Here Is Zenless Zone Zero In Action At TGS 2022

HoYoverse has published new gameplay of its brand new and upcoming action game Zenless Zone Zero, a name that doesn’t make sense but at least everything else about it does.
See, Zenless Zone Zero is a hack-and-slash game where you control a bunch of cyberpunk-themed misfits ranging from a giant talking bear to a pink-haired fox lady with typical HoYoverse traits. The gameplay at Tokyo Game Show 2022 is basically the main character looking for his missing sister in the sci-fi town he’s in. Unlike other HoYoverse title Genshin Impact, he finishes his mission rather quickly after a series of awesome-looking 60fps fights involving character-switching mid-combos (ala Honkai Impact 3rd) and a whole lot of attacks & cancelling to different attacks and super finishers.

It’s what you want from a mobile action anime-styled game, waifus and all. No word on how the game’s gacha system will turn out, but at least we know the company is hard at work on the next big thing. Zenless Zone Zero will be out for PC, iOS, and Android; no release date or window has been announced as of yet.


Creed 3 Delivers An Undisputed Knockout With Anime-Style Flair

Creed 3 is actually the ninth film in the iconic Rocky franchise, which began with 1976’s Rocky. Despite being nine films in and the absence of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky, the third Creed film might actually be one of the best films in the franchise, bringing the spinoff franchise into its own and out of the shadow of its legacy.
No Rocky, No Problem

If the first two Creed films were about how Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed picked up the torch from Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky, Creed 3 is the character proving that he can stand on his own. We already explored how Rocky’s legacy affected Adonis in the previous two films, especially the second film which also featured the return of iconic franchise villain, Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago. Creed 3 is completely Adonis’ own film, exploring how his past has come back to haunt him in the form of Jonathan Majors’ Damian ‘Dame’ Anderson.
It’s a testament to Michael B. Jordan’s talent as Creed 3 is his directorial debut. Creed 3’s plot and narrative mostly follow a similar formula to the previous films in the franchise, but he manages to inject enough emotional and personal stakes, as well as stylistic flourishes of his own, to make Creed 3 a great film. Yes, the training montages are still there, and yes, the falling and rising again tropes are still there, but those aforementioned elements make the film still feel fresh and lively.

Despite the absence of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky, the emotional crux of the movie lies between Adonis and his family members. He’s a father now to his growing daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), a husband to his wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and a son to his ageing mother, Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad). That’s not even mentioning the complex relationship he has with Jonathan Majors’ Damian ‘Dame’ Anderson. I say complex because despite what the trailers have shown, it’s more than just another typical sports film rivalry.
Jonathan Majors killed it as Kang The Conqueror last month in Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania, and he kills it again in Creed 3 as the main antagonist. It’s also great to see the growth of Adonis across three films.
He’s a lot more mature now and less impulsive than he was when Rocky started training him in 2015’s Creed. Despite being almost two hours long and featuring some grounded drama, Creed 3 never once feels boring and the pacing is almost perfect.

Michael B. Jordan is an anime fan. He’s admitted it many times in many interviews and the influence of that can be seen in Creed 3. With him in the director’s chair, he adds a different stylistic flair to the movie’s fight choreography and the way that they are shot. It feels like watching an anime battle, as each punch and movement are focused on.
The fights in Creed 3 feature anime-style close shots of different parts of the body during fights, as well as lots of slow-mo effects when these instances happen. As a result, the fights look brutal and dynamic, as well as exciting, as each one gradually escalates to its climax in the style of shonen anime battles.
Killmonger Vs Kang

If there’s anything that Creed 3 proves, it’s two things. Firstly, Michael B. Jordan is an incredible talent whose directorial debut is starting with a bang. Secondly, the Creed spinoff franchise can thrive and move forward even without the direct involvement of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky.
Most franchises, let alone spinoff franchises, fizzle out after the third entry, but there’s probably still enough to justify several more Creed films. Creed 3 just made sure of that.
FINAL SCORE: 90/100
We attended an early screener of Creed 3 courtesy of Warner Bros. Malaysia. Creed 3 is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 2 March 2023.


Just A Few Weeks After TI9, Team Liquid Says Goodbye To DOTA 2 Team

It’s official, the former The International champions are disbanding.
Team Liquid founder Victor “Nazgul” Goossens has released a video breaking the news and explaining the reasons behind this sudden development. It seems the TI9 team are going their own way to build new teams under their own names.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujYRqO8tGOU&w=560&h=315]

“You have been absolute legends of the game and Team Liquid. Thank you for everything, and youâ€™ll always be welcome to visit. I have the utmost respect for your decision and look forward to meeting you on the battlefield.”
– Victor Goossens, founder of Team Liquid.
The captain of the team, Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Takhasomi also uploaded a video to spread his own message and express his gratitude towards Team Liquid for the past four years that have been filled with unforgettable experiences.
[wpvideo 7TIoFLoh]
Fans of DOTA 2 will still be seeing more of Team Liquid in the future as Goossens has explicitly stated that Team Liquid are on the lookout for new players or teams who can continue the legacy left behind by the five legendary players.
On the bright side, it means that we will be seeing more action from KuroKy, w33ha, MinD_ContRoL, GH, and Miracle. It’ll definitely be interesting to see them go head to head with whoever replaces them in Team Liquid.
To read the full statement from Goossens, click here.


Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Is Leaving The Company

Dan Houser, who is currently the vice president of creativity at Rockstar Games, will be departing from the acclaimed developer next month. In a statement provided by parent company Take-Two Interactive:

After an extended break beginning in the spring of 2019, Dan Houser, Vice President, Creative at Rockstar Games, will be leaving the company.
Dan Houserâ€™s last day will be March 11, 2020. We are extremely grateful for his contributions.
Rockstar Games has built some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful game worlds, a global community of passionate fans and an incredibly talented team, which remains focused on current and future projects.

In 1998, Dan Houser co-founded Rockstar Games along with his brother Sam Houser. He was the lead head writer for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, while also having co-written almost all the other GTA titles, Bully and Max Payne 3. His brother and fellow co-founder, Sam Houser, is currently still the president of Rockstar Games.
It remains to be seen how this will affect Rockstar Games in the future, as the company gears up for the next generation of gaming consoles. Their last major title was 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2, and rumours of a GTA 6 have been swirling for a while now.
(Image Credit: DICE Summit)


The Man Who Relaunched Street Fighter & Jump-Started Fighting Games Is Leaving Capcom

Yoshinori Ono, the man who launched Street Fighter IV with his team and DIMPS, as well as reinvigorated the fighting game scene starting in 2008, is leaving Capcom after 30 years of service.
An official post on his Twitter account has confirmed this. He said he will resign his position as Capcom’s Street Fighter brand manager by the end of Summer 2020.

pic.twitter.com/ym2pFtgZqy
— Yoshinori Ono (@Yoshi_OnoChin) August 9, 2020

Neither Capcom nor Ono has mentioned his replacement at this point in time, though to be fair it’s a Sunday at this time of writing. We’ll update this piece of news once new information has surfaced.
Apart from being a renowned music composer and sound manager/producer for titles like Mega Man: Battle & Chase, Street Fighter Alpha 3, and the raptastic Street Fighter III: Third Strike, he basically revitalized fighting games and the Street Fighter brand in 2008. While there were some stumbling blocks since then – Street Fighter X Tekken, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, Street Fighter 5 Season 1 and Season 2, and a couple more– you cannot deny the passion he has in bringing back fighting games under the Capcom banner.
We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.


A Rusty Gamer’s Guide To Excel In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

We know why you clicked on this.
You’re perplexed. Why would, someone who refer themselves as ‘rusty’ would want to play a sweaty, fast-paced, high-octane, frenetic game like Call of Duty. “Do you enjoy pain?” you wonder. “Were you dropped as a child?” another might ask. “Why subject yourself to potential humiliation in the face of late teens and early twenty-somethings who are at their peak reflex and physical prime, while you’re in your mid-thirties?” chimed in another.
Here’s the thing. Sometimes some of us just enjoy mindless FPS games, going against other players instead of just shooting at waves and waves of A.I. Some still get the kick of besting out others regardless of their age and skill level. There’s this satisfaction of out-gunning and outsmarting other players and that joy is amplified when we find out an obvious (another) man-child is the recipient of our calculated moves.
So today, we are going to share with you several tips on how to even the score – or at least, make yourselves much more competitive in public Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War lobbies. By no means are we pros – however, having managed to hold our own respectably in Call of Duty games over the years, we have several tricks up our sleeves to ensure your KDR stays on the positive, you get kills more than being killed, be the teabagger rather than the teabagee and hopefully, earn those kill or scorestreaks much faster.
[videopress U4TopwoF]
Know – and Master – The Weapons
Love it or hate it, meta weapons rule the lobbies. In Black Ops Cold War, the ever-popular MP5 has risen to be THE meta weapon which everyone gravitates towards, adding it into their arsenal and levelling it up to peak performance. The XM4 is another popular choice due to its versatile nature while the AK-47 is a staple for those who enjoy going out loud and proud into the battlefield. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these weapons, while won’t guarantee anything, ensures that you enter gunfights more equipped and ready to react to situations in a much more efficient manner.
Spot the enemy that’s runnin’ and gunnin’ with the MP5? Instinctively don’t allow them to come near, or avoid any head-on confrontation. Spot a sniper camping out in the back? Then try flanking. Don’t let them tell you otherwise but intelligence is king where everyone else is running about like trigger happy headless chickens.
Consider on getting acquainted with and fully level up these weapons:
SMG: MP5

Most noob-friendly weapon. Very forgiving with its high rate of fire and expandable magazine. Focus on silencer and hip fire improving attachments and you’re good to go on a face-to-face rampage. Easy to learn, hard to master. Every CQC aficionado’s best friend. We recommend going with the Law Breaker Wildcard and equipping the following Perks – Ghost; to stay hidden from Spy Planes when moving; Cold Blooded to stay clear from AI and player-controlled scorestreaks which means you won’t be targeted by Sentry Turrets, Cruise Missiles or Attack Helicopters; and Ninja. Sprint faster and quieter, and undetectable by Field Mic when on the map.
Assault Rifle: XM4

Very versatile weapon to suit any type of medium engagement, be it harassment, locking out a particular hall/ alleyway or if you’re confident enough, mid to long-range battles. Focus on maximizing the bullet velocity so your XM4 turns into a beaming machine and to ensure a tight spread of your bullets, go for attachments that reduce vertical and horizontal recoil.
Tactical Rifle: AUG

Now hear us out. While tactical rifles aren’t as sexy as SMGs and ARs, they do excel in long-range engagements. Think of a more accurate AR or rapid-firing sniper.
The AUG is our favourite due to several reasons. The AUG has;

The highest base damage of all automatic and semi-auto guns
The highest damage-per-second when compared to any SMG, AR and tactical rifle.

The three-round bursts which come standard with this gun may appear like a crutch for up-close battles, but it is never its intended use. The AUG is a brilliant mid to long-range duelling weapon mostly due to its very controllable recoil. Equipping it with bullet velocity improving and recoil control attachments makes this the king of mid-range automatic weapon battles.
We won’t touch the snipers as those are super high skilled level weapons. Only consider using snipers once you’ve mastered positioning, is very comfortable with your aiming ‘snappiness’ and have a penchant for self-torture.
[videopress KIsw8bTH]
Accept Your Shortcomings and Weaknesses
Everyone loves to quickscope or do a triple kill move into a crowded room. We dream of pulling off a 360-no scope sniper shot but let’s be real. Not all of us are as gifted as Shroud or FazeJev or have the reflex of a teenager chugging G-Fuel. Most don’t have the ability to snap our crosshairs to three stationary targets’ heads – let alone moving ones.
We tried – believe us – to play like the guys we saw in CDL. Why not, right? It’s always exciting to feel like a super-soldier just mowing through hapless opponents with your SMG and shotgun combo or God forbid, akimbo pistols. But truth is, unless this has always been your playstyle since the CoD 4 days, you’re in on a hard time adjusting to this demanding playstyle.
If you’re pushing 30 or in our case, our mid-30s, reflex is in the negative end of the spectrum so unless you are a masochist, we do not recommend pulling off a Leroy Jenkins.
Don’t Fight Fire With Fire
Following and adding up on the last two points mentioned, once you know, or at least are able to anticipate what the rest of the lobby are doing, play accordingly to nullify, complement and counter it. If your teammates all rush down the right, maybe holding down that left lane might be a good idea in case some enemies are trying to flank.
Don’t bother with jumping into the fray, attempting to snag a kill or two. You won’t. Even if you are able to, the effort isn’t worth the trouble. You’ll end up dying more and at that, become a crutch for your team. Remember. Not getting killed is as important as getting kills.
It also helps if you are able to think like an SMG bum-rusher who have very little sense of self-preservation. What would we do? Will we peak from this angle, or come barging through that door? If you notice your opponents tend to rush, then set traps or ambush points along chokepoints. Equipping yourselves with stun or smoke grenades will decrease the enemies’ effectiveness, greatly improving your chances of survival.
SMGs will always lose out to assault rifles in medium-ranged gunfights so perhaps focusing on levelling up your XM4 or AK-47 might be a good move too. Say you’re an SMG gremlin. Your shaky aim does not allow you to aim at anything beyond 40 meters or so. So what do you do?
Learn the Maps & Spawn Points
You master the map, and you have the advantage against whoever you are fighting against. By understanding how matches tend to flow, the rotations and spawn points, you’ll be able to take advantage of blind spots and capture the enemies in their most vulnerable positions. For example, helping your team on Hardpoint isn’t necessarily guarding the point.
You can contribute to it simply by making it harder for the opponents to rotate. Guarding certain lanes either by pre-aiming down the alley or even setting up traps contributes to slowing down and disrupting the enemies during rotation. Those precious seconds spent fighting you means a better chance of your teammates either successfully capturing or defending the next point.
Many might not know this simply due to them opting for Flak Jacket or the Tactical Mask as their first Perk slot but equipping ‘Forward Intel’ grants players not only a larger mini map, it also alerts them when and where enemy reinforcements are arriving from. This helps a ton especially if you want to catch your enemies off a spawn, or choosing which portion of the map to lockdown.
Play It Your Way
Just because everyone is playing with SMGs, it doesn’t mean you should too. If there are several snipers locking down the dunes on Satellite, then maybe flanking them through the crevices and hills would do the trick to catch them out of position.
There’s an argument which goes like – if I don’t use the meta weapon like everyone else, then I’d be f****d. We are of a different school of thought. Let them fight their way. You fight on your own terms. Fundamentally, Call of Duty multiplayer rounds are like rocks-paper-scissors. SMG cancels out anything up close, snipers are kings of long-range while ARs fill the gap in between. Let the fight come to you and react accordingly, rather than YOLO-ing all the time. Unless you are on a reverse-boosting mission. Which means shame on you.
Our skills, rusty. Our reactions, way past optimum. But what we can do to even the score is by using our wits over raw skill and reflex. Even a simple tweak would improve your multiplayer experience and hopefully, your performance across the board. You’ll end up killing more, get stomped more sparingly and most importantly, find some joy in public lobbies.


Saints Row: The Third Remastered Looks Sharp & Is An Epic Games Exclusive

The Saints Row: The Third Remastered trailer is now out, showing off its updated graphics and improved audio.
The existence of the remaster was leaked by the ESRB a few days ago, so the real surprise comes at the end of the trailer when the Epic Games Store logo is displayed. I was assuming that it would be on Steam, but, as with Metro: Exodus and Borderlands 3, it shows that just because a series was previously on Valve’s platform, it doesn’t mean that it’d be there forever.

Having said that, Metro: Exodus and Borderlands 3Â were also timed exclusives. While we don’t yet know if Saints Row: The Third Remastered will also be a timed exclusive, the possibility is there.
As for the remaster itself, it does look nice, but I wonder if it’s really that necessary. Saints Row: The Third still looks and sounds good enough from what I remember, and while the gunplay could use some improvement, this being a remaster instead of a remake means that that will remain unchanged.
I also have a small gripe about the improved lighting. I dig it, for the most part, especially the neon lights at night. But dusk looks a tad too melancholic now, considering the game’s wacky tone.
If you’re hooked by the trailer though, you can pre-order the game, which includes the original’s mission packs and 30+ DLC items, now for $34.99 (RM152.20) on the Epic Games Store. Saints Row: The Third RemasteredÂ is not yet listed on the PlayStation or Microsoft Store, but Amazon UK lists a price of Â£34.99 (RM164.59) for both the PlayStation 4’s and Xbox One’s physical version.


How Left Alive Was Derived From The Front Mission Series

Front Mission Evolved was the last game in the franchise to be released by Square Enix, and that was over nine years ago. In an interview with 4Gamer (as translated by Siliconera), Left Alive director and Armored Core veteran Toshifumi Nabeshima discussed how the upcoming spinoff game will be derived from the Front Mission series.
When Left Alive was initially announced in 2017, it wasn’t immediately clear that it was actually set in the Front Mission universe. The main reason for this is because there was no ‘Front Mission‘ in the title, unlike other games in the series. Nabeshima explained on why this decision was made:

“We did consider it a lot, but as it would make players think it was a simulation game like the other games in the series, we ended up not using it. It was rough sailing deciding the title of the game, as Iâ€™m not very good at it.
Overseas staff proposed â€˜Aliveâ€™, and from that, we decided the title, Left Alive. Youâ€™re not just living, something else is letting you live. The nuance that youâ€™ve been abandoned while still alive fits the game perfectly.”

Nabeshima also said that he envisioned Front Mission as “game themed around war rather than one themed around robots”. To him, what makes Left Alive “Front Mission-like” is “the depiction of how the protagonist of the game sees war unfold”. That’s a great way of describing the franchise to gamers who think it’s only about robots.
Veteran fans may not like the third-person action-heavy approach that the franchise has been taking instead of its classic turn-based tactical RPG gameplay. Nabeshima believes that it would be more in line with the game’s “survival” theme to make players control humans instead of commanding a battalion of Wanzers (the franchise’s iconic mechs) like they did in older games:

“Because having your own Wanzer doesnâ€™t really lend any room for the theme of survival. We did consider making it a simulation game, but Iâ€™ve always made action games, and wanted to play to my strengths.
And the result of this is the survival action game Left Alive, where we see humans struggling in the war.”

Left Alive is slated to release for the PS4 and PC on 5 March 2019. Head on over here for more details on pricing and additional content for the PS4 version of the game. In the meantime, check out 14 minutes worth of Left Alive gameplay footage in the video below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw3srn5gggY&w=560&h=315]


[Report] Assassin’s Creed Black Flag & Rogue Remasters Coming To Switch

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is widely regarded as one of the best titles in the franchise, with its follow-up spin-off Rogue continuing the swashbuckling and seafaring mechanics of its predecessor. It seems like Nintendo Switch fans will soon be able to play these games on their hybrid console.
Greek gaming store The Console Club must have accidentally posted a page for the remastered version of both games, as it was then taken down later. However, ResetEra user LukarWuff managed to screenshot the page in question and post it online (via our friends at JomGaming).

What’s interesting is that prominent video game analyst Daniel Ahmad AKA ZhugeEx commented on the ResetEra thread and simply said that it was “real”. If the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag and Rogue Remastered for the Nintendo Switch are indeed real, it will highly likely be revealed at tomorrow’s newly-announced Nintendo Direct.
The Nintendo Direct live stream will begin at 3pm PT on 4 September 2019 or 6am GMT+8 on 5 September 2019 (for Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNgmufIGhEg&w=560&h=315]


Anime Attack: Here Are My Jump Force Beta Impressions

Ah, the eternal argument of who’s stronger in a fight? Goku or Naruto? Yusuke Urameshi or Pegasus Seiya? Wonder no more, because Jump Force is the wish-fulfilment game you’ve been waiting for, giving you the chance to settle those fantasy fights definitely.
Thanks to the folks at Bandai Namco, I took part in the Jump ForceÂ Closed BetaÂ last weekend.Â  The betaÂ gave me 15 characters to choose from. Unfortunately, this excludes several characters that have been recently revealed, such as Yu-Gi-Oh‘s Yugi Muto.
The first thing I noticed was the interesting art style. I was certainly impressed by how detailed the characters are. The developer’s decision to mesh photorealistic environments and anime characters with distinctive art styles seems to be paying off.

These visuals are amazing; these are definitely some of the best recreations of these iconic characters outside of their respective anime series.

I was actually looking forward to seeing the King of Games in action, but at least I still had access to other similarly-iconic characters. Take a look at all the fighters available during the Jump Force beta in the video below.

[wpvideo ZI8aabE9 ]
The full version of the game will hopefully let players create their own avatar character to use. I was given a choice between five default random avatars in the beta. I do hope that players can choose to voice our character creations in the full version of the game.

It was awkward having to watch other characters speak pre-battle while the camera pans to your avatar standing there not even uttering a single word.

But How Does It Play?
Jump Force‘s core gameplay would feel immediately familiar to fans of other 3D fighters developed and published by Bandai Namco, like the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series and the old Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi series. According to your own gaming preferences, that could either be a good or bad thing.
Cosmic Arrow!
Despite not being a fighting game enthusiast (or good at fighting games in general), I still had a blast pitting my favourite anime characters against each other. And that’s what ultimately matters. To my knowledge -and experience playing the beta- there are no complicated combos rivalling that of Street Fighter or Tekken.
Instead, the attacks are pretty simple to execute, which is good news for gamers who are not used to complex fighting games. For instance, Dragon Ball FighterZ turned me off because of its deep fighting mechanics and how difficult it was to execute flashier attacks like a Kamehameha beam and other crazy shonen moves.
Thankfully, Jump ForceÂ seemingly negates all that by enabling us to do easily unleash devastating and earth-breaking moves without the need to memorize specific and intrinsic combos.

[wpvideo 2bOXXFsS ]
I appreciated the fact that holding down the R2 button made a list of available assigned move sets appear on the screen. I could focus on what really mattered, firing my souped-up Rei Gun at an unprepared Toguro without worrying about whether I’m pressing the correct button combinations or sequence.
Besides that, the fighting mechanics are simple enough to pull off. For example, pressing the L1 button at the exact right time will see your fighter to teleport away to evade your enemy’s attack Ã  la Dragon Ball.

Jump Force lives up to its name, as planet-shattering signature attacks and impossibly fast-paced action moves from Shonen Jump’s biggest & brightest have been lovingly translated into the game.

Simply put, you don’t need to be a veteran fighting games maestro to play Jump Force. Its fighting mechanics are easy enough for any gamer to pick up and play. If you want more complicated anime-inspired fighters, however, Dragon Ball FighterZ and theÂ Guilty GearÂ series will suit you better.
Some Kinks To Be Aware Of…
That’s not to say that I didn’t encounter my share of issues during the Jump Force beta. The online battles clearly needed some work, with lagging being a particularly annoying problem for me. Another gripe was that the fighting felt too floaty and light, making it unsatisfying and frustrating to play at times.
Gameplay kinks are expected since this is only the first planned beta for the game. With four months remaining, the developers should be refining and polishing the gameplay before it releases sometime in February 2019 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with my Jump Force gameplay footage of Pegasus Seiya vs Goku.

[wpvideo hfWt4aGJ ]


Check Out These Official Overwatch League Team Colors

We got tons of new info about the Overwatch League from the recently concluded BlizzCon and one of the coolest bit we found out was the official team colors. Teased during the initial teams’ name reveal and roster announcements, the colors will be worn by each of these teams’ characters to differentiate them during matches – just like in pro sports. Also revealed were the team jerseys that players will be wearing throughout the span of the league. We understand that they will all go on sale this December 6th 2017.
OWL Team Player Jerseys
Meanwhile, here are the official team colors that the characters will don during Overwatch League official matches.

				Florida Mayhem

				Boston Uprising

				Philadelphia Fusion

				Houston Outlaws

				Dallas Fuel

				Shanghai Dragons

				Los Angeles GLAdiators

				Los Angeles Valiant

				Seoul Dynasty

				San Francisco Shock

				London Spitfire

				New York Excelsior

We are particularly fond of the Spitfire and Dynasty color schemes tho – what about you?


Xbox Head Teases New Streaming Device In New Fallout 25th Anniversary Photo

Microsoft’s Head of Gaming Phil Spencer just took a new office photo, complete with a possible tease of a new device.
The photo on Twitter is basically to celebrate the Fallout series’ 25th anniversary, but closer inspection on the top right (next to the Kojima Productions Ludus statue) reveals a device that hasn’t been seen on any official Xbox promo photo.

Vault Boy left the shelter and stopped by my office to celebrate the #Fallout25 Anniversary. Congratulations to the @Fallout @Bethesda teams on this major milestone for an iconic franchise. pic.twitter.com/hGoN1sAQRK
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) October 10, 2022

It’s most likely Xbox’s upcoming Keystone streaming device, which enables players to stream Xbox games to TVs or monitors without the need for a console. The last time Xbox made any official announcement on the Keystone is back in May.

“As announced last year, we’ve been working on a game-streaming device, codename Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console.
As part of any technical journey, we are constantly evaluating our efforts, reviewing our learnings, and ensuring we are bringing value to our customers. We have made the decision to pivot away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. We will take our learnings and refocus our efforts on a new approach that will allow us to deliver Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players around the world in the future.”

Could this be a subtle jab to the “success” of the Google Stadia, a service meant to stream gaming without a need for a console? In any case, we may need to keep an eye out if Keystone will deliver what was promised.


Expanding Your Xbox Series X Storage Won’t Be Cheap

A 1TB (Xbox Series X) or 512GB SSD (Xbox Series S) isn’t much, especially considering the size of next-gen games. Sooner or later, you’ll need to increase or expand the size of your storage, and with Microsoft’s next-gen consoles, it certainly won’t be cheap.
According to a product listing at Best Buy, the official 1TB Storage Expansion Card for the Xbox Series X and Series S costs a whopping US$219.99 (or roughly RM917+).
In comparison, Xbox Series X will be US$499 (or roughly RM2070+) and the Xbox Series S will be US$299 (or roughly RM1245). That’s extremely expensive, a single Storage Expansion Card is almost the price of an Xbox Series S.
Seagate makes the official Storage Expansion Card for the Xbox Series X and S, which is based on proprietary technology.

Microsoft has previously promised thatÂ all the accessories from the Xbox One will work on the Xbox Series X. While this applies for external hard drives too, the problem is that all Xbox Series X games must be installed to the consoleâ€™s internal SSD or the Seagate Storage Expansion Card, both of which use the new PCIe 4.0 standard.
As a result, Xbox Series X games can be backed up to a normal USB external drive, but canâ€™t be played from one. However, backwards-compatible Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox games can still be played on the Xbox Series X even if theyâ€™re installed on a USB external drive.
Unlike Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S,Â Sony’s PlayStation 5 won’t require a proprietary storage expansion solution, as PS5 owners will be able to upgrade the consoleâ€™s existing 825GB internal SSD with any brand of PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. These will get cheaper over time (just like any other piece of tech), but a proprietary tech will usually stay expensive.
As cheap as the Xbox Series S may be compared to other next-gen consoles, it might not be a viable option for anyone who likes to hoard their games and keep a bunch of them downloaded at the same time.


New Samsung Galaxy S22 Camera Updates Let You Capture the Stars At Night

Earlier this year, the Galaxy S22 series introduced the pro-grade smartphone camera with advanced Nightography features. Now, that camera just got even better. With an updated version of the Expert RAW app and a brand new app called Camera Assistant, you’ll be able to capture professional-looking shots.
The Expert RAW elevates the S22’s already robust night photography capabilities with a powerful Astrophoto feature. This brand-new feature lets star gazers and outdoor enthusiasts take clear and beautiful photos of constellations and dark sky activity.
Simply turn on the Sky guide to pinpoint the location of constellations, solar systems, groups of stars and nebula. Your camera will use advanced AI segmentation technology and multi-frame processing based on the movements of a celestial body to snap photos over a set time period. As a result, you’ll capture stunning shots of stars that look like they were taken with top-grade professional equipment.

If you love to explore your artistic side, you can take advantage of the Multiple exposures feature to shoot several images at once and then use Overlay modes to combine them into one standout shot. You can also unleash your creativity and experiment with superimposing several images on top of each other to create incredible abstract shots.

To access the beta version of Astrophoto and Multiple exposures, go to the Special Photo options in the Settings menu of Expert RAW.
Camera Assistant App Lets You Take Photos on Your Own Terms
Every avid photographer has their own shooting style, so it’s vital to have a camera that gives you the creative reins. With the new Camera Assistant app, you can pick and choose which automated features you want to use for a fully customized shooting experience.
You can download the app from either Galaxy Store or the Good Lock app. Once the app is installed, you can launch the feature by clicking the app icon, navigating to the Good Lock app or accessing the Camera Assistant menu under Camera Settings in your native camera app.
The Camera Assistant app gives you the option to turn certain features on or off, including Auto lens switching, Auto HDR and Faster shutter. You also have more options when, for example, selecting the number of pictures you want to take after the timer goes off.
The Camera Assistant app allows you to enjoy the following key features:2

Auto HDR: If you want to get atmospheric pictures without HDR effect, you can now simply turn it off.

Soften pictures: You can turn on this feature to smooth out the sharp edges and textures of your photos.

Auto lens switching: Now you can turn off the Auto lens switching feature, which automatically switches camera lenses in dark environments or as you move closer to the object you are shooting.  For instance, if you want to keep using the telephoto lens instead of the wide lens to take a picture of the object closer to you, you can simply turn it off in the menu.
Video recording in Photo mode: You can now turn off this feature, which allows you to take a video clip by long-pressing the button in Photo mode, preventing you from accidentally recording a video.
Number of pictures after timer: You could already automatically snap several photos in quick succession after the timer count. Now, you can also choose how many photos are taken (1, 3, 5 or 7 photos).
Faster shutter: This mode allows you to take up to seven pictures in a second. This is very useful when taking pictures of moving objects.
Camera Timeout: You can select how long the Camera app (preview screen) is turned on continuously for 1, 2, 5 or 10 minutes.
Clean preview on HDMI displays: Show the camera preview without any menus and buttons on HDMI-connected displays.

 For more information on Galaxy S22 series, visit:
Galaxy S22 Ultra: https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-s22-ultra/
 Galaxy S22 | S22+ : https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-s22/


Disney+ Obi-Wan Kenobi Series Premieres This May

Disney+ has announced (via Twitter) that the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series will premiere on the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service on 25 May 2022.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, a limited Original series, starts streaming May 25 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/XCV1xQZhDR
— Star Wars (@starwars) February 9, 2022

Obi-Wan KenobiÂ will be set 10 years after the events ofÂ Star Wars Episode III Revenge Of The SithÂ and presumably before the events ofÂ Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope.
It is executive-produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Deborah Chow, McGregor and series writer Joby Harold. Deborah Chow will direct Obi-Wan Kenobi after having helmed two episodes ofÂ The Mandalorian.
Obi-Wan KenobiÂ is only one of severalÂ Star WarsÂ live-action series currently in the works Disney Plus, includingÂ The MandalorianÂ Season 3,Â The Book Of Boba Fett,Â Ahsoka Tano, and many more.
Other cast members include:

Moses Ingram.
Joel Edgerton.
Bonnie Piesse.
Kumail Nanjiani.
Indira Varma.
Rupert Friend.
Oâ€™Shea Jackson Jr.
Sung Kang.
Simone Kessell.
Benny Safdie.

We also learned more details during Disney+ Day last year, including the potential appearances of Inquisitors and more.


The ROG Phone 2 Starts From RM3.5K, Here’s What You Can Also Get For That Price

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 has finally been officially launched in Malaysia and we found out that the base model with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is priced at RM3,499. That’s definitely up there with most flagships being released by other mainstream Android brands like Samsung and Google.
What sets the ROG Phone 2 apart is that it’s primarily designed for mobile gamers. That huge 6,000mAh battery, super-smooth 120Hz screen, and the built-in air triggers are just some of the obvious features that show how gamer-centric the phone is.

As someone who plays games on my phone, PC, and PS4, it got me thinking: What else can I get for RM3,499?

Don’t get me wrong. I think the ROG Phone 2 is an overall decent smartphone and it does really well as a gaming phone. However, spending almost RM4,000 ringgit just to play games like PUBG Mobile or Mobile Legends or any other mobile games, frankly speaking, sounds ridiculous.
So let’s see what other gaming products we can get for that price.
Two PS4 Pro God of War / The Last of Us Remastered Bundle – RM3,598
If we’re talking about console gaming, then the PS4 is the right choice. It’s got a lineup of amazing exclusives and the above PS4 Pro bundle already gives you two of them.
To make it even better, you’ll even be able to afford another set that you can give to a friend or set up two consoles at home; one in the living room for everyone and another one in your room for some private enjoyment.
An ASUS TUF Gaming FX505D-TBQ057T Laptop – RM3,499

I could have compared the ROG Phone 2 to a bunch of other gaming laptops. But I thought it’d be funnier to point out that ASUS themselves is selling a gaming laptop for the exact same price as the ROG Phone 2.

This model of the TUF Gaming laptop doesn’t exactly have top-notch specs. It only has 4GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, an Nvidia GTX1650, and a Ryzen 7-3750H. However, there are two extra RAM slots in case you want to upgrade (protip: you should).

Still, it’s decent enough that it will run most modern games at 1080p 30fps on high settings. If you’re fine with playing on medium settings, you’ll probably hit 60fps.
Getting a laptop also means you get all the benefits of having a computer. You can use it on the daily for work and study because typing on a laptop is always infinitely better than on a phone especially thanks to the fact that it has a bigger screen for you to look at. That 15.6″ full HD IPS panel will also do a decent job of letting you watch HD movies and TV shows on Netflix.
Three Nintendo Switches – RM3,500+

This generation we’ve been graced by quite possibly one of the handheld and home console combo ever made: The Nintendo Switch. It’s got an amazing lineup of games which are great for both solo and multiplayer enjoyment.

The new version comes with upgraded battery life but if you’re not keen on docking it at home, you can even go for the cheaper Switch Lite which costs about RM900 each.

That means you can get four Switch Lites at the same price, enough for you and three other friends to beat each other up in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
A Four-Day Solo Trip To Japan – RM3,400+

If you’re a big JRPG or anime nerd, then you probably consider going to Akihabara as one of your lifelong dreams. It turns out that you can go to Tokyo and stay there for an entire week with the amount of money used to buy an ROG Phone 2, assuming you’re fine with flying economy for about 7 or 8 hours.
The flight tickets will probably cost you around RM2,000. For accommodations, you can just check in to a backpacker hostel or a student room through Airbnb. Some of them are as cheap as RM95 per night. After that’s settled, you’ll still have RM1,100 to spend in Japan. I’d say that’s enough for meals and a few souvenirs.

Sure, you might not get the best Tokyo experience but if you’ve never even been to Japan and you want to get a glimpse of what life is like over there while also indulging your anime and gaming hobbies, I’d say it’s still a damn good deal.

Alright, that’s the end of my list of alternatives to the ROG Phone 2. Again, I’d like to clarify that I think the ROG Phone 2 is a decent piece of hardware and that it will definitely be the phone that some hardcore users are looking for. If you don’t belong in that group, my above recommendations are probably better ideas.


Blizzard Announces New Hearthstone Expansion Saviors Of Uldum

Blizzard Entertainment has announced a new Hearthstone expansion, Saviors Of Uldum. It is set to be the sequel to Rise Of Shadows and The Dalaran Heist from earlier this year, as part of the digital card game’s year-long story arc for 2019.
In Hearthstone Saviors Of Uldum, players will join the League Of Explorers in the fight against the League Of E.V.I.L. There will be new Plague cards with powerful, board-sweeping effects and the Reborn; restless mummified minions that come back to un-life (with just 1 Health remaining) upon being defeated.
Players can complete all-new Quests, a returning mechanic featuring game-changing objective cards that are now easier to achieve and reward players with powerful alternate Hero Powers.
Hearthstone Saviors Of Uldum card packs can be obtained by winning matches in Arena Mode or purchased with in-game gold or real money. Those who log in for a limited time (by 30 October 2019) after release will be able to claim one of the new Legendary Quest cards.
Players can pre-purchase Saviors of Uldum card packs in two different bundle options:

50-pack bundle, which includes a random golden Legendary card and the Elise Starseeker card pack – US$49.99
80-pack Mega Bundle, which includes those bonuses along with the new playable Elise Starseeker Druid Hero – US$79.99

The Hearthstone Saviors Of Uldum expansion is slated to release on 6 August 2019. In the meantime, check out the cinematic trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMhpHgqIQdQ&w=560&h=315]


No Straight Roads Closed Off Until Early 2020; Gets Publisher & Physical Copy

So much for that Spring 2019 release date, eh Metronomik?
The Malaysian-made upcoming action game with rhythm beats No Straight Roads will be delayed to early 2020. On the plus side, the devs will be partnering with publisher Sold Out, and will also get physical versions for sale for only US$39.99. Oh, and it’ll be for PC and PS4.
Here’s the official statement from CEO Wan Hazmer.

“Partnering with Sold Out has given us the opportunity to turn the volume up to 11 onÂ No Straight Roads, and weâ€™re thrilled to also release a physical edition. Pushing the game to early 2020 wasnâ€™t an easy decision, but the extra time will let us fully deliver on our vision forÂ No Straight RoadsÂ while sticking to our studioâ€™s core values of providing a friendly, healthy workplace.
Weâ€™re so proud of everyone on the team for what theyâ€™ve achieved so far, and we canâ€™t wait to bring Vinyl City to lifeâ€¦!”

Sold Out CEO Garry Williams added that the game “struck a chord” with the publisher, is unique, and brings back memories of games like “Jet Set Radio while delivering something new and innovative”.
At the very least, the devs are hard at work to make sure No Straight Roads will do our country proud. While you wait for early 2020, why not placate yourself with that awesome story trailer Metronomik did a while back? Or even some of our vids detailing Wan Hazmer and the company?


Lost Judgment Can Be Stylish & Bonkers If You Get Through The Tedium

Platform(s): PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Genre:Â Action-Adventure, Beat-Em-Up, Detective, High School Setting
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s long-running Yakuza franchise recently released its seventh entry and now even its own 2018 spinoff, Judgment, has received a sequel in the form of Lost Judgment. This game essentially still has a lot of the Yakuza stuff you’d expect from an RGG Studio game, but with a twist. The protagonist is now not a former member of the Yakuza like Kazuma Kiryu, but instead, a former lawyer named Takayuki Yagami who is now private investigator or licensed detective.
Back To School

If you’ve ever played a Yakuza game before, you’d probably know what to expect from the narrative and characters of an RGG Studio game. What’s good about Lost Judgment is that despite being a sequel, you can pretty much just jump right into this game without having played its predecessor. I never played Judgment (you can still check out our review here from KKP’s own Mr. Toffee), but I had no problems whatsoever with Lost Judgment since the beginning of the game gives a decent intro and tutorial for newbies.
Like I previously mentioned, the story in an RGG Studio can be very unconventional and varied in tone, to say the least. The plot in Lost Judgment begins with a very grisly discovery of a murder victim and its supposed connection to an ongoing court case involving a potential suspect who’s already being acquitted for groping a woman on a train. To continue this investigation, protagonist Takayuki Yagami and his team of detectives will have to infiltrate and go undercover at the most unlikely of places…
A high school.

That’s right, players will have to assume the role of the very much adult Takayuki Yagami creepily stalking students and even beating up delinquent high school kids the same way he beats up Yakuza gang members. You’ll spend time at high school clubs and even loitering around the school solving side quests called School Stories. Oh, and trust me, the school setting is a major part of the game, and there’s no avoiding it. It even feels sort of Persona-like, in a way, except you’re now a grown man instead of being a fellow student.
The plot in Lost Judgment mainly touches on heavy and controversial themes such as bullying and suicide amongst the youth in Japan, which is why the school setting is required in the first place. Still, the game’s tone tends to veer from one extreme end of the spectrum to another. Some moments will feel more grounded, while others will feel silly and even corny, like mentoring the dance club or catching a panty thief. It can make for a bit of dissonance if you’re not used to the RRG Studio style.
The biggest issue I have with Lost Judgment is that the game consists of almost 80 to 90 percent of dialogue and cutscenes, with only the remaining 20 to 10 percent featuring the various minigames and actual combat. I know that’s the RGG Studio style but it’s a slog to go through hours of dialogue and cutscenes at a time just for a few minutes of combat to break the monotony. A lot of the actual detective work also feels more tedious than anything and only serves the pad out the game even further by throwing a bunch of new gadgets and mechanics every now and then.
Everybody Is Kung Fu Fighting

The highlight of the game is definitely the combat. After hours of dialogue and tedious detective work, you’ll get rewarded with fights here and there. It’s great then, that the combat sections are worth looking forward to and awesome to actually play. Protagonist Takayuki Yagami has access to three combat stances which can be switched at any time during combat, including the Crane Stance, the Tiger Stance and the new Snake Stance.
Each combat stance has its own advantages and quirks. The Crane Stance utilizes wide AoE kicks for crowd control, while the Tiger Stance is great for dishing out damage via a flurry of punches. I personally like the Snake Stance, especially against stronger single enemies or bosses. Even though the Snake Stance is arguably the slowest in terms of speed, it’s great for playing defensively like grappling attacks and even disarming enemies of their weapons.
The more creative you are in fights, the more SP (the game’s version of experience points) is rewarded, which gives the player incentive to keep switching up combat stances during battles. You’ll need a lot of SP for the game’s expansive skill tree. There’s a separate skill tree for each combat stance, as well as separate ones for stat increases (health, damage, etc.) and miscellaneous stuff like increasing your alcohol tolerance (yes, really) and more.

You’ll never get tired of combat segments, especially owing to how stylish they look and how great it feels to execute attacks. Plus, it never gets old to see the special EX finishing moves. What does get old are the boring tailing missions (thankfully, there aren’t many of these), the forced stealth sections and the detective work sections utilizing the various gadgets you’ll have at your disposal. Going into observation mode gets old just to scan stuff around you is not fun, and you’ll have to do this A LOT.
Oh, and as always, there’s a truckload of minigames here. I’m not kidding, there are actually full games inside Lost Judgment that you can even play at arcades and even on a virtual SEGA Master system. These include classic and retro SEGA games like 1987’s motorcycle game Super Hang-On, 1995’s fighting game Fighting Vipers, 1996’s Sonic The Fighters and more. Not to mention all the other minigames like golf, dancing, dart games, Shogi, Mahjong, and more. You could literally spend hours just playing the minigames if that’s your cup of tea.
Visually, Lost Judgment looks incredible on the PS5. Details look crisp and clean, and it retains a smooth framerate throughout. The regions of Kamurocho and Isezaki Ijincho are vibrant and lively. Oh, and did I mention that you can hop on a skateboard at any time to explore the city?
Judging Judgment

Lost Judgment is clearly for fans of RGG Studio and their games, but it’s friendly to newbies as well. The main story takes roughly 20 to 30 hours or more to complete but taking in everything else, you can very well spend more than 100 hours just going through the side cases and minigames. It’s quite a slog, to be sure, but ardent fans should appreciate it better than the majority of people expecting a shake-up like Yakuza: Like A Dragon.
Pros

Vibrant visuals and a lively world to explore.
Stylish and satisfying combat.
A narrative that’s full of both crazy and grounded events.
Lots and lots of minigames.

Cons

The dialogue and detective work are a tedious slog.
About 80 percent of the game is just dialogue and detective work.

Final Score: 50/100
Review copy provided by Sega. Played on PS5.


New Star Wars Battlefront 2 Trailer Shows Off Rise of Skywalker Content

Star Wars: Battlefront II will always be remembered for its abysmal launch. Slowly but surely, the game has evolved into something much better and the recent release of the Celebration Edition is giving a lot of people motivation to join EA’s Dark Side.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbVsjbBllKQ&w=560&h=315]
A new trailer for Star Wars Battlefront II: Celebration Edition shows off some cinematic action tied to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The game is getting a free update containing new appearances for characters such as Kylo Ren, Rey, and Finn. Owners of the game can start downloading the update today.
The Rise of Skywalker update also comes with a new jungle planet for co-op and Heroes vs. Villains. Players are also getting sequel era versions of Takodana, Jakku, and Starkiller Base for co-op as well as attack and defend scenarios.

See those Sith troopers clad in bright red? They’re call the Infiltrator class and can now be played in the new update. The First Order also gets a new and overhauled First Order Jet Trooper. On the side of the Resistance, two new units are now playable: Gunner and Spy.
For those of who are still unconvinced in the redemption of Battlefront 2, it might be time to do away with some of that skepticism and give it a try. There are even more content coming to game in January 2020 so it’s a great time to jump in and experience Star Wars like never before.


Is Your Wallet Tough Enough For These EVO Weekend Steam Sale Discounts?

It’s EVO weekend, ladies and gents. The world’s best (video game) fighters will gather at Las Vegas to show what it’s like to play with the skill and patience of a warrior.
All hyperbole aside, us common folks will not only get to watch these gaming gods battle it out but also enjoy some great discounts on Steam. The EVO weekend sale starts today and wraps up on 5 August 2019 so put on your gi and do your stretches, it’s time to shop!
Here are our top 5 picks of the best fighting games being offered in the sale:
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition

RM44.50
You really can’t go wrong with this one. Street Fighter V brings back all the beloved features of its predecessor and adds in a few new mechanics and modes.
You’ll notice that the game has an overall “mixed” rating on Steam and that’s mostly due to the game’s penny-pinching monetisation schemes that were implemented during release.
With the Arcade Mode (and at that price!), you’ll be getting everything you deserve and enjoy the game as it’s meant to be played.
Tekken 7

RM74.50
After Tekken 6 was released worldwide, fans had to wait for about 8 years before getting another entry and Tekken 7 was worth the wait.
Introducing new mechanics such as Rage and Power Crush while also maintaining the series’ great combos and responsive 3D movements, Tekken 7 is often regarded as one of the best in the series.
You also get to actually toss your son down a mountain this time. 10/10.
DRAGON BALL FighterZ

RM49.75
There can still be some debate on whether or not DRAGON BALL FighterZ is the best Dragonball game ever made but it is without a doubt the most mechanically deep one so far.
The game doesn’t have dozens and dozens of characters like the Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi games but it has a good selection of favourites and side characters from Dragonball Z and Dragonbal Super.
No other Dragonball fighting game has put this much emphasis on the timing and responsiveness of your attacks, blocks, and dodges. It’s one of the most intense anime fighting games out there.
Soulcalibur VI

RM64.26
Even if you’ve never played Soulcalibur VI, you must’ve at least seen a video or two showing off Spongebob or even KFC’s Colonel Sanders in the game.
There’s no arguing about it, this game probably has the most robust custom character creation tools in any fighting game but don’t be fooled, it’s more than that. Way more.
The weapon-based fighting is extremely polished and despite the usual complexities, it’s quite accessible for those who don’t usually play fighting games so don’t be afraid of trying this one out.
UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH Exe:Late[st]

RM48.75
First, let’s start with that name. Don’t bother trying to wrap your head around it, just call it what everyone calls it: UNIST.
If you’ve never ever played a fighting game or you don’t like playing fighting games because you’re afraid of sucking at them, then UNIST is the game you should try.
The tutorial will take you through each of the game’s basic and advanced mechanics. It assumes that you’re someone who’s totally new to fighting games and will help you get a feel for the controls.
Not to forget, the soundtrack is pretty sweet too.


Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Reveals That Players Can Wield Excalibur & Visit America

Ubisoft has released a brand new Deep Dive trailer for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, including new gameplay details and the like.
Here’s what we learned from the trailer:
At the Alliance map, players will interact with Ramsay, the Raven clan’s key intel gatherer to “plan the next move”.There are four Kingdoms in England; Mercia, East Anglia, Northumbria, and Wessex.Players can forge alliances with different territories to grow their settlement, unlock more narrative arcs, missions, and activities.Each Kingdom features its own respective plotlines, casts of characters, and challenges to overcome.Combat skills include brute strength charging manoeuvres, close-quarters melee attacks, two-handed finishers, dog companions, poison powder traps, and more.Special abilities can be unlocked via Books Of Knowledge, which can be discovered throughout the open-world.Players can actually wield the legendary sword Excalibur in the game.Players can switch between male and female Eivor at any time during the game.Resources can be used to build and upgrade structures at settlement, including the barracks, blacksmith, tattooist, shipyard, and the Hidden Ones’ bureau.There will be drinking minigames and dice board games (Orlog).Players can visit Asgard and even a portion of North America in specific quests (as seen in the trailer and as confirmed by the developers in an interview with PCGamesN)
Visiting America in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Assassinâ€™s Creed ValhallaÂ is slated to launch on 10 November 2020 for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS4, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on PC. However, it will only release for the PS5 on 12 November 2020.


Peacemaker To Premiere On HBO GO In Malaysia This January

PeacemakerÂ is slated to debut on Thursday, 13 January 2022 on HBO GO in Malaysian and other countries in Asia.
The series will explore the origins of the character that Cena first portrayed in James Gunnâ€™s 2021 film,Â The Suicide Squad, which is already currently available on HBO GO.Â PeacemakerÂ isÂ a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it.
The series also stars Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Steve Agee as Economos, Chukwudi Iwuji as Murn, and Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith.

Gunn wrote all eight episodes ofÂ PeacemakerÂ and directed five episodes. Gunn, Peter Safran and Matt Miller serve as executive producers on the series, with Cena as co-executive producer. Based on characters from DC,Â PeacemakerÂ is produced by Gunnâ€™s Troll Court Entertainment and The Safran Company in association with Warner Bros. Television.
You can stream or download Peacemaker from 13 January 2022 by subscribing to HBO GO at https://www.hbogoasia.com/Â or the mobile appÂ via theÂ App StoreÂ orÂ Play Store for RM23.30 per month. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
In the meantime, check out the brand new trailer below, or you can check out my breakdown of the ending and easter eggs in The Suicide SquadÂ byÂ heading over here.


Here’s A Deeper Look At Stray, A Game About A Cat Stuck In A Robot City

Last year, we got a tiny glimpse at Stray, a game featuring a cat in what seems to be a robot-filled metropolis. Recently on Annapurna Interactive’s online showcase, we got a closer look at that strange concept.
The new Stray video showcases the game’s mechanic and its genre: an adventure game. You obviously play a cat who is injured and separated from your family. You navigate the cat through the city, solving puzzles and discovering the city’s mysteries as you go. Your cat starts out defenseless, but you’ll make friends with the robot denizens and get equipment to help navigate the world better.
“Running fast, jumping, and using stealth to avoid dangers will all be vital if you want to escape the city and be reunited with your family.”
It also helps that your cat with eventually get a purple death ray thing to kill mutant bugs hounding your robot pals. Stray will be out in early 2022 for PlayStation and PC; you can wishlist the game right now.
Check out the gameplay below.


Renowned Twitter Account Known For Finding PS5s Is Using Skills To Fight Coronavirus

Talk about using your deal-searching powers for good.
The Twitter account Wario64, which has a million-plus followers and is known for helping consumers track down PlayStation 5s and other great video game deals, is channeling its energy to a new fight: against COVID-19. Earlier this week(via Washington Post), the @Wario64 Twitter account posted about the availability of the BinaxNOW antigen self test and the Amazon purchase links.
These posts came out due to the recent COVID-19 omicron variant cases popping up in North America. The US government and US Postal Service has been sending coronavirus test kits to US households due to massive demands.

BinaxNOW COVID?19 Antigen Self Test (2 Count) available at Walmart ($14, regional availability) https://t.co/vrJUSFrxxS #ad pic.twitter.com/Mas462uaxi
— Wario64 (@Wario64) January 6, 2022

As North America is seeking aid for COVID-19, it’ll at least get some help from one of video game’s best game deal searchers. Though to be fair, parody site Hard Drive made this prediction months ago.Â


Hogwarts Legacy Talent List: The Best Talent To Master

When you level up in Hogwarts Legacy, you get Talent points. You can use these points to power up existing spells and abilities.
Each of the Talent points can go in any one of the following Talent trees:

Spells
Dark Arts
Core
Stealth
Room of Requirement

As long as you hit the level requirement, you can allocate Talent points anywhere you please among the five trees.
Want to know the best Hogwarts Legacy spells? Head here!
Here’s a breakdown of all the Talent trees and their skills, along with the level requirement needed to allocate points onto.
Keep in mind that there’s no way to respec points, so think carefully about where you’re allocating them. If you need help, we have a few suggestions after the list.
Spells

Level 5

Incendio Mastery: casting Incendio unleashes a ring of flame around you.
Accio Mastery (Recommended): enemies near a target summoned by Accio are also pulled to you.
Levioso Mastery: enemies near a target levitated by Levioso are also levitated.
Confringo Mastery (Recommended): Confringo impacts produce fiery bolts that seek enemy targets.
Depulso Mastery: casting Depulso releases an additional blast directly around you.
Diffindo Mastery: Diffindo casts slices through impacted enemies to strike additional targets.

Level 16

Bombarda Mastery: Bombarda causes an explosive blast with a massive area of effect.
Descendo Mastery (Recommended): a Descendo slam creates a damaging shockwave around your target.
Glacius Mastery: striking an enemy frozen by Glacius blasts damaging shards outward from the target.

Level 22

Transformation Mastery: enemies struck with the Transformation spell transform into explosive objects.

Dark Arts

Level 5

Stunning Curse: Stupefy has the same effect as a curse on enemies. Cursed enemies take increased damage.
Blood Curse: dealing damage to a cursed target inflicts damage to all cursed targets.
Disarming Curse: Expelliarmus has the same effect as a curse on enemies. Cursed enemies take increased damage.
Knockback Curse: Flipendo has the same effect as a curse on enemies. Cursed enemies take increased damage.

Level 16

Enduring Curse: a cursed effect remains on an enemy for a longer period of time.
Slowing Curse: Arresto Momentum has the same effect as a curse on enemies. Cursed enemies take increased damage.
Imperio Mastery: an enemy under your control with Imperio curses other targets with each successful strike.
Crucio Mastery: striking an enemy cursed by Crucio releases a projectile that curses a nearby enemy.

Level 22

Avada Kedavra Mastery: killing an enemy with Avada Kedavra kills all cursed enemies.
Curse Sapper: defeating a cursed enemy restores some of your health.

Core (Recommended for first-timers)

Level 5

Ancient Magic Throw Expertise: Ancient Magic Throw catches and throws disarmed enemy weapons.
Basic Cast Mastery (Recommended): Basic Cast impacts reduce spell cooldowns.
Protego Absorption (Recommended): successful Protego blocks will contribute to the Ancient Magic meter. Perfect Protego blocks contribute even more.
Swift (Recommended): holding down dodge allows you to vanish quickly and reappear nearby.
Spell Knowledge I: a new Spell Set is added. Hold the right trigger and tap the d-pad on a controller or use the mouse wheel to swap to an unlocked Spell set.
Spell Knowledge II: a new Spell Set is added. Hold the right trigger and tap the d-pad on a controller or use the mouse wheel to swap to an unlocked Spell set.
Wiggenweld Potency I (Recommended): Wiggenweld heals you to a greater effect.

Level 16

Spell Knowledge III: a new Spell Set is added. Hold the right trigger and tap the d-pad on a controller or use the mouse wheel to swap to an unlocked Spell set.
Revelio Mastery: increases the range of Revelio.
Basic Cast Airborne Absorption: Basic Cast impacts on airborne enemies contribute more to the Ancient Magic meter.
Protego Expertise: blocking a spell with Perfect Protego will send two projectiles back at enemies.
Evasion Absorption: successfully evading an unblockable attack with dodge contributes to the Ancient Magic meter.
Stupefy Mastery: enemies struck with Stupefy remain stunned for a longer period of time.
Wiggenweld Potency II: Wiggenweld heals you to a greater effect.

Level 22

Stupefy Expertise: Stupefy deals direct damage on impact.
Protego Mastery: Perfect Protego releases a damaging blast that breaks enemy shields.

Stealth

Level 5

Sense of Secrecy I: enemies’ ability to detect you is reduced.
Human Demiguise: allows you to sprint while using Disillusionment.

Level 16

Sense of Secrecy II: enemies’ ability to detect you is reduced.

Level 22

Petrificus Totalus Mastery: Petrificus Totalus emanates an area of effect that can impact nearby enemies.

Room of Requirement

Level 5

Edurus Potion Potency: Edurus Potion makes you invulnerable and deflects projectile attacks back to enemies.
Fertiliser: for each Chineses Chomping Cabbage thrown, a second Chomping Cabbage is generated and released at no cost.
Invisibility Potion Potency: the Invisibility Potion’s undetectable effect lasts for a longer period of time.

Level 16

Maxima Potion Potency: Maxima Potion causes attacks to have additional increased damage and break enemy shields.
Headache: the damage and duration of the incapacitating effect of Mandrakes are increased.

Level 22

Thunderbrew Potency: the range and damage of the potion effect are greatly increased.
Focus Potion Potency: the duration of the Focus Potion’s effect will be extended when any spell from the Spell Set is cast during its use.
Noxious: Venomous Tentacula attacks deal additional damage and break shields.

Best Hogwarts Legacy Talents
If you love fighting and like the Unforgiveable Curses route, go for the Dark Arts tree and also the Core tree to reduce cooldown for certain spells. Don’t bother with the stealth talent points if you plan on fighting a lot out in the open-world. Our top picks so far include:

Confringo Mastery
Protego Absorption
Wiggenweld Potency I
Basic Cast Mastery

At least that’s our experience; your playstyle may differ.


Hawkeye Episode 3 Easter Eggs & Breakdown

The third episode of HawkeyeÂ Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
HawkeyeÂ is an original new series set in post-blip New York City where former Avenger Clint Barton aka Hawkeye has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with Kate Bishop, a 22-year-old skilled archer, and his biggest fan, to unravel a criminal conspiracy.
You can check out my previous breakdowns of Hawkeye Episodes 1 and 2 here.
In addition, you can check out my previous breakdowns of Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 1,Â Episode 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9 here.
If you havenâ€™t, you can check out my previous breakdowns and easter egg articles for WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.
ForÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns forÂ Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â andÂ Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns ofÂ LokiÂ episodes, check outÂ Episode 1 here,Â Episode 2 here,Â Episode 3 here,Â Episode 4 here,Â Episode 5 hereÂ andÂ Episode 6 here.

The Episode Begins By Showing Maya Lopez AKA Echo When She Was Younger

After introducing Maya Lopez AKA Echo (Alaqua Cox) for the first time in Episode 2, we get a glimpse at her childhood. It turns out that her family couldn’t afford to send her to a deaf school, so she had to go to a normal school instead. Growing up, she excels at martial arts despite having a prosthetic leg as well.

Our First Glimpse At Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin?

During the flashback at one of her martial classes, her father says “Uncle will take you home tonight” before a man in a suit comes and pinches her face playfully. We only see the man’s torso, but with Maya Lopez’s history in the comics and the fact that the man wears a suit similar to the Kingpin, this “Uncle” might well turn out to be Wilson Fisk AKA the Kingpin himself.
Ronin Killed Echo’s Father

In another flashback, this time when Echo is already an adult, we discover that Ronin (when Clint was in the suit) killed her father. This is probably why she wants the Tracksuit Mafia to find and bring Ronin to her in the present.
In A Fight, Maya Destroys Clint’s Hearing Aid

Maya does a great job of keeping up and even overpowering an Avenger who’s fought, Thanos. So much so that she even destroys his hearing aid after kicking it out of his ear. This is after she commented earlier how Clint “relies too much on technology”, referring to his hearing aid.
Clint Has A Pym Particle Arrow

Considering how rare Pym Particles are in the MCU, it’s amazing that Clint has a Pym Particle arrow that can enlarge or embiggens objects that it hits. Nice Ant-Man easter egg there.
Kazi Might Be Referring To Kingpin

Kazi (Fra Fee) tells Maya that hunting down Ronin might be a mistake because they’re supposed to stay at a low profile. He also mentions that “Uncle” might find out and that “he” wouldn’t be happy. This “Uncle” is clearly the head honcho, and more clues are pointing to him being Wilson Fisk AKA the Kingpin.
A Reference To Clint’s Classic Comic Book Hawkeye Costume

From the very beginning of the MCU, we’ve seen Clint hew more closely to the Ultimate universe version of the comics in terms of costume and style. In this episode, Kate suggests that Clint change to a more recognizable costume and gives him a drawing that is an easter egg to his classic costume in the comics.

Kazi Is An Employee Of Sloan Limited

When searching in the Bishop Security database, Kate discovers that Kazi is working for Sloan Limited. In the comics, Kazi is a villain named the Clown, who is a mercenary with great combat skills and is recognizable by his clown makeup.

The Episode Ends With Jack Holding Clint At Swordpoint

Yup, we’re left with this cliffhanger as Jack meets Clint for the first time. Or is it?
We still don’t know if the MCU version of Jack Duquesne has a history and past connection with Clint Barton. In the comics, Jacques/Jack Duquesne is known as the Swordsman and he was the one who trained Clint Barton when he was younger. He started as a villain and later became a hero (even becoming an Avenger at one point), but would often gravitate between the two over the years. However, he ultimately died a hero in the comics.
Until next week, Excelsior, true believers!


E3 2021: The Games That Did Not Show Up

We’ve seen a ton of games during E3 2021 week. Heck, we’ve even picked our favourites from the bunch of 100 games being shown off, be it in hands-on or eyes-only preview format.
However, there were a good number of titles both big and small that were conspicuously absent during this special week. Here they are.
Final Fantasy XVI

Let’s start with the biggest omission from Square Enix: no new word regarding the sixteenth mothership Final Fantasy title that’s being produced by Naoki “FFXIV” Yoshida. There’s been nothing about the game since its reveal last year, whether it’s actually coming to PC or any new gameplay about it.
Odds are that it’s not ready for a public showing, hence the Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin supposedly carrying the FF torch until Tokyo Game Show 2021. Hopefully.
The Elder Scrolls VI

Xbox and Bethesda’s Voltron E3 2021 games showcase had a lot of heavy hitters from the latter company like Starfield being Xbox exclusive and its subsidiary game studio Arkane creating a new co-op shooter called Redfall. However, there isn’t any news or info about The Elder Scrolls VI apart from the fact that it’s still in development.
To be fair, Bethesda did state that the next Elder Scrolls RPG will only be out right after Starfield. We’re basically in for a long wait, in other words.
Beyond Good & Evil 2

Since 2017, there’s been a bit of update and “turmoil” going on with Ubisoft’s sequel that a lot of people really, REALLY want. The game went from an adventure to an MMO to a potential open-world Ubisoft template. Regardless of the many forms it has taken, there’s nary a peep about BG&E 2.
We think we won’t see jack until at least late 2022. With series creator Michel Ancel out of Ubisoft and leaving the sequel in capable hands, we doubt it’ll get the priority development it needs with Ubisoft’s other moneymakers like the Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, and Tom Clancy-branded shootey bang bang games.
Dragon Age 4, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order 2

What happened to EA and its major games showcase like the sequels to Dragon Age and that Jedi action-adventure game from Respawn? Well, the company’s EA-exclusive show is only happening next month, so just hold onto your hats for news, updates, and trailers about that.
Hollow Knight: Silksong

Ever since it was announced, the sequel to the Metroidvania darling Hollow Knight stayed relatively silent. That release date is still staying “TBA” until further notice though. Until then, just keep watching that trailer from 2 years ago.
Hotline Miami 3
A game that’s also mostly requested and absent from Devolver Digital’s E3 2021 showcase. Turns out the company has made a joke about it.

Grab Hotline Miami 1 and 2 for 75% off and get Hotline Miami 3 for free. https://t.co/xVwcdP1h7J pic.twitter.com/RiGMH2aGWf
— Hotline Miami (@HotlineMiami) February 28, 2017

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Capcom’s E3 2021 showing was a whole lot of “meh”. While it’s nice to see more Ace Attorney games, we still needed assurance that there will be a new Dragon’s Dogma entry, since Hideaki Itsuno’s Devil May Cry game is already out and done with. There’s a good chance Dragon’s Dogma 2 will make its presence felt later in 2021 though. Have faith, Arisen!
Bayonetta 3

Nintendo’s E3 2021 was definitely one of the best game showcases for the year. Of course, it isn’t completely perfect as they did not mention one PlatinumGames title that’s meant for the Nintendo Switch console: Bayonetta 3. Hideki Kamiya and PlatinumGames has said time and again that the third action game’s announcement was premature and shouldn’t have happened so early in retrospect.
Plus, the company is working on a couple of games like their upcoming Ultraman tribute, that one 2D shmup, and Babylon’s Fall for Square Enix. Yeah, we don’t know what the heck is up with the latter title as it’s a far cry from the last trailer they put out.
Which games did you wish showed up at E3 2021? What are E3 2021’s biggest omissions? Let us know on our website, on Facebook, and on YouTube.


Team Spooky Will Stop Running Next Level Online Fighting Game Tournaments [Update]

Update (11/4/2022, 5:00pm): Victor “Sp00ky” Fontanez uploaded a video on his Team Spooky YouTube channel explaining everything and bids farewell for now.

Original story
After 108 weeks of organizing fighting game tournaments online during the past few years where COVID-19 messed up offline tournaments, Team Spooky will be discontinuing its Next Level Battle Circuit Online tournament series.
Team Spooky leader Victor “Sp00ky” Fontanez has officially posted on Twitter and said on a Next Level Battle Circuit stream that he will be taking a hiatus from organizing the Next Level Battle Circuit Online fighting game tournament series. His colleagues Henry Cen/@goldencen and Arturo “Sabin” Sanchez/@nycfurby will do their best to return players to online events and asks that players support the Next Level tournaments. He also apologizes for the quality of the last few NLBC tournaments and online experiences on behalf of the staff.
“As of today, I will be discontinuing my series of weekly online events. Of course @goldencen / @nycfurby will be trying their best to return players to offline events, so please support Next Level, which was my original intent with this series.
NLBC Online is not a part of any official league or tour.
We have/had the final say on who is allowed in the tournament, regardless of region! We can choose to not let you in for any variety of reasons, including making our life harder / more annoying / pissing us off. (In the same way, you don’t have to like it.)
We chose to include players if we think they could add to the hype. (You don’t have to like it but it’s our choice).
Generally the idea was to default to the best possible connection experience, so poor experiences from far away regions had to be mitigated.”

Statement Re: NLBC Online
Read: https://t.co/QM7HIz6dcK
— Team Spooky (@teamspooky) April 7, 2022

As for what he will do next? He will be doing more casual streams and work closely with Tenomedia for future events. It seems like he will still work on fighting game streaming and tournament work, but as a partner rather than running things with a small group and himself.
“As for me, I am pretty tired. I stretched myself quite thin for these events, including doing things I had no common sense doing ($1 crowdfund per sub? What was I an idiot?) and I am put into a spot where the best thing to do is move on. I will be doing much more of my casual streams as well as working closer with Tenomedia on some future events and doing more of the things I want to do. I see a general pessimism to the idea that I can just have fun and do casual streams ala Max/Aris, but I’m going to do what I like to do now.”
Hard DayS Night
Running fighting game tournaments, or any online/offline video game esports tournament and streaming it is a lot of tough work. You can ask folks like Infinite Carnage, Flash Vision, and Battle Arena for further proof on how thankless the job can get at times.
To run one for free and weekly as well as having many, MANY people complaining about connection issues and being barred from participation due to being in different regions than stated is going to take a toll on even the most patient of tournament organizers/streamers. Basically what I’m saying is that Spooky deserves a break from doing what he does. What he doesn’t deserve is all the unnecessary flak from people and players with unrealistic expectations.
We would like to wish Team Spooky all the best in his future endeavours. Thank you for the streams, commentator work, tournament organizing, and all-around fighting game shows. Here are a few examples of the fighting game community from around the world giving their thanks and warm wishes.

Happiness comes first and let people learn the hard way of ruining a free tournament series that gives you free exposure and decent amount of money from the comfort of their home. Some people gotta learn the hard way. Thank you and your staff for everything
— Panda Kizzie Kay (@Kizzie_Kay) April 7, 2022

the legend
— Steve Scott (@Tasty_Steve) April 7, 2022

You do you man your happiness comes first. ??
It’s really unfortunate some people decided to treat you guys like some big corporation instead of a team of passionate people doing free labor for the love of the community.
Best of luck in the future and hope to see you at events!
— CLG RB | ApologyMan (@ApologyMan) April 7, 2022

Sp00ky used to let me (and 100+ other dudes) crash at his place almost every week so we could come up to NYC for games. Watching him learn how to stream 13~ years ago inspired me to try it for myself, and led me to where I am today.
Anyone coming after him should go fuck off.
— J I Y U N A (@jiyunaJP) April 7, 2022


Adidas X Marvel Shoes Launching On The Same Day As Avengers Endgame

Avengers Endgame is releasing in just a few days in Malaysia, on 24 April 2019. To commemorate the release of the highly-anticipated movie, Adidas is collaborating with Marvel to launch a new line of basketball shoes as part of its “Heroes Among Us” campaign.
The designs for these Marvel X Adidas basketball sneakers are based on five heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Captain Marvel dan Nick Fury. These heroes are represented by famous NBA and WNBA athletes James Harden, Damian Lillard, John Wall, Candace Parker, and Tracy McGrady, respectively.
You can check out the unique art for the Adidas X Marvel “Heroes Among Us” campaign below, courtesy of a post on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by adidas Basketball (@adidasbasketball)

Here are the official designations for each of the five shoes:

Marvelâ€™s Iron Man | Harden Vol 3
Marvelâ€™s Black Panther | Dame 5
Marvelâ€™s Captain America | N3XT L3V3L
Marvelâ€™s Nick Fury | TMAC 1
Marvelâ€™s CaptainÂ MarvelÂ | Pro VisionÂ

				Iron Man

				Black Panther

				Captain America

				Nick Fury

				Captain Marvel

According to Hype, the Adidas X Marvel “Heroes Among Us” basketball shoes will be available in Malaysia starting from 24 April 2019, which is when Avengers Endgame comes out. Fans can visit either the Adidas Sports Performance at both the KLCC and Pavilion branches, or order them online at the official website here.
Unfortunately for Malaysians, only three of the five designs will be available for purchase locally, and that includes:

Marvelâ€™s Iron Man | Harden Vol. 3 â€“ RM700
Marvelâ€™s Black Panther | Dame 5 â€“ RM550
Marvelâ€™s Captain America | N3XT L3V3L â€“ RM780

Who cares about Captain Marvel and Nick Fury anyways, right? Fans can grab these shoes and wear them to any screening of Avengers Endgame to proudly show off their geek cred.
In the meantime, check out our cheat sheet on what movie to watch beforeÂ Avengers EndgameÂ hereÂ orÂ our ranking of every MCU movie from worst to bestÂ here.


Here’s Where You Can Get An Official Ted Lasso Jersey

Ted Lasso is an American sports comedy-drama streaming television series on Apple TV.
The series follows Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team named AFC Richmond in an attempt by its owner to spite her ex-husband. Lasso tries to win over the sceptical English market with his folksy, optimistic demeanour while dealing with his inexperience in the sport.
It’s one of the most popular TV series on Apple TV right now, if not, the world.
You can actually get your own personalized and official AFC Richmond team jersey from the show. It’s currently available to order from the WB Shop for just US$59.95 (roughly RM250+).

Other details include:

Fit: Standard cut with a basic tagless jersey design.
Made of: 100% Poly moisture-wicking mesh for a dry, cool feel.
Additional information: Top stitched collar for max comfort.
Care: Machine wash cold with like colours.Â  Do not use softeners or bleach. Hang dry. Do not iron.

Unfortunately, the Ted Lasso AFC Richmond jersey only ships to the US and Puerto Rico.
In the meantime, check out the Ted Lasso trailer below:


Need More Fire Emblem? Try These Alternatives!

When it comes to the tactical role-playing genre, theÂ Fire EmblemÂ series has enjoyed a long history spanning across more than 20 long years and over 16 games since its first release in 1990. It is well-known for its turn-based combat, in which you move various characters around on a map to engage in battle against an enemy faction.
Tactical elements such as stats, weapon affinities, and a grid-based movement system are crucial in each game. Permanent deaths is also an infamous constant, emulating the stakes and tragedy that come with sending people out to war. All of this takes place in a fantasy setting of swords and magic, where the focus on characters can be just as important as the political intrigue.

Are you all done with the Fire Emblem series but can’t get enough turn-based action? Maybe you donâ€™t have the money for both a Nintendo Switch and Fire Emblem: Three Houses just yet. Or maybe the hyper-anime aesthetic just isnâ€™t working out. If you’re looking for alternatives, we have a guide to some similar and great games can try, both new and old.
Advance Wars

Platforms: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
If you donâ€™t plan to stray too far off the beaten path, look no further than Advance Wars. Developed by Intelligent Systems, the same developer behind Fire Emblem, youâ€™ll find plenty of shared elements between both series.
For one, Advance Wars features a similar grid-based approach where you must arrange specific units carefully to gain an edge in battle, albeit on a larger scale. Terrain also plays an important role, giving your units advantages and disadvantages depending on whether theyâ€™re on land, roads, rivers, or mountains.
Though Fire Emblem boasts a colourful cast of characters that you take into battle, Advance Warsâ€™ units are nameless. Characters instead act as commanders and send out an army consisting of infantry, tanks, helicopters, and more. These units canâ€™t level up, but you can dispose of them more freely if it means achieving your objective.
If the idea of permanent deaths in Fire Emblem scares you, Advance Wars is definitely a good alternative that doesnâ€™t necessarily sacrifice the value of a good strategic move.
Super Robot Wars

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Steam
A tactical role-playing series thatâ€™s all about bringing together Japanâ€™s popular mechas from across anime, manga, and video games. Imagine Gundam robots fighting alongside Evangelion cyborgs with Lelouch from Code Geass leading the charge.
The battles for Super Robot Wars are turn-based and traditionally take place on a grid-style of map. The fun part about the series is how it has various playable characters speak and interact with one other, not unlike Fire Emblemâ€™s support conversations.

Attack animations are often bombastic, with clever references designed to catch the attention of only the most avid of mecha fans. Permadeaths can also happen, though these possibilities are more tied to characters and whether the same thing has happened in their original story arcs.
Regardless, thereâ€™s plenty of fun to be had in bringing memorable and unique characters together to fight against a common enemy, which big Fire Emblem fans can surely relate to.
The series has traditionally been marketed to a Japanese audience, but recent titles starting with 2017’s Super Robot Wars V have received English localisations for even international fans to enjoy.
Shining Force

Platforms: Steam, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance, iOS, Android
Like Fire Emblem, the Shining Force series also started out way back in the 90s. In a similar fashion, it featured unique and non-generic characters that all held their own personalities and backgrounds.
Players intrigued by Fire Emblemâ€™s levelling system can rest easy with Shining Force. Besides gaining experience points and levelling up from performing actions like attacking and healing, youâ€™ll also find a comparable class promotion system that becomes available after units reach certain levels.
On top of also having Fire Emblemâ€™s knack for portraying more detailed cutaway animations whenever a unit attacks another, Shining Force is definite series to consider when looking for alternatives, even if it hasnâ€™t seen an equal level of fanfare.
Some of the games are quite old, but SEGA has offered several ways for you to enjoy them on modern platforms, such as through its free Shining Force Classics mobile app, or as purchasable titles on Steam.
The Banner Saga

Platforms: Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
First starting out as a humble Kickstarter project in 2012, The Banner Saga eventually grew into a respectful tactical role-playing game in its own right. Taking place in a world inspired by Norse mythology, youâ€™re tasked with fending off an enemy race called the Dredge while leading your caravan of people.

This comes from two different perspectives, in which the stories of two caravans eventually converge. In case youâ€™re unaware, 1992â€™s Fire Emblem Gaiden and its 2017 remake Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia also featured two separate paths within a single story.
To add to the similarities, The Banner Saga offers turn-based grid maps, as well as units that level up as you progress. Though characters donâ€™t permanently die in the battles themselves, youâ€™ll find that certain choices throughout the story can lead to consequences for your caravan, which can impact the stakes in your gameplay all the same.
Into the Breach

Platforms: Steam, Nintendo Switch
A more recent but otherwise exceptional entry into the genre, Into the Breach pits humanity against giant monsters called Vek in a futuristic setting. If Fire Emblem is a complex game of rock-paper-scissors, Into the Breachâ€™s tight mechanics and design may very well be chess.

Into the Breach often tasks the player with completing certain objectives within a limited amount of turns. Given how small and concise the maps are, you determine victory by understanding how to position your units and the environment in such a way that maintains your advantage at any given time.
Thereâ€™s much less leeway here as opposed to a Fire Emblem game, as every action made will tie into whether youâ€™re properly protecting your civilian structures, or whether enemies are being properly routed. In a way, it can represent Fire Emblem at its toughest, cutting through the fluff and championing tough situations where one small mistake can lead to a unitâ€™s untimely demise.
Disgaea

Platforms: Steam, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch
As far as popular strategy role-playing games go, you canâ€™t go wrong with Disgaea. The series is, in truth, chock full of systems and content to engage in. Helped by quirky stories set in the Netherworld that never take themselves too seriously, itâ€™s a nice change of pace from Fire Emblemâ€™s typical intimacy with death and political factions.

Disgaea is defined by how much freedom you have in crafting your own style of play. It has fresh concepts such as the ability to pick up and throw allies across the field, as well as destructible Geo Symbols that grant units special advantages or disadvantages. Thereâ€™s an Item World where you can strengthen equipment to sometimes ridiculous effects, and the list goes on.
Part of the seriesâ€™ staple is how you can raise your characters stats up to Level 9999 to rack up huge damage numbers and combos. Paired with cute 2D art over an isometric grid, Disgaea is a romp for strategy role-playing fans that simply want to dive into complex systems that even Fire Emblem struggles to keep up with.
Play the 5th game on PC here.Â
Wargroove

Platforms: Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Wargroove came out in 2019 and was a delightful surprise to many fans of the genre. Taking inspirations from both Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, itâ€™s a challenging turn-based strategy game that carries both a charming art style and fun characters.
Set in the fictional fantasy land of Aurania, you command an army of troops against the invading undead Legion of Felheim. Battles ensue on sprawling grid-based maps, where you send out different types of units that host unique abilities and movement options.

Just like in Fire Emblem, youâ€™ll want to position your units based on weaknesses and strategic advantage. But thatâ€™s no surprise really. What is cool about Wargroove is its online multiplayer.
Not only can you play cooperatively with and compete against others, but the game also boasts a map creator that basically lets you style your own battlefields for others to try out. Considering the gameâ€™s pretty strongly built around community, youâ€™ll find plenty of friends, custom campaigns, and replay value to go around. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a strategy game that showcases battle pups.

Buy Wargroove for PC here.
If you know of any strategy game alternatives to Fire Emblem, do share your suggestions on this feature or on our Facebook page. If you know of any strategy games with cuter units than Wargroove’s shiba inus, you’re probably lying.


This Dark Souls Clone Is A Gruesome Adaptation Of Pinnochio

Who knew that the Italian fairy tale about a puppet coming to life could be an inspiration for a dark fantasy title?
That’s what Korean developer Round8 Studio and publisher Neowiz are doing with its upcoming Soulslike action RPG title Lies of P. The alpha gameplay teaser shows off a slow-walking protagonist (I believe that’s Pinnochio), fighting and casting spells the same way as the main character(s) in the Dark Souls trilogy and Bloodborne.
Here’s the story synopsis:
Lies of PÂ is a fantastically baroque action RPG inspired by the classic Italian novelÂ Pinocchio from Carlo Collodi. The ruined, but once beautiful city of Krat is on full display in the new video. Hideous and twisted automatons rule the landscape, and itâ€™s up to P to find Mr. Geppetto and reverse the calamity that has befallen Krat.”

More info about the game will be out during G-STAR 2021 from 17th to 21st November. Lies of P will be out for Xbox Series, PS5, and PC (Steam) in 2023.


We Talk To Infinite Carnage About The FGC & Tekken 7

Who is Malaysia’s most prominent fighting game group based in KL who deals with the Malaysian Tekken 7 and SSBU communities? Find out more about Infinite Carnage on this Kakuchopurei exclusive with founder Leon Soo.


Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Game Gets New Zenitsu & Inosuke Trailers

We’re still getting a Demon Slayer video game this year from Sega and Aniplex, which is what you expect from a Naruto-style 3D 1v1 brawler title. But hey, it looks flashy and good so it’s fun for the casuals.
Sega just brought in two of its other main cast members: lightning user Zenitsu and pig mask-wearing Inosuke. Check out their brand of demon-slaying below:

In addition, the game will be getting Kimetsu Gakuen versions of main characters Tanjiro, demon sister Nezuko, and Giyu Tomioka. They’re “high school-dressed” versions of the existing fighters Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Giyu.

The spiffy-looking fluff-filled 3D fighting game will be out for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2021 for Japan and Asia.


Saturday Morning Cartoon Game MythForce Launches This September

Aspyr and Beamdog have announced that the first-person fantasy roguelike game MythForce will leave Early Access and launch for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC on 12 September 2023.
MythForce was originally launched in Early Access for PC via Epic Games Store on 20 April 2022. The upcoming version 1.0 release will feature three episodes (up from one when Early Access launched), unlockable difficulty modes, and an overhaul of the meta-progression system with drop-in/drop-out functionality for online cooperative play.
Inspired by beloved Saturday morning cartoons, MythForce unites swords & sorcery with gripping 1st-person combat in a new roguelike adventure, featuring four playable character classes to choose from. It can be played either solo or in online multiplayer with up to four players.
It was originally announced during Nintendo Direct June 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


Battle Arena Super Series Dota 2 League To Give Local Teams Taste Of Pro Setting

Battle Arena Malaysia will be organizing the Battle Arena: Super Series (BA: SS), a homegrown Dota 2 league for the purpose of giving local casual and semi-professional players the opportunity to experience a professional setting, along with the VIP treatment that comes with it.
It is set to be the first-ever esports tournament to be produced into a reality-show style series, in which their individual personalities, exclusive interviews and moments will be recorded via documentary-style online video content.

With the Battle Arena: Super Series, Battle Arena Malaysia hopes to develop the amateur esports scene and create a more sustainable long-term Malaysian Dota 2 circuit. Here are the dates for the qualifiers and grand finals of the league:

Qualifier #1 â€“ 1 & 2 June 2019
Qualifier #2 â€“ 8 & 9 June 2019
Grand Finals â€“ 29 & 30 June 2019

Registration is open to all local Dota 2 teams in Malaysia starting from today on 10 May 2019 but the league will ultimately only host up to 32 teams. In the meantime, head on over to the official website here for more details and information.