The Best & Weirdest Pop Culture Ads Of Super Bowl 2020

We are aware that the American football sport annual event known as the Super Bowl is considered a niche thing in Southeast Asia (except for expats). However, the event houses some of the most pop culture-savvy and most bizarre 30-second ads you’ll see.
True, there’s a grand finals sport probably worth watching here, and there’s usually a grand half-time show featuring a legacy band or pop artist. In truth, sports and non-sports fans watch the Super Bowl for the 50+ commercials that pop up and entertain. The fact that putting these up will cost you US$5.6 million speaks volumes as to how valuable an ad spot is here.
Enough preamble though. Here are the most noteworthy ads that made their Super Bowl 2020 debut involving video games, tech companies, and pop culture icons.
A bunch of famous people pop up in this Walmart ad

Bill from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Flash Gordon, the LEGO Movie peeps, and even Buzz Lightyear; Walmart sure can afford these cameos.
C’mon they even managed to get Marvin the Martian in it, and everyone knows how expensive he is.
What life was like before Amazon’s Alexa

Amazon created an ad that goes through different periods of time using people whose names are similar to Alexa to do requests. Ah, to be in a time without digital assistants.
Bryan Cranston parodies The Shining in this Mountain Dew 2020 ad

We knew the Breaking Bad actor is still the best in the business. We didn’t think he would go all-out and pretend to be Jack AND the creepy girls in this caffeinated drink shill.
Facebook Groups ad featuring Chris Rock & a rocket

We think this is supposed to be a dig at Elon Musk.
Arya Stark sings “Let It Go” in Audi ad

The cold never bothered her anyway. After all, she did kill The Night King.
A deeply personal and heart-warming ad from Google

Nothing snarky here. This is a genuinely touching ad that inspires and also reminds us that even when we grow old, we have new tech that lets us remember the good old days and loved ones we lost.
A deeply inspiring ad from Budweiser, of all companies

You know that current generation thing where people are shaming others for not being woke enough? This is the complete opposite of that.
Perhaps other nations can learn a thing or two in making subtle and patriotic ads & campaigns from a beer company, of all places.
Stranger Things’ Winona Ryder shills for Squarespace

Winona Ryder doing an ad about Winona in Minnesota. Cute.
Actual ads for shows like the Nazi-hunting thriller Hunters…

To be honest, this does look interesting.
…and those Disney+ TV shows

Full story here.Â
Bill Nye cameos in a soda water ad reminiscent of The Martian

Houston, we have a NASA mission story trope problem.
That time Planters killed off Mr. Peanut

Guess he’s getting a story arc. Basically, they’re taking a page from M&Ms.
Bud Light shows off the head of Post Malone, Inside Out style

We know it’s a Herman’s Head reference, but our younger readers can relate to Inside Out better.
Sam Elliot reduced to promoting Doritos’ Cool Ranch with some rapper

Did the world ask for Lil Nas X to do a dance-off with the legendary Sam Elliot in a Western showdown setting? We’re asking for a friend.
Rick & Morty Shilling For Pringles

We can’t end a pop culture collection bit without some mention of Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’s most popular sci-fi show. This ad proves that being trapped in a Pringles cage would kinda suck. If you hated stacking flavours to make new ones, of course.
What were your favourite new ads from the Super Bowl 2020 during the past few days? Let us know which ones we missed.


Here’s Your First Look At Hulu’s R-Rated Stop-Motion MODOK

Huluâ€™s new R-rated stop-motion animated comedy M.O.D.O.K. focuses on MODOK (voiced by Patton Oswalt) running AIM and juggling his home life. Aimee Garcia of Lucifer fame voices his wife Jodie, Ben Schwartz of Parks And Recreation fame plays his son Lou, and Melissa Fumero of Brooklyn Nine-Nine fame plays his daughter Melissa.
During a New York Comic Con 2020 panel (â€œMODOK is hellbent on taking over the world with science with his evil organization AIM and in our show, MODOK has spent years trying to do this, but heâ€™s run his evil organization into the ground.â€
Oswalt also mentioned that they will be adapting characters from all over the Marvel universe, including the X-Men. MODOK doesn’t have a release date as of yet, check out the trailer below in the meantime:


Borderlands 3 Steam PC Version & New Tentacle-Filled Expansion Out This March [Update]

Update (9th March): Added schedule for Steam release.
Good news, PC gamers who don’t like Epic Games Store. Borderlands 3, one of last year’s best loot-and-shoot games around, is getting a Steam release.
Crossplay between the Steam and Epic versions will be supported at launch, though I’m curious how Steam achievements are handled. As time goes by, you’ll be able to mail weapons across platforms in subsequent weeks. 2K said that all three versions (the regular and others) will be available on Steam this 13th March.
Here’s the official schedule:
Pre-orders & pre-load: 11th March
Global launch: 13th March, 10pm GMT+8
And yes, you can transfer your save files between the Steam and Epic Games Store versions. Be sure to back up your files before doing this though.
When a game is Epic Games exclusive, it usually takes a year before it appears on other PC platforms. In Borderlands 3’s case, perhaps Gearbox reworked the deal behind the scenes, or maybe it was our assumptions that led us to believe that the year-long clause applies.
New Expansion Ho!
We’re also getting the second expansion for the game titled Guns, Love, And Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock. Basically, the DLC’s plot is focused on Borderlands 3’s most adorable couple Jakob Wainwright and Sir Hammerlock, an alien planet with Cthulu-esque space horrors and cultists, and a return of a Borderlands 2 Vault Hunter.

Yup, Gaige the Mechromancer is back and so is her robot pal Deathtrap. Just like other Borderlands DLC, this one will add new cosmetics, Legendary gear, and new powerful Class Mods. I’m not sure what could be more powerful than Zane’s See’in Dead class mod, but I’m sure Gearbox has a ton of stuff up their sleeve.
Guns, Love, And Tentacles: The Marriage of Wainwright & Hammerlock will be available on 26th March.


Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Is Nerfing A Number Of Its Top Legendary Guns In Its Latest Patch

Bad news for fans of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ Liquid Cooling pistol: you will need to find a new favorite gun now.
The latest Wonderlands update, version 1.0.1.0G, will be bringing in a huge number of nerfs and buffs for balancing reasons. The biggest ones are for some renowned Legendary guns such as Liquid Cooling and Ruby’s Spite:

Reduced Masterwork Handbow Damage Scaling by 30.8%
Reduced Masterwork Handbow Crit Damage Bonus by 50%
Reduced Catatumbo damage Scaling by 6.67%
Reduced Queen’s Cry Damage Scaling by 15%
Reduced Pookie’s Chew Toy Damage Scaling by 28.8%
Reduced Ruby’s Spite Damage Scaling by 30.8%
Increased Automagic.exe Damage Scaling by 50%
Increased Gluttony Damage Scaling by 15.4%
Increased The Message Reload Speed by 50%
Addressed an issue with how Liquid Cooling Damage Scaling was being calculated.

On the plus side, Sniper Rifles and Poison SMGs are getting a huge buff.
Sniper Rifles

Increased all Sniper Rifle damage by 20%

Magic Poison SMG

Removed +50% damage scaling over time
Increased Hyperius Magic Poison SMG Damage scaling by 50%
Increased Dahlia Magic Poison SMG Damage scaling by 50%
Increased Feriore Magic Poison SMG Damage scaling by 50%
Reduced Feriore Magic Poison SMG Thrown Damage by 20% to compensate for the damage increase
White Rider’s Dual Beam damage scaling remains unchanged, overall increasing the damage each beam deals due to the Dahlia scaling change.
The damage of White Rider’s Single Beam mode was getting scaled twice. The damage was close to what we were aiming for before these buffs, but due to the additional increases, we’ve reduced this modifier’s form by 11.8%.

New gear such as the Quadbow and Thunder Anima are being added as World Drops now, along with new Customization drops. Certain spells like Magic Barrage and charging spells are getting an upgrade and makeover mechanics-wise:
Magic Barrage

Magic Barrage (all prefixes) – Increased base spell damage from 8 to 13
Overwhelming Magic Barrage – Increased damage scaling 13%
Overwhelming Magic Barrage – Decreased cooldown by 8%
Bursting Magic Barrage – Increased damage scaling by 56%
Cascading Magic Barrage – Increased damage scaling by 69%
Concentrated Magic Barrage – Reduced damage scaling by 45%
Concentrated Magic Barrage – Reduced the Radius scaling by 66%
Concentrated Magic Barrage – Increased Cooldown scaling by 5%
Concentrated Magic Barrage – Reduced total channel time by 0.5 sec
Concentrated Magic Barrage – Replaced the extra projectile at max channel time with 25% increased spell damage.

Cloudburst Arc Torrent
Arken’s Arc Torrent spell calls down a lightning bolt on enemies. We’ve adjusted how the damage and radius scaling for the spell works in its individual channeling stages.

Stages get increasingly more powerful; it will now scale at 25% each stage.

Eruption

Increased Eruption base damage from 20 to 24

Hydra

Increased all Hydra Spells base charges from 1 to 2, so you can have double the casting fun!

Sigil

Increased all Sigil Spells base damage by 200%

Class-wise, the Clawbringer’s Awe passive is getting a nerf:

The “Awe” passive properly scales to the Fatemaker instead of giving a flat rate

Backstory Hero Points are also getting changed up. While you cannot change them after you pick one at the start of the game, these changes will still be applied to your existing characters:
Village Idiot

Added -3 Wisdom penalty

Raised By Elves

Increased Dexterity from +2 to +4
Increased Attunement from +0 to +2

Failed Monk

Increase Wisdom bonus from +4 to +6
Increase Intelligence bonus from +2 to +3

Rogue Alchemist

Increase Attunement from 0 to +2

Other changes and additions include a new Chaos Chamber Featured Run featuring the Banshee and Da King as confirmed bosses, as well as Chaos Chamber secret bosses getting increased chance for their dedicated drops alongside The Maker. And for this week from now until 21st April 9am PT, random encounters in the Overworld will drop more loot and Moon Orbs. I’m not a fan of most of the gun changes, but I’m glad that the Buffmeister spell isn’t getting touched for now and that the White Rider SMG is still ace thanks to the new damage scaling.
Check out the rest of the patch notes below for the full skinny:
Change Notes:
We recolored the loot beam and outline to a better yellow color so they wouldn’t get confused with the Purple Epic Gear. The Lost Loot Machine will no longer confuse them with Epic gear, either! The item card has now been switched to match Common item cards. The audio cue for their drop is no longer the same as Epic gear.

Fixed an issue that was sometimes causing the achievement after completing the “Walk the Stalk” quest to not be awarded.
Patched up a hole in Queen’s Gate
Fatemakers who do not own the Butt Stallion Pack are now able to drop and sell cosmetic items from it if picked up during gameplay.
Prevented Fatemakers from picking up fire spells before they knew how to do fire magic.
Increased the chance for Chaos Chamber Aspects (bosses) and the Maker to drop dedicated gear.
Make more gold! You can sell customizations for twice as much at vending machines now!


Total War Warhammer 3 Reaches Second Highest Steam Player Count In The Franchise

It’s been less than a week since Total War Warhammer 3 launched on 17 February on Steam and Epic Games Store. Impressively, it has managed to reach the second-highest concurrent player count peak on Steam in the entire Total War franchise.
According to statistics provided by SteamDB, Total War Warhammer 3 has racked up a peak concurrent player count of 166,754 on launch day, which is almost twice as many as Total War Warhammer 2, and the second-highest in the franchise after 2019â€™s Total War Three Kingdoms, which remains the highest with a massive 192,298 concurrent Steam player peak.
What’s even more impressive is that the game managed to achieve this despite being subjected to review bombing (the game is currently at a Mixed review rating on Steam), with Chinese players being upset with how the game was promoted in China.
In the meantime, check out my review of Total War Warhammer 3 by heading over here.


Doki Doki Literature Club Plus Will Be Out For Consoles

2017’s horror visual novel with a saccharine coat of paint Doki Doki Literature Club will finally be out for console gamers.
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch players will get spooked by the Plus version of this subversive anime title when it comes out for those systems this 30th June. This new version is also for PC too.
The game pits you as a boy who joins a literature club helmed by group of anime women tropes.
And that’s all I’ll be saying because there are a huge number of twists and turns in here that will shock you. This Plus version will have new scenes & side stories, remastered HD visuals and artwork, 100+ new images to unlock and additional music tracks, as well as some surprises from its devious sole creator Dan Salvato.
See the cute-as-hell trailer below.


The Tomorrow War Trailer Drops Chris Pratt In A Conflict Across Time & Space

Paramount and Skydanceâ€™s sci-fi movie The Tomorrow War is slated to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on 2 July 2021 and we’ve received our first full trailer.
Directed by Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie), The Tomorrow War stars Chris Pratt stars as protagonist Dan Forester, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson and Edwin Hodge.
The synopsis reads:
In The TOMORROW WAR, the world is stunned when a group of time travelers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species.
The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight.
Among those recruited is high school teacher and family man Dan Forester (Chris Pratt). Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist (Yvonne Strahovski) and his estranged father (J.K. Simmons) in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Guilty Gear Strive Launches 6th April 2021, New Character & Good Dogs Revealed

Arc System Works revealed a ton of new information regarding its upcoming fighting game sequel Guilty Gear Strive during a livestream that ended minutes ago.
First up, the game will be out 6th and 9th April of 2021. Deluxe and Ultimate Editions of the game will allow players to access the game early on 6th of April, while standard versions will launch 9th April. The game will be out for PC, PS4, and PS5.
In addition, the game will have a Season Pass as per fighting game gimmicks these days. Guilty Gear Strive Season Pass 1 will have 5 new characters, 2 stages, and extra story scenarios for its single-player campaign. There will also be PS4 and PS5 crossplay, though no word on PC to PlayStation consoles crossplay at the moment.
Of course, a Guilty Gear Strive livestream wouldn’t be complete without a new character reveal. Joining the cast is a new rushdown character Giovanna, who fights with a wolf and has a ton of fast close-up and mixup attacks to overwhelm her foes.

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The trailer also teases the return of Anji from Guilty Gear XX. So that makes 15 characters available in the full version of Guilty Gear Strive.

To recap, they are:

Sol Badguy
Ky Kiske
Potemkin
Zato-1
Chipp Zanuff
May
Axel
Millia Rage
Ramlethal Valentine
Faust
Leo Whitefang
Nagoriyuki
Anji
Giovanna
One unannounced character

But Wait, More Stuff
Arc System Works has been listening to fan feedback and are doing a number of changes for the final game. These include a new character select screen and a cleaned-up UI (via HDKirin).

Here are the versions of the game you can buy either on the PS5, PS4, or PC. To sum it up, Ultimate version costs US$100 and will give you the Season Pass and all the other goodies, including early access to the game on 6th April 2021.

And because it’s a Japanese game, there’s going to be tie-in products, starting with this Guilty Gear cologne & perfume line via a partnership with manufacturer Fairytail. They’re really hammering that “smell of the game” tagline literally.

To cap off this news blitz, Guilty Gear’s dog count went up by two: Giovanni’s familiar and this awesomely adorable Ramlethal win animation. Truly it’s a good time to be an anime fighter fan.
https://twitter.com/HDKirin/status/1315135276444839936


Maternal Instinct: Celebrating The Best & Worst Moms Of Video Games

Article originally published on 11th May 2018. Brought forward because today is Mother’s Day.
This May 10th, we give thanks to our mothers and moms for raising us right and proper, as well as taking care of us during our childhood and even adult years.
At the same time, we also hold a moment of silence for the mothers of video games. They have it rough; they either die early, turn evil, or have their kids run off to go questing and some other world-saving nonsense.
From the best to the worst and in-between, let’s raise a glass or two for these hard-working and (mostly unloved) matriarch figures in video game history.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1419303114840766/

Brigid Tenenbaum – Bioshock

This aged woman is the mother of all the Little Sisters and Big Sisters. Her research created these little ADAM-filled tykes and the grown-up badass versions of them. Her motherly instincts kick in when she had to take care of them while in the now-dystopian Rapture. Better late than never, eh?
Jenova – Final Fantasy VII

She takes care of Sephiroth and gave him his powers, but at what cost? The cost of blowing up the entire world of Midgard for misusing the planet’s Lifestream energy. We know that the in-game corporation Shinra deserves all the hate, but why involve everyone else? That’s just mass genocide.
Queen Brahne – Final Fantasy IX

She snubs her own daughter Dagger for ultimate power. Nothing as stereotypically evil and irresponsible as putting your own needs before others, eh? Especially to your own flesh-and-blood.
The Queen – Ico

She is the woman responsible for Ico’s stoney predicament and Yorda’s quest to escort her away from the castle. You think having a wicked stepmom who boycotts you from dinner is bad? Try having a mother who turns you to stone, only to have some interloper with a club and a horned helmet help you out.
Ness’ Mom – Earthbound

She isn’t a bad mother, but she isn’t overseeing her kid Ness enough. She lets her son go out and play with his friends doing telekinesis and pyrotechnics stuff in the town they all live in. At least she’s there to talk to Ness when needed.
Next: More Moms


Overwatch League Power Rankings – End of Stage 1

1. LONDON SPITFIRE â€“Â Season Record: 7-3 ; Map Differential: +17
Last Week: 1 (Unchanged)Â

All hail the comeback boys from Seoul and Busan … we mean London. Going into Week 5, they were flying high but nearly saw their season fizzle within a span of three days following successive league match losses to Houston Outlaws (1-3) on Friday followed by another one to NYXL (2-3) early on Sunday which forced them to play an extra match in the playoffs. They showed their resilience and in an epic show of determination, overcame the firs and third-ranked teams in the league in back-to-back matches (three in a day) which amounted to a staggering 14 consecutive maps in total. Their ability to overcome such gruelling task and emerge victorious when it mattered the most entitles them this top spot.
2. New York Excelsior â€“Â Season Record: 9-1 ; Map Differential: +21
Last Week: 2 (Unchanged)

The most consistent team in Stage 1 in the league phase but the LW Blue playoff curse appears to remain with Saebyeolbe & Co. We think that they are most balanced team in the league and a solid argument can be made that every starter in NYXL will best any other OWL players in the same position – SBB, Libero, Pine, Jjonak, Ark, Meko – any of them will transform a mid-tier team into playoff contenders. Their reverse-sweep loss to Spitfire was a hard one to swallow considering that they may have a slightly more talented core roster than Spitfire and perhaps extra focus is required in the teamwork department during the break.
3. Houston Outlaws â€“ Season Record: 7-3 ; Map Differential: +15
Last Week: 5 (UP 2)

Houston Outlaws cemented their claim as the best in the west with the narrow win over Boston Uprising and throughout Stage 1, has been the western team that looked the part in overcoming the monopoly of teams fielding a full-Korean roster. Yes there were other western teams which also beaten full-Korean rosters but none of them displayed the swagger and consistent, real threat to the status quo set at the start of the season like the Outlaws do.
4. Los Angeles Valiant â€“Season Record: 7-3 ; Map Differential: +13
Last Week: 4 (Unchanged)

The shock result of the week must be Valiant’s 3-0 hiding of Seoul Dynasty which effectively threw the race for the playoffs wide open. No one saw that coming moreover the fact that it came right after Valiant’s 0-4 loss to Boston a week earlier. However, this team lack one criteria that stops them from being considered a great team – consistency. The win over Seoul may be a one-off and we doubtÂ  that they will be able to pull off the same result when both teams meet again in Stage 2.
5. SEOUL DYNASTY â€“Season Record: 7-3 ; Map Differential: +9
Last Week: 3 (Down 2)
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Just like bitcoin, no one saw the Seoul Dynasty plummet this low. Was it teamwork? Cohesion? Other teams figuring them out? We believe it’s a bit of all those mentioned above. On top of that, the team’s DPS which appear to be clicking early in the season seem to have faltered towards the latter portion of Stage 1, with only Fleta performing to standards expected of a Seoul Dynasty player. Bunny, Kuki & Munchkin seem to struggle going against top-tier opponents. But all is not bleak for Dynasty as the shift of the meta following the Mercy nerf which comes into effect in Stage 2 may play into Dynasty’s hands. Ryujehong may shift back to Ana and Zarya possible become viable again.
6. Boston Uprising â€“Season Record: 6-4 ; Map Differential: +10
Last Week 4 (Down 2)

Despite being placed sixth, the Boston Uprising is the team that impressed us the most in Stage 1 not only due to their string of positive results, but also how the team work together as a team considering they weren’t made of presets leading up to the Overwatch League. Dramkazper and Striker are easily among the top-5 DPS duos in the league and the rest of the team ain’t bad at all which is even more impressive when you realize that Uprising consist of relatively unknowns.
7. Philadelphia Fusion â€“Season Record: 6-4 ; Map Differential: -4
Last Week: 7 (Unchanged)

Fusion is one team that stands at the brink of being good, but somehow do everything they can week-in, week-out to remain in the mediocre category. They had perfect chance to cement their position amongst the better half of the league in their match against Boston but end up getting stomped which consigned them to 7th in the power rankings. Their tie-breaker win against Mayhem was also worrying, as the perceived gap between them and Mayhem has been closed down and we won’t be surprised to see Mayhem reverse the result the next time these two teams meet.
8. Dallas Fuel â€“Â Season Record: 3-7 ; Map Differential: -11
Last Week: 10 (Up 2)

The Fuel appear to have found stability in their lineup as well as improved on the shotcalling as the team looked more solid throughout both matches this week. However, there’s still tons of areas to be fixed as they seek to reverse their fortunes come Stage 2 of the competition. The team got what they really need from Week 5 – morale boosting wins and with the first two matches of Stage 2 being against the same two teams; Dragons and Gladiators, brighter days are within grasp for the Boys in Blue.

9. Los Angeles Gladiators â€“Season Record: 4-6 ; Map Differential: -10
Last Week: 8 (Down 1)

The Gladiators is in similar position to Fusion and have, throughout Stage 1, showed glimpse of promise of their potential. The biggest issue we notice coming from this team during Stage 1 is simple. The over-reliance on Surefour. He may light up the highlight reels from time to time again but once Surefour is silenced or out-performed by the opponent’s DPS, the team crumbles. One of the few teams that could do with a significant bump in personnel during the break.
10. San Francisco Shock â€“ Season Record: 3-7; Map Differential: -8
Last Week: 10 (Unchanged)

If there’s a team that could not wait for this season to end, it would be the Shock. Totally underpowered throughout Stage 1, fielding a shadow team til Super and Sinatraa are eligible to contest, the Shock’s performance of the season so far has to be their disruption of Seoul Dynasty’s playoff hopes. No one saw them pushing the Koreans to five sets, and if this isn’t even their final form, we cannot wait til it happens. The Shock is a team in transition and BabyBay and Danteh can only do so much with second-tier supporting cast around them. Imminent improvement in Stage 2 is a guarantee.
11. Florida Mayhem â€“ Season Record: 1-9; Map Differential: -22
Last Week 11 (Unchanged)

Mayhem somehow woke up in their final match of Stage 1, forcing Fusion to pull out all the stops en route to a tie-breaker win. Mayhem looked like a different team, with methodical approaches throughout and we can’t wait to see the team’s new look with the inclusion of Zappis who comes in at Stage 2. While they are still among the weaker teams in the league, the gap between them and the middle of the pack is definitely closer now.
12. Shanghai Dragons â€“ Season Record: 0-10; Map Differential: -30Â
Last Week 12 (Unchanged)

The Dragons close Stage 1 without winning a single match with a combined map differential of -30 but have been showing massive improvements in their final four games. A case of close but no cigar, most of their losses were just a team fight away and we expect them to come out much stronger in Stage 2, hopefully with a win soon enough. Diya & Undead have been the standouts for this team and with the news of Geguri possibly joining them, we can expect huge improvements soon.

Summary:Â
Overperformer of Stage 1: Boston Uprising
Underperformer of Stage 1: Seoul Dynasty, Dallas Fuel
Should Be Higher By End of Stage 2: Dallas Fuel, Seoul Dynasty
They Are That High? Iâ€™m Expecting them to Drop Next Week:Â Philadelphia Fusion
Letâ€™s agree to disagree aye? Iâ€™m pretty sure you have your own Power Rankings in your mind and Iâ€™m expecting them to be a tad different that what we presented above. Tell us how youâ€™d rank the teams in the comments section below.


Overwatch 2: Sojourn Shows Off Her Railgun In Gameplay Video

Blizzard has released a new gameplay video showcasing the new hero, Sojourn, from the upcoming Overwatch 2. She is not only the 33rd playable character in the game, but she’s also notable for being the first Black woman in the game, as well as having the distinction of being the first Canadian.
Overwatch 2 Sojourn Kit

Railgun
The Railgun’s primary fire is a rapid projectile that generates energy on hit. The energy Sojourn generates from her primary charges up her secondary, which is a high-impact shot that consumes the stored energy. Sojourn can be a difficult hero to play—the more accurate your aim, the more effective you’re going to be with her Railgun, resulting in a high skill ceiling with a lot of power weighted in her Railgun’s secondary fire.
Her playstyle highlights her character and personality.
Senior Hero Designer Josh Noh said (via a blog post):
“The Railgun is where Sojourn started. We wanted to make a mid-range hero that rewards accuracy, but still make it fun for varying levels of skill and gameplay. Sojourn’s someone who is super detail-oriented and thorough, which I think leans into her kit being accuracy-heavy. She is a brilliant tactician and definitely a ‘measure twice, cut once’ kind of person. Sojourn’s someone who is super detail-oriented and thorough, which I think leans into her kit being accuracy-heavy. She is a brilliant tactician and definitely a ‘measure twice, cut once’ kind of person,”
Disruptor Shot
Disruptor Shot is an AOE ability that will snare enemies and eat away at their health. Sojourn can use this to increase the effectiveness of her Railgun. Early prototypes of this ability did massive damage to barriers, but the ability was finalized to complement her secondary fire.
It’s best to keep your eyes on Sojourn; if you get caught in her Disruptor Shot, there’s a good chance she has you in her sights.
Noh continued:
“Disrupter Shot evolved from shredding barriers to slowing enemies down with a snare that allows Sojourn to get an easier shot with her secondary fire. Sojourn’s cybernetic abilities help her eliminate variables. The disruptor shot has a slow that improves her odds and makes her more accurate, minimizing any chance for mistakes.”
Power Slide

Sojourn’s Power Slide adds remarkable mobility to her kit. It’s a rocket-powered slide that can be cancelled into a high leap at any time by jumping. Utilize this ability correctly and you’ll be able to quickly reposition Sojourn.
Sojourn chose these abilities to become the most effective fighter she could be, a stark contrast to her fellow Hero, Genji, who was forced to take his cybernetic body. Her cybernetic body and abilities are a means to an end, but only her objective matters.
Noh added:
“We wanted to add a vertical element to her kit to enable her to quickly access high-ground vantage points and help solidify her role as a mobile damage hero. Her abilities are baked into her cybernetic body that allows her to execute her objectives. Sojourn has had a lot of cybernetic upgrades in her life, starting out of necessity in her childhood. Eventually she started opting-in for cybernetic upgrades when she was in the military.”
Overclock (Ultimate)
Sojourn’s Ultimate ability automatically charges her Railgun’s energy for a short duration and allows her shots to pierce enemies.
Overclock is another example of how mechanical skill and accuracy is greatly rewarded with Sojourn’s kit. When she activates her ultimate, her Railgun’s secondary fire will enable her to quickly eliminate enemies with high-powered shots.
Power Slide enables Sojourn to skirmish with enemies then retreat to her team when she needs help.
Noh continued:
“We wanted it to feel almost like the hitscan version of a Genji Dragon Blade,” says Noh. “You will have a limited time to make a big play… or you could miss all your shots. She’s probably not going to be a hard flanker, but it’s easier for teams to spread out in a 5v5 world. You can poke from wider angles, and that’s where Sojourn’s mobility becomes important. We’re looking forward to seeing how people play Sojourn in the upcoming April 26th beta! We know she has a high skill ceiling, so the team will be looking at how she performs at different skill levels to make her feel good for everyone.”


Razerâ€™s Latest Collaboration Brings Us Sanrio Themed Gear

The latest Razer collaboration will introduce a new line of Sanrio themed gear, bringing Hello Kitty and her friends to be a part of your gaming setup.
Razer recently announced that they will be collaborating with the global lifestyle brand Sanrio to release the Hello Kitty and Friends collection. In case you didnâ€™t know, Hello Kitty is only part of a group of adorable Japanese cartoon mascots which will be the showcase for Razerâ€™s new line of merchandise.
The collaboration marries fan-favourite Sanrio characters such as the well-loved Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Keroppi, My MelodyÂ and more together with Razerâ€™s award-winning peripherals for a unique collection that is sure to make your gamer cave that much more kawaii.
Honestly looks pretty clean.
The line-up includes:

Razer Kraken BT Kitty â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition (Priced: RM659)
Speak from the heart and be heard with the Razer Kraken BT â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition. Complete with a pink bow, the wireless headset is powered by Razer Chroma RGB, which enables a burst of stream-reactive lighting that radiates cuteness all around.
Razer Iskur X â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition (Unavailable in Malaysia)
Get the best support you can always lean on with the Razer Iskur X â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition gaming chair. Take on any challenge in top gaming form with Hello Kitty and Friends by your side.

Razer Lumbar Cushion â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition (Priced: RM299)The Razer Lumbar Cushion â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition is fitted with cushy memory foam and plush, velvety fabric. This encourages posture-perfect comfort for any gamers or Hello Kitty lovers that will see you through the day.

Razer DeathAdder Essential + Razer Goliathus Medium Bundle â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition (Coming March 2022) (Priced: RM299)

Inspired by the bonds forged by Hello Kitty and her friends, the comfort and reliability of the Razer DeathAdder Essential, coupled with the breathtaking speed of the Razer Goliathus Medium are the perfect companions for long hours of gaming.
Everything except the Razer DeathAdder Essential + Goliathus Bundle â€“ Hello Kitty and Friends Edition is currently available right now, with the bundle slated to release in March later this year. Do take note, the Iskur X is not available in Malaysia, just as the standard version of the chair is not available here officially for some reason.
Interested in the â€œmoeâ€ merchandise? You can purchase the new lineup from Razer.com and authorized resellers.


Bandai Namco Files One Piece Odyssey Trademark In Japan

It’s been a while since we’ve had some One Piece open-world RPG action, right? We might be getting a follow-up to that based on some recent patent news.
Bandai Namco and Shueisha recently filed a trademark a couple of weeks ago in Japan, which was made public today. The title? One Piece Odyssey. This may be related to One Piece: World Seeker, the open-world game we alluded to. That game was made by Ganbarion and was out for PS4, Xbox One, and PC back in 2019.
On a related note, Bandai Namco also trademarked the following titles: MHUI and MHUR. If we know Bandai Namco and its involvement with licensed anime games, these may be My Hero Academia-related. In any case, it’s business as usual.


This Singapore Retro Game Store May Be The Next Super Potato

It’s good to know that retro gaming will never die. There are so many man-made consoles out there that people don’t know what to do with them. Luckily we have places in Japan like Super Potato and the corners of Akihabara to get your retro gaming collection fix.
But what if you can’t go to Japan right now and are in Singapore? Luckily, I’ve found just a place for that. Retro Nutz is a passion project from Philip Lee, a store he set up at Singapore’s Sim Lim Square. Find out more about it on the video below:
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1458693094235101/


Live A Live Is Now On PlayStation Consoles, Launches On PC Tomorrow

Square Enix has announced that Live A Live is now available on PS4 and PS5. The PC via Steam version will be released on 28 April 2023. Live A Live, originally only released for the Super Famicom in Japan, is being revived on Steam! Experience this legendary RPG, brought to life in the same HD-2D visual style as Octopath Traveler.
Meet seven heroes, each with their own unique abilities and lives to live across different time periods. Experience their stories in any order you choose, uncovering shocking developments along the way:

Prehistory: A tribesman comes of age in a world without words.
The Wild West: A wanderer with a bounty on his head fights for his life.
Imperial China: A kung fu master searches for a worthy successor.
Twilight of Edo Japan: A shinobi undertakes an important secret mission.
Present Day: A martial artist strives to become the strongest there ever was.
The Near Future: A youth with psychic powers takes a stand against evil.
The Distant Future: A newly built robot is swept up in a tragedy in space.

Featuring remastered music from original composer Yoko Shimomura and produced by Takashi Tokita (the director of the original game), this remake retains everything that players loved about the original while also being accessible to newcomers.
Celebrating the launch of PS4, PS5 and PC via Steam, video messages from the producer Takashi Tokita, and the composer Yoko Shimomura have been revealed.
In the meantime, check out our review of the game here or head on over here for our endings guide.


Atlus Unveils Funky New Persona 5 Scramble Opening

Atlus has released the brand new opening sequence for the upcoming Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers.
It looks great and stylized just as fans would expect, with a brand new song to boot. It features action scenes (considering that the game is more action-oriented with its hack-and-slash musou gameplay).
We also see the new characters, the mysterious masked Sophia and the long-haired due named Zenkichi. The opening theme song is titled ‘You Are Stronger’, composed by Atsushi Kitajoh, lyrics by Lotus Juice, and sung by Lyn.
For the latest information on the upcoming game, head on over here. Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers is slated to release for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan on 20 February 2020, with no confirmation for an official localized international version as of yet.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsvpvjOscrA&w=560&h=315]


Master of Magic Remake Will Feature All 14 Wizards From The First Game

The 4X fantasy strategy game Master of Magic has a cult following because of its fun and time-killing strategy gameplay, so much so that a Polish indie developer is taking a stab at a remake of the 1994 classic.Â
Developer MuHa Games posted its first developer diary detailing the remake, talking about what they’re changing and what they’re preserving. Long story short, they’re keeping everything, and are changing the squares on the map into hexes. Also, the usual quality of life improvements like customizable difficulty options and auto-resolve for tactical combat is added.
“Our design philosophy is to attempt to recreate the mechanics and gameplay of MoM as faithfully as we can”.

Here’s the list:

All of the wizards will make a return in MoM (Most however, got a strong makeover from our wonderful artist.So while we hope you will still recognise your favourites, they did change in the thirty yearsâ€¦)
All of the champions and heroes are coming back(As with the wizards, although perhaps less drastically, many of the heroes got a facelift. But they are all back with their own 2D art and 3D model and even a little back story for those who will bother reading it somewhereâ€¦)
All of the races and their units (Given a new lease of artistic life, but kept their core skills and attributes. Of course tweaks may be necessary once we get to balancing, but for now, we are painstakingly recreating them all)
All of the spells and skills (As with everything else, we are recreating them as best we can for now, then we may need to tweak them later.)
All traits (formerly known as retorts)
All basic events, and possibly some additional ones (with the option to turn them off as it was in the original)
Arcanus and Myrror as playable planes
All building types
Mana management system (so you willÂ  be able to distribute your power to go into research/casting skill/mana points)
Strategy vs tactical map â€“ battles will take place on a tactical map, like in the original
Familiars â€“ theyâ€™re back, and we have an extra one for those who choose mixed magic books

The Master of Magic remake will be out in 2022 for Steam.


Joker 2 Teaser Confirms Lady Gaga Casting

Lady Gaga is officially confirmed for the upcoming Joker 2 or Joker Folie A Deux. She was previously reported to be in talks for a role in the upcoming sequel to 2019’s Joker back in June 2022.
She posted the title for Joker 2 as well as its release date on her official social media channels, including Twitter and Instagram. The teaser features the Joker and her silhouette dancing to retro music.

Joker: Folie à Deux10.04.24 pic.twitter.com/obp7T9lBFL
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 4, 2022

However, the teaser doesn’t reveal what role she’s going to play. It was previously reported that she would be playing Harley Quinn and that the movie will be a sequel, which is suitable for the singer/actress.
While the message doesn’t reveal what role she’s going to play, it was heavily reported that Lady Gaga would be starring alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the next Joker movie as Harley Quinn. The next Joker is also said to be a musical, which would suit her abilities as a singer.
Joker 2, or Joker Folie A Deux, will premiere on 4 October 2024. Director Todd Phillips has co-written the script for the sequel and will return as director, while Joaquin Phoenix will reprise his role as Arthur Fleck AKA the Joker.
If confirmed, this will be the second live-action movie version of Harley Quinn after Margot Robbie’s famous portrayal of the character in 2016’s Suicide Squad and 2021’s The Suicide Squad.
In the meantime, check out our review of Joker here, or head on over here to check out all the easter eggs we discovered in the movie.


Project Sakura Wars Launches This December; Is Now An Action RPG

Good news for long-time Sakura Wars fans: the upcoming Project Sakura Wars title will be out in Japan this 12th December. And fans will be able to put down 14,800 yen for a limited edition featuring a Sakura Wars CD song collection and an A4-sized 72-page art book featuring illustrations from the series.
The bad news? It won’t be a turn-based strategy RPG title.Â Instead, it’s taking the currently in-thing for RPGs right now and will be taking the action RPG pathway.
In Project Sakura Wars, players take control of leader Kamiyama and the other member’s mechs and kill a whole bunch of demons while traversing the stage. The game features a Just-Dodge system that lets you do powerful counterattacks if you sidestep enemy attacks.

Each character has unique abilities that are either special moves or buffs. If you strengthen the bond with your teammates, they perform better in combat. You can also trigger joint attacks that deal massive damage ala Chrono Trigger, but in real-time and with steam-powered mechs.
What’s also pretty surprising is that Yakuza/Judgment producer and director Toshihiro Nagoshi is doing the battle action portions of the game with his team.

Purists may find this change in genre offensive, but as long as Sega has its Yakuza team to handle the action parts of the game, we may be in for something truly magical. Personally, I’ll keep an open mind and hope they shake up the action gaming formula a tad.
Take a look here in this recent trailer for the game along with some gameplayÂ from the actual stream (via Gematsu).

We also have new screenshots and images from the reveal, including new characters Yang Xialong and Huang Yui from the Shanghai Combat Revue, as well as the new battle suits from captain Kamiyama and default waifu Sakura Amamiya.

The English version is slated for mid-2020. Stay tuned to Kakuchopurei for more info about the game.


Fire Emblem Engage Romance Guide & Options

While not as extensive as the last game, Fire Emblem Engage allows you to romance characters amidst the strategy RPG combat you’ll be partaking in the Nintendo Switch exclusive.
We bet you’ll be asking: “who can I romance in the game?” You can get S support rank for each party member you have and romance them. However, you need to get them to A-rank and then get an item called the Pact Ring which you get later in the game’s paralogue map.
How To Get The Pact Ring
After Chapter 23: The Four Hounds, you’ll unlock the Paralogue: The Connector map. complete this quest and collect the Pact Ring from the corrupted enemies you fight. Once you have that, you can gift the ring to any A-rank character. The “Engage” in the title sure meant something, huh?
Note that you can only give this ring to one character, so choose wisely. Also, the game allows same-sex romance. Having said that, some S-Supports are not romance options but rather close friends/platonic or just flirt buddies.
Here’s the list of all Romance Options, with all of them having same-sex romance options:

Alfred
Bunet
Citrinne
Goldmary
Diamant

Ivy
Jade
Lapis
Louis
Mauvier
Merrin
Pandreo
Chloe
Panette
Seadall
Kagetsu

Here are Platonic/Friend options you can S Support

Alcryst
Amber
Anna
Jean
Boucheron
Celine
Clanne
Veyle
Zelkov
Lindon
Saphir

Here Are Flirt Buddy Options you can S Support

Framme
Fogado
Vander
Rosado
Hortensia
Timerra
Yunaka


The Folks Behind Total War Are Making A Multiplayer First-Person Shooter For Some Reason…

Publisher Sega and developer Creative Assembly are teaming up again to bring us an innovative game idea: a multiplayer first-person shooter set in a sci-fi universe.
In all seriousness, the company that made Total War is jumping in the multiplayer shooter well with a game called HYENAS which will launch in 2023 and will be for PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, PS4. Here are a few words from the game’s executive producer David Nicholson:
“We believe the key to modern shooter success is understanding what players want to see and where they want to take their experience. We know we’ve got something interesting on our hands, but we also know the odds are stacked against us. To take on the biggest games in the industry, we need to hear what players think, right up front and early. If you’re in, we want to take you along for the ride.
That’s why after today’s announcement, we’re also launching into the first of our public Alpha tests.”
Here are the game’s key features, which you can probably put at the back of the box of any FPS save the zero-G element.

Give Zero Fs in Zero-G – Why walk when you can fly? Traverse seamlessly into zero-G zones where movement and combat take flight.
Meet the HYENAS – A cast of memorable misfits with unique abilities and big personalities. Pick a Hyena to suit your style, whether that’s all guns blazing, or manipulating the environment to your advantage.
Steal Iconic Merch – Yesterday’s pop culture collectibles are priceless artefacts in a post-Earth age. Steal iconic memorabilia from the Plunderships’ vaults before rival crews do.
Become the Top Pack – Compete against other packs of players while taking down Plundership security forces. Meet your loot quota and make your escape to win.
An Evolving Challenge – Look forward to new HYENAS joining the party and the launch of extra Plunderships with more precious merch to steal.

While it’s admirable for Creative Assembly to try something different, I’m not sure if making a multiplayer FPS in a very, VERY saturated market is the way to go. If you’re somehow interested in this and not a strategy title or even a sequel to Alien: Isolation for some strange reason, you can sign up for an alpha test session for HYENAS on PC here.


She-Hulk Gives Us Another Look At New Daredevil Costume

In a surprise move, on a Saturday no less, the official Twitter account for the upcoming Marvel Studios Disney+ Hotstar series She-Hulk Attorney At Law gave us another look at the new costume for Daredevil.
Check out the new Daredevil costume below:

She-Hulk will premiere on 18 August 2022, with new episodes every subsequent Thursday on Disney+ Hotstar.
In the meantime, check out the most recent full trailer below:


Singapore-Set Chinatown Detective Agency Launches In Spring 2022

Ever wanted to be in the shoes of a noir-ish detective exploring a cyberpunk Singapore? Well, that’s the premise of Chinatown Detective Agency, an upcoming game by developer General Interactive Co. and publisher Humble Games. They have announced that the game will release sometime in spring 2022.
In Chinatown Detective Agency, you assume the role of Amira Darma, once a rising star at INTERPOL, now a freshly minted Private Investigator in the heart of Chinatown. The game is inspired by the classic point-and-click games from the 80s and 90s, including Carmen Sandiego.

We're thrilled to share Humble Games will publish Chinatown Detective Agency, upcoming cyber noir point and click adventure from @genintco, on all platforms!
Chinatown Detective Agency launches Spring 2022 on PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Learn more: https://t.co/UJxXjE9WPY pic.twitter.com/1rDxdPC7b5
— Humble Games (@PlayHumbleGames) December 13, 2021

Fun fact: Malaysian voice actress Su Ling Chan voices one of the characters in Chinatown Detective Agency; a woman named Tiger Lily. If you’re unfamiliar with her, she’s best known for voicing No Straight Roads protagonist Mayday, Cream The Rabbit in The Sonic & Knuckles Show, and more.

Love the new poster! I voice Tiger Lily, the woman with bangs judging everyone openly. Can’t wait for the game to be released! https://t.co/K9wUMDh12a
— Su Ling Chan (@SuChanVA) December 14, 2021

In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Brawlhalla Esports 2022 Features The Biggest Fighting Game Prize Pool In The World

Ubisoft has announced the details for Brawlhalla Esports Year Seven, which will feature a series of events in which players can earn points in Brawlhalla Power Rankings and their share of the US$1,320,000 total prize pool. Players from across the world will compete in 1v1 and 2v2 matches during online Seasonal Championships in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
The season will kick off with the Winter Championship on 28 January 2022, which will run for two consecutive weekends until February 6. The matches will be streamed at https://twitch.tv/brawlhalla and https://youtube.com/brawlhalla.
Players can register for the Winter Championship 2022 and, when the brackets are live, every other open tournament here: https://smash.gg/brawlhalla.Â
On top of the seasonal competitions, Year Seven will also feature many other unique pro player invitationals. The first will be the OMEN Oasis Online Championship, which will see the top players in the Power Rankings from North America and Europe battle it out online in their respective regions in February. Future competitions will see the top 32 players in the worldwide Power Rankings compete at the Mid-Season Invitational Championship in June 2022. More information on these upcoming tournaments soon.Â
The competitive season will conclude in November with the seventh annual Brawlhalla World Championship, also known as BCX, which will feature the largest fighting game tournament prize pool ever. As a true celebration of the year, BCX 2022 will be an open sign-up competition, giving every player, regardless of their ranking, a chance to compete for the most prestigious title in Brawlhalla Esports and a share of US$500,000. Details will be communicated over the coming months.Â
Lastly, the 2022 season will also feature new additions to its esports ecosystem, with an improved Viewership Rewards system to offer new rewards for fans, and the first-ever official online Japanese tournament in Brawlhalla. More details will be shared at a later date.Â
Developed by Blue Mammoth, Brawlhalla is an epic free-to-play platform fighting game featuring more than 50 unique characters, where players can jump into single-player and co-op modes as well as online and local competitions. Brawlhalla also supports cross-platform play between Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices where players can play custom games and queue together for all online matchmaking.


Samsung Galaxy M33 5G Is RM100 Off On Lazada’s 10th Birthday

Samsung has announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy M33 5G. It will be in conjunction with Lazada’s 10th Birthday, which is happening from the 27 to 29 March 2022.
The Galaxy M33 5G features a 6.6-inch FHD+ Infinity-V display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. With a RAM up to 8GB and an 5nm processor chip, the Exynos1280, it will bring in a much more seamless mobile experience, as well as HyperFast 5G connectivity.
What makes the Galaxy M33 5G stand out is its massive 5,000mAh battery and support for up to 25W of fast charging. It also comes with a 128GB internal storage and an additional 1TB microSD card. Its versatile quad camera that offers amazing camera and video capabilities will leave your shots looking crisp and clear. Meanwhile, selfie-takers can play around and enjoy its 8MP selfie camera.
In celebration of Lazada’s 10th birthday, you can bring home the new Galaxy M33 5G at RM 1,399, which is RM100 off its original retail price of RM1,499. This exclusive offer will be available only on Lazada while stock lasts. The Galaxy M33 5G will be available on the Lazada Samsung Flagship store in three colours – Blue, Brown and Green.

M33 5G Product?Specifications:

?
Galaxy M33 5G

Display
6.6” FHD+ TFT, 120Hz

Infinity-V Display

Camera
Rear
50MP (F1.8) + 5MP (F2.2) + 2MP (F2.4) + 2MP (F2.4)

Front
8MP (F2.2)

Processor
Exynos 1280 (5nm)

Memory?
RAM
8GB

ROM
128GB

Battery
Capacity
5,000mAh

(Typical)

Charging
25W capable

Dimension
165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4mm / 198g?

Others
Side Fingerprint Scanner

Color
Blue, Brown, Green

In-box items
Data Cable (Type C), Ejection Pin, Quick Start Guide

In addition, Samsung Malaysia will also be throwing more deals on Lazada’s 10th birthday, including more discounts.

Check out the offers below:
 Highlights of Samsung x Lazada Birthday Deals:

Product
Offer

Galaxy M33 5G
EXTRA RM100 off

Galaxy M52 5G
Up to 35% off

Galaxy M32
Up to 35% off

Galaxy S20 FE 5G
RM350 off + FOC Galaxy Buds2 (worth RM499)

Galaxy S22
Galaxy Watch4 Bluetooth (40mm) worth RM899 + LAMY Safari Twin Pen (only for Galaxy S22 Ultra) worth RM269

50’’ AU7000 Crystal UHD Smart TV
RRP RM2999; Flash Price RM2049

Front Load Washer Dryer with Hygiene Steam
8.5KG Wash & 6KG Dry
RRP RM2849; Flash Price RM1799

32’’ T4300 Smart HD TV
RRP RM1299; Flash Price RM799

Head on over to the Lazada Samsung Flagship store to find out more.


Dota 2 International 2019 Prize Pool Hits US$4 Million In Just 6 Hours

Just a few hours ago, Valve announced the International Battle Pass for this year to coincide with this year’s The International Dota 2 tournament. And as per custom, 25% of the Battle Pass sales will go to The International prize pool.
With that in mind, the total sales of the pass are astronomical, considering that the current International prize pool is now at US$4 million and counting (via @wykrhm and Rod Breslau’s Twitter).

Keep in mind that the prize pool for The International 8 reached past U$25 million. There’s a good chance TI9’s prize pool would surpass that amount.
So What’s In This Battle Pass?
Here’s what Dota 2 players are getting:

A couple of game modes called Wrath of the Mo’rokai and Jungle Expedition
Living towers
Coach challenges that give you rewards for guiding random Dota squads towards victory
Consumables & rewards like the custom “Overgrown Empire” terrain, evolving courier, “Majesty of the Colossus” Tiny Prestige Item, “Planetfall” Earthshaker Arcana, and more
New quality-of-life additions like Party Finder, Avoid Player, Assistant Features (for match & in-game use), and MVP Vote. Returning features include Rank Double Down, Recycling Immortals, Wagering, Ranked Roles, and Arcana Vote.

How Much Do I Have To Fork Out For This “Yearly” Pass?
You can pay US$9.99 for the standard Battle Pass that comes with the aforementioned features. You can also get the Level 50 Battle Pass that puts you at level 50 for US$29.35. The ultimate package is the Level 100 Battle Pass which costs US$44.99 and puts you at, you guessed it, level 100.


Assassin’s Creed Mirage Confirms October Release Date, Unveils First Look At Gameplay

During the PlayStation Showcase 2023, Ubisoft confirmed that Assassin’s Creed will launch on 12 October 2023 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
It is a successor and spinoff of 2020’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Assassin’s Creed Mirage was first unveiled at the September 2022 Ubisoft Forward. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, you are Basim, a cunning street thief with nightmarish visions, seeking answers and justice. After an act of deadly retribution, Basim flees Baghdad and joins an ancient organization – The Hidden Ones. As he learns their mysterious rituals and powerful tenets, he will hone his unique abilities, discover his true nature, and come to understand a new Creed – one that will change his fate in ways he never could have imagined.
Some new features that can be seen in the gameplay trailer are the Assassin’s Focus, which allows Basim to mark and assassinate several targets in a row. You also will get classic Assassin tools such as throwing knives and smoke bombs. There is also a brand-new parkour ingredient, the Pole Vault.
The trailer also introduces the character of Fuladh, a Rafiq and Eagle-Master to the Hidden Ones. Along with Master Roshan, whose voice guides Basim throughout this trailer, he is another important character in Basim’s journey to becoming a Hidden One. Many elements from past games are making a return: We have the corner swing, the ability to vault over objects and “elevators” to quickly reach high ground.
In the meantime, check out our full review of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla here, or head on over here for our guide on how to be the best Viking in the game.
Check out the gameplay trailer below:


Not Horsing Around: Red Dead Redemption 2 Requires 105GB Of Storage Space

How much space would an open world sandbox action adventure game set in the Wild West take up on your console HDD? 30GB? 40GB?
Or if you already read the headline of this story, then 105GB is the correct amount. Yep, the PS4 version of Red Dead Redemption 2 (and most likely the Xbox One version) will require 105GB of storage space. This is confirmed by a small print on the box of the Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Pro bundle (via R*Intel).
Basically this game beats the install size of Quantum Break for the Xbox One, which is sitting at 102GB, just 3GB shy of the new install size champion.

On a related note, the bundle reveals more info on Red Dead Online, the multiplayer-focused bit that will be in playable beta form this November. The beta contains:

The option to have up to 32 players fighting or teaming up with each other.
Online content that is timed exclusive for 30 days. Could be DLC just for PS4; who knows?

As someone who still uses his own PS4 with 500GB, this can be quite a hassle. And let’s not get into the fact that on launch day, everyone’s going to be downloading this game through the pipes of the PSN Store servers.
We’re going to have fun waiting when it’s out 26th October.


E3 2019: Epic Games Store Is Feeling Generous Till End Of 2019

The Epic Games Store started its giveaway programme at the end of last year giving out free games bi-weekly. Epic Games Store had its inaugural sale a month ago, dubbed the Mega Sale, and had price slashes as well as a special USD10 Epic sponsored discount that applies to every game priced above USD15. During the Mega Sale, the Store increased the frequency of giveaways, from every bi-weekly to weekly.
Epic has just announced at E3 that the weekly giveaways will continue for the rest of 2019. Games that are picked up during the giveaways are permanently yours to keep.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMyFpzi40jg]
If you missed the memo, the store is currently giving away Kingdom New Lands, with Enter The Gungeon replacing it on 13 June.
The Epic Games Store is also racking up their count of exclusives titles such as Shenmue 3, Chivalry II, Zombie Army 4: Dead War, Atomicrops, Twin Mirror, and Auto Chess.
It’s fun seeing stores giving away games at a frequent rate, but on the other hand, it’ll be easier to miss games as it’s swapped out quite frequently. Hey, at least we’re getting more free games. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.


E3 2018: Is Cyberpunk 2077 The Sci-Fi Escapade We Need?

After that bombastic last-minute reveal of CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi techno opus during the Microsoft Xbox press conference, we were all ready to proclaim Cyberpunk 2077 as “Witcher 3 but sci-fi, fast cars, and androids”.
We might have been premature with our claims, but we were half-right: it’s an RPG where you control a mercenary named V who takes odd jobs for criminals, businessmen, and other folks for story-specific reasons we can’t get into. But instead of a 3rd person viewpoint, you now play this game from a first-person perspective.
Bring in the Deus Ex Human Revolution comparisons then!

Punked?
Obviously CD Projekt Red are masters of the RPG craft if you remember their Witcher games. Everything in Cyberpunk 2077 still revolves around numbers despite the brand-new setting. You shoot your guns and deal numerical damage based on the combination of your own stats and the gun’s buffs and advantages. There is no class system that determines your role; instead, you have to rely on your stats, abilities, and augments to help you deal with combat and conversation.
So yes, you can put in as many augments as you want on your character, turn him or her into a cyber ninja with blade arms that can finish enemies off when prompted to. Or you can be that one mercenary who can summon spider bots to spy or gun down unsuspecting victims. Or you can be a hacker who can fire bullets that ricochet across hallways and enclosed spaces thanks to a targeting augment.
Hope the devs can get the depth perception right for this, otherwise blade melee attacks -and other forms as such- will be a hot mess.
Unlike other first-person RPG shooters like Fallout 3 and 4 however, there’s nothing to help you stop time and perform your actions. You’ll have to use FPS reflexes to get by and hope that your equipment is up to date with the numbers-crunching. You’ll come across situations where you can talk your way out of trouble, but combat is usually resolved with your gun of choice and how adept you are at taking cover and pulling the trigger ala the first Mass Effect. Except in a cool neo retro futuristic fashion.
Clothes Make The Cyber Man

Speaking of which, there’s a stat for cool which according to PC GamerÂ might be Cyberpunk 2077’s version of the charisma stat. Since talking and conversations are key in the game, you’ll need a modifier that helps up your chances to be a smooth talker or haggler. This stat ties into the Street Cred stat which is on the main character’s jacket.
Street Cred is an experience point system that gives you access to certain areas and secret conversation options. Whatever you do earns you street cred, and boosting street cred may also mean wearing cool clothes from a Cyberpunk 2077 clothes vendor. It’s not really a new way to open up the game, but it’s nice to have given the context of the universe and its emphasis over style and dressing.

Anything Else We Should Know?
Yes! The game is huge, or rather it will be. CD Projekt Red boasts that Cyberpunk 2077 will be bigger than The Witcher 3.
It will also have multiplayer features. Put that pitchfork down; what the devs meant is that it will have features for multiplayer that will ensure Cyberpunk’s “long-term success” and assured that the game will still be a single-player story-driven RPG with a first-person perspective and none of the bulls***.
Of course, with a 2019 launch date, it’ll be a while until this project sees the light of day. But hey, I’m all for a first-person take on a brighter Shadowrun title. Cyberpunk games are still few and far between; the last one I played involved anime tropes, corgis, and drinks-mixing.
All I can say is that the genre needs that triple-A in-depth touch. So thanks for bringing this game close to release as soon as humanly possible. Just make sure the music is just as neo-retro-tastic as the trailer you showed us.


Marvel Future Revolution Appeals To Both MCU & Comic Book Fans

Platforms: Android, iOS
Genre: Open-World Action RPG
There is perhaps no better time for a game like Marvel Future Revolution to release than now. This is especially so with Marvel’s concept of the Multiverse and alternate versions of the same characters being all the rage (despite it already being a mainstay in comics for decades).
The story in Marvel Future Revolution begins when multiple Earths converge in the multiverse to form an entirely new â€˜Primary Earthâ€™ filled with unique zones and missions to explore, such as the high-tech New Stark City, the dangerous Hydra Empire, the wild and rugged Sakaar, and many more. If you’re familiar with the comics, it’s basically similar to the Battleworld concept featured in the Secret Wars comics.
As agents of the newly formed â€˜Omega Flightâ€™ Super Hero team, players will work together to â€˜Primary Earthâ€™ from threats and supervillains. There will be eight playable characters at launch, including Captain America, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Star-Lord, and Storm.
Fans of online multiplayer will have plenty to look forward to with various PvP modes, ranging from 1v1 up to 10v10 matches. As players progress, more modes will unlock, including Blitz, Special Operation, Raids, and more.

When I first booted up the game, Marvel Future Revolution begins with a bang and a tutorial that acts as a giant setpiece to set up the game’s eventual multiversal setting. I took turns using several different characters like Star-Lord and Storm in between epic cutscenes complete with voices. There are also QTE sequences during the cutscenes, which adds an interactive element, I suppose.
The first thing I immediately was that the game wasn’t beholden to taking everything from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a comic book, I hated it when even games or comics had to be altered to conform to the tone and style of the movies. Thankfully, Marvel Future Revolution is its own thing, and I was happy to not only see non-MCU characters like Storm from the X-Men and an adult Spider-Man that doesn’t look or sound anything like Tom Holland’s version.

That’s not to say that the game doesn’t feature anything from the MCU. Its versions of Captain Marvel and Iron Man are clearly moulded after the MCU versions and not the comics. The graphics are pretty impressive too. Despite my Sony Xperia XZ Premium not being capable of running the game at full specs, I was still impressed by how good the game looks, especially for a mobile game.
As for the gameplay, there’s nothing groundbreaking here. Marvel Future Revolution offers a simple MMO-like experience and combat mechanics that you often see in other similar mobile games in the same genre. The game is described as open-world, but there’s not much freedom, really. You’ll spend most of your time doing fetch quests and completing objectives.

Just like other mobile games, Marvel Future Revolution feels like it provides quick gratification or just to keep yourself busy in your free time. Complete a mission, obtain new pieces of armour and level up; rinse and repeat. It’s easy to pick up and play, so what’s not to like? It’s exactly what you’d expect from a mobile game, though this has a shinier polish due to the Marvel brand and IP.
All in all, I appreciate that the game goes beyond just being another game based on the MCU. In that regard, it doesn’t feel as limiting in terms of scope. This will appeal to both fans of the MCU and the comics if you’re looking for a fun and relatively uncomplicated game to play in your free time.
Marvel Future Revolution is slated to launch worldwide on 25 August 2021. Pre-registration is currently open via the App StoreÂ andÂ Google Play.
Marvel Future Revolution was played on a Sony Xperia XZ Premium via a preview build courtesy of Marvel Games.


Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC To Be Showcased At Summer Game Fest 2023

CD Projekt Red has been confirmed as a guest at this year’s Summer Game Fest and they’ll be showcasing the highly anticipated Phantom Liberty DLC. Remember when Cyberpunk had a disastrous launch? Well, those days are slowly fading away.
The same team that brought us the successful Witcher series has been hard at work on Cyberpunk 2077, and with Hollywood star Keanu Reeves involved, the hype was real. Despite its rocky start, the game has made significant improvements thanks to major patches, and now fans are eagerly awaiting what’s in store for Night City.

pic.twitter.com/TLzM8UJezb
— CD PROJEKT IR (@CDPROJEKTRED_IR) May 29, 2023

One of the most anticipated things is the Phantom Liberty expansion, the first major DLC for Cyberpunk 2077. CDPR recently announced that this exciting new content will be featured at Summer Game Fest. Their Twitter post mentions that invited guests will have the chance to play some of the upcoming story during Play Days. We’re not sure yet if the general public will get to experience Phantom Liberty at the event, so it might be limited to the media for now.
Mark your calendars, because Summer Game Fest 2023 starts on 8 June. It’s going to be a fantastic opportunity for studios and publishers to showcase their upcoming projects, just like CD Projekt Red. Other big names attending the event include Capcom, Behavior Interactive (the folks behind Dead by Daylight), Square Enix, Niantic Labs, and Developer Digital, along with many other industry leaders. The festivities will be held at the YouTube Theater, a 6,000-seat venue in Los Angeles, and you can enjoy the event both in person and online.
Now, let’s talk about the DLC itself. Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty will bring a fresh new story to the game, complete with a whole new cast of characters, including one portrayed by the talented Idris Elba. As of now, there’s no official release date for this exciting content, except that it’s slated to drop sometime in 2023. Fingers crossed that its appearance at Summer Game Fest will push CDPR to finally reveal the release date we’ve all been waiting for.


Dota Underlords Will Finally Leave Early Access In Late February

Fan-made Dota Auto Chess kicked off a new phenomenon in gaming and Valve did what any smart business would do, make their own (official) version of it.
Dota Underlords, Valve’s entry in the auto battler genre, is finally leaving early access in late February. No specific date has been stated but the developers are planning to release Underlords Season 1 by the end of next month.

Expect at least one more update and also a new Underlord before Season 1 drops. There will be tons of new additions to the game when it’s properly finished including a new Battlepass, City Crawl, hero and item rotations, and UI updates.
For more information on the changes and tweaks made in the latest update, read here.


The Top 10 Best Anime Openings So Far

When you think intros to TV shows or animated series, nothing comes close to what Japan has done within the realm of anime. They all start out super-flashy, well-animated, and is 50% not indicative of the entire half-hour show.
This list is all about the top tier anime openings (or OPs) that goes nuts with its budget and message. These are the standouts that, after a minute-and-a-half showcase, entices/fools you into believing that there’s a quality show right after.
This isnâ€™t a be-all-end-all list, mind you. There are probably 30 or so other entries that should be here. But off the top of my head, these anime intros stood out to me just because they have style and they sum up their storylines via key visuals and how they portray their main cast.Â
Plus, they just get stuck in your head like a late 80s pop song; it’s useless to get the jingle and the visuals out of your head. So here they are…
#1. Cowboy Bebop

Those catchy trumpets and snares. That bass lick. That sexy scrolling san serif fonts! This jazz-infused intro is slick, stylish, and tells us what we need to know about the show. Four heroes, spaceships, fighting, awesome soundtrack: that is Cowboy Bebop in a nutshell. And by god, the intro reeks of coolness.
#2. Tengen Toppa Gurenn Lagann

Each new opening in this hyper over the top mecha-involved sci-fi epic symbolizes a new storyline. Because Gurenn Lagann has three arcs, we get one OP, one kinda-similar-but-not-quite OP, and a brand new OP that takes place 7 years after the main story. All of them are tied to each other via the similar cuts and editing style, alongside the bombasting vocals from breakout singer-at-the-time Shoko Nakagawa.

#3. Ranma 1/2 (4th Opening)

This is one of those openings where lines work against our hero/heroine Ranma. Watch as Ranma struggles to get away from the madness that is the Saotome/Tendo/god knows what else love harem nonsense. All that is encapsulated vividly in this wooly string-based intro.
#4. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Pop disco music goes well with Judeo-Christian end-of-the-world references. The quick jump cuts to the beat of the tune at the tail end of the video are the best.
#5. Re: Cutey Honey

This is one good example of reviving a classic theme: J-pop it up. The striking colours and fan service teases just jump at you like it’s in a hurry.
Furthermore, Koda Kumi’s strong and sensual vocals add character and pizzazz to an already-catchy 70s theme. And I just came to a realization that any top 10 list of anime OPs will at least be populated by 3 or more Gainax productions or alumni.
#6. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (1st Opening)

You are not going to get that “SODO CHI NO SADAME” cry out of your head anytime soon after seeing this cel-shaded 3D intro about a dude who wants to punch a vampire so hard.
#7. Noir

Hey, a tag team girl assassin duo anime intro with an overblown showcase of their intertwining duality and sensuality. How about that?
In all seriousness, the silhouettes and great use of minimalistic colours just bump up this intro’s originality and slickness tenfold.
#8. Azumanga Daioh

This is basically a kid’s show intro on acid. Features googly eyes, faux cat Father figures, and loads of speech bubbles, coupled with a mesmerizingly peppy melancholy soundtrack.
#9. Key The Metal Idol

Trippy and stylish for its era, this intro to what is basically “scifi anime Pinocchio” is slickly animated by the sensual intro tune. Those who said that anime OPs are great concepts for music videos probably saw this intro to justifying that claim. They’re not wrong either.
#10. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

Last but not least, we have this masterclass in selling your story in just a minute and a half. 2 boys, daddy issues, committed alchemy sin, now out on a quest to get theirÂ bodies back in a fantasy-steampunk setting.
The Fullmetal Alchemist series had a lot of intros and OP songs that kicked ass, but none resonated as well as the first Brotherhood intro that is combined with the magnificent voice & guitar work of Yui.
That’s it for now. Let us know what your favourite anime OPs are in the comments section and on our Facebook page. Bug us if you want another one of these nostalgia-reminiscing pieces.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1381657305272014/


Troy Baker No Longer Partners With NFT-Making VoiceVerse

VoiceVerse, the NFT-making company that plans on getting people to own digitized voices through non-fungible tokens, has lost its superstar endorser.
Famous video game voice actor Troy Baker has pulled out from his controversial partnership with VoiceVerse NFT. Here’s his official response:
“Thank you all for your feedback and patience. After careful consideration, Iâ€™ve decided to not continue the partnership with VoiceVerseNFT. Intentions aside, Iâ€™ve heard you and apologize for accusing anyone of ‘hating’ just by simply disagreeing with me.”

Thank you all for your feedback and patience. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to not continue the partnership with VoiceVerseNFT. Intentions aside, I’ve heard you and apologize for accusing anyone of “hating” just by simply disagreeing with me.
— Troy Baker (@TroyBakerVA) January 31, 2022

VoiceVerse also said on its Twitter account that the decision was mutual. The audio-based NFT company will “double-down” its resources and efforts to execute its roadmap to be the voice of Web3.0 and broaden the NFT ecosystem.

We have mutually decided to end our partnership with Troy Baker, and will double-down our resources and efforts to execute on our roadmap, further our vision as the voice of Web3.0, and strengthen our community as well as the broader NFT ecosystem.
— Voiceverse ? (@VoiceverseNFT) January 31, 2022

Cool story, bro.


Overwatch League Will Bring Back Live Events In September

The Overwatch League will wrap up its 2021 season with a return to live events this September.
The post-season will start on 4th September with online regional play-in matches leading to a double elimination playoff bracket on 16 September. The Grand Finals will be on 25 September. Both the playoffs and Grand Finals will be played in front of a live audience.
These are the teams who are qualified for the playoff brackets:
West

Atlanta Reign
Boston Uprising
Dallas Fuel
Florida Mayhem
Houston Outlaws
London Spitfire
Los Angeles Gladiators
Paris Eternal
San Francisco Shock
Toronto Defiant
Vancouver Titans

East

Chengdu Hunters
Guangzhou Charge
Hangzhou Spark
Los Angeles Valiant
New York Excelsior
Philadelphia Fusion
Shanghai Dragons
Seoul Dynasty

The playoffs will take place at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas, while the Grand Finals will go down on 25 September at Galen Center in Los Angeles. Tickets for both will go on sale in August; hooray for those who live in countries without travel bans. Because of, well, COVID-19 still lingering around.


Here’s Some Rage 2 Gameplay, Burning Man Colours & All

It’s true: Bethesda is releasing a sequel to the first Rage, which definitely looks kinda like the first game, except with all the pink and funkier colour palettes. Check out the first gameplay reveal below:

https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1423676251070119/
In Rage 2, you get to:

Drive and shoot wildly in a post-apocalyptic open world created by id Software and Avalanche Studios (ie the same guys who did the Just Cause series).
Use “big f***king guns” and special “mutant”-like powers like leaping high in the air and doing seismic ground pounds.
Fight Mad Max-style villains, bad guys riding giant mechs, and giant bad people while headbanging to Andrew W.K’s party songs. Maybe.
Ponder when the game will be out since the trailer does not have a release date. Early 2019 maybe?

So far it’s looking good. We even have game director Tim Willits is revealing a bit about the game (via Game Star).
Why do a Rage 2 now?
We at id and Bethesda have always loved the Rage world and the basic idea of the game. And then there was the opportunity to work with Avalanche and with it the opportunity to do what we always wanted to do.
About the Avalanche Studios Collaboration
Avalanche has the bigger team. But it has never been such a “develop a game and then show it to us” opportunity between us. Rage 2 was a collaborative project from the start. I and other people at id work very closely with Avalanche to create this id-like first-person shooter action. And at Avalanche is the Open World expertise.
In Terms Of Downloadable Content And “Games As A Service”
Yeah, we want people to play Rage 2 longer, and we think we can bring some fun stuff that makes it possible, but we’ll talk about it in more detail as we move closer to the release of Rage 2.Â We will [also]not have any Lootboxes, I can say that for sure. We have this novel approach: You buy the game and then you play it. (laughs)
Kakuchopurei will be all over this game, that’s for sure. Party music, giant guns, Fury Road-style escapades in your pimped-out desert vehicle: what’s not to love?


Netflix Announces New Asian Originals, Including Anime Spinoffs of Pacific Rim and Altered Carbon

We’ve seen a lot of locally-spiced content from the folks at Netflix, including (but not limited to) the recent Indonesian action movie The Night Comes For Us, Indian crime thriller Sacred Games, and anime Devilman Crybaby. Today, at the company’s first ever content showcase in Asia, the streaming giant announced an incredible 17 new original productions from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea, as well as an additional 9 projects from India.
Viewers can look forward to no less than five new exclusive anime projects. These include:

Pacific Rim – Produced by Legendary Entertainment, this anime series will expand upon the existing two Pacific Rim movies. It follows a teenage boy and his sister who are forced to pilot an abandoned Jaeger mecha in a journey to find their missing parents.
Altered Carbon – Produced by Anima studio, this animated feature film will share the same universe as the Netflix live-action sci-fi series of the same name. Co-written by Dai Sato of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo fame, it will explore new elements of the story and lore.
Cagaster of an Insect Cage – Produced by Gonzo studio, this anime series based on the manga of the same name follows a young couple struggling to stay alive inÂ a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious disease called â€œCagasterâ€ turns people into giant murderous insects.
Cagaster of an Insect Cage Screenshot
Yasuke – Produced by MAPPA studio, this anime series follows a retired ronin who must once again take up his sword when he is charged with transporting a mysterious child wanted by dark forces. It is set in a warring feudal Japan with elements of mech and magic.
Trese – Produced by BASE Entertainment studio, this anime series is set in Manila, Philippines, where mythical beings from Philippine folklore live in hiding amongst humans. The story follows the protagonistÂ Alexandra Trese as she collides with a supernatural criminal underworld.

Additionally, other Asian Originals include two Thai-language live-action series; The Stranded and The Shimmer, alongside a Chinese-language Taiwanese live-action series Triad Princess.
Besides that, Netflix has also revealed an exclusive clip from the upcomingÂ Narcos: Mexico Mano a Mano, a Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle trailer (with a release date), and a release date for Season 1 of Kingdom (January 25, 2019). Last but not least, Day One of Netflix’s See What’s Next Asia event ended with the announcement of a Season 2 renewal of Kingdom ahead of its Season 1 debut.
For more details and information from Netflix, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei. In the meantime, check out the exclusive Narcos: Mexico Mano a Mano clip,Â Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle trailer, and Kingdom teaser trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clOdQhFLm68&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVBjPpUlQrE&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM_-ZCiW7zo&w=560&h=315]


Nanotale: Typing Chronicles Tries To Be Unique, But Comes Off As A Tryhard

Platform: PC
Genre: Typing RPG
If you miss games like Typing of the Dead and need a PC title that’s a tad longer in the tooth, you may want to check out Nanotale: Typing Chronicles. Instead of a guy with a gun escaping a haunted house, you play a female wizard named Rosalind who wants to explore the world and uses spells to defend herself.
Nanotale: Typing Chronicles has the same basic gameplay premise as that Sega gem: instead of using basic actions to attack, you type out words hovering on an enemy to damage them with your spells. You can also interact with objects in the world using your typing: spelling out a word on a water-filled plant will make it burst out water to douse nearby fires or make nearby foliage grow, which means the better to hide in and remain undetected from enemies. Yes, there are bits where you need to be stealthy while casting spells away unharmed.
You can also gain new spells for your book and “power words” that let you amplify effects or do additional effects with objects and enemies on-screen. For instance, you can use a push ray on a plant to push away obstacles. You can also cast a burning spell to set plants and other flammable obstacles on fire. As you progress further, you’ll get more and more spells to help solve puzzles easier and even uncover more nuggets about the game’s world. The latter gives you experience to level up Rosalind and her bookish arsenal, meaning more power.
What’s also appreciated is that while Rosalind is rather slow at moving -she’s a bookworm wizard, don’t forget- the game does give you the option to ride on your spirit animal and fox companion to sprint herself out of danger. Either that, or just go to places faster. At its core, the typing and leveling up RPGing action is enjoyable.
Broken Keys

It’s a shame that the game’s aesthetics can get monotonous, particularly when dealing with NPCs and the multitude of enemies who all look the same. The title’s map feature can also be cumbersome to navigate too, to the point where finding your own way can be more of a challenge than it needs to be. Basically, the bits in-between the hardcore typing action is just unnecessary padding.
The plot itself is rather interesting, as it feels more like a personal journey for Rosalind and her spirit pet fox than anything else. It may not be for everyone though, especially with some spotty voice acting, but it did keep me going for a few more hours just to see what new worlds she gets to explore and what new flora and fauna she can uncover.
And then the game has a few bugs in the way. I get that this is done by a small team, but some of its technical glitches are pretty jarring. Half the time, I need to restart the game because my main wizard turned invisible and can’t progress. Other times, some puzzle elements do not activate as intended, meaning another restart. At least the game uses a generous checkpoint system.
Nanotale: Typing Chronicles’ core gameplay is definitely enjoyable from the get-go. There’s an awesome feeling you get when you speed-type your way out of a gauntlet of enemies using pretty long words. However, the game’s UI and technical issues can break the immersion, from its progress-stopping bugs that require me to reload and replay a section to choppy framerates even using recommended PC specs.
With a bit more polish and tweaking, the game can stand out as this year’s remarkable RPG offering. For now, it has to settle being the first-ever type-savvy RPG that entertains for a bit before petering off.
Final Score: 60/100


A Tekken Netflix Animated Show Is Confirmed; Focuses On Jin Kazama

The story of Tekken 3 will go into full swing in this upcoming video game TV series adaptation for Netflix.
Netflix has announced Tekken: Bloodline, an animated series about one of the series’ protagonists Jin Kazama and how he learns the Kazama-Style traditional martial arts as well as the tragedy that unfolded. And eventually finding out his lineage and birthright. Here’s the official synopsis:
“Power is everything.” Jin Kazama learned the family self-defense arts, Kazama-Style Traditional Martial Arts, from his mother at an early age. Even so, he was powerless when a monstrous evil suddenly appeared, destroying everything dear to him, changing his life forever. Angry at himself for being unable to stop it, Jin vowed revenge and sought absolute power to exact it. His quest will lead to the ultimate battle on a global stage — The King of Iron Fist Tournament.”
The show looks serious and all, but keep in mind that he will be dealing with companies that somehow bred raptors and boxing kangaroos, as well as robots called JACK. Apart from Jin, the show will feature his mom Jun Kazama, Ogre, Ganryu, Heihachi, Paul, Leroy, Kazuya, and King, among others in the Tekken cast.

Watch the trailer below. Tekken: Bloodline will be out in 2022.


[Rumour] Hideo Kojima Is Working On A New Horror Game

The minds behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding might be hard at work on a new horror game project.
Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions may be working on a new horror game under the title Overdose according early footage sent to Try Hard Guides (via Tom Henderson). These rumours have some substance to them, as Hideo Kojima is reported to have been in talks with Xbox for the company to publish his next game. There’s probably a good chance this game may be announced at this year’s Summer Games Fest, hosted by Kojima’s best game journalist friend Geoff Keighley.
So what details are there about the game? Well, it involves actress Margaret Qualley (Mama in Death Stranding) and features footage of your playable character walking through dark corridors with a flashlight (in first and third person). This may be Kojima’s way of going back to the survival horror well after his Silent Hills game got cancelled following his past departure from Konami.
In any case, we’ll find out soon enough in a few days when Summer Games Festival 2022 happens.


Director’s Edition Of TAPE: Unveil the Memories Out For PS5

Meridiem Games announce a special boxed Director’s Edition of TAPE: Unveil the Memories is now available for PlayStation 5 from specialist retail outlets across Europe.
Developed and published by BlackChiliGoat Studio, TAPE: Unveil The Memories is a chilling first-person narrative mystery game set in 1990’s northern Spain and follows the story of a young girl who received a mysterious VHS tape from her missing father asking for help.

Meridiem Games will be designing, manufacturing, and distributing a special boxed edition of TAPE: Unveil the Memories Director’s Edition which will include an exclusively designed sleeve, three art postcards from the director’s films, Iria’s letter—spoiler alert, and the unpublished prologue storyboard.
Meet Iria, a young girl from the small town of Antumbria in northern Spain, who receives a mysterious VHS tape from her father, a famous horror movie director, asking for her help. Using a special video gamer, Ira must rewind time and explore her memories to uncover her family’s dark secrets and the events leading up to her father’s tragic disappearance.
Will you be able to find the truth behind the camera lens?


Far Cry 5 Adds 60FPS Support On PS5 & Xbox Series

As part of the Far Cry 5 anniversary celebration, today, Ubisoft announced that one of the most highly requested fan features, Far Cry 5 in native 60 FPS, is now available on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 via a free patch. The 60 FPS boost applies to all Far Cry 5 modes: solo campaign, co-op, Arcade, and all downloadable content.
Under siege and cut off from the rest of the world in rural Hope County, Montana, by a fanatical doomsday cult, players will need to join forces with residents to create A resistance and liberate the community and themself. Players will have to take to the skies in dogfights against cultists across Big Sky Country; destroy cult supplies with vehicles, explosives, and more; and recruit Guns for Hire from a large cast of characters, or even Fangs for Hire, specialized animals like bears and cougars to complement players’ playstyles whether they’re going in stealthily or forcefully. How players approach each situation and the chaos they create in Far Cry 5 is up to them.
Ubisoft also announced a free weekend for Far Cry 5 from 23 to 27 March 2023 on Xbox One, Xbox Series XSS, PS5, PS4, as well as PC through the Ubisoft Store and the Epic Games Store.?Players will have access to all the main game content throughout the free weekend and can take advantage of up to 85 percent off Far Cry 5 to continue their adventure.
Check out the trailer below:


New Sakura Wars Anime PV Has Idols And Steampunk Mecha

PonyCanyon has uploaded the second trailer for the anime Shin Sakura Taisen: The Animation, which is based on the 2019 Sakura Wars PS4 game. It is slated to debut on 3rd April, during the Spring anime season.

I’m actually pretty clueless about the Sakura Wars franchise, but the anime has a cast that includes (according to Anime News Network) Ayane Sakura, Maaya Uchida, Ayaka Fukuhara, and Saori Hayami, so I might keep an eye on the new anime because of that. The plot of the 2019 game, as described by Sega, is as follows:

The stage is set in a steampunk version of 1940s Imperial Tokyo. Only a short while ago, a cataclysmic event destroyed the Imperial Combat Revue of Tokyo, the capitalâ€™s global defense force stationed at the Imperial Theater. Now home to the Flower Division, an inept rookie squad who also strives to impart hope on the citizenry with their theatrical talents, the theater has fallen on hard times and risks closure.
Itâ€™s up to Seijuro Kamiyama as the captain of the new Tokyo revue to lead his squad and restore the Imperial Combat Revue and the theater back to their former glory! With the help of the revue’s five colorful performers, he must rise to the challenge of competing in the Combat Revue World Games, protecting the inhabitants of Tokyo and getting the theater back on track.

It looks like Shin Sakura Taisen: The AnimationÂ will combine idol show aspects with steampunk mecha and war, which sounds fancy alright. I’m not sure about the 3DCG yet, but it doesn’t look too bad. We’ll find out if it’s a deal-breaker when the show releases next month.


Oddworld Soulstorm Is Coming To Nintendo Switch This Fall

Microids and Oddworld Inhabitants have announced that action-adventure platformer Oddworld Soulstorm is coming to Nintendo Switch this Fall. This Nintendo Switch version will include all previously released updates that have dramatically improved the game ever since its original launch in 2021, including various fixes, enhancements of gameplay mechanics and motion code, audio balance improvements, additional overall polish, and improved Slig and follower AI.
The game is already available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
The Nintendo Switch retail versions for the Collector’s and Day One Odditions of Oddworld Soulstorm are already available for pre-order. Fans who pre-order the Day One Oddition or the Collector’s Oddition at participating retailers will also get access to the game’s Original Soundtrack and a Digital Artbook.
The Day One Oddition features the game in a collectible metal case.
The Collector’s Oddition consists of:

A Unique Collector’s Box
Oddworld: Soulstorm’s standard edition
A collectible metal case with 24 cartridge slots
An exclusive 9-inch (22 cm) silver figurine of Abe, Mudokon hero
A premium 160-page artbook by Pix’n Love Publishing
An exclusive Mining Company keychain
Three art prints
Ancient Mudokon Tribal stickers
Abe’s hand tattoo
About Oddworld: Soulstorm

Oddworld Soulstorm is the bigger, badder, bolder action-adventure platforming new entry to the renowned video game series, and the explosive second installment in the quintology. You play as Abe, the reluctant Mudokon hero whose actions sparked an uprising and now must lead his fellow Mudokons in their fight for freedom against the Magog Cartel and the planet’s ruling power.
Abe will struggle for survival against the planet’s ruling and well-funded power. They are armed with all means of oppression, from propaganda to biological to ruthless deadly force. Players can explore massive cinematic scale and 2.9D environments filled with breathtaking visuals. Scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, arm your followers, solve puzzles, and attempt to safely deliver all of Abe’s 1,000+ followers to freedom.
Oddworld Soulstorm is currently available on the Epic Games Store for PC. The physical and digital PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One versions are also already available. The Nintendo Switch version will launch this Fall.


This Digital Video Game Festival Is Coming To Steam Next Week

While The Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition is coming in June, there’s another game festival that will be arriving much earlier.
Started by Orwell publisher Fellow Traveller, The LudoNarraCon is a narrative game-themed digital festival, and it’ll be coming to Steam on 24 April (till the 27th). There’ll be over 20 demos to try out, plus dozens of exhibitors, over 10 panels about game development, and a sale “featuring over 50 games”.
The panels will feature “industry influencers” and will be streamed for 12 hours on the festival’s Steam landing page. Meanwhile, the developers and publishers partaking in the event will stream gameplay, “couch chats”, and behind-the-scenes looks on their respective store pages.
The games involved include Coffee Talk, Beyond The Veil, Coda, Heaven’s Vault, and many more. There are some pretty intriguing titles like Paradise Killer, Boyfriend Dungeon, Chinatown Detective Agency, An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs, and Do Not Feed the Monkeys too. I’ll definitely be checking at least one of those out.Â
For more information, check out the LudoNarraCon’s website here.