slower than their predecessor but we feel Konami have found the perfect blend of speed and reaction in the game without sacrificing the on-field realism. Like on FIFA, each team and player accurately emulate their real-life representation – Liverpool with their high pressing, Barcelona and their tiki-taka and Real Madrid *cough* MD White with their lightning fast counters but with much more fluidity to it. We aren’t labelling FIFA18’s gameplay as poor. It isn’t. Just that PES18’s gameplay is far superior.
Winner: PES 2018
GRAPHICS
It is our opinion that graphics and realism are subjective to the eye of the beholder. What’s really stunning in your eyes may appear as a turd-fest in front of me so we are just going to leave this part up for debate. But if you ask us, we feel that the player graphics on PES18 to be much better looking than their FIFA18 opponents. As demonstrated in the video below, you’d see that PES models tend to feel a bit more life-like while FIFA models resembles paintings. But that’s just us.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g3ZC5c251Y&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbWKlr3aA5U&w=560&h=315]
Winner: PES 2018
PRESENTATION
Playing football sims should give its players an experience like they are actually watching the real thing on the telly apart from the bit where they are in charge of the on-field action. It has to carry that Live Telecast vibe convincingly thanks to the accurate depiction of the stadiums, the look of and on the field, the crowd, advertisement boards, coaching area and the commentary. On this part, FIFA is the clear winner. PES does not come even close duly due to their lack of licensing.
Sure PES have more teams under their belt this year but it still annoys me whenever I spot an inaccurate depiction of kit, stadium and listening to the godawful commentary. Of course you can remedy this lack of accuracy with mods but consider a casual gamer here. FIFA’s depth in terms of players access, kit, celebrations and team licensing (clubs and international) makes them clear winners and unless PES work on this bit, EA’s FIFA secures a free win here for many years to come.
Winner: FIFA18
LONGEVITY
Whenever someone asks me which title to pick, we usually counter them with one simple question. How do they see themselves playing the game? Will it be long term with several saves across different modes or whether they prefer a straight-on, one-on-one matches (VS CPU or Player 2) with no frills? If you’re someone who prefers to approach the game’s various mode including managerial career, singleplayer career, story mode of an aspiring footballer and campaigns involving squad assembly ala trading card games, then FIFA is for you.
Sure PES has a really engaging Master League and Career mode but the immersion is instantly cut off by the make-belief teams and lack of realism related to presentation. It is hard to imagine casuals venturing out of the standard 1v1 (or up to 4v4) on the PES and grinding it out on Master League for example. These modes are meant for PES hardcore and are much less inviting compared to FIFA’s Ultimate Team.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ty4064UZ_c&w=560&h=315]
The ‘story mode’ in ‘The Journey’ on FIFA also puts them in front that will pull casuals to their camp. Games ain’t cheap nowadays and it’s even costlier if you live in Asia. For the best bang-for-your-buck purchase, FIFA is the easy pick here.
Winner: FIFA18

Final Score: 2-2
So while the score says that it is a tie, it boils down to what you look for in a football simulation game. Evaluate each point before making your decision but always keep in mind – whichever game you pick, you have a winner as both titles are the best their franchises have offered to date. If you’re solely focusing on gameplay, PES it is. If you prefer various modes and put licensing and realism ahead of gameplay, then FIFA would be the game for you.

Â Disagree with the points listed above? Sure you do. Comments section down below and if you have any suggestions for future games comparisons, do tell us as well! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter here as well as Like our Facebook Page.


VTuber Gawr Gura Is Now The Most-Subscribed Game Streamer On YouTube

The current winner of the most-subscribed VTuber on YouTube has been replaced.
Kizuna A.I, who has 2.97 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, has been dethroned by Hololive EN shark queen Gawr Gura. She has 3 million subscribers. Kizuna A.I. is a pioneer in the VTuber field, so this is obviously no small feat for both these virtual ladies of gaming.
https://twitter.com/ETTA03135813/status/1411701343371157504
Both these characters have done it all: video game livestreams, movie livestreams, karaoke, music videos, interviews, free talk. Both of them garner loads of viewership due to their fun-loving nature and their brand-happy content. Plus, the recent Gawr Gura original song may have a lot to do with her subscriber count skyrocketing to 3 million.

On a related note, Hololive VTuber and Gawr Gura’s colleague Takanashi Kiara has scored a brand ambassador gig for the upcoming Bandai Namco RPG Tales of Arise. That game is coming out on 9th September, though her brand campaigning starts 5th July. In sadder news, Kiryu Coco retired from Hololive recently.

next stream??TALES OF ARISE?
1st stream of me as the official ambassador to the English region!Let me give you a general overview of this upcoming game!I will share with you lots of information and videos, some of them very exclusive!#TalesOfArise https://t.co/duMuPTpRFc https://t.co/6KfhB3SA8K pic.twitter.com/29OFw4yYA9
— Takanashi Kiara? (@takanashikiara) July 4, 2021


China Brings Star Wars & Star Trek Tech To Life With New Laser Gun

Set phasers to “awesome”, or “potentially disturbing future”. A South China Morning Post article stated that China has developed a new portable laser weapon that can zap and set fire to a target from a kilometer away.
Image credit: South China Morning Post
I’ll break down the key details for you all:

The laser assault rifle in question, dubbed the ZKZM-500, is classified as a non-lethal weapon
The rifle can fire an “invisible” energy beam that can pass through windows, which results in the “instant carbonisation” of human skin and tissues. That’s PR speak for “disintegration”, I guess.
The 15mm calibre rifle weighs 3 kilos, which is roughly the same weight as an AK-47 rifle, has a range of 800 metres, and can be mounted on cars, boats, and planes.
The rifle is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery pack similar to those in smartphones. On a full charge, it can fire more than 1,000 shots.
The rifle was designed for hostage liberation and covert military operations, given its nature of being able to fire through walls and the fact that it produces no sound due to its invisible frequency.
The rifle is ready for mass production. The first units might be given to the anti-terrorism squads in the Chinese Armed Police.
A scientist in the laser gun project said that it is able to “burn through clothes in a split second […]. If the fabric is flammable, the whole person will be set on fire. The pain will be beyond endurance.” No kidding.

Image credit: South China Morning Post
An easily-chargeable laser rifle shaped like a regular gun? Guess we’re only a few decades away from hyperdrive engines and fast space travel. Me? I’m still waiting for my flying cars.


Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Series Is Getting Even More Adaptations

The late Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series is a juggernaut of fantasy pop culture, once deemed to be ‘unfilmable’, similar to the likes of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen. However, more and more studios are scooping up the rights to adapt the franchise. Yes, there are more than one.
BBC was previously the first to announce a live-action TV series based on Terry Pratchett’s The Watch. According to Gizmodo, Pratchettâ€™s production company Narrativia has signed a huge agreement with the likes of Endeavor Content and Motive Pictures for more adaptations of the late author’s works.
What this means is that a total of three (3) companies (so far) will be making different adaptations of Discworld properties, all of which will likely be distinct in tone and style. Narrativia managing director Rob Wilkins said:

â€œThe Discworld books are a huge source of joy to millions of readers, and rightly so; every paragraph, phrase and footnote was crafted with brilliance and flair and we are committed to bringing Terryâ€™s world to the screen with the respect and care it deserves.
With this partnership, we are delighted to say that Discworld has finally found its home.â€

At the time of writing, no specific adaptations have yet to be confirmed by the two studios, besides BBC’s The Watch (which is slated to premiere sometime later this year). It will be fascinating to see how these studios will attempt to adapt the batshit craziness and fantastical elements of the Discworld franchise.

In case you’re not familiar, the basic premise of Discworld is that it is a literal flat planet balanced on the backs of four elephants standing on the back of a giant cosmic turtle. It all sounds totally bonkers, but that’s also why the series has since sold a whopping 80 million books worldwide.


RSG PH Destroy RRQ Hoshi To Win MSC 2022

RSG PH has been crowned the Kings of Southeast Asia as they have taken down RRQ Hoshi in the Grand Finals of the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup 2022.
After having been knocked down into the Lower Bracket Finals by the Indonesian powerhouse in RRQ Hoshi, RSG PH managed to make their way back to the Grand Finals after taking down Omega Esports in a nail-biting 3-2 series.
One they have taken down their Filipino brethren, RSG PH moved on to the Grand Finals to once again face RRQ Hoshi. RRQ previously had beaten them in convincing fashion with a scoreline of 3-1 and were understandably favourites to win. Little did RRQ know, RSG had gone back to the drawing board deduced that their aforementioned losses were due to a bad draft in selecting a team composition. This time, they were ready and the results showed.
RSG PH went on to take the Best of 7 series, 4-0. That’s right folks, a clean sweep. RRQ didn’t manage to even take a single game off of the newly crowned champions. Besides drafting better, RSG also strategised that they needed to put more emphasis on their Gold Laner, Eman “EMANN” Sangco. And boy did it show!
Out of all eight games that took place between RSG PH and RRQ Hoshi throughout the knockout stage, EMANN received the title of MVP for three of those games. Once during the 1-3 loss in the Upper Bracket Finals, and another two in Game 3 and the final Game in the Grand Finals. Moreover, to solidify his significance to RSG’s win, EMANN was awarded Tournament MVP too.

https://www.facebook.com/RSGPHP/photos/a.131955809076871/320587413547042


Warhammer Age Of Sigmar Realms Of Ruin RTS Game Announced

During the Warhammer Skulls Showcase 2023, publisher and developer Frontier Developments announced a new Warhammer Age Of Sigmar Realms Of Ruin RTS game.
In Warhammer Age Of Sigmar Realms Of Ruin, players will wage a campaign of brutal conquest in this realm-shattering real-time strategy game set in the Warhammer Age of Sigmar universe. Players will command four unique factions in dynamic battles as part of a story-driven campaign and test their mettle against warlords afar in online multiplayer.
Players will tame the savage Realm of Beasts in a rich narrative, exploring the nature of war and survival from the perspectives of righteous champions and villainous generals. Battle for survival and dominance across a campaign featuring four major factions, including Stormcast Eternals and Orruk Kruleboyz, and experience a twisted plot, penned in conjunction with acclaimed Black Library author, Gavin Thorpe.
Warhammer Age Of Sigmar Realms Of Ruin is currently in development for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam. However, there is no release date or release window yet.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Square Enix Explains Final Fantasy VII Remake Endgame, Size, & More

We’re less than three weeks away from Final Fantasy VII Remake at this point, and the folks over at Square Enix are starting to open up more about what the upcoming game has to offer.
In an interview with producer Yoshinori Kitase and co-director Naoki Hamaguchi, they reveal new details about Final Fantasy VII Remake.

According to Hamaguchi, the Final Fantasy VII Remake has been designed as if it were a “standalone game”, and “comparable in size to other mainline Final Fantasy games”. It will also feature some sort of “endgame content”, but he did not specify what exactly it will be.

That’s all great news for fans of the original Final Fantasy VII who were initially worried that the upcoming game would be too small in scope compared to previous mainline titles in the franchise.
In addition, they also explained why the Final Fantasy VII Remake was developed to be episodic.
According to Kitase, they had two choices at the beginning; either to make a game with the highest possible level of graphics, visual quality, detail and expand upon the original game, or include the entire scope of the original game in a single release but sacrifice visual quality and cut back on content from the original.
They eventually chose the first option, in order to “focus on keeping everything people loved from the original, but go into greater detail and more story depth than before”. Now, players can look forward to exploring each connected section of Midgard with their own respective feel,Â culture and community.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is slated to release for the PS4 on 10 April 2020. In the meantime, you can check out the demo to tide you over until the game’s full release.


These Were The Most Popular Mobile Games In 2020

Mobile games are raking in millions and billions of money around the world. Last year was an especially big year for the industry, considering how many people stayed at home due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to mobile data analytic company App Annie, these were the most popular mobile games in 2020 divided by countries:
United States

ROBLOX
Coin Master
Call Of Duty Mobile
State Of Survival
Gardenscapes New Acres

What’s interesting is that ROBLOX also ranks as one of the top games in several South American countries, such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

Meanwhile, in Europe, ROBLOX is only popular in the UK, and Germany to a lower extent. European countries have a more diverse choice of top mobile games in 2020, though State Of Survival is featured in all four countries.

In Asian countries, where mobile games are even more popular, the top games are even more diverse. You can see for yourselves below:

Some of the games featured in the rankings above have brought in big bucks. Both Coin Master and ROBLOX earned a whopping US$1.1 billion in 2020, while PUBG Mobile earned an incredible US$2.6 billion. Mobile games aren’t slowing down anytime soon.


LEGO 2K Driving Game Announcement Coming Later This Week

The official LEGO Twitter account has posted a video that teases a new LEGO driving game or LEGO racing game from publisher/developer 2K Games. The video doesn’t reveal any details but confirms that the full announcement will be coming on 23 March 2023 later this week.

We are not supposed to say anything ? but tune in for March 23rd pic.twitter.com/i0NUiF3bqG
— LEGO (@LEGO_Group) March 20, 2023

Rumours claim that the project is apparently titled Lego 2K Drive, and will reportedly feature short Mario Kart-style races.
Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei until then!


Level Up KL To Open Up To Public For First Time; Will Be Like TGS And Gamescom

The story is in development and will be updated as we receive more information regarding the event.
Malaysia’s very own exhibition of video game industry developers and projects Level Up KL returns this year on November 2019. The conference was established to present and showcase the latest developments and going-ons of the video game industry in Malaysia and the whole Southeast Asia region.
MDEC CEO Surina Shukri.
CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Surina Shukri said that the conference is opening its doors to the public for the first time this year. Level Up KL 2019 will be held in two phases, the first intended exclusively for business attendees and the second, open to public.

“I would also like to announce that Level Up KL 2019 will be open to the public, with a regional show akin to the Tokyo Game Show and Gamescom for this region. We want Malaysia to be the regional hub for all things digital games.”
– Surina Shukri, CEO of MDEC.
The business-only attendance will be happening from 6 November to 8 November 2019 and the public can attend the exhibition from 9 November to 10 November 2019. The event will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Surina also talked about MDEC’s MOU with the Malaysian Esports Federation which has been established to develop, promote, and accelerate the Malaysian esports ecosystem. Citing the encouraging number of esports fans in Malaysia, she believes that esports plays a big role in the video games industry.

“Roughly one quarter of Southeast Asian esports enthusiasts are from Malaysia, despite Malaysia being only about 5% of the total Southeast Asia population.”
– added Surina Shukri.
Public tickets are priced at RM10 per day and attendees will also be getting some event freebies. There will be esports tournaments held at the event plus you can test out demos of games and talk to developers. There will be also talks, seminars, and workshops and all of them are open to those who’ve bought tickets.


PUBG Introduces Fantasy Battle Royale Event For April Fool’s Day

PUBG has conjured up a whimsical limited-time mode in celebration of April Fool’s Day. Called Fantasy Battle Royale, this mode offers a different spin on the usual PUBG experience.
There are classes, for example, with players choosing from the Barbarian, Ranger, Wizard, and Paladin. Barbarians are tough but fast melee-centric combatants, while the Ranger are stealthy and armed with a powerful crossbow.
Wizards are the squishiest but have formidable abilities like meteor showers at their disposable, and Paladins are healers with heavy armour and a shield.

Instead of looting weapons and attachments, players will find crafting components to improve their weapons with instead. “Fantasy BR has given us the opportunity to test a few new ideas in a real (but fantasy) (but still real) environment,” the developers explain. “A big part of Battle Royale is survival and weâ€™ve been curious what crafting on the Battlegrounds might look like.”
They note that this is no guarantee that whatever they put in Fantasy Battle Royale will show up in regular PUBG, but it gives them “a good way to get them out to you and gather your feedback so we can decide whether or not to develop them further”.
There are various other changes in Fantasy Battle Royale like disabled friendly fire, no 1 or 3-man squads, and only lower-durability versions of the motorcycle and UAZ as available vehicles. You can check out the full run-down here.
While I haven’t tried the mode yet, the idea behind Fantasy Battle Royale is fun enough that I kinda want it to stay in the game, forever. For now, however, it’s planned to only run from 1 April (12am PDT) to 7 April 2020 (11.59pm PDT), meaning that it will end on 8 April 2020 at 2.59pm in Malaysia.


Philadelphia Fusion Pulls Out of Overwatch League Pre Season

The Philadelphia Fusion will not be competing in the pre season exhibition matches of the Overwatch League citing player logistics issues. A series of tweets by the team’s official Twitter account read:

Due to player logistics issues the Fusion will be absent from OWL preseason matches. Preparations for the regular season remain on track, as our players and coaches from 10 nations continue to scrimmage and work hard (1/2)
â€” Philadelphia Fusion (@PHL_Fusion) December 5, 2017

(2/2) We apologize to our fans in Philadelphia & around the world who were looking forward to our preseason competition. Please stay tuned for news surrounding opportunities to connect with our team and win Fusion gear in advance of our season opener on January 11th.
â€” Philadelphia Fusion (@PHL_Fusion) December 5, 2017
Featuring one of, if not the most diverse group contesting in the Overwatch League, Fusion is represented by players and coaches from United States, South Korea, Israel, Russia, France, Finland, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain and Sweden so such logistical issue isn’t surprising. However, the fact that Fusion still fail to meet the minimum requirement of six players to contest in the upcoming pre season round of matchesÂ  does send alarm bells ringing.

In response to that, the Overwatch League released an official statement which read:
“For the first match of day one of the preseason, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. PST, the San Francisco Shock will take the place of the Philadelphia Fusion, facing off against the Florida Mayhem. Replacement teams for subsequent preseason matches which may have featured the Philadelphia Fusion will be announced during the tournament.”
Even before the Overwatch League kicks off, Fusion have been caught on the wrong end of the news for several reasons including releasing the worst player reveal video, being one of the last teams to finalize their roster and having one of their players, SADO suspended for partaking in activities related to ‘account-boosting‘.
Following their withdrawal from the pre season, Philadelphia Fusion’s first match will be against the Houston OutlawsÂ on January 12th 2018.
We hope that this is the last of the pointless issues surrounding the Fusion team which we feel has one of the deepest talent pool in the Overwatch League and may very well be the dark horses in the inaugural season. For all news, analysis and coverage of the Overwatch League, stay tuned to Kakuchopurei.com


Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 3 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The third episode of Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilersÂ so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â features fan-favourite characters, including Peggy Carter, Tâ€™Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer and Brad Winderbaum as an executive producer, explores hypothetical stories in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It focuses on non-canonical stories like what happens if Peggy Carter became Captain Britain and if Tâ€™Challa/Black Panther was abducted by the Ravagers instead of Peter Quill/Star-Lord.
You can check out my previous breakdown ofÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 1 hereÂ and Episode 2 here.
If you havenâ€™t, you can check out my previous breakdown and easter egg articles forÂ WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.
ForÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns forÂ Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â andÂ Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns ofÂ LokiÂ episodes, check outÂ Episode 1 here,Â Episode 2 here,Â Episode 3 here,Â Episode 4 here,Â Episode 5 hereÂ andÂ Episode 6 here.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, we were recently lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in a roundtable interview withÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Executive ProducerÂ Brad Winderbaum, Head WriterÂ AC Bradley, and DirectorÂ Bryan Andrews. You can check out that interview byÂ heading over here.

Who Is Killing The Avengers? It’s A Whodunit

The premise for this episode of What If is interesting, as someone is killing potential members of the Avengers before they can be recruited by Nick Fury as part of the Avengers Initiative.
This is probably the darkest episode yet in the series so far with a thriller vibe to it.
Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff is framed for these murders, but it’s not her…

The First Appearance Of Betty Ross Since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk

Betty Ross is traditionally Bruce Banner AKA the Hulk’s love interest and she was played by Liv Tyler in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk in the MCU. However, Liv Tyler didn’t reprise her role. In this episode, Betty is voiced by Stephani Panisello, best known for voicing Claire Redfield in the Resident Evil 2 Remake.
It’s also funny because the last time we saw her, Edward Norton was still in the role of Bruce Banner/Hulk. In this episode of What If, he’s already played by Mark Ruffalo (who is really voicing the character in this episode).

No, Black Widow / Natasha Isn’t Voiced By Scarlett Johansson

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow is voiced by Lake Bell. Bell is an actor and voice actor. She has voiced many characters, including Poison Ivy in the amazing HBO Max animated series Harley Quinn.
With all the drama surrounding Scarlett’s lawsuit against Disney, perhaps this is for the best.
It Turns Out That Hank Pym In His Yellowjacket Suit Is The Killer

In this universe, Hank Pym’s daughter Hope Van Dyne dies while doing a mission for SHIELD. As revenge, he kills all the potential Avengers to avoid anyone from being used by SHIELD like his daughter was.

It’s interesting that Hank Pym is Yellowjacket in this episode of What If. It’s a reference and easter egg to the comics because Hank Pym was actually the original Yellowjacket in the source material (not Corey Stoll’s Darren Cross in 2015’s Ant-Man). Just like in the comics, Hank Pym is mentally unstable while carrying the mantle of Yellowjacket. In the comics, this was also when he infamously beat his own wife.
Avengers #213 (November 1981).
Here’s how he killed each potential Avenger:

Tony Stark / Iron Man: By entering his bloodstream and forcing a stroke.
Thor: Shot in the chest by an arrow while he’s vulnerable.
Hawkeye/Clint Barton: Probably similar to Tony Stark’s.
Bruce Banner/The Hulk: Entering his bloodstream and enlarging his heart until it bursts.
Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff: By going tiny and beating her up.

No Avengers To Stop Loki, But Captain America And Captain Marvel Is Mankind’s Last Hope

With no Avengers to stop Loki and the Asgardians, they take over the world. However, there is still technically the first-ever member of the Avengers; Carol Danvers AKA Captain Marvel. With her tremendous power, it’s possible that she alone may be enough to defeat Loki and save the world.

Meet you next week. Until then, excelsior!


No Straight Roads Is Getting A Free Christmas Update

Publisher Sold Out and Malaysia-based developer Metronomik have announced that No Straight Roads is getting a free Christmas Edition update for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions of the gameÂ in early December 2020.
However, the Nintendo Switch version will release at a later unspecified date.

According to PlayStation Blog, the update brings Christmas to the world ofÂ No Straight Roads, remixing the games with new Christmas music, decor, outfits, album art, and visual effects to celebrate the holiday season.
What’s amazing is that almost every boss and their stages will be given a Christmas makeover.

Once the title update becomes available later this week, No Straight Roads players will be able to access the new Christmas Edition content by heading to the boss fight menu in Vinyl City and pressing Triangle to change the genre to â€˜Xmas Remixâ€™.

No Straight RoadsÂ is available now for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via theÂ Epic Games Store. You can check outÂ our full review ofÂ No Straight RoadsÂ here.

Check out the trailers below, including 1010â€™s new Christmas remix:


Shin Megami Tensei 5 Director Promises More New SMT Titles & Remakes/Remasters

Shin Megami Tensei 5 director Shigeo Komori has some good news for JRPG fans and Atlus Megami Tensei aficionados.
He said in a new Sega interview to investors that there will be plans to continue expanding the Shin Megami Tensei series to a wider range of players both through new titles and revival of past hits. This could mean new sequels to the mothership SMT series, as well as remakes and/or remasters of past Megami Tensei titles ranging from the Digital Devil Saga series to even the original Megami Tensei games on NES and SNES. Here’s a quote from the Sega interview to its investors regarding the series’ future:
“The “SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI” series boasts a strong fanbase both in Japan and abroad. To further expand the series IP going forward, we hope to continue delivering a variety of titles to a wider range of players, both by releasing new titles and through the revival of past hits. Our greatest fulfillment comes from knowing that players all around the world will enjoy playing the “SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI” titles we put out. Our entire team will step up our efforts to achieve this.”
Does this mean that we’ll get PC ports for newer titles like Shin Megami Tensei 5? Or maybe see SMT IV or SMT Strange Journey get out of their DS/3DS exclusivity and onto PC/console? Time will tell, but I’m digging this direction of Shin Megami Tensei. Bring it on, I say.


Black Widow, Hellboy & Midsommar Girl Assemble In First Trailer

Marvel Studios has unveiled the first official trailer for Black Widow. Directed by Cate Shortland, the events in the upcoming Black Widow movie will take place between 2016’s Captain America Civil War and 2018’s Avengers Infinity War.
According to Scarlett Johannsson, the Black Widow movie is not an origin movie, nor is it a spy or espionage movie. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said:

â€œI did not want it to be an origin story.
I did not want it to be an espionage story.
I didnâ€™t want it to feel superficial at all.
I only wanted to do it if it actually fit where I was with that character.
The film talks about a lot of tough stuff. It deals with a lot of trauma and pain.
And so by elevating the genre, I mean, I hope that it can be both explosive and dynamic and have all that great fun stuff that goes with the genre.
but I hope that we can also talk about, you know, self-doubt and insecurity and shame and disappointment and regret and all that stuff too.â€

The first trailer doesn’t reveal much of the movie’s plot, only that Natasha Romanoff seemingly goes back to Russia to finally confront her past, which probably means facing the Red Room, the elite and covert branch of Russia’s KGB secret intelligence.
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)
In the trailer, Natasha says:

â€œWe have unfinished business.
We have to go back to where it all started.â€

In the process, she reunites with fellow Red Room assassin/Black Widow Yelena Bolova (played by Florence Pugh of Midsommar fame), Red Guardian who is sort of like Russia’s version of Captain America with his very own team called the Winter Guard (played by David Harbour of Hellboy and Stranger Things fame), and Melina, another fellow Red Room assassin/Black Widow (played by Rachel Weisz).
Taskmaster
The trailer also gives us a glimpse of the movie’s antagonist, Taskmaster. In the comics, Taskmaster is a highly-skilled combatant with the ability to copy or mimic any fighting style or techniques thanks to his photographic reflexes. He is one of the best physical fighters in the Marvel universe.
Red Guardian (David Harbour)
Besides all that, we know nothing else about the movie, but her journey in this movie is probably part of what led her to sacrifice herself at Vormir in Avengers Endgame. Black Widow is slated to premiere in May 2020.

Check out the brand new teaser poster for Marvel Studiosâ€™ #BlackWidow. In theaters May 1, 2020. pic.twitter.com/V0SqHooj2d
â€” Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 3, 2019
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxAtuMu_ph4&w=560&h=315]


This Upcoming Multiplayer Game Is Harry Potter’s Quidditch Plus Rocket League

I’m sure most of you are familiar with the car-slash-football game Rocket League. What if I told you that there’s an upcoming game that replaces the futuristic cars with wizards riding on broomsticks ala that one Hogwarts University sport?
Enter Broomstick League, which is basically the multiplayer online PC Quidditch game we needed since, well, the Quidditch video game back in 2003 when EA was publishing Harry Potter titles.

Apart from kicking the giant fantasy orb-slash-football, your broom riders can also use spells to warp around the arena and hit the ball out of your opponent’s range. Broomstick League offers three game modes: 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3. It also features the usual leaderboards, stats, and upgrade options. And it looks pretty fun.
Time will tell if the game will get an esports or competitive following, but stranger things have happened. You can look forward to this version of Quidditch when Broomstick League hits Early Access this 5th March. If you want to help the team out with feedback, you can opt for the beta test.


Here’s What Your Battlestation Needs To Run Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

The system requirements for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order have now been put up on the game’s Origin store page. Almost immediately after the requirements were made public, everyone was keen to point out the ridiculous amount of RAM stated in the recommended requirements: 32GB.
The “mistake” has been corrected to 16GB of RAM. In my observation, there are three possibilities here. One, it was a genuine mistake. Two, it’s damage control done to make sure potential PC buyers aren’t dissuaded. Three, it’s for publicity; make use of gamer outrage to generate attention for the soon-to-be released game.
Have a look and check out the amount of RAM stated in the Recommended Requirements:
Minimum Requirements
OS: 64-bit Windows 7/8.1/10
CPU (AMD): FX-6100 or equivalent
CPU (Intel): i3-3220 or equivalent
RAM: 8GB
GPU (AMD): Radeon HD 7750 or equivalent
GPU (Nvidia): GeForce GTX 650 or equivalent
DirectX: 11 compatible video card or equivalent
Storage: 55GB
Recommended Requirements
OS: 64-bit Windows 7/8.1/10
CPU (AMD): Ryzen 7 1700 or equivalent
CPU (Intel): i7-6700K or equivalent
RAM: 16GB
GPU (AMD): RX Vega 56 or equivalent
GPU (Nvidia): GTX 1070 or equivalent
DirectX: 11 compatible video card or equivalent
Storage: 55GB
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order launches on 15 November 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.