Shazam Fury Of The Gods Review: Worthy Or Unworthy?

Now that we’ve already covered the origins of Shazam in the 2019 movie, we don’t have to sit through all that set-up and can get on straight to the good stuff. Shazam Fury Of The Gods brings back Billy Batson and his Shazam family (or Shazamily), but with the DC Universe about to be rebooted soon, is the movie good enough to watch on its own? Read on to find out.
Shazam!

Shazam Fury Of The Gods can finally devote time to fleshing out Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel/Zachary Levi) interactions with the rest of his foster family members. A lot of the focus this time around is also given to Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer/Adam Brody), who weirdly has more screen time than Asher Angel as Billy Batson. The chemistry between them all is better this time around, as they now share responsibility as superheroes in addition to their relationships with each other as siblings. It’s nice to see a family dynamic between them, as most of the first movie depicted Billy simply rejecting his new family due to his abandonment issues.
Speaking of abandonment issues, the sequel continues to explore that subject matter in regard to Billy Batson. Even after having a family, he’s still afraid of losing them, which is the main emotional conflict in this movie. In Shazam Fury Of The Gods, we can see that expressed in how Billy Batson himself spends more time in his Shazam form (played by Zachary Levi) instead of his real kid form (Asher Angel). Realistically, it’s probably because it’s clear how much older Asher Angel looks compared to the previous movie, which is a problem for any movie starring young actors. Rachel Zegler’s mysterious character doesn’t get much to do, but her powers do look cool when she uses them in the movie (no, I won’t spoil what they are).

One of the best things about the movie is how it’s still almost as much fun as the first movie, but with small touches of darkness and black comedy sprinkled here and there for older viewers. There will be scenes where adult viewers will be laughing more, and that’s great, especially for a movie about young people masquerading as adult superheroes. There’s also some surprising violence here, though there’s nothing that really oversteps a PG-13 rating. Some of that darkness also comes from the villains. While it’s still disappointing that they didn’t go with more iconic villains like perhaps a certain Mister Mind that was teased in the post-credits of the first movie, Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu) did as best they could with the material that they were given.
A definite highlight is Helen Mirren’s Hespera. It’s a testament to the legendary actress’ acting prowess and experience that she managed to make an unknown character into one of the best things in the movie. She’s menacing and actually quite intimidating in her own way, which is a difficult feat in recent superhero movie trends like Shazam Fury Of The Gods where all the characters (good AND bad) tend to make a silly quip or banter in almost every scene (thank you for that, MCU). That said, it would still have been better and more memorable for Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu to play established characters, instead of ones that most people probably won’t even remember after watching the movie and leaving the cinema hall.

The biggest weakness of Shazam Fury Of The Gods is how predictable the movie is from beginning to end. This is probably just superhero movie fatigue talking, but the plot feels generic and formulaic (the random villains who are not from the comics make it worse). What you see in the trailers is what you get and there’s not much in terms of surprises. The movie could have benefitted more and been more memorable if the filmmakers didn’t make it feel so ‘safe’. More risks should have been taken.
Call Him Captain Marvel

Shazam Fury Of The Gods is a decent and fun superhero movie for viewers of all ages. It has some family dynamics, action and whatever else you’d expect from another superhero movie. However, it doesn’t do nearly enough to make it memorable enough, especially in the current market that’s oversaturated with comic book adaptations, and I say that as a hardcore comic book fan myself. That said, it’s not a bad movie at all, and whether or not it affects the future of the DC Universe, Shazam Fury Of The Gods is just worthy enough for a watch.
Oh, and there are also two post-credits scenes (including one at the very end of the credits), so don’t miss out on them. You know, even if we still don’t know how much all of this will matter when the DC Universe will be rebooted in a couple of years.
FINAL SCORE: 70/100
We attended an early screener of Shazam Fury Of The Gods courtesy of Warner Bros. Malaysia. Shazam Fury Of The Gods is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 16 March 2023.


Bethesda Wants More Depth & Improved AI In Future Games

It’s a big milestone for Bethesda this week as they launch The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Anniversary Edition to celebrate the game’s 10th anniversary. The company is also currently working on The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield, the latter of which will release in November 2022.
In a recent interview with IGN, Bethesda director Todd Howard gives us some insight on what to expect from future Bethesda games. You know, besides better graphics and bigger worlds. They want to make the games deeper and more complex, as well as feature better and improved AI and NPCs.
He said:
“There are a number of parts of it where we don’t go deep enough, where it’s a veneer in terms of its interactivity. Look, you can say that about anything, but I think when we think about games and what we want to do going forward, ok, whatever that system is, how deep can we make it?
The other part is the way the AI and NPCs really react to youâ€”I think we have a long way to go with [that]. Those are probably the main ones.”
In the same interview, he also revealed his favourite Skyrim mod, which is unconventional to say the least:
“There’s one I like where someone added fast travel markers when you buy a house,” he said. “It would have taken [us] an hour.”
The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Anniversary EditionÂ will launch on 11 November 2021 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5 and PS4. Additionally,Â Skyrim Special EditionÂ owners on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, as well as Xbox Game Pass subscribers on Xbox Series X/S will receive a free upgrade to an enhanced version.


Like A Dragon: Ishin! Is Finally Out, But What About Post-Release Content?

SEGA just dropped the hotly-anticipated Like a Dragon: Ishin! on a bunch of platforms, including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. This bad boy is a total reimagining of the 2014 game of the same name. It’s set in Kyo during the Bakumatsu era and follows the story of Sakamoto Ryoma (who ditches his old name and becomes Saito Hajime) as he tries to get revenge for his mentor by sneaking into the Shinsengumi.
But the best part? The game is loaded with new features and content. You can check out new substories featuring popular characters from the series, try your hand at mini-games like the singing bar Utamaruya with new karaoke tracks, or play the Another Life mode where you can live a peaceful life in the countryside. And to top it all off, they even added a Photo Mode.
Plus, starting today, you can add some downloadable content that’ll help you get further into the main story and dig even deeper into the Bakumatsu life.

DLC Overview
All In One Pack (Included in the Digital Deluxe Edition)

You can also upgrade from the Standard Edition (either physical or digital) to the Digital Deluxe Edition. This will let you switch up Ryoma’s look and get new haori, as well as do the same for the Shinsengumi captains. And if you’re looking for an intense challenge, the Ishin! difficulty level will definitely deliver.
Plus, you’ll also get your hands on some handy items that can help you earn experience points, collect materials to beef up your weapons, and snag Trooper Cards. And that’s not all – there’s even more bonus content included with the upgrade! So if you’re already enjoying Like a Dragon: Ishin!, you might want to consider bumping up to the Digital Deluxe Edition.

Shinsengumi Enjoyment Set
Ryoma Growth Support Kit
Sword Upgrade Materials Kit
Gun Upgrade Materials Kit
Third Division Armament Expansion Kit
(Digital Deluxe exclusive) The Dragon of Dojima Skin

Shinsengumi Enjoyment Set

Want to mix things up a bit? You can even change Ryoma’s getup and the Shinsengumi captains’ outfits, so you can really make the game your own. And if you’re looking for a serious test, the Ishin! difficulty level is no joke – but you might just be up for the challenge!

Difficulty level: Ishin!
Skin: Scarred Ryoma
Skin: Shinobi Ryoma
Skin: Kabuki Ryoma
Skin: Chicken Ryoma
Haori: Fiery Soul
Haori: Golden
Haori: Big Catch
Haori: Cherry Blossom
Haori: Midnight
Haori: Dawn of the Tojo
Haori: Great Beauty
Haori: Proud Sumo
Haori: Sushi Served Fresh
Haori: Elegant Teacup
Haori: Dragon Samurai
Haori: Festival Wear

Purchased costumes can be equipped at Teradaya.
The appearance of Shinsengumi captains can also be changed at Teradaya.
Changes to Ryoma’s haori will be reflected once he puts on the Shinsengumi haori in Chapter 5 of the main story. They will not be visible in parts of the story where Ryoma does not wear a haori, but his clothing can be changed freely in the Bakumatsu Premium Adventure postgame mode.

Ryoma Growth Support Kit

If you’re in need of a boost, there’s good news. The downloadable content pack also includes some items that’ll help you earn experience points faster and get Ryoma back on his feet if he takes a tumble in battle.

Red Daifuku × 3
Yellow Daifuku × 3
Blue Daifuku × 3
Green Daifuku × 3
Training Daifuku × 3
Sacrifice Stone × 1

After collecting this content, you will need to manually save the game. Failure to do so may result in items disappearing. Please make sure to save manually after collecting the items in-game.
This product includes the right to enable DLC content in-game. See your transaction history under Services List

Sword Upgrade Materials Kit

Pearl × 1
Fluorite × 1
Marksman’s Fan × 1
Precious Steel × 15
Silver Scrap × 20
Gold Nugget × 20
Gold Chunk × 20
Kiwami Hammer × 1
Sphere Seal: Kiwami × 2

After collecting this content, you will need to manually save the game. Failure to do so may result in items disappearing. Please make sure to save manually after collecting the items in-game.
This product includes the right to enable DLC content in-game. See your transaction history under Services List.

Gun Upgrade Materials Kit

Are you looking to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to warfare? Look no further than the DLC pack which includes materials that can be used to enhance your firearms. These materials are rare and valuable – some are even hard to come by, like the “Kiwami Hammer”, which can max out the grade of your weapons when crafting, or the “Sphere Seal: Kiwami”, which guarantees a seal’s rank will be raised. These items are truly indispensable in these times of war. And the best part? The content can be purchased an unlimited number of times, so you can keep on upgrading and improving your weapons to your heart’s content.

Obsidian Chunk × 1
Marksman’s Fan × 1
Dragon Whisker × 1
Exquisite Cogwheel × 20
Rusty Spring × 20
Small Wind-up Device × 15
Gold Hammer × 1?Kiwami Hammer × 1
Sphere Seal: Kiwami × 2

After collecting this content, you will need to manually save the game. Failure to do so may result in items disappearing. Please make sure to save manually after collecting the items in-game.
This product includes the right to enable DLC content in-game. See your transaction history under Services List.

Third Division Armament Expansion Kit

This pack also includes some of the most famous troopers of the era, as well as tools to help you elevate your squads to new heights. These are some serious assets, and they’re all yours for the taking. Plus, if you really love the content, you’ll be happy to know that it can be purchased an unlimited number of times. That means you can keep on getting even stronger and more capable as you play.

Legendary Trooper: Kasuga Ichinojo
Legendary Trooper: Nishitani Kiyotaka
Legendary Trooper: Mukoda Sae
Legendary Trooper: Makimura Mako
Legendary Trooper: Toranosuke
Legendary Trooper: Yama-goroshi
Legendary Trooper: Drumstick
Legendary Trooper: Mamezo
Epic Trooper: Attack Instructor × 3
Epic Trooper: Defense Instructor × 3
Epic Trooper: Medical Instructor × 3
Epic Trooper: Assist Instructor × 3
Epic Trooper: Support Instructor × 3
Promotion Jewel × 2

Third Division Armament Expansion Kit (Purchase Bonus)

Gold Plate × 5

After collecting this content, you will need to manually save the game. Failure to do so may result in items disappearing. Please make sure to save manually after collecting the items in-game.
This product includes the right to enable DLC content in-game. See your transaction history under Services List.

Digital Deluxe Exclusive – The Dragon of Dojima Skin

A special skin that lets Ryoma experience the Bakumatsu era as none other than the legendary Dragon of Dojima, Kazuma Kiryu. This one-of-a-kind skin is a must-have for fans of both Like a Dragon: Ishin! and the Yakuza series – it’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Ryoma Skin: Dragon of Dojima

This content can only be obtained by purchasing “Like a Dragon: Ishin! Digital Deluxe Edition” or the “All In One Pack”. It cannot be purchased separately.
Purchased costumes can be equipped at Teradaya

[Free] Elite Trooper Card Set

Utilise multiple entertainment icons, streamers and content creators as you advance through the story and unleash their power.

Legendary Trooper: Rahul Kohli
Legendary Trooper: Kenny Omega
Legendary Trooper: Nyatasha Nyanners
Legendary Trooper: Cohh Carnage
Legendary Trooper: Alex Moukala
Legendary Trooper: VampyBitMe

Once downloaded, content can be collected from Bakumatsu Bob on the first floor of Teradaya beginning in Chapter 2 of the main story.
Troopers can be used from Chapter 5 of the main story, after listening to the explanation of Ryoma’s work with the Shinsengumi.

[Free] Snowcap (PlayStation Exclusive)

Said to be as comforting as warm sake on a cold winter day – sounds perfect for a chilly evening in. But it’s not just for show – this sword can also charge up your Heat Gauge in a flash. And if you’re looking to really maximize its effects, drinking alcohol will take things up a notch. Sounds like a recipe for a wild night.

Snowcap

Once downloaded, content can be collected from Bakumatsu Bob on the first floor of Teradaya beginning in Chapter 2 of the main story.

[Free] Poet Immortal (Xbox Exclusive)

A legendary sword that’s said to have taken down 36 men all at once – talk about impressive! But that’s not all – it’s also great for artists. Plus, it can give your Swordsman’s charge attack a serious boost. With this blade in your arsenal, you’ll be unstoppable.

Poet Immortal

Once downloaded, content can be collected from Bakumatsu Bob on the first floor of Teradaya beginning in Chapter 2 of the main story.

[Free] Dragon’s Clutch (PC Exclusive)

A beautifully crafted katana with a blade that gleams like gossamer. This sword is not just for show – it can also leave enemies temporarily blinded and unable to move for a short period of time after being struck. Talk about a stylish way to take down your foes.

Dragon’s Clutch

Once downloaded, content can be collected from Bakumatsu Bob on the first floor of Teradaya beginning in Chapter 2 of the main story


Hearthstone Adds Buddy System In New Update Next Week

Hearthstone is getting a major update next week on 25 January 2022 with Patch 22.2, which will focus on Battlegrounds mode and add the Battleground Buddies system.
The new buddy system will give each of the 75 Battlegrounds heroes their own unique “buddy” minion, specifically designed to synergize with and enhance that hero’s unique hero power. A Buddy Meter fills up during combat, awarding you first with a copy of your Buddy and then with two more to make a triple (golden) version. However, they will take up one of the seven spots on your board.
In Hearthstone Mercenaries, the update will add a new Training Grounds space that lets your characters passively gain experience while you play with other mercs, play other Hearthstone modes, or while not playing. The update will also add five new mercs (Balinda Stonehearth, Captain Galvangar, Lokholar, Wrathion, Sinestra) and some bounty updates.
Last but not least, the Lunar New Year celebration is coming to Hearthstone again for 2022. That event will include an exclusive card back (available January 25-February 8), Lunar Blessing tavern brawl (February 2-9), and special quests (February 2-16). There will also be balance changes coming to both Standard and Wild modes.
Check out the full Hearthstone 2.22 patch notes here.


Cyberpunk Edgerunners: All The Callbacks, References, & Easter Eggs So Far

The Studio Trigger-animated anime Cyberpunk Edgerunners, which takes place in the world of CD Projekt Red RPG Cyberpunk 2077 but before the exploits of V, is out right now on Netflix. Long story short, it’s a lovely if sensory-overloading series that hits high notes before wrecking your emotions in the last few episodes. This IS set in a world where death is common and happy endings are very, very rare, after all.
There are a ton of references and nods to the PC and console RPG that came out in late 2020, from guest stars to even familiar locales. We may not have caught them all, but we did highlight our favourites.
Check out the video below:


The Callisto Protocol Goes Gold Ahead Of December Release

Developer Striking Distance Studios has announced that The Callisto Protocol has gone gold ahead of its slated 2 December 2022. Going gold means that the game is essentially finished and ready to be printed into physical media. Going gold also means that the game will likely not be receiving any more delays.
The news was announced on Twitter via the official Callisto Protocol account, which stated:
“We are thrilled to announce that #thecallistoprotocol has gone gold! On behalf of everyone at @sd_studios, thank you for your support and excitement. We can’t wait for you to face the horrors waiting in Black Iron Prison on December 2nd.
And salud to our team in Spain. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
It’s also heartwarming to see the official Dead Space Twitter account responding to the announcement:

Thanks for the support. Something tells us you'll be ready for the mayhem on Callisto.
— The Callisto Protocol (@CallistoTheGame) October 21, 2022

The Callisto Protocol is slated to release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC on 2 December 2022. The game will also feature Hollywood actors like Josh Duhamel and The Boys star Karen Fukuhara.
Check out the latest trailer below:


Upcoming Action Game Wanted: Dead Gets Valentine’s Day Trailer

Publisher 110 Industries and developer Soleil just released a new trailer for its first-ever action game Wanted: Dead.Â
The upcoming title turned some heads because it’s being made by Soleil, a group made up of ex-Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive developers and producers from Team Ninja back in the 2000s or so. Naturally, you can expect some cheesecake to go with your dismemberment and high-octane action. There’s also a throwaway line involving Joaquin Phoenix movies and male nudity; I think it’s just Soleil just trying to insert some silly humour amidst the bloodbath.
Check out the slashfest below. Wanted: Dead will be out for PC and consoles in 2022.


Everything You Need to Know About Insomniac’s Spider-Man

We were at the exclusive Southeast Asian preview event for Insomniac’s PlayStation 4 exclusive, Marvel’s Spider-Man recently and here are all the things you need to know about our favorite webhead’s latest video game title.
[wpvideo hkV1REpB]
Marvel’s Spider-Man hits the PlayStation 4 7th September 2018 exclusively on the PlayStation 4.
Got some time to spare? For in depth description of the game including how Marvel Comics writers contributed to it, head over here.


ILLEGEAR Reveals RTX Gaming Laptop Prices

ILLEGEAR has revealed the official prices for its next generation of gaming laptops that will arrive with insanely-powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics cards. Gamers who hail from the PC master race can now place their orders online on the ILLEGEAR official website starting today.
There are four models of the ILLEGEAR’s new RTX gaming laptops – Selenite, ONYX, D5, and D7X. Here are the basic specifications and prices for each model and their variants:
ILLEGEAR ONYX – RM6,499

15.6â€ FHD IPS 144Hz100% sRGB Bezel-less
Intel Core i7-8750
GeForce RTX 2060 GDDR6 6GB
Mechanical Keyboard
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
Windows 10 Home SL

ILLEGEAR ONYX – RM7,798

15.6â€ FHD IPS 144Hz 100% sRGB Bezel-less
Intel Core i7-8750
RTX 2070 GDDR6 8GB Max-Q
Mechanical Keyboard
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
Windows 10 Home SL

				ILLEGEAR ONYX

				ILLEGEAR ONYX

				ILLEGEAR ONYX

				ILLEGEAR ONYX

				ILLEGEAR ONYX

				ILLEGEAR ONYX

				ILLEGEAR ONYX

ILLEGEAR Selenite – RM6,799

17.3â€ FHD IPS 144Hz100% sRGB Bezel-less
Intel Core i7-8750
GeForce RTX 2060 GDDR6 6GB
Mechanical Keyboard
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
Windows 10 Home SL

ILLEGEAR Selenite – RM8,098

17.3â€ FHD IPS 144Hz 100% sRGB Bezel-less
Intel Core i7-8750
RTX 2070 GDDR6
Mechanical Keyboard
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
Windows 10 Home SL

				ILLEGEAR Selenite

				ILLEGEAR Selenite

				ILLEGEAR Selenite

				ILLEGEAR Selenite

ILLEGEAR D5 – RM9,358

15.6″ Full HD Anti-glare 144Hz IPS Display with sRGB 100% Wide Color & Wide View (G-Sync)
9th Gen. Intel Core i5-9400F Desktop Processor
GeForce RTX 2060 GDDR6 6GB
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
Killerâ„¢ 1550 Wireless-AC
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
1TB Seagate SSHD
Windows 10 Home SL

ILLEGEAR D5 – RM10,798

15.6″ Full HD Anti-glare 144Hz IPS Display with sRGB 100% Wide Color & Wide View (G-Sync)
9th Gen. Intel Core i5-9400F Desktop Processor
GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 8GB
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
Killerâ„¢ 1550 Wireless-AC
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
1TB Seagate SSHD
Windows 10 Home SL

ILLEGEAR D5 – RM13,458

15.6″ Full HD Anti-glare
144Hz IPS Display with sRGB 100% Wide Color & Wide View (G-Sync)
9th Gen. Intel Core i5-9400F Desktop Processor
GeForce RTX 2080 GDDR6 8GB
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
Killerâ„¢ 1550 Wireless-AC
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
1TB Seagate SSHD
Windows 10 Home SL

ILLEGEAR D7X – RM10,158

17.3″ Full HD Anti-glare 144Hz IPS Display with sRGB 100% Wide Color & Wide View (G-Sync)
9th Gen. Intel Core i5-9400F Desktop Processor
GeForce RTX 2060 GDDR6 6GB
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
Killerâ„¢ 1550 Wireless-AC
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
1TB Seagate SSHD
Windows 10 Home SL

ILLEGEAR D7X – RM11,598

17.3″ Full HD Anti-glare 144Hz IPS Display with sRGB 100% Wide Color & Wide View (G-Sync)
9th Gen. Intel Core i5-9400F Desktop Processor
GeForce RTX 2070 GDDR6 8GB
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
Killerâ„¢ 1550 Wireless-AC
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
1TB Seagate SSHD
Windows 10 Home SL

ILLEGEAR D7X – RM14,258

17.3″ Full HD Anti-glare 144Hz IPS Display with sRGB 100% Wide Color & Wide View (G-Sync)
9th Gen. Intel Core i5-9400F Desktop Processor
GeForce RTX 2080 GDDR6 8GB
8GB 2666MHz DDR4
Killerâ„¢ 1550 Wireless-AC
480GB SSD PCIe M.2
1TB Seagate SSHD
Windows 10 Home SL


No One Asked For It, But We’re Getting A Funko Pop Movie Anyway

Warner Bros. has been partners with Funko for a long time now, almost 20 years in fact, but this time they’re taking that partnership to a whole new level. A level where it would prompt a lot of people to scratch their heads.
Deadline reported that Warner Bros. has optioned rights to make a Funko film and Warner Animation Group will be in charge of developing and producing the movie. Pixar’s Teddy Newton and Disney’s Mark Dindal are two names revealed to be part of the production team.
The thing about making a Funko movie is that it will likely cost a crapton of money just to acquire the licenses to have its characters be in the movie. Of course, Warner Bros. does have a crapton of money anyway and looks like they’re hoping that the figures’ broad appeal will be the movie’s main selling point.

â€œWeâ€™re thrilled for this opportunity and are committed to make an amazing Funko movie that stands on its own merit. This isnâ€™t about selling toys or building a brand. The team at Warner Animation Group have a unique vision of what the first film should be and we are extremely excited to take this journey alongside them.â€
– Brian Mariotti, CEO of Funko.
Even if they have people from Disney and Pixar on the team, there’s still the nagging question of “Why?” repeating in my head. Then again, a lot of people were also very skeptical about The Lego Movie when it was first announced and look how well it turned out to be.
For now, I’ll file this under “big brands just trying to milk more money out of other well-known brands”.


Master Roshi Is Now Playable In Dragon Ball FighterZ, Obviously

Finally, after much speculation, Dragon Ball FighterZ’s new characters are announced.
It’s Master Roshi, of course. The OG Dragon Ball sensei is now a playable character in DBFZ, and he’ll be out this September.

Master Roshi arrives to #DRAGONBALLFighterZ this September as DLC 3 for FighterZ Pass 3!
It's time for the old turtle hermit to show you how martial art battles are won. https://t.co/LD5kGcJSLn pic.twitter.com/ADLM2RqMqu
— Bandai Namco US (@BandaiNamcoUS) August 16, 2020

There’s also a roadmap for the game starting this September, featuring community content, a Master Roshi showcase, and two more DBFZ characters to be revealed.


Halo: The Master Chief Collection Will Get Additional PC Support & Halo 4 Cut Content

Halo: The Master Chief Collection (MCC) is getting an update that fixes a number of bugs as well as much-needed crossplay support for Halo 4’s PC and Xbox players for multiplayer and custom games. You know, the main reason people play Halo in the first place. Campaign mode still isn’t sorted yet, but the rest of the modes are crossplay-enabled.
Apart from that, developer 343 Industries said they will include cut content from Halo 4. No, it’s not new levels or anything really major: just some armour designs and the GRD helmet as new cosmetic content. Still, the devs are far from done with MCC.
“We are currently planning for it to come into MCC in a future update and will make sure to sound the alarm when it is something players can work towards unlocking.
This blog closes out our journey to bring MCC to PC, but it does not mean that we are done. As seen above, we still have a lot of things we want to do for the collection, including resolving bugs and bringing both new features and content to our community […] Thank you all for accompanying us in this year long journey of bringing MCC to PC. Although all of the games are now in the collection on PC, this is not the end. In fact, I think we are just getting started!”
Right now, you can get the collection at 35% off (RM42.25) on Steam.


Spider-Man 3 Cast Members Teases Official Photo & Multiple Troll Titles

Spider-Man 3 stars Tom Holland, Jacob Batalon and Zendaya have revealed the first official photo from the upcoming sequel to 2019’s Spider-Man Far From Home. However, they are also apparently trolling us all by seemingly revealing several “official” titles for the film.
They posted three different title cards on their Instagram accounts. Holland’s version is called Spider-Man Phone Home, Batalon’s is Spider-Man Home WreckerÂ while Zendaya’s is Spider-Man Home Slice.
Tom Holland’s.
Jacob Batalon’s.
Zendaya’s.
The first official Spider-Man 3 photo showcases Holland’s Peter Parker, Batalon’s Ned Leeds and Zendaya’s MJ.
Tom Holland’s.
Jacob Batalon’s.
Zendaya’s.
Recently, Tom Holland squashed the rumours of previous Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield appearing in the upcoming movie.
While it’s unlikely that either of these titles is official, I didn’t think that Far From Home was a real title either back in 2019, so anything can technically still happen.
Directed by Jon Watts (who also directed 2017â€™s Spider-Man HomecomingÂ and 2019â€™sÂ Spider-Man Far From Home), the untitled Spider-Man 3 movie is still filming and in production, but it is slated to premiere on 17 December 2021 later this year.


Virtua Fighter x Esports Announced

During the Tokyo Games Show 2020 long-as-heck weekend online showcase, Sega announces the Virtua Fighter x Esports project. So far, the trailer is billing it as a tournament circuit with a sizeable prize pool. Either contestants will be playing the recent Virtua Fighter entry, Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, or a modified “esports only” high-res version of the game just for this tournament.
“Virtua Fighter, which was created as the worldâ€™s first 3D fighting game in 1993, will restart as an eSports title in celebration of Segaâ€™s 60th anniversary, starting in Japan. Details on the project will be announced in a future update.”

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??????????×esports??????????
1993??????3D?????????????????????????????60??????????????????????????????????#VF #??TGS2020 #SEGA60th pic.twitter.com/qdDXEQSDsy
— ?????????? (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) September 25, 2020

The project will start first in Japan. More details will be shared later. This is quite a big deal for many fighting game fans because a number of high-level Street Fighter players like Itabashi Zangief and Fuudo started off their competitive path with the Virtua Fighter series.


Xbox PC Game Pass Expands To 40 More Countries

Microsoft and Xbox have announced the Xbox PC Game Pass will be available in 40 new countries for the first time ever, including:

Albania
Algeria
Bahrain
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
Georgia
Guatemala
Honduras
Iceland
Kuwait
Latvia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Nicaragua
North Macedonia
Oman
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Qatar
Romania
Serbia
Slovenia
Tunisia
Ukraine
Uruguay

Beginning on 28 February 2023, gamers in these new markets can sign up for PC Game Pass Preview program giving them immediate access to a library of hundreds of high-quality PC games on Windows including new Xbox Game Studios releases on day one, iconic Bethesda games, an EA Play membership, and member-only benefits in Riot Games.
?It only takes a few minutes to download the Xbox Insider Hub app and sign up to join the Insider Program. Once registered, players can join the preview of PC Game Pass for a special testing price for the first month.
The PC Game Pass library adds new games all the time, and more great games from Xbox and Bethesda are coming to PC Game Pass soon. The upcoming action-strategy game Minecraft Legends will be released on Tuesday, April 18; Redfall, Arkane Austin’s story-driven first-person shooter, hits on May 2; and more great games are coming soon.
In the coming months, PC Game Pass will launch in these countries for all players to experience. This means that Game Pass community members from 86 countries around the world can play hundreds of games together with their friends and family.
In the meantime, check out our review of the Xbox PC Game Pass here.
You can subscribe to Xbox PC Game Pass now by heading over here and paying only RM5 for your first month.
Check out the trailer below:


The Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021 Begins This September

With the Wild Rift SEA Icon Series Fall Season coming to a close soon, players and fans can look forward to the upcoming Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021 that will take place from mid-September to early October.Â Riot Games Southeast Asia will be working with ESL Asia to bring this exciting event to the region.Â
21 of the best teams from the ongoing Wild Rift SEA Icon Series: Fall Season will qualify for theÂ  SEA Championship 2021. These teams will come from 8 regions across Southeast Asia – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Hong Kong – and will be competing for a total prize pool of US$200,000.
Additionally, the SEA ChampionshipÂ  2021 also provides an opportunity for Australian and New Zealander teams to participate through the Oceanic Qualifiers.Â Â
There will be 3 stages of the competition for the Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021:

Stage 1 – Play-Ins: September 14 – 19, 2021
Stage 2 – Group Stages: September 23 – 26, 2021
Stage 3 – Main Event: September 30 – October 3, 2021

Qualified teams and event details will be revealed soon. You can head on over to the Wild Rift Competitive Play website for all the latest news and follow ESL Asia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.


The Makers Of Apex Legends Are Hard At Work On Another New Franchise

There’s no rest for the wicked. Respawn, the developers behind the critically-acclaimed multiplayer shooter Apex Legends, highly-praised shooter Titanfall 2, and that one fun Star Wars action-adventure game with Jedis, is working on building a new video game franchise from scratch.
This news came from Respawn founder Vince Zampella. He quoted a tweet stating that his team is looking for a sixth team member, a coder, just for the new game IP. My condolences if you’re expecting Titanfall 3 news.

Looking for an exciting new opportunity? New Respawn project, super exciting stuff. Get in early! https://t.co/48UOhXhq7e
— Vince Zampella (@VinceZampella) April 23, 2021

Yes, Respawn is looking for an incubation team software engineer. To quote the job listing:
We are looking for a Software Engineer to join a compact incubation team currently developing a brand new IP.
So if you’re up for it, do check out the role here and see if you fit the bill.


Tencent Plans to Distribute Apex Legends in China

Tencent is proposing to bring Apex Legends to China.
According to South China Morning Post, Tencent is having dialogues with Electronic Arts on the probability of bringing Respawn’s highly acclaimed battle royale game, Apex Legends into China.

This proposal makes perfect sense seeing how well Apex Legends surpassed Fortnite in terms of single-day viewership record on TwitchÂ and has reached a milestone of 1 million concurrent players in just 72 hours after the game saw sunlight.
However, the deal has not been confirmed at this stage, said the person who requested to be anonymous as the information is private. The speculation of the deal came about from a Chinese microblogging site, Sina Weibo.
Tencent and EA did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
If the deal comes through, Apex Legends would be the third battle royale title to be under Tencent’s belt. The company now oversees Chinese distribution of Fortnite,Â as they hold a minority stake in Epic Games and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.


Netflix Announces Berlin Spinoff During Money Heist Fan Event

A special Money Heist The Legacy virtual fan event took place recently, where Netflix announced that Money Heist is getting a new spinoff series focusing on the character, Berlin. In the series, Berlin’s real name is AndrÃ©s de Fonollosa, who is portrayed by Pedro Alonso.
Netflix’s Berlin is slated to premiere sometime in 2023. However, the streaming giant didn’t give out too many details about the upcoming spinoff. The announcement comes just as Money Heist is officially ending with its final five episodes, which will premiere today on 3 December 2021.
Ãlvaro Morte (The Professor), Ãšrsula CorberÃ³ (Tokyo), Pedro Alonso (Berlin) along with other members of La Banda and the cast gathered to celebrate and share special moments from the series with never-before-seen assets and anecdotes.Â
The hybrid event, attended by local celebrities and fans, was streamed through a digital hub with simultaneous audio translation in 10 different languages. You can watch the entire Money Heist The Legacy virtual fan event below, or check out pictures from the event:

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: (L-R) Jesus Colmenar, Esther Martinez Lobato and Alex Pina attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: (L-R) Jose Manuel Poga, Luka Peros and Darko Peric attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Enrique Arce and Esther Acebo attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Miguel Herran and Ursula Corbero attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Itziar ItuÃ±o and Miguel Angel Silvestre attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Belen Cuesta attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Belen Cuesta and Jaime Lorente attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Pedro Alonso and Hovik Keuchkerian attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Najwa Nimri attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Alvaro Morte attends Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

				MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Full Cast of Netflix  “La Casa De Papel” Part 5 Vol.2 by Netflix at Palacio de Vista Alegre on November 30, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)

Highlights include:

Cecilia Krull sang the theme song of the series, â€˜My Life is Going Onâ€™ live on stage.

Ed Sheeran dropped in virtually to share his â€˜audition tapeâ€™ for La Banda in a fictional UK version of the show, asking if his character could be named â€˜Ipswichâ€™,

Becky G sent her best wishes to everyone via video before debuting an exclusive teaser of her â€˜Bella Ciaoâ€™ cover music video. Watch the music video here.

Fans of Squid Game got a surprise as Park Hae-soo, who will portray Berlin in the Korean adaptation of La Casa de Papel coming in 2022, joined the celebrations in a video. He sent his best wishes to all attending the event, holding an iconic mask, sent to him from Pedro Alonso, and promised to send the Korean mask to his counterpart when it is revealed next year.


QA Company Reportedly Lied To CD Projekt Red About Cyberpunk 2077 Bugs

Every knows by now how disastrous the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was back in 2020. CD Projekt Red has apologized for the blunder but the reason for why that came to be has yet to be revealed. Perhaps, until now. According to a report by Forbes, a 72-page document was sent by a whistleblower to YouTuber Upper Echelon Gamers.
It revealed that Quantic Labs was one of the QA companies who testing work on Cyberpunk 2077. However, the report claims that Quantic Lab overexaggerated the size of their team that was working on Cyberpunk 2077 in order to keep the contract. They also lied about their team consisting of senior staff, when it was actually just juniors with under six months experience in QA.
As a result, Quantic Lab apparently had a daily quota of reported bugs, leading to thousands of pointless bug reports from the testers which wasted precious time and caused gamebreaking issues to not be found or prioritized. You can watch the full video here for more details.
Recently, CD Projekt Red announced that the first Cyberpunk 2077 expansion will be released sometime in 2023. Cyberpunk 2077 originally launched in December 2020, so it will be at least a whopping three years before the game even gets its first expansion.
That doesn’t sound good. To be fair, the developer had to spend most of its time since launch fixing the broken game to even make it playable, so there’s that. CD Projekt Red also announced that Cyberpunk 2077 has sold more than 18 million copies, while The Witcher 3 just crossed 40 million units sold.
You can check out a handy recap of all the problems plaguing Cyberpunk 2077 since launch by heading over here or check out our review of the game here.


Metal: Hellsinger Is A Rockin’ Headliner Act

Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox Series, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
Genre: Rhythm First-Person Shooter
Developed by The Outsiders and published by Funcom, Metal: Hellsinger isn’t your typical FPS game. Partnered with a phenomenal soundtrack featuring artists such as System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, this shooter is a metalhead’s fever dream. With its fluid movement and platforming to compliment the combat, it feels like a mix of DOOM, Crypt of the NecroDancer, and Guitar Hero. Sprinkle some of old-school Quake’s musical aesthetic and you’ve got Metal: Hellsinger. To add icing on the cake, the entire story is told by none other than renowned voice actor Troy Baker as he plays Paz, a soul-possessed skull who is also a usable weapon.
Shout At The Devil

The premise is also something to be talked about. The story is unravelled through MMORPG-like cutscenes narrated by Troy Baker sporting an extremely silky Southern accent. You play as a demon-like character called “The Unknown” as she fights through what is commonly known as Hell, The Infernal Planes. You find out that this plane is in reality a union of a thousand Hells, all of which are terrifying and diabolical in their own way. In order to dethrone The Red Judge, you must fight your way through the fiercest corners, from the icy world of Voke to the maddening world of Stygia.
Not only does the soundtrack match the aesthetic of the game, but it also dictates the pace at which you play. How exactly, you may ask? Well, what makes this game so unique is the firing system. Although you can shoot whenever you want, to deal the most damage you fire on beat with the music. There are also visual aids to help you with this, but your timing and sense of rhythm must be impeccable.

The game progresses like a typical platformer following a familiar formula that many games use for their own dungeon crawls. You fight your way through several chambers fighting demons so you can proceed to the next chamber, ultimately leading to the level’s boss. The game also has an arcade-type feel to the overall objective. Although the intention is to pass all the levels, the real satisfaction comes from gaining multipliers that can be earned by firing your weapon on beat.
The mechanics and controls are pretty intuitive for those familiar with FPS games, although the starting sensitivity for mouse and keyboard is disturbingly high even if you used 400 DPI. Controller support is also available and although I prefer playing with mouse and keyboard for this game particularly, I’m confident I would have just as much fun with the controller.
Another mechanic that helped in sticky situations was the dashing mechanic. The dash in this game has no cooldown meaning you can consecutively dash as many times as you want to create space between you and the hoards of demons chasing you.
BEELZEBANG!
One thing to point out is the weapons. There’s a decent selection of weapons that you pick up throughout the game, each with its own timing to match a different aspect of the music’s beat. Each weapon also determines how you choose to fight the demons. For someone like me who embarrassingly can’t stay on beat to save my life, I opted for Persephone, an eight-round shotgun that has the slowest rate of fire of the early guns.
Due to my pick, I had to play a little more close range, meaning I didn’t have to have pin-point precision with my aim but I had to utilise my dashes more efficiently.

From my experience playing the game, I haven’t seemed to have run into any obvious bugs or glitches which I guess goes to show just how well-developed this game is. From the niche concept alone you can tell this music rhythm FPS mash-up is more than just a monetary opportunity; it’s a passion project for the developers and seeing it all together. I can’t help but say they have done a fantastic job at creating a solid game.
There’s only been one other notable game that can be compared and that is BPM: Bullets Per Minute which was released in 2020. It’s safe to assume that Metal: Hellsinger, draws a lot of inspiration from the mechanics of BPM and wears them on its sleeve. Just take the shooting mechanic, for example, the shape of the visual aids is almost identical in either game. Though to its credit, the presentation & authenticness of Metal: Hellsinger is enough of a standing ovation.
Weirdly, I can’t help but reminisce as the concept and feel of the game does slightly remind me of Call of Duty: Zombies where you’re being chased by hordes of zombies—or in this case, demons—as you fight your way through the levels. But I do feel that this game caters to a very particular demographic of gamers who enjoy music and rhythm games alongside first-person shooters.
I’ll be upfront if you’re not one for rhythm games—like me—then I don’t think this is the game for you, but if you’re someone who’s loves to challenge their beat and rythm then I would wholeheartedly recommend this game.
The game in its entirety is a bit short but I feel that adds emphasis to the game’s intention for replayability. The only thing I think that could have made this game even more interesting to play would have been to implement a multiplayer feature and fight alongside your friends in the depths of Hell.
But besides that, I thoroughly believe that Metal: Hellsinger is a fantastic game that has been extremely well-developed regardless of my inability to stay on beat. It’s definitely a shooter that requires a bit of focus, more so than usual. But for those who are more than good enough at rhythm games, it will be a breeze.
PROS

Phenomenal soundtrack.
Fluid and intuitive game mechanics.
Incredible design and art.
Interesting storyline.
Narration by Troy Baker.
Little-to-no glitches.

CONS

Can be hard to play if you’re not good at rhythm games.
No multiplayer.

Final Score: 80/100


Assassin’s Creed Creator’s Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey Is An Epic Games Exclusive

Publisher Take-Two Interactive has announced that Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, the prehistoric survival game by Assassin’s Creed creator Patrice DÃ©silets and his company Panache Digital Games studio, will be an Epic Games Store timed exclusive for a year (via PCGamer).
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey won’t be the only game published by Take-Two Interactive to be released as a timed exclusive on the Epic Games Store. Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds and Gearbox Software’s Borderlands 3 will also be joining the same boat.
However, here’s what Take-Two chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick had to say during the company’s earnings call earlier today:

“In terms of supporting the Epic Games Store, we think more distribution is a good thing.
And while it’s rare that we’ll do exclusives for any period of time, we continue to support Steam with our titles, our catalog, and these titles will be going to Steam relatively quickly after their initial availability on the Epic Games Store.”

“Rare” and “relatively quickly” may mean something different to the folks at Take-Two Interactive. Still, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey remains listed on Steam, albeit with a description that states “will be available on Steam one year after launch on other exclusive digital PC platforms.”
In the meantime, check out the latest gameplay trailer for the upcoming game courtesy of NVIDIA.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAk90c9dDrw&w=560&h=315]


HBO’s The Last Of Us Episode 4 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

HBO’s The Last Of Us Episode 4 is now streaming on HBO and HBO GO (HBO Max in the US). Check out our breakdown of Episode 1, Episode 2 and Episode 3 here.
The Last Of Us, based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog exclusively for the PlayStation platforms, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Rose Lam. Production companies include PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
The Last Of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heart-breaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
The cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, and Elaine Miles as Florence. Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker also star.
Courtesy of HBO Asia, we were lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in interviews with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, Merle Dandridge and Gabriel Luna. You can also check out our spoiler-free review of the entire season by heading over here.
Spoilers ahead:

The No Pun Intended Book

To lighten the mood, Ellie pulls out a book titled No Pun Intended and makes pun jokes to Joel.
This is an easter egg to The Last Of Us Left Behind DLC, when Ellie and Riley also reads a book with the same title and tell each other pun jokes.

Ellie Reads A Dirty Magazine

This whole scene is taken directly from the game.

Kathleen Is An Original Character Not From The Game

Melanie Lynskey plays Kathleen, who is a brand new character created for the HBO series. However, it looks like this will be a major character for the series, as she’s the leader of the group of rebels in Kansas City.
Henry And Sam Enters The Picture

At the end of the episode, Joel and Ellie are roughly woken up by meeting Henry and Sam at gunpoint. Henry is played by Lamar Johnson while Same is played by Keivonn Woodard.
Until next week, excelsior!


The Use Of Life Is A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure JRPG With A Giant Anthropomorphic Rabbit

PLAYISM and Daraneko Games have announced that The Use Of Life will release for PC via Steam in Early Access sometime in spring 2022. A demo of the game is now available.
The Use Of Life is a choose-your-own-adventure-style JRPG with choices and multiple endings, which changes depending on â€œthe use of lifeâ€ you choose through your journey. In this game, the main characterâ€™s (who is a giant anthropomorphic rabbit) various â€œattachmentsâ€ fluctuate in accordance with the choices the player makes, changing the characterâ€™s way of thinking.
The battles in The Use Of Life are characterized by a fusion of turn-based combat and QTE -style mechanics. With both sides acting three times per turn, the player must depend on their skills and strategies.

The game will also feature a deep customization system, as well as unique gamebook-style narration and sometimes even using TRPG-like dice rolls to decide outcomes as various events unfold.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


HBO’s The Last Of Us Episode 1 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

HBO’s The Last Of Us Episode 1 is now streaming on HBO and HBO GO (HBO Max in the US).
The Last Of Us, based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog exclusively for the PlayStation platforms, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Rose Lam. Production companies include PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
The Last Of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heart-breaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
The cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, and Elaine Miles as Florence. Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker also star.
Courtesy of HBO Asia, we were lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in interviews with Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, Merle Dandridge and Gabriel Luna. You can also check out our spoiler-free review of the entire season by heading over here.
Spoilers ahead:

Mention Of Cordyceps

John Hannah’s character mentions multiple types of fungi with the potential to infect humans, but the most interesting part is when he mentions Cordyceps, which is what eventually mutates to become the viral strain in The Last Of Us, turning humans into Clickers and more.
The Last Of Us Theme

It’s great that HBO chose to still use the original iconic theme song from the games by composer Gustavo Santaolalla in the TV series.
How Sarah Fixed Joel’s Watch

In the original The Last Of Us game, we saw Sarah give Joel his repaired watch for his birthday. In the HBO series, we actually get to see how she took the watch from Joel’s drawer and how she went to get it fixed. It’s great to see the series fleshing out the story by expanding it with scenes the games never showed us. Sarah is played by Nico Parker.
Sarah Is Wearing The Same T-Shirt As Her Video Game Counterpart

Kudos to the costume department for the extra effort.

The Opening Is A Bit Different From The Game

In the HBO series, Joel (Pedro Pascal) leaves Sarah alone at the house to bail Tommy (Gabriel Luna) out of jail. This leads to Sarah waking up and discovering that she’s alone and then going to her neighbour’s house only to find an Infected there.
In the game, Sarah wakes up to find that she’s alone as well before a disturbed Joel comes to get her before an Infected (also a neighbour but not an old person) attacks them at their home. Tommy is already waiting outside in a car, so he was never in jail.
Also, in the game, a car crashes into them in town, while a freaking aeroplane crashes in the HBO series, with the debris hitting them and causing them to crash.

The Only One From The Game Reprising Her Role

Merle Dandridge is the only person from the game who is fully reprising her role. She plays Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies rebel movement.
Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, who voices Joel and Ellie in the games, will only have a cameo role in the HBO series. I’ll point them out when I see them.
Marlene Mentions Riley From The Last Of Us Left Behind DLC

When speaking with Ellie, Marlene mentions Riley by name. In the game, Riley was Ellie’s best friend and almost-girlfriend, who died just before the events of The Last Of Us. She will be featured in flashbacks in the HBO series and played by Storm Reid.
Our First Look At A Clicker

There are no living Clickers in the first episode, but we do get to see a ‘dead’ one. Clickers are the main zombies in The Last Of Us universe, one of several types of Infected.
We Learn That Ellie Is Immune

The first episode of HBO’s The Last Of Us TV series ends with the bombshell that Ellie is immune, which is an important plot point moving forward.
Until the next episode, excelsior! You can also check out how key scenes from this episode look like with the game’s cutscenes.


Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Will Feature A New Stormtrooper

The San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) 2019 will be happening from 18 July to 21 July 2019 to celebrate all things nerdy and fun. Safe to say, the event wouldn’t be complete without Star Wars and this year, Lucasfilm will be doing something really special.
Those attending SDCC will be able to enjoy Lucasfilm’s celebration of the history and future of stormtrooper design. The most exciting part of this celebration is that it will also contain a new design called the Sith Trooper which will make its debut in the upcoming Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Lucasfilm archivist Madlyn Burkert said:

“It has some really unique aesthetics to it,”
“And it has some subtle ties to previous stormtrooper designs, which I think fans will enjoy discovering.”

The exhibition will also feature a selection of “Early Release Edition” Sith trooper merchandise including this sexy Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Figure.

Since the exhibition is a celebration of both past and future designs, there will also be nine different screen-used costumes on display and they are:

Imperial stormtrooper
TIE pilot
Death trooper
Shoretrooper
Biker scout
First Order stormtrooper
First Order TIE pilot
Captain Phasma
Sith trooper

For more info and a look at the other goodies that will be sold at the Lucasfilm booths, check out the official blogpost here.


Genshin Impact Version 3.1 Sumeru Desert Walkthrough & Guide

This guide is still in development…
Genshin Impact’s big 3.1 update is out and ready, featuring a ton of new content in the form of the Sumeru Desert area. It looks lush and beautiful, is filled with Domains and enemies aplenty, and has tons of sand to sink your feet into.
We’ve made a few guides on how to venture through this new part of Sumeru; check it out below:
Genshin Impact Ver 3.1 Archon Quest Domain Walkthrough
The Archon Quest called Reams, Emptiness, Deception and its subsequent quest chains are easy to follow: just talk to the right people and head to the locations dictated on the waypoint. You’ll eventually get wrapped up in a thickening plot and have to make your way to the new Desert continent, helping out Cyno< Candace, and Alhaitham in a bunch of quests.
You’ll get to a Domain, which features a few puzzles here and there. Here’s a video walkthrough:

Golden Slumber Quest Guide: Looting Temples & Tombs HoYoverse Style

Genshin Impact’s 3.1 update has a ton of desert ruins and tombs of old kings for you to explore and adventure in. There’s a lot of loot you can score from these excursions, so it’s worth checking out.
First, head to Aaru Village. Talk to an NPC named Bonifaz. Heis next to a market stall at the foot of the hill where Candace’s house is located.
Bonifaz will say that his friend is missing, along with a team of archaeologists including one named Tirzad. This will start the Golden Slumber quest. You’ll get a bunch of markers on the map via this questline; head to these markers. You’ll end up looping through the general area as you go. You’ll reach a bunch of sand dunes. When prompted, accept the quest to trigger sinkholes. You’ll open up a new area.

Glide down, and you’ll see the Red Desert Threshold. Congrats: you have a new Domain you can teleport to. Then talk to all the NPCs here; you’ll eventually have to lead them to safety through the ruins.  Tirzad will unlock the massive doorway, leading to a bunch of puzzles and an intricate quest item.

You’ll now be in the Abdju Pit ruins. In the first room, you’ll see a matrix robot enemy, a Sacred Seal (Sheep Head), and a device that asks you for your clearance.

After that, head to the Dendroculus and ride the elevator down. You’ll see a Seelie ahead; follow it then you’ll get to another chamber. This puzzle room has three Pyro totems and a spectrum totem that you can’t interact with yet. Oh, and there’s a floating living thing that you need to affect with Elemental Triggers to proceed.

To solve this room’s puzzle, use Electro on the floating thing as it gets close to the spectral totem. This will solidify the totem. If you “killed” it, just use Dendro (ie: Collei or Tighnari, you lucky sod) to get it going. Open the sealed doorway to spot another clearance panel that you can’t use. Then, head down the flight of stairs to pick up the Sacred Seal: Valley item.
Ride the elevator to the top and you’ll interact with a floating construct that looks like Guilty Spark from the Halo series, but Genshin Impact. The construct, called Benben, will light up Tirzad’s device. You’ll be using this device in the game. See, it’s called the Scarlet Sand Slate and you can use it to interact with the many objects and panels in King Deshret’s ruins all over the Sumeru Desert area. You don’t have max clearance level right now, but you can at least go through most of the area you’re in right now.

After that, take the elevator back to the upper floor. Open the door there. Pick up the keystone and stand on top of the ornate slab to spawn a focusing beam.
In the next room, you’ll see a couple of keystones and two plates. Grab one of them at a time to create the objects on each plate. Rotate these so the beams remove the seal. Don’t forget to pick up the Sacred Seal: Giant Serpent tablet that’s there. Then, head to the last room and take out the enemies there.
After that, just follow the marker to head back outside. There will be an NPC and a Seelie to guide you to the exit. And congrats: you’ve completed the Lost In Sands portion of the Golden Slumber quest. We’ll add more quest chains over time.

Cyno Story Quest Walkthrough


A Look Back At That Awesome Alien vs Predator Arcade Game

In a perfect world, I would be writing a glowing review about the new Predator movie that’s out this week. But we’re in this timeline, and the film is a half-assed attempt at capturing the nostalgia and action beats of the first two Predator films.
But I rather not focus on the negative this week. Instead, let’s talk about something I enjoy immensely while keeping in theme with yautjas: the Capcom-made Alien vs Predator brawler.
Left To Right
Back in the early 90s, every single arcade game company went nuts with franchises and made a beat em up out of it. Konami had X-Men, The Simpsons, TMNT, Buckie O Hare, and even the goddamn Cow Boys Of Moo Meesa. Sega has that Spider-Man game with Hawkeye and Black Cat. And Capcom? They had The Punisher, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, and our focus of the day: AVP which graced the arcades of America and Europe in 1994.
And it played like a dream. Why? Because it just took bits of the comic book source material and let the game be its own thing. Capcom did what it does best -make an action fisticuffs game awesome- and just focused on that.

Three’s A Crowd
Essentially, you can pick between two androids and two Predators (Hunter and Warrior). Your objective is to rid the xenomorph menace. You’ll fight xenomorph grunts, xenomorph big bruisers, boss level xenomorphs, face huggers, your rogue Predator pals, and the Alien Queen. You even fight a couple of private army dudes and the exosuits they pilot.
AvP will punish you hard if you don’t know your controls and beat-em-up tactics beyond the first stage. You’ll be swarmed by xenomorphs and private army dudes with guns, and you’ll be overwhelmed unless you have two other players with you. It’s rather odd that the game only allows 3 players instead of 4 for a bigger group effort, but it didn’t matter: the controls and feel for each character are so smooth and responsive, it’s basically your fault if you’re careless with your life.
The 90s beat-em-up staples are here. Press Attack and Jump for your AOE life-sapping attack, press the Special button to activate your skill – Predators have their mounted cannons while the androids have their own guns-. Also, each playable character has input abilities (Down, then Up for an uppercut move) as well as a special jump ability that lets you horizontally leap to enemies ASAP to deal with them.
Except for the male android Major Schaefer; he’s the token big guy so you only pick him if you want a challenge. In a game where you need to be nimble on the battlefield and half your enemies are agile four-legged monstrosities, most of us opt for either the Predator Hunter or Lieutenant Kurosawa to have a slightly less taxing time.

It’s A Looker
Let’s not forget that graphics and visual sensation matters in an arcade game built to attract folks with quarters and tokens. The feedback you get from slashing and bashing the xenomorph is pure pixelated bliss. Slicing your enemies with your Predator gauntlet or your sword, or even using your shoulder cannon to light them up is a retro-sight to behold. The backgrounds and locales aren’t too shabby either; we have your abandoned factories, space stations, and jungles to fight in.
The game doesn’t bog you down with so many task to do: all you have are your wits and reflexes and all you’re presented are situations that require violence to solve. Sometimes you will ride on a giant APC or on a giant elevator to shoot down as many enemies in a “turret mode” sequence before that term was even coined.
But for the most part, it’s you and your comrades going left to right beating up enemies, with all of the polish and nuances that is expected from a 90s Capcom beat-em-up. It’s a short game, but what did you expect from a 90s beat-em-up? Given what it had to work with, I’d say AvP is a hook, line, and a sinker action-wise.

In fact, my only issue with the game is not its overall quality. Rather, the game is not ported or made available outside of its arcade ROM unit. There was no exact Capcom port of this title anywhere else. It’s probably due to the licensing since this was a Fox property that’s now under Disney. Would a video game AvP comeback be viable in the next few years? Let’s hope so.
Requiem?
Is it the best of Capcom’s efforts? Perhaps not because Battle Circuit is Capcom’s magnum opus in beat-em-ups. Is it the best beat-em-up? Definitely not because we have Streets of Rage 2, Sengoku 3, and a few others to put in that treasured list.
However, it is still a crowning achievement because it’s well-done, it’s incredibly fun without coming off as busywork, and combines the best of the Aliens and Predator universes in a game setting that’s tailored by its well-known developers.

Obviously its story needed work, but playing a 90s beat-em-up for the plot is like going to a McDonalds for healthy food choices.


No More Heroes 3 Director Would Love To Work On A Marvel Deadpool Game

Fresh off his high of releasing No More Heroes 3, Grasshopper Manufacture founder and game director Goichi “Suda51” Suda said he would love to work on a Marvel-themed game.
According to an IGN Japan interview, he was asked on which Marvel franchise he would work on if given the opportunity. His answer? He would love to work on both Deadpool and Shatterstar. He added that he would love to work on any Marvel series which would fit the Grasshopper Manufacture vibe; the esoteric and unique kind that involves aliens, acid, profound metaphors after bloodshed, and all-around weirdness.
“Iâ€™d also love to work with Marvel on a Shatterstar or Deadpool game, something sort of Grasshopper-y like that. Maybe a Quicksilver title of some sorts. So, Marvel, you know.”
Stay tuned for our upcoming review of No More Heroes 3 later this week. So far, we’re digging the combat and presentation, but aren’t a fan of the technical issues and the non-fighting bits.


Kakuchopurei Reviews: F1 2017

Just as the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship is about to enter its finishing laps, F1 fans receive the next trailblazing instalment of the Codemastersâ€™ annual F1 racing games, F1 2017.
I have a confession to make. Iâ€™ve never been a fan of F1, let alone played any of its virtual counterparts on any platform. I booted up F1 2017 blind, without knowing or understanding much of the mechanics of the sport. Considering all that, after playing the game, even I have to admit itâ€™s apparent that Codemasters have developed a game that is lovingly tailored to fans of Formula 1.Â
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvQAYiGSa0M&w=560&h=315]
Let me make it clear that I had to experience F1 2017 with fully assists and that includes Traction Control, ABS, Braking Assist, Auto Gearbox, Dynamic Racing Line and more (I honestly donâ€™t even know what some of these are or what they do). Iâ€™m aware that the game is a racing sim first and foremost, but that is also why I am glad that Codemasters have included fully assisted gameplay to those who prefer to just pick up and play. Even with this option, I had a difficult time adjusting to F1 2017 as Iâ€™m used to more arcade-y racing games like the Need For Speed or Burnout franchises.
But F1 2017 has tutorials galore for players who really want to immerse themselves in the meat of the game, like how to make the most of the car setups and what to do at pit stops amongst others. These authentic mechanics make players feel like theyâ€™re really at the pit stop, getting repairs mid-race to change damaged tyres or even to serve penalties like cutting corners to avoid disqualification (I received lots of those!), which makes F1 2017 appeal to the most dedicated fans of Formula One, as well roping in the more casual racing gamers (like me).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK9oasewZR4&w=560&h=315]
Another aspect that everyone, regardless of veterans or newcomers to F1, can appreciate is the stunning graphics. The weather effects are one of the most impressive Iâ€™ve ever feasted my eyes on, as F1 2017 offers dynamic weather options as well as settings for various times of the day, including sunrise, noon, sunset and even night. Since I live in Malaysia, I tested the Sepang International Circuit track in various situations to see how they compare. Iâ€™m blown away by how great the shadow and lighting effects when racing at noon with the hot Malaysian sun blazing its rays onto the track and terrain or racing during a gloomy sunset with Malaysiaâ€™s tropical and torrential rain spattering on my windshield. The few flaws I noticed were the backdrop and circuits which were a bit blurry but youâ€™ll be too mesmerised looking at the intricately rendered cars anyway.
Long-time F1 fans may remember Codemasters introducing classic Formula 1 cars way back in F1 2013, almost half a decade ago. Now theyâ€™re back, with the selection of classic F1 cars drawn from as far back as 1988, spanning almost 30 years ago! Theyâ€™re also incorporated into Career Mode and not just a tacked-on feature. However, I discovered during multiplayer sessions that some were only available as paid DLCs, much to my disappointment.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnSUAxbqDxE&w=560&h=315]
Competitive eSports fans should be hyped to know that Formula 1 recently announced their foray into eSports for the first time ever, in collaboration with Codemasters and Gfinity. The Formula 1 Esports Series will be an annual event starting in 2017. It started recently in September 2017 and the Qualification Stage is now over. The 40 best players will now advance to the Live Semi-Finals at the Gfinity Arena in London on October 10th and 11th. The best 20 out of 40 will then compete at the F1 Esports Series Grand Final at Yas Marina as part of the 2017 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 24th and 25th.
The first Formula 1 Esports World Champion will be crowned on the same weekend as the final 2017 Formula 1 Grand Prix as well as gaining the prestige of being the Formula 1 Esports Champion Expert for 2018 and will automatically qualify for the semi-finals of next yearâ€™s Formula 1 Esports Series. The first winner will also be given the opportunity to attend one of the 2018 Grand Prix and become an actual character in F1 2018.

The F1 Esports Series 2017 is open to residents of all countries wherever the F1 2017 is available and whoever owns an Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, PS4, PS4 Pro or suitable Windows PC. For more information or if anyone is interested in competing in F1 Esports Series 2018, please visit their official website here.
My fellow Malaysians may be heartbroken due to the fact that 2017 will be the last time the Malaysian Grand Prix will be held at Sepang International Circuit and probably the last time weâ€™ll be seeing it in an F1 game as well. It was apt of Codemasters to organize a special story event in-game recently to coincide with the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix. Malaysia was historically the second Asian nation after Japan to ever host the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJw_72OPJxM&w=560&h=315]
Released in late August, the game is now available on the PS4, Xbox One, PC and macOS.
TL; DR
Positives
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stunning graphics (Dynamic weather effects)
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Feature-packed (Classic cars, authentic mechanics)
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Officially entering eSports
Negatives
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Steep learning curve and geared towards the most dedicated F1 fans
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Some environmental details look blurry
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Some classic cars are only available as DLC
Major gaming websites are touting F1 2017 to be the best F1 game ever made. Iâ€™m inclined to agree with them but this is my very first F1 game so Iâ€™ll just say itâ€™s a great game. Itâ€™s more geared towards dedicated Formula 1 fans instead of casual arcade racing fans but itâ€™s a nice effort on Codemastersâ€™ part that theyâ€™ve added certain features for beginners to enjoy the game too. With Formula 1 finally officially entering the eSports market, F1 2017 looks like itâ€™s here to stay with a future brimming in potential, which is surely to satisfy many Formula 1 fans.
SCORE: 80/100

F12017 was reviewed on the PlayStation 4, via review copy courtesy of Ubisoft Singapore.


Infinix Re-Defines The Limits With The New NOTE 30 Series

Infinix continues to push the gaming industry further with each advancement they make, and they are keen on keeping that trend going. Mark your calendar, the NOTE 30 series debuts on the 24th of May here in Malaysia! The new flagship series takes aim at the younger generation and caters to accessibility by providing smartphones that are as capable as they are affordable.
Promising ‘Gaming Beyond Limits’, Infinix is aiming to provide lightning-fast performance to match the fast-paced lifestyles of its users. The NOTE 30 Pro boasts the new 68W All-Round FastCharge and 15W Wireless Charging technology, which can charge the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes. Combined with pure performance and convenience, the NOTE 30 is promising to pack a punch on arrival.

Alongside the launch, Infinix Malaysia announced their new partnership with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as the new official gaming smartphone sponsor for the upcoming Moonton Student Leader (MSL) Championship 2023.
Keep up with Infinix Malaysia’s official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, Tiktok, and website to stay updated on the launch of the Infinix NOTE 30 series here in Malaysia. For more about Infinix phones, check out our review of the latest gaming phone model here.


The Melancholic Story Behind Last Time I Saw You

Last Time I Saw You is an upcoming narrative game by Maboroshi Artworks, telling a melancholic story of heartbreak and emotion, set in Japan in the late 80s. The art style of the game radiates a sense of warmth, and the story is set to tug at your heartstrings.
We had the chance to do a quick interview with game director Juan Fandiño, and ask about the game’s inspirations and also his previous experiences in game development.

Where did the idea for Last Time I Saw You come around?
Juan Fandiño: Last Time I Saw You was born from a heartbreak that I experienced some years ago I decided to take all the conflicting emotions I had inside and try to make something useful with them, transforming them into a somewhat healing experience that other people could also enjoy and relate to.

Are there any games that served as an inspiration for Last Time I Saw You?
JF: Being this a narrative game I’ve been inspired by several similar games, being perhaps the most important references Night in the Woods and Mutazione, especially this last one in terms of narrative and character development. When I played it I felt for the first time in a long time that the characters were “real” people with real problems that we all can have, and that made me connect with them in a special way, motivating me even more to have a special and believable narrative in Last Time I Saw You. Similar to Disco Elysium, which has also been a great reference in dealing with adult themes in a natural and credible way.
Also, A Space for the Unbound, which has recently come out, I think has been able to portray depression quite well. Last Time I Saw You doesn’t go in that direction but playing it has been a very good experience and inspiration when dealing with certain topics.

Tell us about your team!
Maboroshi Artworks is the studio I’ve created to develop the many projects I have in mind. During these years several people contributed to the team, providing their bit and helping a lot, but currently, we are the following:
Originally the game was coded by Alex Passera (now working for Ubisoft), and later Sergio Matta from Sonzai Games, creator of Bat Boy and Super Sami Roll, joined the team as a programmer to help expand what was already established. Jon Yves and Marina Suárez are in charge of the beautiful hand-drawn frame-by-frame animations that the game has. Raquel de Miranda, who has worked for Dontnod and Ubisoft, helps me with the writing as narrative consultant and Laryssa Okada, who composed the soundtrack of Manifold Garden, is in charge of the music. Finally, there is me, Juan Fandiño, who is the one who directs, writes, designs and makes the art among other things.

You previously were the art director of YUMENIKKI -DREAM DIARY-; how different is the direction of Last Time I Saw You versus YUMENIKKI ?
This is a tricky one! I’d say the most notable difference is that while Last Time I Saw You is my own project over which I have full control, Yume Nikki Dream Diary was a project done by the company where I worked for some years ago, and it was made on an already established IP. Also, in Yume Nikki Dream Diary I was only in charge of the aesthetics, how it looked, how it sounded, and so forth.
In Last Time I Saw You it’s different and I have more control. With Last Time I Saw You I’m creating something new, starting from scratch. Telling the story I want to tell with the help of the team behind me, and that gives us a freedom that when you work for an established IP it’s hard to have, especially if you want to respect the original material. I really learned a lot from the development of Yume Nikki Dream Diary, and thanks to all that knowledge Last Time I Saw You is now a reality!

Anything specific we should look forward to in Last Time I Saw You?
Last Time I Saw You aims to be a compelling narrative story and a meaningful experience, set in a Japanese town in the late 1980s, with strong components of magic realism and Japanese folklore. We are working as hard as we can and hope that when the game is released it will leave a positive mark in the hearts of the people who play it!
Check out the demo for The Last Time I Saw You on Steam, and follow them on Twitter!


Wo Long Fallen Dynasty Demo Launches Today

During TGS 2022, Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja announced that a Wo Long Fallen Dynasty demo will be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S starting from today on 16 September 2022 until 26 September 2022.

It’s a new dark fantasy Three Kingdoms maso-core game from Team NINJA, the developers of Nioh and Nioh 2 and the Ninja Gaiden games. It’s set in 184 AD, Later Han Dynasty China. The land is overcome by chaos and destruction. The imperial dynasty that prospered for many years is now about to collapse.
Wo Long Fallen Dynasty is a dramatic, action-packed story of a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantasy version of the Later Han Dynasty where demons plague the Three Kingdoms. Players fight off deadly creatures and enemy soldiers using swordplay based on the Chinese martial arts, attempting to overcome the odds by awakening the true power from within.
Wo Long Fallen Dynasty is slated to release for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime in early 2023.
In the meantime, check out the trailer & gameplay below:


World Of Warships & Warhammer 40K Cross Over For Limited-Time Event

World Of Warships is once again partnering with Warhammer 40,000, as they launch a brand new limited-time event packed with exciting features inspired by the iconic hobby of tabletop wargaming from Games Workshop.
This exclusive content will also be coming to World Of Warships Legends from 8 November 2021, giving console players a chance to immerse themselves in the gothic splendour.
In this epic affair, two brand new ships are launching onto the scene, alongside characters and iconic imagery influenced by the sprawling world of Warhammer 40,000. Players will be able to take charge of the Tier VIII cruiser Cross of Dorn, helmed by Augustin Riegerwald, as well as the Tier VIII destroyer Ship Smasha, by Grotmaz Smart, while on consoles, both ships will be available as Tier VI. The vessels will come with their own unique camouflage, and their commanders brought to life by dedicated voice acting.

The event will also allow players to obtain Warhammer 40,000 containers and fly the “Emperor’s Champion” and “WAAAGH!” flags from their chosen ship. For players looking to adorn themselves, an array of new patches will be up for grabs too, from “Black Templars Cross” and “Orky Glyph” to “Ork Scull” and “Mark of the Sworn Brethren”. On top of this, â€œThe Eternal Crusaderâ€ and â€œThe Red Threatâ€ will also be available as expendable camouflages.
This celebration comes after these two warmongering worlds first crossed paths in June 2020. As well as the spread of spoils described above, all content from last yearâ€™s event will also be available, including bundles of themed warships and commanders. Steer the fearsome Ragnarok and ancient Ignis Purgatio through the waters, with specially-voiced commanders Justinian Lyons XIII and Arthas Roqthar the Cold to guide you.

World of Warshipsâ€™ Product Director Sergey Vorobyev said:
â€œWe are thrilled to collaborate with Games Workshop again. A lot of us at Wargaming are big fans of Warhammer 40,000 and as such we are very grateful we get to share our passion for the universe and kindle the imagination of our players through this celebration.â€
This barrage of new content will be made available for a limited time from 29 October to 19 November 2021 in World Of Warships and from 8 November until 6 December 2021 in World Of Warships Legends. Some content in this event can be earned through mission chains, while some can be purchased through the armoury or premium shops.
[videopress LF5WjoUv]


Overwatch League Transfers: Dallas Fuel Rumored Set to Offload Fan Favorite

This is one news no Dallas Fuel fan want to hear. According to Rod ‘Slasher’ Breslau, whose ‘leaks’ regarding Overwatch League transfers have been almost 100% accurate to date, the troubled organization are looking to offload one of their most popular players, projectile specialist, Pro-Genji and recently turned off-tank option, Brandon ‘Seagull’ Larned.

Seagull has requested a trade off the Dallas Fuel due to internal conflicts within the organization, and a lack of practice/playing time, sources said.
â€” Rod Breslau (@Slasher) March 31, 2018

Valiant offered Envy to Fuel for Seagull but was declined, sources said. The Dallas Fuel are looking for a significant return in a trade involving Seagull.
â€” Rod Breslau (@Slasher) March 31, 2018
Interesting points from the tweets are that Seagull wants a move (for whatever reason) while Fuel, obviously aware of his star power would do all they can to get the best deal out of it.
Massively popular due to his likeable personality as a streamer since the early days of Overwatch, Larned, a former NRG player declined to comment on the rumors in his latest stream, quoted as saying ‘No comment’ and said he is going to concentrate on ‘practice streaming’ at the moment. He was largely absent during Stage 2 and word has it that he was concentrating on mastering D.Va as the team struggled to fill the tank-role. His return to the Overwatch League in Week 5 was met with huge applause as he performed very well against the New York Excelsior and London Spitfire despite Fuel losing both matches.
Â https://clips.twitch.tv/embed?clip=DeliciousLightDogeWow&autoplay=false&tt_medium=clips_embed
We won’t be surprised if Valiant returns with a better offer, and other teams with a younger core would be wise to snap up Larned who has tons of experience in the pro-scene. Extremely marketable, he would seriously bump any team’s fanbase – especially the ones with significantly smaller fanbases such as Boston, Los Angeles GladiatorsÂ  and Florida.
Where do you think he should head to next? As usual the comment section is down below


Street Fighter 5 Character Themes, Ranked

Welp, we won’t be getting any new Street Fighter 5 content for quite a while. At least until Winter 2020. So let’s just keep playing Season 4 of this now heavily-improved fighting game, costumes and all.
Oh, and also start discussing its pretty awesome music. Because we’re long overdue for a SoundScape segment, right? Character themes in fighting games are very important in establishing their identity. The best ones in a classic series like Street Fighter not only adds a new and fresh new spin on a long-standing leitmotif, but is also great to listen to outside of context.

Sure, I made some digs in the past at Street Fighter’s OST and how it reuses many of its themes. But that’s because they’re so iconic, since the 90s, that they don’t need reinventing. That’s still up for debate (see Street Fighter EX music) but it’s interesting to hear all the remixes throughout each Street Fighter sequel be it the Alpha trilogy or part IV.
So let’s talk about who has the best character themes in Street Fighter 5. We have all 40 characters, so that’s a lot of themes. We’ll just rank them from the lowest to highest. Keep in mind that music is subjective, but we have done SoundScape videos for a while, so we’re usually right.
Let’s rock.
D Tier
Juri – Capcom could have done better here. It sounds like music you hear outside of a club while you’re waiting to get in. A slapdash effort, if we’re being nice here.
Ken – Generic butt-rock rendition that doesn’t deviate much from the original Street Fighter 2 track. CPS-1 and CPS-2 versions for the win.
C Tier

Laura, Abigail – Their stage themes are superior because of their energy, range, and pacing. The actual character themes lack a lot of, well, character.
Poison, Seth, Blanka, Sagat, E.Honda – They do follow the leitmotif of their original tracks, but there’s no payoff.
Ed – Two words: try hard.
Nash – Take the inspirational Alpha theme of Charlie and turn it sinister, and you get this. Still pales in comparison to the other remixes though.
B Tier
Akuma – Not as foreboding as his past dramatic themes, but the inclusion of the shamisen adds a lot of mystique to the raging demon backdrop tune when duking it out.
Necalli – Great boss theme that’s overshadowed by the S and A tiers.
R.Mika – When you think young wrestler with energy aplenty, you think a boisterous Alpha-laden theme like this. It works for the most part.

Cammy – I will say this: the addition in Cammy’s theme after the 0:56 mark is nifty. But the whole croony dubstep-esque take here might be divisive.
I’ll give her theme points for the variations. Her stage theme is infinitely better though.
Falke – I love this new theme for its spirit and slow groove vibes. Basically, this is how Juri’s theme should be done.
Cody – The “redemption arc” Final Fight track, now with an upbeat street tempo and some nods to the arcade game’s OST and his SFIV theme’s leitmotif.
Dhalsim – “Electric” sitar and well-synced percussions for your Indian yogi fighting music, anyone? Yes, please!

Menat – Very “Egyptiany” and dance-like, just like the character’s greenhorn personality.
Sakura – A rare case where (i) this character track is better than the Kasunago residence stage music and (ii) the electronica dance vibes here aren’t obnoxious to the ears.
Chun-Li – I dig the oriental flute and Chinese percussions added into this classic SF2 theme remix; it gives the track a classy gentle vibe. It’s no China Vox or Spinning Bird though.
NEXT: Show me the good stuff, from #18-#1!


Ghostrunner DLC Will Add A New Playable Character Next Month

Publishers 505 Games, with developers and partners One More Level, All In! Games, 3D Realms, and Slipgate Ironworks, have announced Ghostrunner Project_Hel, an expansion for their first-person cyberpunk action game.
Initially planned as a smaller DLC, Project_Hel has grown into a full-blown Ghostrunner experience. You can take control of Hel, one of the original gamesâ€™ bosses, as she descends Dharma Tower on a bloody quest of her own. Designed to appeal to new players and veterans, sheâ€™s more combat-oriented and can survive an additional attack compared to the Ghostrunner.Â
Hel has her own ability progression system, and the expansion comes with new enemies and bosses to the beat of six fresh tracks courtesy of electronic musician Daniel Deluxe.
To commemorate the upcoming holidays, you will also be able to enhance Jackâ€™s look in the original game with a free festive sword and glove bundle on 7 December 2021. These include the Rudolphâ€™s Run and Boon swords, the frosty Solstice katana and the Nini Wonderland blade, each of which comes with its own matching glove.

Project_Hel will launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG on January 27, 2022 for $14.99/â‚¬14,99/Â£12.49.
Ghostrunner Project_Hel is slated to launch on PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna, and PC on 27 January 2022 for US$14.99, but eager fans can sign up here for a chance to enter an early private beta. Those selected to participate will be included in Project_Helâ€™s credits.
[videopress h9trMzvD]


HBO GO June 2021: Our Picks & Highlights

Since everyone is (still mostly) staying home because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Iâ€™m sure you wonâ€™t want to waste time sifting through HBO GOâ€™s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so Iâ€™m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for HBO GOâ€™s June 2021 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
The Flash Seasons 1 To 6 (1 June 2021)
The Flash — “Flash of Two Worlds” — Image FLA202A_0116b — Pictured: Grant Gustin as the Flash — Photo: Cate Cameron/The CW — ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â© 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
Reminisce on how The Flash came to be, from the unexpected and devastating accident at the S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator facility to the many adventures and misadventures he has faced over six eventful seasons.
From Barry Allen, a young hero-at-heart to the ultra-fast superhero The Flash, witness his triumphs, heartbreak and dedication towards crime-fighting, with the support of the S.T.A.R. Labs research team. Stars Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker and Candice Patton.
Tenet (12 June 2021)

In a twilight world of international espionage, the Protagonist fights for the survival of the entire world. Director Christopher Nolan employs his unique vision to invert viewersâ€™ conventional understanding of time, taking viewers on a mind-bending journey where nothing is what it seems to be. Stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh.
You can check out my review of Tenet here, or my thorough and detailed explanation article of the movie here (beware of spoilers).
Tenet premieres on Saturday, 12 June 2021 at 9pm on HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD) and HBO GO.

Superman Day (12 June 2021)

For more Superman action, June 12 is Superman Day! HBO GO and Warner TV celebrate with a selection of exciting Superman movies, series and animations to satisfy any fan â€“ stay tuned!
These include:

Superman Returns
Man Of Steel
Batman V Superman
Superman
Superman II
Superman III
Superman IV
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
All-Star Superman
Reign Of The Supermen
Superman/Batman Apocalypse
Superman/Batman Public Enemies
Superman Doomsday
Superman Man Of Tomorrow
Superman Red Son
Superman Unbound
Superman Vs The Elite
The Death Of Superman
Superman & Lois

Adventure Time Distant Lands Together Again (12 June 2021)

An HBO Max Original, this third hour-long instalment sees Finn and Jake reunited to embark on the most important adventure of their lives across the familiar, mystical Land of Ooo.
Adventure Time Distant Lands Together Again premieres on Saturday, 12 June 2021 at 9pm on Cartoon Network (Astro Channel 615 HD) and HBO GO.

Trinity Of Shadows (13 June 2021)

The series follows a murder investigation that bears striking similarities to a cold case from years ago. During the investigation, the dedicated lead detective and a rookie police officer join forces with an ambitious public official. Together, they are drawn together into a dark labyrinth of crime. Stars Sandrine Pinna, Kaiser Chuang and Liu Kuan-ting.
Two episodes premiere on Sunday, 13 June 2021 at 9pm on HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD) and HBO GO. Two new episodes premiere every subsequent Sunday.

The High Note (19 June 2021)

Set in the dazzling world of the LA music scene, talented but egotistical superstar Grace Davis couldnâ€™t possibly do without her personal assistant Maggie. However, when Maggie is offered the chance to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a music producer, her decision could change their lives forever. Stars Dakota Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
The High Note premieres Saturday, 19 June 2021 at 9pm on HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD) and HBO GO.

You Should Have Left (25 June 2021)

A couple seeking a restful vacation in the brooding but beautiful Welsh countryside get more than they bargained for as their perfect retreat dissolves into a terrifying nightmare. As events unfold, their peaceful getaway begins to unravel, allowing dark episodes from the past to resurface, and a sinister force refuses to let them leave. Stars Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried.
You Should Have Left premieres Friday, 25 June 2021 on HBO GO.

Spontaneous (26 June 2021)
Spontaneous
In this dark comedy, teenager Mara Carlye and her schoolmates are faced with a disturbing new reality â€“ at some point, they are likely to spontaneously explode, with no warning at all. Without any cure or solution in sight, the town descends into both chaos and apathy, as Mara and her friends wonder who will die next. Stars Katherine Langford, Piper Perabo and Charlie Plummer.
Spontaneous premieres Saturday, 26 June 2021 at 9pm on HBO (Astro Ch 411 HD) and HBO GO.

Those are just several selected highlights from next monthâ€™s offerings of new TV series and movies on HBO GO next month. Now you can plan your HBO GO watchlist for June 2021.


Pedri Is Crowned Highest-Rated U21 Player In FIFA 23

FIFA 23 is coming later this month. In anticipation of the new game, EA SPORTS has revealed the ratings for the Top 26 players that are under the age of 21.
The list consists of players from 15 different teams from across Europe with the most players belonging to a certain team at a four-way tie between Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Leverkusen and Arsenal all with three players each.
With the release of this list, we also find that Barcelona’s Pedri has been crowned the king with an Overall rating of 85. To add to this, he is also the fourth youngest player on this list at only 19 Years, 8 Months and 22 Days (as of writing this). Funnily enough, the oldest player on this list is 21 Years, 10 Months and 18 Days old, and that title goes to Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili who also possesses lowest rating on this list at 77, still very impressive, especially since he made it on the list regardless.

Pedri, 85 – FC Barcelona
Jude Bellingham, 84 – Borussia Dortmund
Alphonso Davies, 84 – Bayern München
Florian Wirtz, 82 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bukayo Saka, 82 – Arsenal
Jamal Musiala, 81 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Josko Gvardiol, 81 – RB Leipzig
Rodrygo, 81 – Real Madrid
Nuno Mendes, 80 – Paris Saint-Germain
Jurriën Timber, 80 – Ajax
William Saliba, 80 – Arsenal
Jeremie Frimpong, 80 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Gavi, 79 – FC Barcelona
Ansu Fati, 79 – FC Barcelona
Yeremy Pino, 79 – Villarreal CF
Eduardo Camavinga, 79 – Real Madrid
Goncalo Inácio, 79 – Sporting CP
Ryan Gravenberch, 79 – Bayern München
Orkun Kokcu, 79 – Feyenoord
Wesley Fofana, 79 – Chelsea
Dominik Szoboszlai, 79 – RB Leipzig
Piero Hincapié, 78 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Gabriel Martinelli, 78 – Arsenal
Charles De Ketelaere, 78 – Milan
Enzo Fernández, 78 – Benfica
Giorgi Mamardashvili, 77 – Valencia CF