China Imposes Strict Gaming Regulations For Minors

China has imposed even stricter regulations in order to curb gaming addiction amongst minors in the country. Last month, we reported that games giant Tencent implementing facial recognition technology that will identify minors who play the game between 10 pm to 8 am.
Now, China has introduced a new policy, which states that minors can only play games for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 8 pm to 9 pm. This was revealed via a recent tweet by video games industry analyst Daniel Ahmad.

China's game regulator continues to implement targeted regulations aimed at curbing game addiction among minors
New policy states that minors can only play games for one hour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 8pm to 9pm.
An extremely restrictive policy. pic.twitter.com/kkbh9PGsND
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) August 30, 2021

The previous policy in China was 1.5 hours a day. The restriction will be enforced at the account level by using real-name registration and an anti-addiction system. There are allegedly approximately 110 million minors in China that play video games.
However, according to Tencent, players under 16 (those who count as minors) only account for about 2.6 percent of all spending by players. This means that the games industry in China won’t actually be too negatively impacted by the government’s decision, but there will still be at least some kind of detriment for developers.
For instance, game publisher Neon Doctrine co-founder Iain Garner has already tweeted about the matter on his personal Twitter account, confirming that they have already started to integrate the restrictive technology in their games.
He said:
We are currently integrating this tech now in Chinese platform games releases. The noose is tightening.
Neon Doctrine is best known for publishing games like Jack Axe, Lost Castle, Simulacra, Yuppie Psycho: Executive Edition, and more.

We are currently integrating this tech now in Chinese platform games releases. The noose is tightening. https://t.co/Pnd1XZuzxP
— Iain Garner (@NeonIain) August 30, 2021


Resident Evil Village Rose DLC & Additional Mercenaries Characters Announced

Capcom just announced a lot of new content for last year’s survival horror hit Resident Evil Village.
Dubbed The Winters’ Expansion, the game will add a Shadows of Rose DLC where the game focuses on Ethan Winter’s daughter 16 years later after the RE Village story, where she has to come to terms with her new powers and explore the mysterious realm inside the “consciousness of the Megamycete” for a cure. The DLC will also add in a third-person mode for the campaign so you can see Ethan Winters’ back in all its long-coated glory, and more characters to use in The Mercenaries like Chris Redfield, Heisenberg, and Tall Vampire Lady herself, Lady Dimitrescu.
RE Village’s DLC The Winters’ Expansion will be out on 28 October for PC and consoles. Trailer and features list below:
“The Winters’ Expansion”
Those yearning for dark shadows got a first glimpse of the long-awaited downloadable content for Resident Evil Village. “The Winters’ Expansion” arrives October 28, 2022 on all available platforms.
The new content includes:

A Third-Person Mode for the campaign.
“The Mercenaries: Additional Orders” featuring new stages and playable characters Chris Redfield, Heisenberg, and Lady Dimitrescu.
A continuation of the story in “Shadows of Rose”. Set 16 years after the events of Resident Evil Village, this new tale follows Rose Winters, the daughter of main protagonist Ethan, as she struggles with her terrifying powers. Players must explore and survive a warped and mysterious realm inside the consciousness of the Megamycete in search of a cure.


Huawei Unveils New Flagship and Foldable Phone

Huawei has announced their next flagship phone, the Huawei P50 Pro, along with the unveiling of their take on the foldable smartphone, the P50 Pocket.
In a press junket held at Sunway Convention Centre, the announcement of the next flagship model was revealed as the Huawei P50 Pro, which is being marketed to break the boundaries of phone photography. Fitted with a 200 times zoomable camera, the phone will feature True-Chroma Shot technology which is said to capture colours and details at 81% of the human eye. The P50 Pro introduces an all-new Dual-Matrix Camera design featuring two rings that house the camera components that will be available in two premium finishes â€“ Cocoa Gold and Golden Black.
Huawei’s new flagship phone, the P50 Pro.
The phone retains its thickness and length of the previous model while having a bigger screen and longer battery life, on top of having a borderless and curved screen, so say your goodbyes to those black bars. It has a 3D curved glass display, supporting the full P3 wide colour gamut, up to 1.07 billion colours to deliver accurate and true to life colours. With up to 120Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate, users can enjoy a smoother, more responsive experience. Also, in case you need to snipe someone with your phone, the P50 Pro will be able to zoom up to 100 times while still retaining a clear image thanks to their new Huawei XD Optics technology.
Huawei also unveiled their new P50 Pocket that is sure to give the Samsung Z Flip a run for its money. The phone will be a foldable smartphone and is designed to be a more couture device in mind. The P50 Pocket also adopts the signature P50 Series double-ring design, with one ring housing the camera module and the other being the smart Cover Screen. With the added function of the flipping feature, users can make use of their more powerful back camera in their selfies, while using the Cover Screen as a mirror, which was a rather impressive demonstration of the feature.
You can add custom images to the Cover Screen.
The phone folds seamlessly into an ultra-slim, lightweight body from a 6.9-inch, 21:9 display. The refresh rate of the display is up to 120Hz, 300Hz touch sampling rate and 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming support to protect usersâ€™ eyes. The phone has a variant in the P50 Pocket Premium Edition designed by Haute Couture designer, Iris van Herpen, which has a gilded, golden look with more lavish grooves on the back.
At RM4,199, the Huawei P50 Pro will be available for pre-order beginning from 12 January and will be made available on retail starting from 22 January. Starting from 22 January, the HUAWEI P50 Pocket will be available for pre-order at RM5,999; while the HUAWEI P50 Pocket Premium Edition will be available for RM7,299.


It’s Hearthstone Versus Chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov In This Mini Documentary

Chess recently received a boost in popularity thanks to the release of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit in October 2020. In the real world, Garry Kasparov is a grandmaster in the game and is considered to be the greatest chess player the world has ever seen.
However, he lost to an AI opponent about 25 years ago. Now, he’s about to take on a brand new game, Hearthstone, in a new mini-documentary titled The Brainâ€™s Last Stand, which is now available on YouTube.
In a statement, Kasparov said:

“I enjoyed learning and playing Hearthstone very much, and not just because I like games and new challenges. What was most intriguing is that Hearthstone is a semi-open system, unlike most other games, which are closed systems like chess.
In Hearthstone, the dynamic of new cards constantly adds freshness and new tactical and strategic elements, so the values of old cards and decks arenâ€™t static. This shifting terrain makes Hearthstone difficult to master but endlessly engaging.â€

You can check out the mini=documentary below.


8-Bit Christmas Is About An 80s Kid’s Epic Quest To Get An NES

Right now, it’s a common problem for gamers to complain about how hard it is to get their hands on a PS5. Well, almost four decades ago, gamers in the 80s experienced the same problem, but with the iconic console that was the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) or Famicom (to those who lived in Japan or Asia).
This new original HBO Max movie is about a kid’s epic quest to get an NES of his own. Set in suburban Chicago in the late 1980s, the story centres on ten-year-old Jake Doyleâ€™s herculean quest to get the latest and greatest video game system for Christmas.
The film stars Neil Patrick Harris (of How I Met Your Mother fame) and Winslow Fegley (â€œCome Play,â€ â€œFast Layneâ€) as the adult and young Jake, respectively, June Diane Raphael (â€œLong Shot,â€ â€œGrace and Frankieâ€), with David Cross (â€œPitch Perfect 2,â€ the â€œKung Fu Pandaâ€ films), and Steve Zahn (â€œThe White Lotusâ€).
Michael Dowse (â€œCoffee & Kareemâ€) directed the film from a screenplay by Kevin Jakubowski, based on his book of the same name.
8-Bit Christmas premieres on HBO Max on 24 November 2021.


The Third Season Of Barry Is Darker Than Usual

If there’s any time to check out one of this generation’s most bizarre tragicomedies, now’s a great time as any.
HBO’s Barry is a lovely if dark comedy about a serial killer (Bill Hader) who wants to go legit with acting. Along the way, he meets up with acting teacher and mentor Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler)who is a washed-up narcissistic star trying to get a second shot at fame, an acting student fledging star Sally who ends up being Barry’s lover, and the Chechen mafia with an effeminate right-hand man named No-Ho Hank (Anthony Carrigan). Oh, and our title character has a father figure in the form of the messed-up Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root). It’s a helluva series with its deft balancing of humour, dark subject matters, and dramatic moments.
Its latest season just keeps at it quality-wise.
Third Act Follow-Up

In the third season of this series, a lot of the crazy stuff and reveals that happened are now being answered; the whole show is leaning towards the dramatic side of things moreso than the past two seasons. Most notably the fate of Gene amidst the aftermath of Season 2, and all of Barry’s past actions catching up to him. Without revealing any spoilers, it pays off as you would expect, with Season 3 making logical follow-ups while delivering a few well-timed laughs amidst the drama.
It doesn’t need to bear repeating, but every main cast knocks it out of the ballpark with their roles. Title character Barry is played immaculately by Bill Hader, who juggles between his PTSD from his army days, his stone-cold hitman work, and his modern day acting gig. He’s a tragic character in the making; just when you think he gets a break, he gets pulled back to his old ways and just cannot escape. Barry’s girlfriend Sally also gets the spotlight as she ascends beyond theatredom and into the writing/acting world, while the standout moment involves Winkler’s Gene Cousineau taking quite a turn.
Think of this Season 3 review of a show as a wake-up call for you to stop what you’re doing and watch the rest of Barry Season 1 and 2. It’s masterful TV about finding redemption in the weirdest of places. It’s also a stark grimy look at Los Angeles and showbusiness, which is cutthroat as heck. It’s a struggle to see Barry trying to do the right thing at times despite the nature of his profession. And also keeping it away from his newly-found loved ones, while also seeing the emotional and dramatic dominos finally tumble on down. Season 3’s Barry just makes an already-great show keep its momentum.


This Is Why Disney’s Strange World Will Not Release In Malaysia

Sorry, Disney fans in Malaysia. Strange World will not premiere in Malaysian cinemas.
Strange World is supposed to be the next animated movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios, but it’s been confirmed that we won’t be getting it in cinemas in Malaysia. Why won’t Strange World premiere in Malaysian cinemas? Well, it’s because the movie features an openly-gay key character named Ethan (voiced by Jaboukie Young-White), who has a crush on another boy in the movie.
A Disney spokesperson confirmed to Deadline that they are unwilling to make any edits that would impact storytelling, and they have made the preemptive decision not to submit the movie to censorship authorities where it would be almost impossible for movies featuring LGBT elements to be approved without significant cuts.
Strange World will not be released in cinemas in these countries:

Malaysia
Middle East,
China
Indonesia
Pakistan
Turkey
Vietnam
East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya)
West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana)
Maldives
Nepal
Bangladesh
Russia

The statement from the Disney spokesperson reads:

“In countries where we operate, we seek to share our stories in their original form as we and the artists involved have created them. If we make edits, because of legal or other considerations, they will be as narrow as possible. We will not make an edit where we believe it would impact the storytelling. In that circumstance, we will not distribute the content in that market.”

Strange World introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog and a slew of ravenous creatures.
The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old son, Ethan, who longs for adventure; Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world. “Strange World” is helmed by Don Hall (“Big Hero 6,” “Raya and the Last Dragon”) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer “Raya and the Last Dragon”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Big Hero 6,” “Tangled”).
Check out the trailer below:


Dead Reckoning: Capcom Vancouver Studio Shuts Down

Here’s a big reason why there aren’t any news of a Dead Rising game as of late: because the main studio that develops them will be shutting down.
According to a Kotaku report, the reason for the shutdown and the early year layoffs prior to the announcement were Capcom’s decision. “[A]s a resultÂ of reviewing titles in development at Capcom Vancouver, Capcom has decided to cancel the development projects at this studio and will concentrate development of major titles in Japan.”
Here are more additional tidbits from this sad news:

158 people will be losing their jobs due to the studio closure. However, a skeleton crew will remain until January of next year to finalize closure operations and logistics.
The last project the team is working on is the mobile version of Puzzle Fighter, which to be honest looks like a cheaply-made South Korean game.
Capcom Vancover were in charge of development for Dead Rising 2, Dead Rising 3, and Dead Rising 4. So far there is no word on the franchise’s future.
According to a source talking to Kotaku, a number of Capcom Vancouver employees went over to EA Vancouver in recent months following the inevitable shutdown.

Here’s what a Capcom representative had to say: “We appreciate the hard work and contributions of all the studio team members in creating unforgettable gameplay experiences for theÂ Dead RisingÂ series andÂ Puzzle Fighter.”
All we can say is Frank West, we hardly knew you.


GTA V Launches On PS5 & Xbox Series X This November

We still don’t know when GTA VI will ever arrive, but at least now we know the release date for the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of GTA V. The next-gen version of GTA V was originally announced back in June 2020 during the PS5 Digital Showcase live stream.
According to Rockstar Games, GTA V is coming to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on 11 November 2021, as well as a standalone edition of GTA Online. In addition, PlayStation users can expect a special bonus. The developer is also teasing a GTA III anniversary event for the game’s 20th birthday.
GTA Online will be free on PS5 for its first three months, which ends in February 2022. Currently, PlayStation Plus users on PS4 have already been claiming GTA$1,000,000 every month, which will continue until the PS5 version launches.
The next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of GTA V and GTA Online will boast “new features and more”. However, the developer has yet to detail what those improvements are. Speaking to GameSpot, Rockstar said:
“The new generation versions of GTAV will feature a range of technical improvements, visual upgrades and performance enhancements to take full advantage of the latest hardware, making the game more beautiful and more responsive than ever.”


Pepper Grinder Is A 2D Drilling Platformer Slated For 2023

Before it was swamped with too many Pokemon games to make, Gamefreak used to create original 2D games. One of them is an underrated 2D platformer-slash-drilling-sim called Drill Dozer, and it was a lovely Game Boy Advance marvel.
Fast forward to now, and it seems that the cult game has inspired developers like Ahr Ech to make their own drilling game. Enter Pepper Grinder, a newly-announced game from publisher Devolver Digital which is a 2D pixel art platformer involving a giant drill named Grinder, weapons that can combine with drills, and loads of platforming and gravity-defying flying drill shenanigans. The main character Pepper burrows through terrain and water, as well as drill through enemies like an anime mecha piercing the heavens.
The trailer and gameplay below look glorious, to say the least, especially if you’re into creative spins of existing 2D platforming tropes.

Pepper Grinder will be out in 2023 for Nintendo Switch and PC.


Doctor Who & Fawlty Towers Actor Bernard Cribbins Is Dead

Veteran British actor Bernard Cribbins, known for his recent Doctor Who works, is dead. He was 93.
This news was made public via Cribbins’ agent Gavin Barker Associates. He is known for being a notorious guest in hit TV show Fawlty Towers, being the narrator in The Wombles, and also starring in films and TV shows like The Railway Children, Carry On, and Right Said Fred.
“Bernard’s contribution to British entertainment is without question. He was unique, typifying the best of his generation, and will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.”
Here are some of his film highlights. Rest in peace, Bernard Cribbins, and thank you for your contribution to British television.


Hideo Kojima Presents New Death Stranding PC Trailer

There are only two weeks to go until Hideo Kojima’s divisive Death Stranding finally hits PC after originally releasing for the PS4 last year on 8 November 2019. Publisher 505 Games had already revealed the PC specs for Death Stranding last month, but now they’ve released a brand new trailer for the upcoming release.
Hideo Kojima himself also shared the new trailer for Death Stranding PC on his personal Twitter account. The trailer in question is brief at less than a minute long but focuses on the myriad bonuses on the PC version of the game, including the pre-order bonuses like additional cosmetic items for protagonist Sam Porter Bridges.

PC version of DEATH STRANDING is coming on July 14th! Check out the trailerðŸ‘ pic.twitter.com/wy5hvr4pbq
â€” HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) July 1, 2020
Death Stranding for PC releases on 14 July 2020. In the meantime, you can check out the trailer below. Also, head on over here for our review of the PS4 version of Death Stranding.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUceTrOZ5YU&w=560&h=315]


DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom’s 3rd DLC Has Released

Bandai Namco just released a new DLC pack called “Together with Animals” for the latest DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS game, Friends of the Great Kingdom. This game is available on Nintendo Switch, PS5 and PC via Steam.
You can download the new DLC pack starting today, or you can buy the Season Pass, which includes all three DLC packs, as well as some special bonus content. The new DLC pack is all about farm animals, so you can expect some cute fluffy outfits and animal-themed furniture. Plus, there’s a mini-scenario with the secret gadget “Tracer Badge”.

So what’s in the DLC pack? Well, there are costumes for all five main characters, eight different pieces of furniture, and the mini-scenario featuring the new secret gadget. The plot involves a group of chicks that escaped from their pen and are searching for their mother who has been taken to the animal hospital. Noby and his friends use the “Tracer Badge” to track the mother hen down.
But wait, there’s more! A free update was also released on March 9th, 2023 with some special bonus items like the “Noby Balloon” and “Doraemon Balloon” that you can use to decorate your farm. These are in addition to the early-purchase bonuses like the “Summer Wear Set” and “Home Furniture Set”.
So, what are you waiting for? Go check out the new DLC pack and update, and add some colour and fun to your farmstead with the Noby and Doraemon Balloons!


A New Single-Player Aliens Horror Game Is In The Works

Another new Aliens game is in the works, and this time it’s a new single-player action horror game from Survios. They’re best known for developing both VR and non-VR titles like The Walking Dead Onslaught and Big Rumble Boxing Creed Champions.
According to the press release, Survios CPO TQ Jefferson said:
“When I joined Survios in 2020, it was to build bigger, more ambitious games, using the best entertainment franchises across console, PC, and VR platforms. Aliens is a distinct and terrifying world that fans love to be entrenched in, and it is perfect for Survios’ proven expertise in creating immersive gaming experiences.”
There are few details right now, but more information will be revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 on 21 July 2022 during the “Alien: Expanding a Dark and Frightening Universe” panel. In case you missed it, there’s also another Aliens game in the works at another studio, Tindalos Interactive, which is titled Aliens Dark Descent (check out more details here).
Until then, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei!


Expect New Dragon Quest Game News Next Month

It’s the calm before the storm that is game news and announcements for the upcoming month of June. And longtime JRPG series Dragon Quest isn’t going to be left out of this.
During Dragon Quest Day 2022 (which is today, 27 May), series creator Yuji Horii said that there will be a lot of new Dragon Quest titles being worked on. Most notably, he’s talking about Dragon Quest X Offline and Dragon Quest Treasures. There will be more news on the two games later in June. For now, there’s a teaser out for Dragon Quest Treasures below:

As a surprise, Square Enix has launched Dragon Quest Builders for iOS and Android; you can buy it right now if you’re into RPGing and Minecraft-building.
“But what about Dragon Quest XII”, you may ask? Well, Yuji Horii said that the twelfth mothership title is still a work in progress. He said the development team is “working hard” on development. He assured fans on the DQ Day video below that there will be more Dragon Quest games to tide you over until it’s finished.


Game Boy-Inspired Adventure Game Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories Will Be Out This April

If you want some monochrome 90s-style adventuring with a matching soundtrack of that era, look no further than Froach Club and Poppy Works’ upcoming title Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories.
Melon Journey was previously planned for a 7th March release date; the game will instead be out on 6th April for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. To soothe the delay, publisher XSEED Games has released a remixed compilation of the game’s upcoming music in lo-fi jazz form.

Melon Journey: Bittersweet gameplay features list is below:

Fully Interactive Investigation: Comb every inch of Hog Town to collect clues, interrogate shady characters, and sneak your way through the seedy underworld, using your keen observational skills and quick wit to piece together the whole picture before it’s too late.
Mystery at Every Turn: While looking for your missing friend, you’ll encounter dozens of curious characters with unique personalities and backstories, adding additional mysteries for you to unravel along the way.
Jazzy Lo-Fi Soundtrack: While you’re on the case, enjoy more than 90 different electronic- and jazz-inspired tracks from composer markeryjane.
Gorgeous Retro-Style Graphics: The green-tinted, pixelated world of Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is filled with loving detail, a nostalgic ode to the Game Boy generation with plenty of modern twists.


Dragon Ball Z Kakarot Gets PS5 & Xbox Series Version In 2023

During TGS 2022, Bandai Namco and CyberConnect2 announced that Dragon Ball Z will be getting PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game, as well as a Season Pass 2, which will consist of three new story downloadable contents. They will launch sometime in 2023.
The first story DLC of Season Pass 2 is titled “Additional Scenario: -Bardock- One Man’s Final Battle.”
Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is currently available for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Check out our review of the game here.


The Most Recent Steam Top Sellers Are Biomutant & Sea Of Thieves

Steam’s weekly global top sellers for 30th May seems to be influenced by the recent Steam Open World sale that started recently. Here’s the top 10 games list that earned the most revenue as of late:

Biomutant (Pre-order version)
Biomutant
Sea of Thieves
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Days Gone
Valve Index VR Kit
Grand Theft Auto V Premium Edition
ARK: Survival Evolved
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game of the Year Edition
Rust

It’s not surprising to see Biomutant holding up two spots in the top 5, given that the PC market seems more friendly to “Eurojank” style games despite the objections from critics via Metacritic and OpenCritic. As for Sea of Thieves, the game’s quality has been picking up since its 2018 debut thanks to developer Rare improving the game and adding new content. In case you’re one of those landlubbers who need a pirate game fix and are bummed out by Skull & Bones’ delay, you can sort yourself out with Rare’s recent pirate fare.
Days Gone may not have the numbers of Horizon: Zero Dawn, but it’s still hanging on strong in the top 5. For more Biomutant stuff, check out our guide.Â


No MariCar For You; Nintendo Files Lawsuit Against Unofficial Tokyo Mario Kart

It’s a sad day for live Mario Kart fans in Japan and the rest of the world. Nintendo has filed a lawsuit againstÂ Mari Mobility Development Co., Ltd for their infringement of the Mario Kart brand for their live street go-kart racing that’s all the rage in Tokyo. The reason? Because the MariCar guys are damaging the Mario Kart franchise with the racing and probably the accidents that follow.
The Tokyo District Court ruled against MARI Mobility Development, which means the company must cease lending out Nintendo-themed cosplay and pay nearly US$89,000 in damages. So far, the MariCar site is still up.
In the meantime, you can see what the fuss is all about on the videos below.

You can read the legal document below (via Nintendo).
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, President: Shuntaro Furukawa, Shuntaro Furukawa, hereinafter referred to as “the Company”) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the use of our intellectual property due to the rental service of public road cart Regarding filing “, as announced, Marika Co., Ltd. (current trade name: MARI Mobility Development Co., Ltd., head office: Tokyo Shinagawa Ward, hereinafter” defendant company “) and its representative director (hereinafter also” defendants “) , Filed a lawsuit in Tokyo district court seeking against injunctions of infringement of intellectual property rights by the defendant company and for damages caused by the above acts against the defendants (Heisei 29 (Wa) No. 6293).
ã€€Regarding the above case, today, in Tokyo District Court, after acknowledging that the mark “Marika” etc. is widely known as the Company’s product indication in relation to the consumer’s consumers, Then, it is instructed to stop unfair competition (for example, it is exemplified in the sentence that procurement of the costume of character such as Mario etc in the business of defendant company is prohibited), payment of damages We have announced that a ruling was ordered, etc, so we will let you know.
ã€€In order to protect our valued intellectual property that we have built up over many years of effort, we will continue to take necessary measures against infringement of intellectual property including our brand I am willing.


Here’s A Sneak Peek At The World Ends With You Anime, Out 2021

Square Enix will be adapting its cult hit DS RPG The World Ends With You (or Subarashiki Kono Sekai) for 2021 in anime series form courtesy of DOMERICA x SHIN-EI ANIMATION production. To sate everyone’s thirst for this, they have published a sneak preview of the animation, featuring main characters Neku, Shiki, and Beat, as well as the antagonists.
For those who don’t recall the plot, it’s about a loner named Neku who ends up playing the Reaper’s Game, a competition where the dead can return for a price in hopes of winning the ability to reincarnate or ascend. It’s up to him to find out the mystery of his death within a seven day-deadline, teaming up with new allies while fighting enemies and obstacles thrown at him by an overseer named the Composer.

There was also a panel held at theAnime Expo Lite streaming session just today featuring game producer Tomohiko Hirano, game director Tetsuya Kando, anime director Kazuya Ichikawa and composer Takeharu Ishimoto. The producer and game director have been working directly with the anime staff from the start, with 100% backing from the game team.
Ichikawa added that he wants this adaptation of TWEWY to be his masterpiece, seeing as his past works include Clean Freak! Aoyama kun, Bakugan, and Monster Strike: Rain of Memories.Â He also has to modernize this adaptation since the original game’s timeline was 14 years ago and is in a contemporary setting, as well as figure out how to adapt certain character’s Fusion movie in anime form.
“I realized that viewers today might not even recognize a flip phone. So some parts we keep and some parts we change on purpose.” He assured that the anime will have its own story rollercoasters and will be adapted so that it’s slightly different from the original game’s crazy plot.
The TWEWY anime series will be out worldwide next year.


What IS Up With Earthworm Jim 4?

Earthworm Jim, a classic 90s 2D action platformer, is finally getting a sequel in a form of a 2020/2021-made action game called Earthworm Jim 4.
The problem? It’s made exclusive to the Intellivision Amico, an upcoming new console that hasn’t proven itself to be much of anything just yet.

What’s the Intellivision Amico? We’re not sure either, but it’s an Android-based console that’s supposed to be out in October, but was pushed back to April 2021 most likely due to COVID-19.

Another problem: shouldn’t a debut of a revitalized 90s mascot be a little bit more action-packed and a lot less “tech demo”? Still, the 2D artwork and game engine it’s using shows some promise. And as long as the art direction for the majority of the game borderlines on smooth and “less messy”.
So far there’s no release date for the game yet, but we do know that the franchise’s original creators will be on-board Earthworm Jim 4. That also includes artist Doug TenNapel whom people take umbrage with. While he’s a talented artist and graphic novelist (with works like Earthboy Jacobus and Tommysaurus Rex), he’s also known for having racist and homophobic comments.
Looks like a steep mountain climb for part 4, eh Jim?


HBO’s The Last Of Us Adds Dumbo Star As Joel’s Daughter

Nico Parker will join HBOâ€™s The Last Of Us as Sarah Miller, the daughter of The Last Of Us protagonist Joel Miller. She is best known for starring in Disney’s Dumbo live-action movie and HBO’s own original series The Third Day (which you can check out our review of).
According to Deadline, Parker joins a cast that already boasts the likes of Pedro Pascal, Bella RamseyÂ Gabriel Luna, and Merle Dandridge, who will play Joel, Ellie, Tommy and Marlene, respectively.
HBOâ€™sÂ The Last Of UsÂ will be written and executive produced byÂ ChernobylÂ creator Craig Mazin and the original game director Neil Druckmann. It will be co-produced by Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, and Naughty Dog. No release date or window has been announced as of yet.
Druckmann has previously said that there will be changes and deviations from how it originally happened in the game. You can find the full details of his quote byÂ heading over here.
The Last Of Us Part 2Â is out now for the PS4. In the meantime,Â check out my full spoiler-free review of the game here, orÂ head on over here for a guide and tips for the game. If youâ€™ve already played the game, then I suggestÂ checking out my 4000-word spoilerific articleÂ on why the hate for the game isnâ€™t justified.


Ubisoft Unveils New Assassin’s Creed Mirage Gameplay Footage

Ubisoft has shown new gameplay footage of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a back-to-basics approach in which Ubisoft returns to the stealth-action, narrative-driven roots that defined Altair and Ezio’s earliest adventures. Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set in Baghdad and will show the evolution of Basim, a cunning street thief a few decades before his appearance in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be available October 12, 2023 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, EPIC, PC, and Amazon Luna.
You can watch the new footage here:


What Is Locke & Key? A Quick Primer

Netflix recently announced the Locke & Key miniseries, which is an adaptation of the horror comic book series from co-creators Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. Here’s the trailer, which showcases a mansion, a group of kids, and some supernatural shenanigans.

And here’s a panel from the comic book.

Looks cool, right? Well, if you can’t wait until 8th February, you can always read the entire comic series which is available for purchase right now as we speak. But if you want a quick primer and guide on what this book is about, we’ve got you sorted.
We won’t be spoiling the entire series here because this is one series you need to read from start to finish. But there will be some light spoilers for some parts here and there, so as a precaution…

What’s It Really About?
Locke & Key is a six-volume series revolving around the three Locke children and the legacy they have to deal with. High schooler Tyler, along with his younger sister Kinsey, and youngest brother Bode, move to a family estate called the Keyhouse with their mother after their dad Rendell was murdered.
Turns out the new house has a bunch of secrets, like a large set of magical keys that come with special powers. Toss in a ghost named Dodge and a psycho killer named Sam Lesser, and you get a grab bag of horror, mystery, and family drama.
Why Are These “Keys” Important?
Because they have different magical properties. They’re the objects that make all the supernatural magic bits in Locke & Key possible.
These powers include changing your sex, or open a door to anywhere in the world. One key even lets you take out memories and character traits, or even put a few new ones in. There’s even a key that lets you grow feathered wings and even transform into an animal depending on the situation.
Most importantly, there’s an Omega key that opens a lock on a demonic door that ends up being the macguffin of the book.
Why Is This Comic Series A Big Deal?
First off, have you SEEN the artwork?

Apart from that, it’s a great blend of what we mentioned above: horror, family drama, and mystery. The series teases the keys and their significance to the Locke family bit by bit, as well as slowly unravels its larger narrative concerning the family history and the aforementioned Dodge. And its creators do it in the best to make each of its leads as relatable as possible.
The kids in the book are dealing with powers that can shake the heavens, but they do not possess the wisdom to apply it well until the very end. The adults here like Nina the mother and Duncan (Rendell’s brother) have to also deal with their vices and hostile environments.

Heck, even the villain in this piece ends up revealing why he ended up doing what he did. It’s portrayed and framed in a way that makes you realize that the story isn’t as black and white as you think.
It’s also pretty violent and gory. That’s also a chief reason why this book gets quite a bit of attention.

Definitely, DEFINITELY not for kids.

Who Are The Main Characters? Let’s Find Out!

Tyler Locke
The eldest of the trio of siblings. He was a former popular kid who ends up having to deal with being the “head of the pack” ever since the death of his dad. He also has to deal with the guilt that he was on bad terms with his dad prior to his death.
He is played by Connor Jessup in the upcoming adaptation.
Kinsey Locke
The second kid in the Locke family. She’s insecure about her status in school and always tries to fit in and change her look to get by. Probably the most level-headed among the three siblings.
She is played by Emilia Jones in the adaptation.
Bode Locke
The youngest of the trio. Bode is innocent and naive to a fault but somehow ends up being in touch with the book’s spiritual and magical aspects better than the rest.
He is played by Jackson Robert Scott.

Nina Locke

The matriarch of the Locke family. Rape survivor who ended up with a busted leg. Also resorts to alcohol following the trauma that started the book.
She is played by Darby Stanchfield, who is known for her roles in Mad Men and Scandal.
Sam Lesser

Former schoolmate of Tyler and the sociopath responsible for Rendell’s death. He’s generally bad news. Played byThomas Mitchell Barnet.
Dodge

The ghost in the well of the Keyhouse who ends up being the major antagonist in the show. Played by Laysla De Oliveira.
Can We Find Out More About The Book’s Creators?
Certainly!
Image credit: The Verge
Joe Hill is actually Stephen King’s son, in case you haven’t heard. He used his middle name in all of his writing credits so that he can succeed on his own merits instead of as the son of Stephen King.
Right after he got his novel Heart-Shaped Box published in 2007 and proving himself beforehand, he ended up doing Locke & Key for 5 years straight.

Gabriel Rodriguez is an artist who made his worldwide debut with, well, Locke & Key. Prior to this, he did a bunch of awesome illustrations for a Mitos y Leyendas card game and the CSI comic book series based on the TV show under the IDW publisher banner.

Thanks to Locke & Key and his nomination for Best Penciller/Inker in the 2011 Eisner Awards for the book, he’s now a pretty high-profile artist with DC work like the Adventures of Superman back in 2013 and IDW’s Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland. As you can tell from the panels on this feature, it’s clear to see why: his work is highly-detailed and pulls no punches.
It also helps that he was a former architect with a Master’s degree prior to the series, which is why his environment work is stellar.

Are There Any Stephen King story tropes in Locke & Key?
Well, you have the mentally-handicapped person who ends up being integral to the narrative and kids getting access to powers ala The Shining…

…so yeah, like father like son, kinda. At least Joe Hill ended Locke & Key on a hugely satisfying note.
Locke & Key will be out on Netflix this Friday. Check out our review of the Netflix series here.Â


The Story Behind Hentai Haven And The Creator’s Premature Ejection

#HHisdead
– wrote Papa HH, the anonymous founder of Hentai Haven, in a post detailing how a partner company took over his website and told him to get lost. Well, that’s just one side of this story.

For those of you who aren’t in the know, Hentai Haven is (was?) an extremely popular free pornography website that mainly hosted hentai videos.
The website had an extensive collection of high quality videos laid out in a user-friendly interface. Videos are properly titled and categorised according to genre and tags while also having adequate English subtitles. Again, all of that was absolutely free.
FAKKU is another hentai website but instead of videos, it allowed users to read porn comics/manga. The site started out just like Hentai Haven, hosting all of its content for free without any form of proper licensing. Starting from 2011, FAKKU slowly began its process of becoming a legitimate site and as of today, it’s the largest English-language hentai publisher in the world. Users pay a monthly subscription fee and get access to most of the site’s content.
What The Picture Says

The two companies would later meet after Hentai Haven was suddenly shut down in December 2018. Bearing in mind recent developments, the shutdown most probably occurred due to legal issues since it was only a matter of time before the artists and producers in Japan realised people were enjoying their work for free.
This is where FAKKU comes in and saves the day. Or so Papa HH thought…

After that it was just months and months of silence until Hentai Haven was relaunched in May 2019. Fans returned with the force of a thousands suns, enough to power a nuclear bomb with their collective horny-energy. Well, it at least did a number on the website’s servers.

After only two months of joy and ecstasy, Hentai Haven was again embroiled in another problem. Cue Papa HH’s message that I put up at the beginning of this article.
Papa HH also tweeted the message on his Twitter account and not too long afterwards, FAKKU founder Jacob Grady tweeted out his response (shown below). The tweet has been pinned to his profile.

Prior to tweeting this, Jacob had also quoted one of Papa HH’s tweets to tell people to stop sending FAKKU employees death threats. The tweet has been deleted.
Jacob wasn’t the only one making statements as former Hentai Haven staff members such as @heavenrend and @Fyurie also came out to express their dissatisfaction. The two tweeted out that Hentai Haven still owed them money for the work they’ve done. As of writing this, the website’s creator have reached out to them and paid them what they deserved.
It’s also worth mentioning that the staff members said the owner of HH has been completely silence for months since around the time FAKKU stepped in and only reappeared to make the #HHisdead statement.

Earlier today (9 July 2019), Papa HH tweeted that he and Jacob had come to an agreement (via Kotaku) of sorts and things are “looking good!” and Jacob himself has retweeted the tweet.
This came just after Papa HH’s (deleted) tweets in response to Jacob’s earlier note. Some observers had saved the response so you can read them here:

That’s all we’ve got so far.
Loyal supporters of Hentai Haven are no doubt furious at FAKKU for what seems to a completely immoral move of capitalistic greed disguised through the seemingly-generous intention of helping Hentai Haven go legit.
On the other side, more stories and testimonies of how Hentai Haven hasn’t actually been doing much to go legit until FAKKU came along are also cropping up. Legally speaking, Hentai Haven has definitely been doing something wrong and there’s no defending it on that basis.
So Many Questions…

The catch here is that that’s exactly how FAKKU started. They were profiting off other people’s work but managed to legitimize themselves before anyone “offered help” and pulled the rug from under their feet.
Why didn’t FAKKU produce the proper paperwork when they offered to help Hentai Haven with the legal issues? Why make it difficult for Papa HH to understand what was within and outside of his rights? Did they honestly inform Papa HH about the legal issues he was about to face?
Did Papa HH actually work towards legitimizing Hentai Haven as he said he was going to? Why did he agree to a contract without requesting proper paperwork? Was he pressured by an over-exaggeration of the problems Hentai Haven would face?
There’s a lot of questions that need answering and supporters of both sides should remain calm and wait for them to be properly answered.


Diablo 4’s Barbarian Class Could Be Getting Buffed

Gamers have been eagerly anticipating the release of Diablo 4 since its announcement. The action RPG franchise has been a fan favourite for over a decade, and players have been craving a new mainline entry. Well, the wait is almost over!
Set to launch on 6 June, Diablo 4’s early access beta was available to those who pre-purchased the game or ordered a double-down sandwich from KFC during its promotional window from 15–19 March (in the US of A, at least). An open beta for all players will launch this weekend on 24–26 March.

Is The Barbarian The Worst Class Currently?
During the early access beta, players were quick to criticize the Barbarian class’s performance at low levels. The Sorceress and Rogue classes seemed to breeze through mobs and bosses with ease, while the Barbarian struggled to keep up. Luckily, Blizzard has heard the complaints and has announced that the Barbarian class will receive some buffs before the game’s launch.
This quick response from Blizzard is a great sign that they are dedicated to making Diablo 4 the best it can be. Plus, there’s also the fact that while the Sorceress and Rogue’s class quest were available and thus able to get their respective specialization buffs, the Barbarian’s is locked away in the current beta.
Over one million players have already tried out the early access beta, and more are expected to join in during the open beta. Blizzard has also announced that the Druid and Necromancer classes will be available to try during the open beta. However, it’s unclear if the level cap will be raised or if players will be able to explore beyond the first act. It’s also uncertain if the Barbarian buffs will be included in the open beta or if they’ll be saved for the game’s launch.
Regardless, fans of the Barbarian class can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Blizzard has heard their concerns and is working to improve the gameplay experience. It’s great to see a company so committed to making its game the best it can be.
Mark your calendars, because Diablo 4 launches on 6 June, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S.


Street Fighter 5 Spring Showcase Reveals New Oro, Rose, & Akira Gameplay

Capcom delivers a bunch of updates and new gameplay reveals for its Season Pass V characters.
First up, we have Oro, the hermit from Street Fighter III who fights with one arm. Here’s the breakdown:

He has his hermit garb and a Hawaiian shirt costume that makes him a Master Roshi stand-in.
He carries his turtle around during a fight; that’s why he’s fighting with one hand.
His standing Medium Punch launches opponents in the air, meaning you can follow it up with a combo in the air.
He still retains his double jump from SF3. And he’s most likely a charge character.
He has a new kick move called Tsuranekeashi, which is meant to push opponents away while setting up combo opportunities.
His V-Skill 1 is Onibi, which is a Yagyou Dama-lite; it’s a slow projectile with a long startup, but can help with controlling space.
His V-Skill 2 is Minomushi, which is a small spinning jump that can be followed up with either a P or K input.
His V-Trigger 1 is Manrikitan, a powerful command grab that can be used either in the ground or in the air. You can use it as a combo ender.
His V-Trigger 2 is Tengu Stone, which summons a bunch of objects that are his satellites. When he lands an attack, the objects follow up with one attack after another.

We also have an extended look at Rose and her movesets, as well as a mirror match. To recap:

Her anti-air doesnâ€™t make her jump this time around; she uses her scarf while on the ground.
Her V-Skills include tarot cards (for V-Skill 1) and her Soul Satellite from Street Fighter IV (V-Skill 2). The former powers up her moves while curses her target, while the latter gives her some form of one-hit protection until she gets hit. Her V-Skill 2 however takes a while to startup, so don’t go doing it unless you score a hard knockdown or something similar.
Her V-Triggers make her warp around the screen (V-Trigger 1) and summons a bunch of illusions for multi-hit combo purposes (V-Trigger 2).
She still has Soul Spirals as combo-enders, as well as a Soul Punish move that places timed â€œSoul minesâ€ that act as trap moves.

On top of that, Capcom revealed some gameplay for the next character, Rival School’s Akira with all of her target combos, air combos, and rekkas making a return. Heck, even her brother Daigo pops up as a special move.

? pic.twitter.com/sW3nYiJj02
— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) April 6, 2021

Check out all that sweet gameplay below:

Welp, time to spend money on that Season Pass V then. It’s US$24.99/RM103 for the base price.


Square Enix’s Upcoming Prelude Rune RPG Cancelled

Square Enix has confirmed that Studio Istolia has officially closed down and with it, Project Prelude Rune has been canceled. This comes just after studio head Hideo Baba left the company last month, claiming to “make way for the new generation of talent.”
In a statement to USGamer, a Square Enix representative said:

“Following evaluation of various aspects of Project Prelude Rune, development of the title has been canceled.
Studio Istolia is no longer in operation and we have been taking appropriate steps to assign studio staff to other projects within the Square Enix Group.”

Studio Istolia only began operating two years ago in 2017 to develop a JRPG called Project Prelude Rune. Its original goal was to “provide unforgettable stories that will inspire players in their own lives, and brings new experiences to everyone around the world.”
However, all we have seen of the actual game so far is a brief teaser trailer released last year. Check it out below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKltmUsQ1g0&w=560&h=315]


Final Fantasy XVI Development Delayed, Next Update Coming In Spring 2022

It’s been a while since our last update on Final Fantasy XVI but the game’s producer Naoki Yoshida has published an update on its development status. However, it’s a bit of bad news.
In the update, Yoshida announced that problems and issues arising from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have delayed production by almost a half year (that’s almost six months), and he also confirmed that the next major update on Final Fantasy XVI will only arrive in spring 2022, which is somewhen between March to June 2022.
If that’s the case, then we should likely expect the next Final Fantasy XVI update to drop probably during E3 2022, which will take place sometime in June 2022.
Check out the full message below (via Twitter):

A message from Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida. #FF16 #FFXVI pic.twitter.com/qtfJUUp6LA
— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@finalfantasyxvi) December 27, 2021

Greetings everyone,
When last we spoke, I promised I would have more information on Final Fantasy XVI sometime later in 2021, However, I regret to inform you that I will be unable to keep that promise as complications stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have delayed the gameâ€™s development by almost a half year.
As the latest addition to the Final Fantasy series being developed for the PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy XVI has amassed a sizeable team composed of talented creators from around the world. However, in an effort to offset the effects of COVID-19, weâ€™ve had to decentralize that workforce by permitting staff to tackle their assignments from home. This has unfortunately hampered communication from the Tokyo office, which, in turn, has led to delays inâ€”or in extreme cases, cancellations ofâ€”asset deliveries from our outsource partners.
That said, we have spent much of 2021 addressing this issue, and hope to see its impact to a minimum by the new year, allowing us to better focus on the tasks at hand: increasing graphic resource quality, refining combat mechanics, fleshing out individual battles, putting the finishing touches on cutscenes, and conducting overall graphical optimization. Our primary goal now is to be as hands on with the game as possible in order to see it fully polished.
So that leaves us with the question, when can we expect the next round of information? Well, I am happy to announce the current plan is to conduct our next big reveal in spring of 2022 as we seek to build excitement leading up to the gameâ€™s eventual release.
I deeply apologize to all those who have been looking forward to learning more about Final Fantasy XVI, and thank you for your continued patience while we focus our combined efforts on development.
â€” Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida
Final Fantasy XVI is slated to release for the PS5.


Three Triple-A Games Gets the Free-Weekend Treatment

Three Triple-A games are getting the free-to-play treatment this weekend which should keep you occupied with games you’d otherwise miss. As reported earlier, Ubisoft’s action-adventure game, For Honor will be available for free from today til late Sunday night. Progress from this limited time offer can be carried to the full game (if purchased) which is currently on sale at a 75% cut price.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0citgSN6z90&w=560&h=315]
Two other games follow suit with the same treatment are Firaxis Games’ brilliant turn-based strategy game, the sequel to their 2012 hit, XCOM 2. The game will be free for all to try til late night on Sunday and if you so choose to continue playing it, you can pick it up at a discount of up to 68%. We highly recommend this game for folks who love intricate, highly-stressful turn-based-strategy games and is one of our favorite titles of all time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlF4_o3qALo&w=560&h=315]
Lastly, a much more recently released game joins the mix in the form of Call of Duty: World War II. However, only the multiplayer mode is playable for free starting today til 10PM on Sunday (Malaysia/ Singapore/ HK). The full game can be purchased at a cut price, at 35% discount if you so choose to continue playing it beyond Sunday.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Q_XYVescc&w=560&h=315]
We have to stress though, that the deals mentioned above are only applicable for Steam. Log into Steam for more PC gaming deals as well as do check out the Star Wars special deals in conjunction with the May 4th celebration.


Netflix’s League of Legends Movie Gets Stylish New Trailer & November Release Date

The long-awaited League of Legends animated movie for Netflix will be out sooner than you think.
During Netflix’s TUDUM fan event, a new trailer for the upcoming film debuted alongside a release date: 6th November 2021. The trailer showcases a lot more of the plot, which involves LoL siblings Vi and Jinx (the insane gunner who graces the cover of Wild Rift), as well as the show’s antagonists and guest characters from the game.

The trailer shows off more locales and places in the game’s lore that’s usually referenced but never shown. The game mostly takes place in the 5v5 Rift, after all. So it’s nice to see all that backstory fleshed out in lovely detail.
Check it out below; I’m digging the art style and action that’s on display here. Riot Games and Netflix are not sparing any expense in making the animation look good.


Are Single Player Games Dying?

*This piece does not represent nor reflect the opinions of Kakuchopurei.com. We welcome opinion pieces of varying stands and ideas regarding the current state of the video games industry. Have something you want get out of your chest? Drop us a line at kakuchopurei@gmail.com *Â

Spoiler: The answer is no.
With the recent news of EA shutting down Visceral and switching the Star Wars development into something else with the very telling reasoning;
In its current form, it was shaping up to be a story-based, linear adventure game. Throughout the development process, we have been testing the game concept with players, listening to the feedback about what and how they want to play, and closely tracking fundamental shifts in the marketplace.
Battlefront II is another Star Wars game by EA which is set for release in November. Observers estimate the game to sell well; not only via the initial purchase but also revenue through the much dreadedÂ Â micro-transactionÂ Â system implemented in it.
Meanwhile, Single Player game would only drive income through the initial purchase and a bit more through DLC.Â  Not to mention, single player game will most likely will end up in secondary market, even more reducing the demand of a brand new copy of the game.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNUTWw17rkM&w=560&h=315]
Now if you are part of EA’s board of directors which game mode would you prefer?Â  That is the problem with single player game, the money just isn’t there.Â  This very much proven by one of the Visceral’s standout game, Dead Space 2.

Dead Space 2 cost 60 Million dollars to make and they were merciless with their budget. they only sold 4 mil and that wasn’t enough
â€” Zach Wilson (@covernode) October 17, 2017
Single player games are just too expensive of a gamble with risky return on investment.Â  Regardless, I still believe that single player games are here to stay, remain relevant, is and will always be the core of gaming industry and here are the reasons why:
Demand and Supply:
Despite being the “cash cows” for publishers, multiplayer online game market isn’t big enough or at most times, rather limited.Â  For example if you already invested so much time in Final Fantasy XIV would you easily switch to Elder Scrolls Online?Â  I very much doubt it.Â  In term of demand, the market is split.
Same thing happened to Blizzard’s Overwatch competitors; Battleborn and Lawbreakers. Quality games by reputable publishers and developers no doubt. But these titles aren’t doing well because if say you and I having spent over a hundred hours on Overwatch; wouldÂ  we consider taking time to commit the same amount of effort on these two games? I don’t know about you, but to me, they are hardly worth the time.Â  This is reflected on Lawbreakers abysmal player base- despite being produced by one of the most storied game makers in recent memory in Cliffy B – only averagedÂ 147 playersÂ during the past 30 days.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqnKB22pOC0&w=560&h=315]
For me personally, I spent hundred of hours on Hearthstone, having spent about RM500 already on that card game. Then came Elder Scrolls Legend and Gwent, both which I tried to realise that Gwent, in my opinion is a better game than Hearthstone.Â  However in spite of the temptation I just could not jump ship simply due to time, monetary and attention limitations.
The scenario is different when we discuss about single player games – just because I play Horizon Zero Dawn, it doesn’t stop me from picking up similar games to it such as The Witcher 3.Â  Singleplayers have a definite end while online-multiplayer games are endless.
Console Sellers:
While most gamers were super stoked for the Nintendo Switch, more so were more excited about Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild which leads to the anomaly of having the game itselfÂ outselling the console.Â  Most console exclusives are single player games as releasing multiplayer online game as exclusive title just does not make sense. Multiplayer games may be the way forward for the video games industry but the singleplayer experience is and will always be the core experience for gamers regardless of platform.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw47_q9wbBE&w=560&h=315]
Companies like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will continue to pour their efforts on single player titles purely due to economic reasons. There will always be more casuals than hardcore players and on economic terms, are the lower hanging fruit for publishers out there.
Micro-transaction in Single Player Game
This isn’t the best of reasons but it happened and is here to stay, and you can expect to see this practice be more common as the industry evolve.Â  A bane for us players but is a conceptÂ very much preferred by publishers, micro-transaction is only an issue once it involves a fully-priced game. Would we be banging our drums in anger if a free-to-play game implements this method? Heck no. But if we spent our hard earned money on a title, we do not expect to pay more than what was stated on the receipt. Ironically, one of earliest titles to adopt micro-transactions in a single player game was Dead Space 3 (Visceral), which in a way led the industry to where it is right now.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoPuTeFhsUw&w=560&h=315]
Recently Warner Bros included micro-transaction in Shadow of WarÂ which led to a collective backlash from gamers worldwide.Â Sadly, this will not deter them and we can assure you that devs and publishers will be spending more time in finding the perfect way to include the micro-transactions into their games, rather than delivering a completed game.
While this somewhat ensures the singleplayer games-phere remain alive, it is pretty much a pyrrhic victory for us gamers considering the direction things are going.Â  A win is a win you say? Or is it a battle worth winning at all? Share us your thoughts in the comments section below.

Izzat is one of our newest addition to the Kakuchopurei contributors team. A video gamer through and through, he enjoys sharing his thoughts on the video game scene and you can keep up to what he’s up to by following him on Twitter. Any comments on his writing? Share your thoughts in the comments section below – but be nice aye 😉


All You Need to Know About Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII Multiplayer Beta in August

The Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII open beta drops in August and here are some of the important info you’d wanna know. It’s a clusterfuck of info so we’ve broken them down to points for easy digesting:

PlayStation 4 (Early access for PS4) – for those who pre-ordered the game on PS4Â (Starts: August 4 1am Malaysia/ SG/ HK – Ends August 7 1am Malaysia SG/HK
PlayStation 4Â andÂ Xbox One -Â for those who pre-ordered the game (Starts: August 11 1am Malaysia/ SG/ HK – Ends August 14 1am Malaysia/ SG/ HK
PC Beta Early Access (for those who pre-ordered the game )Â (Starts: August 11 1am Malaysia/ SG/ HK) *PC exclusively on Battle.Net
PC Open BetaÂ (Starts: August 12 1amÂ Malaysia/ SG/ HK Â â€“ Ends: August 14 1am Malaysia/ SG/ HK)

In short, if you want to try out the game but you don’t intend to pre-order it, your only chance to get into the beta is via PC which kicks off on August 12 Malaysia/ SG/ HK.

As incentive for those who participate, all participants in the Beta will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind calling card that they can proudly display. And for every player that achieves max rank in the Beta, they will earn a Permanent Unlock Token to apply to any piece of Create-a-Class content when the game comes out.
Returning Classes
In the Private Multiplayer Beta, players fight across six maps â€“ two of which will make their first public appearance. The participants will be among the first ones to try the new Specialists and reacquaint themselves with returning Specialists Nomad and Prophet, who brings brand-new gameplay mechanics built for Black Ops 4.
Modes
The Private Multiplayer Beta will feature fan-favorite game modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, and Search & Destroy.Â The brand-new objective-based game mode, Control, which was designed to bring out the best of Black Ops 4 Multiplayer gameplay will also be playable.
Returning Features

TheÂ Pick 10Â system returns to Create-a-Class to give players complete customization over their loadout, and with its return comes a few new changes.
Special Issue EquipmentÂ a trait designed exclusively for each Specialist without costing a point against Pick 10.
GearÂ is an all new slot designed to enhance each player’s own unique style of gameplay. Benefits include cheaper Scorestreaks, COMSEC Device, faster healing and Stim Shot. Gear also accords added advantage in situational awareness if you prefer with the wall-hacking Acoustic Sensor. Only one piece of Gear can be used per loadout.
WeaponsÂ now have unique sets of attachments, including a new class of powerful attachments calledÂ Operator Mods, to really focus each gun on its individual role in combat.

OK, OK. But what about the Battle Royale mode?
While it is the most anticipated mode in the upcoming Black Ops IIII, sadly it won’t be on the menu for the August beta. Players will have to wait for the second beta event which drops in September.
â€œEveryone who works on Blackout or plays is always eager to share a story they have,â€ said Studio Design Director, David Vonderhaar. â€œThat game session might be a triumphant victory or a tragic loss â€” it might be how land, sea, and air vehicles collided in unexpected ways for a final showdown â€” or, it just might be a funny fail moment. No matter what, when people get done playing and want to tell the story of what happened to them afterwards, you know you have something special.â€

â€œThe team has been having a ridiculous amount of fun playing it internally. We are so excited to be able to share that fun with you in September. The community feedback generated from going hands-on is always incredibly important, and itâ€™s never been more so than with Blackout,â€ added Treyarch Senior Producer, Yale Miller.
For more info on the CoDBLOPS4’s beta, head on over to their official site here.

Source: TreyarchTreyarch


Epic Games Just Made Fortnite V-Bucks Cheaper

If you thought microtransactions in Fortnite is bad enough, imagine permanently making it cheaper than usual.
Epic Games recently gave Fortnite’s virtual currency, V-Bucks, a 20 percent discount. From now on, any V-Bucks you buy on PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch will be discounted automatically. Furthermore, V-Bucks will cost less on mobile since it’s using a separate payment mode (directly to Epic) to circumvent Apple and Google’s 30 percent fee.
The best part? If you purchased V-Bucks in the last 30 days between 14th July to 13th August, Epic will give back 20 percent of your total purchase back as V-Bucks.Â Basically, if all you play is Fortnite and all you buy online is Fortnite V-Bucks, this is basically a steal.
As icing on the cake, Epic is giving all active Fortnite. players a free Shooting Starstaff Pickaxe.


Marvel Is Offering Free Comics Via Its Unlimited App

The COVID-19 is changing up many company’s lifestyle and business to the point where any kind of marketing and promotion is better than nothing. And “free comics” is definitely better than most promos since that’s what Marvel is doing.
Marvel Comics’s Marvel Unlimited app is now offering free comics you can read right now. That means no payment information or trial subscription needed to check it out; just download the app and look under “free comics” on the landing screen.
Here is the list of free comics on the app:

AVENGERS VS. X-MEN
CIVIL WAR
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RED GOBLIN
BLACK PANTHER BY TA-NEHISI COATES VOL. 1
THANOS WINS BY DONNY CATES
X-MEN MILESTONES: DARK PHOENIX SAGA
AVENGERS: KREE/SKRULL WAR
AVENGERS BY JASON AARON VOL. 1: THE FINAL HOST
FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 1: FOUREVER
BLACK WIDOW VOL. 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.’S MOST WANTED
CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER ULTIMATE
CAPTAIN MARVEL VOL. 1: HIGHER, FURTHER, FASTER, MORE

Best part about all this? Other comic book webstores like ComiXology are also offering free access to these stories for a limited time. You can get the Marvel Unlimited app on either Apple or Google’s app store.


Future Games Show 2022: All The Games

Future Games Show 2022 returns and is here to help fill that E3 void.
Check out all the game reveals and announcements below:
Outpost

Outpost is a working title. Wishlists at the ready, as it’s coming soon to PC.

Luto

LUTO is a psychological horror game that explores grief and loss in a familiar environment.
LUTO is coming to PlayStation and PC in 2022.

Nightingale

Enjoy this brand-new gameplay trailer from Nightingale.

Tray Racers

Tray Racer is the next game from the team that brought you the delightful co-op puzzler Phogs.
Tray Racer is coming to PC and Nintendo Switch in 2023.

Games From Kwalee: Wildmender, Die By The Blade, Sloathe, Robobeat

Enjoy this fantastic montage of games from Kwalee, including a first look at Wildmender, Robobeat, Scathe and Die by the Blade.

Morbid Metal

Morbid Metal is an explosive rogue-lite where you play as not one, but four blade-wielding badasses. More amazingly, it’s the work of just one developer. Morbid Metal is coming soon to PC.

Turbo Golf Racing

Turbo Golf Racing, which is launching into early access on August 4. There’s also a demo available right now on Steam and Xbox, so be sure to check it out after the show.

American Arcadia

Enjoy this brand new gameplay developer presentation from American Arcadia.

Alaskan Truck Simulator

We’re pleased to announce that a demo for Alaskan Truck Simulator is out now, and the game is coming to PC and consoles in Q4 2022.

The Entropy Centre

The Entropy Centre, is coming to PC and consoles in 2022.

Games From Ukraine: Puzzles For Clef, Zero Losses, This Rain Will Never End, Farlanders, Through The Nightmares

Games development can be challenging at the best of times, and with the ongoing conflict, we wanted to highlight and celebrate the incredible work they continue to do.
The Games for Ukraine section focuses on several exciting projects that are being developed in the most difficult and exceptional circumstances.
Lost In Play

If you like the animation series Gravity Falls or Over the Garden Wall, you’re going to love Lost in Play.
Lost in Play is a puzzle adventure that follows two siblings lost in their own imagination.
Lost in Play lands on PC and Nintendo Switch on August 10th, 2022.

Brewmaster Beer Brewing Simulator

Brewmaster is coming to PC and consoles in 2022, with a demo available right now on Steam.

Bramble The Mountain King

Bramble: The Mountain King is a puzzle platformer heavily inspired by Nordic folklore.
Bramble: The Mountain King is coming soon to PC and consoles.

Enemy Of The State

Enemy of the State is coming to PC and consoles in 2024.

game Demos You Can Play Right Now: The Tarnishing Of Juxtia, Orx, A Twisted Tale, Reptilian Rising, Potion Permit, Melatonin, Once Upon A Jester, Bail Or Jail

Every game in this video has a demo that’s available to download and play right now on steam.
Sunday Gold

Coming 2022.

Do Not Open

Do Not Open is coming to VR platforms in Fall 2022.

Bright Memory Infinite

Bright Memory: Infinite is out now on PC, and is coming soon to PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

The Last Faith

The Last Faith is a gothic horror Metroidvania that looks like a pixelly version of Bloodborne.
The Last Faith is coming to PC and consoles in 2022.

Team17 Games

A montage of upcoming games from Team17.
Tinykin

Have you ever wondered what the bugs in your house are doing when you’re out?
You might be surprised – complex governmental structures and organised religion. At least that’s the brief we got for Tinykin.
Tinykin is coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch on August 25.

Serial Cleaners

Serial Cleaners is launching in September on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox.

Airport Sim

Airport Sim is coming in to land on PC and Xbox Series X and S in 2023.

Phonopolis

Phonopolis is a new game from the minds behind Happy Game, Amanita Design. In Phonopolis, you’ll help Felix solve playful puzzles in an avant-garde fibreboard city.

Being And Becoming

Being and Becoming is a subterranean roguelike where you play as a Lucid Dreamer in a world of endless slumber.
Don’t sleep on Being and Becoming, which is coming soon to PC.

Arctic Awakening

Arctic Awakening follows a pilot who crash lands in the arctic after his plane is chopped in half by mysterious forces. He also has a court-mandated therapy robot called Alfie.
Arctic Awakening, which is coming to PC, Mac and consoles in 2023.

F1 Manager 2022

F1 Manager 2022 is coming out on August the 22nd and enjoy this new trailer showing off menu systems and improved graphics as you manage constructors, drivers and staff. Coming to PlayStation, Xbox and PC.

Divine Knockout

DKO or Divine Knockout is coming to the Epic Games Store, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms. It’s a third-person brawling fighter with an almost chibi-like art style featuring gods and mythology in 3-on-3 gameplay.

Planet Of Lana

Planet of Lana is coming to Steam and Xbox this year. Not only can you enjoy some platformer puzzle solving fun but also take in the beautiful water colour art style and story of a girl and her little monster companion and she traverses a land full of machines, monsters and maybe even some friends.

Deadly Premonition 2 A Blessing In Disguise

Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is now out on Steam. Expect open-world action-adventure gameplay as you solve murder cases in an small American Mountain town, created by Japanese developer Rising Star Games.

Snufkin Melody Of Moominvalley

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is coming to Steam in 2023 with classic characters in a musical adventure game where you restore harmony and balance to Moominvalley from the Park Keeper.

Palworld

It’s a wacky mash-up of a game, featuring the cutest cuddly characters and FPS gameplay. Here’s Palworld, coming out this year on Steam.

Ill

It’s a first-person horror game in development on Unreal Engine 5.


Free Fire’s Beach Party Event Adds New Pet, Skins & More

Battle royale mobile game Free Fire is kicking off the summer with the Beach Party event. Players can look forward to a free Falco (Free Fireâ€™s first-ever flying pet) exclusive skins, and a chance to win 19,999 Diamonds.
The Beach Party will have several pre and post-hype events, with peak day taking place on 14 JuneÂ  2020. On peak day, players will receive Falco simply by logging in, including a chance to earn 99 Diamond Royale Vouchers.
The Back to the Party Friend Callback will also begin on peak day, giving players the chance to win 19,999 Diamonds just by inviting their friends to the Beach Party. Invitees will also earn a Blue Summer Box, which features an exclusive banner and profile avatar.
In the Mishaâ€™s Lost Swim Rings event, players will help her collect Swim Rings from either the Shooting Map Drop, the standard Map Drop, or from daily logins. The Swim Rings can then be redeemed for the event-exclusive Captain Bubbles Bundle, Beach Party Hat, and the Ocean Joy skateboard.
Starting from 14 June 2020, the new version of Bomb Squad will be available to play, featuring several player-requested improvements, such as a better bombsite display with clearer bombsite logos and a more pronounced message of when and where the bomb was planted.
Additionally, there will also be an optimised store that gives players credits after each round to purchase weapons and equipment; and the new defuse kit item, which helps cut the time of bomb defusing. The Coconut Exchange Store will also open its virtual doors to accept coconuts from dead loot boxes in exchange for several rewards.
You can download Free Fire at the following:

Apple iOS App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/US/app/id1300146617?mt=8

Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dts.freefireth&hl=en_US

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zglmNb3VZtY&w=560&h=315]


Ranking The Super Mario Games From Worst To Best

The Super Mario titles from Nintendo are arguably the most influential and iconic games around. Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably lying through their teeth.
Without the mind of Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto at the helm of these mothership games, there wouldn’t be a Nintendo at all in the late 80s and the 90s. In fact, Nintendo and Mario were the sole saviours of the video game industry; countless retrospectives have mentioned this, so there’s no history lesson needed here.
You also don’t need us to tell you that these games are important in shaping the future of game design and 2D/3D platforming.Â From the 2D platformer mascots like Sonic to even 3D platforming folks like Klonoa and Crash Bandicoot owe their very existence to the red-and-blue faux-Italian plumber.
What we will do instead is figure out the age-old question: which mothership Mario game is the best?Â Which ones of these core Mario games deserve the top spot? Which Mario game in the core franchise is great and which ones are best left forgotten?
Before we start, we should define what a core Mario game is:

A core Mario game is all about jumping and platforming. If the games don’t have these, it’s not on this list. So no SuperStar Saga and Hotel Mario nonsense here.
It also needs to star Mario. This is why we’re not including Yoshi’s Island: it’s an amazing 2D platformer but its focus is on Yoshi, not the the red-hatted overalls-wearing plumber.
There are 18 of these titles focused on platforming and level-advancing. Every other Mario game is either a spin-off or an expansion of sorts. We are not including those.
We’re not going to include the Philips CDI Mario games. Be honest: would you really include them if you were writing this feature?

Another disclaimer: this list is coming from a guy who started out his 2D platforming days with Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, but has grown fond of the 2D Sonic The Hedgehog series. This distinction’s pretty important so that you know this feature is coming from a guy who isn’t a complete Nintendo fanboy/nutjob.
With that said, here are our picks from the bottom to the top.
18. Super Mario Bros. – The Lost Levels (Famicom)

Let’s start with the most unnecessary core game of the franchise. While not a bad game per se, the Lost Levels is a straight-up expansion featuring evil level design and insanely tough challenges. The game also introduces the purple mushroom which depowers you and kills you if you’re small Mario.
Nintendo released this as a separate game and labelled it as a sequel, but really it’s just Super Mario Bros. Plus and not so much an evolution for the series. It’s just an add-on marketed as a sequel that’s meant to challenge and test the patience of Mario fans. Stuff like this may be alright in the short term, but it’s not the game that will leave a lasting impression in Mario’s gaming culture.
17.Super Mario Sunshine (Nintendo GameCube)
The dark horse of the Super Mario series, this 3D platformer gives Mario a water cannon to deal with baddies and a whole ton of skills to platform his way out of trouble. The game was rushed out to help bolster the lacklustre sales of the GameCube at the time, and it clearly shows.
While the game is interesting, perhaps the big reason why it didn’t do as well as its cousins is because of its complexity and its failure to make its goals and mechanics clearer. With a bit more polish, you’ll find a great game underneath its design quirks.
16.New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS)
What happens when you start taking levels from the Super Mario well chock-filled with NES and SNES ideas? You get the DS “retread” called New Super Mario Bros. Perhaps the biggest new mechanic here is the ability to transform Mario into a giant for a few seconds, but that isn’t creative in the slightest.
The game is fun and it’s nice to have a portable Mario game that’s coloured and pastel-bright. In the end, the game hasn’t aged well and there are now superior portable picks. It’s a product of its time.
15.Super Mario Land (Game Boy)

Mario’s Game Boy debut was great: for the first time, gamers can play a Mario game anywhere. Of course, it didn’t age well since the visuals were tiny, the challenge was minimal, and the control physics were, how shall we put it, less “Mario-like”.
To be fair, the Super Mario Land games morphed into something a little different and then spun off into the Wario series. But still, there were some creative off-kilter bits of gameplay and stage design here and there. Mario fights the last boss in a biplane; you don’t see that every day.
14.New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)
The second New Super Mario Bros. game is a little more creative than its DS prequel, but still it was outshined by the co-op madness that is New Super Mario Bros. Wii at the time. Even on its own merit, the game’s coin-gathering mechanic seems less important than you would think.
Still, there are some clever moments of gameplay, where stages feature coin-littered paths that lure players into making stupid risks. All because they wanted to get those extra few coins.
13.Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)

Japan’s version of Super Mario Bros. 2 is the Lost Levels add-on we listed above. The rest of the world received this surreal Mario game with tons of innovation for its time. For the first time, you can pick between a much different Luigi (not just a palette-swapped Mario), Princess Peach (or Toadstool at the time), and Toad.
You can also pick up and toss enemies, radishes, and all sorts of things to clear stages and solve puzzles, and discover secrets and warp pipes that will take you further. It may not be the most traditional Mario game, but by golly was it fun. Who could forget the Shy Guys, the ragtime music, and the scary demon mask Phanto?

Brr….
12.Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (Game Boy)
Super Mario Land 2 has bigger and better graphics and a revamped gameplay engine. The game also introduces a hat-based powerup system which in the end was more suited to Mario’s evil counterpart Wario and his slew of games. Fun fact: he’s the main antagonist who made his debut here.

This Mario game boasts some of the unusual and inventive stages that testÂ your hat-using skills. Until Super Mario Galaxy came into the picture, this was as close as you could get with a space-themed Mario stage.
11.Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)
The Nintendo 64 iteration of Mario is the most influential and genre-defining game of all time since it made every other platforming mascot go 3D. But was it fun?
Sure, it was technologically groundbreaking and it was fun seeing Nintendo explaining the 3D camera in the world by way of assigning a friendly Lakitu (the cloud-riding turtle) to do a documentary on Mario and his escapades. That being said, this game is pretty standard and a bit rough around the edges. The late-game stages are pretty cruel in terms of the camera not being cooperative in showing you where you’re going.
We will thank Super Mario 64 for paving the foundations for 3D platforming, but we’ll just go straight to the Galaxy and Odyssey games if we want to see an evolution of that format.
10.Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
Want the best aspects of both the New Super Mario Bros. games and the Super Mario Galaxy titles? Then you should check out Super Mario 3D Land. The fixed 3/4 camera viewpoint was purposely tailored to take advantage of the 3D capabilities of its portable platform, but in truth it made Super Mario 3D Land feel a lot like a platform-centric version of Nintendo’s adventure classic The Legend of Zelda.
While the first half of the game seem standard, it’s the rest of the game and content post-Bowser that fleshes out Super Mario 3D Land. In fact, the 3D depth slider on your 3DS will help you find secrets and figure out what platforms are within reach when you’re checking out a stage or two. Definitely one of the more overlooked Mario games around.
9.New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)

The Wii version of New Super Mario Bros. basically relies on its sole game-winning feature: the four-person simultaneous co-operative mode. This mode changes up the game in a manic way, since your teammates can either help you achieve your goal or just hinder you and get in your way.
Nintendo included enough tools for people to either play cooperative or be trolls. Are you going to be that one player who rides on a Yoshi and gobble up others? Are you going to be that guy who purposefully jumps on your friend’s head while he/she is mid-air to ruin their trajectory and make them fall into the pit below?
It’s a shame the game’s single-player fare is standard. Otherwise, this entry would have ranked higher on this list.
8.Super Mario Bros. (NES)

It’s the first, but it’s clearly not the best as evident with its sequel. The first Super Mario game set the template and it is simple, so it has those core elements going for it.
It still holds up even for so long; it’s only outshined by sequels that borrow from the first game’s simple-yet-addictive structure and template. If you want your Mario games simple and less expansive and adventurous, you can’t go wrong with the original.
7.Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

After Super Mario Bros. Sunshine fizzled, the Nintendo R&D folks had to step it up. So they looked to the stars, and we got Super Mario Galaxy as a result. It’s bigger, it’s more epic, and you get to hop across planets instead of platforms. Your viewpoint is constrained in favour of the designers guiding you to the far reaches of insane and creative level design and planet-hopping.
Super Mario Galaxy is still rough around the edges, but it’s still bombastic and fun to play. It’s only placed in the top ten for reasons we’ll get to later as you scroll down this list.
6.Super Mario World (SNES)

The Mario series put the “Super” in Super Nintendo with this technologically-advanced entry. Not only is there a save feature so that players did not have to play through the game in one sitting, it also introduced a dynamically-changing world that revealed new paths and stages every time Mario completed an area. The game also introduced the dinosaur partner Yoshi, who basically changed the game in a huge way and made many game appearances for years to come because of his abilities.
While Super Mario World isn’t totally inventive (see #2 on the list for that), it is large and expansive in scope. Because of its overabundance of secrets and optional challenges, this SNES classic set the precedence that all Mario games needed a boatload of secrets and stages for players to explore. With the save feature, every gamer who had an SNES at the time (and even now) can take their sweet time exploring the lush giant candy-and-chocolate-themed world of this adventure.
5.New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U, Nintendo Switch)

This Wii U version of Mario did a great job of blending in the old and new. While the game arrived in the worst time possible for Nintendo, since its Wii U console sold terribly, this game was criminally overlooked. This was due to its ability to flesh out creative levels with a ton of secrets packed in each stage.
The four-player co-op from the Wii game is also prevalent, and the Game Pad novice-friendly multiplayer feature also catered to players who have a less-talented gaming person who would rather have minimal input in the game. Simply put, this game deserves to be in the top 5 in any best Mario game list.
4. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U, Nintendo Switch
)
Part throwback to Super Mario Bros. 2 and part Super Mario 3D Land but upsized for the Wii U, this four-player co-op Mario game made the chaotic frenzy of the New Super Mario Bros. Wii multiplayer a little more manageable.
Players now get to control either Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach once again in a grabbag of creative quirky levels and stage designs like a train and casino backdrop. This and the cat-suit and doppleganger powerup make for some creative levels and worlds, putting this Mario game above the rest.
3. Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo Switch)

The latest entry in the Mario game series is arguably one of the best 3D Mario titles ever made. The game distils all of its past ideas, takes the sandbox approach from the Nintendo 64/GameCube titles, and then creates an overall better experience. The cap-possession mechanic also creates new ways for players to tackle stages, and even open up new platforming pathways.
What is also great is that collecting the game’s macguffins – Power Moons in this case- did not reset the stage. After you collect one or a necklace of them, you can keep on exploring and even fast travel to any of the previous spots you visited. This is a seamless Mario adventure packed with many, MANY objectives ranging from the simple (buttstomp a patch of dirt to get a Power Moon; it cannot get easier than this) to getting first place in an RC car race which is harder than it sounds.
In other words, it achieved what Super Mario 64 should have done in retrospect: be a colourful open-world action adventure game with fluid controls and a friendly camera interface. And yes, we can never forget the special New Donk City celebration stage.
2.Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

And this is why the first Super Mario Galaxy isn’t within the top 5: the sequel is far superior in every single way. And it’s all thanks to the addition of Yoshi in the Galaxy universe. The designers took great care in not overexposing Yoshi in mothership Mario games. This is perhaps his second major showing in a Mario game; Super Mario Galaxy 2 shined because of it.
While Super Mario Galaxy had the wow factor in surprising players that a Mario game can excel in the stars and in space, Super Mario Galaxy 2 introduced a ton of variety within that scope. From vast galactic landscapes to retro-2D throwbacks, we almost wished it included Rosalina’s observatory. Almost.
Bottom line: this is hands-down the best Super Mario game set in a 3D landscape.
1.Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

If you need a Mario game that defined 2D platforming, Super Mario Bros. 3 is that game. It succeeded the first Super Mario Bros. in terms of scope, graphics, and creative level design, and it’s monumentally superior to even Super Mario 64 because it doesn’t need a 3D gimmick.
Super Mario Bros. 3 had a great visual style, an awesome soundtrack, and a huge number of levels and innovations that do not repeat themselves. There are stages with mazes of pipes, stages with a boatload of plants, sky levels, and even one stage where you hijack a Goomba’s indestructible boot to stomp around in.
Even later Nintendo Mario games have trouble trying to top the creative feat that is Super Mario Bros. 3. This game is held in high regard by countless fans, including us, just because it’s a well-made and complete Mario experience.
Do you think our rankings are spot-on or terrible? Let us know on Kakuchopurei’s website or Facebook page.Â


CEO 2022 Results

One of this year’s premiere fighting game tournaments and expos, Community Effort Orlando (CEO) in Florida, USA, took place during the weekend. Many of the country’s best are fighting for top spots in Street Fighter 5, Guilty Gear Strive, and other popular fighting games. Even overseas players like Thailand’s Book and Japan’s Kudo are representing their respective scenes for a chance at glory on foreign soil.
Here are the results for most of the top fighting games in CEO 2022.

Guilty Gear Strive
1. Vizio | Jonathan Tene (Zato-1)
2. Intel | Razzo (Leo)
3. Moist|Hotashi (Nagoriyuki)
4. LZR|Supernoon (Ramlethal)
5. BC|ApologyMan (Faust)
5. Excedrin|Solstice (Ramlethal)
7. PAR|FlashMetroid (Ky)
7. CGL|K7 Showoff (Leo, Nagoriyuki)
Street Fighter 5
1. XSET|iDom (Laura, Poison)
2. Bandits|MenaRD (Birdie, Luke, Boxer, Sakura)
3. Kudo (Chun-Li)
4. PG|Punk (Ken, Necalli, Karin)
5. Smug (Boxer)
5. END|Shine (Ibuki, Cody, Juri)
7. Grilla|NYChrisG (Ibuki, Chun-Li)
7. CLG|Brian_F (Oro, Boxer)
Tekken 7
1. RB|Anakin (JACK-7)
2. Talon|Book (Jin, Lidia, Akuma)
3. GG|JoKa (Feng, Heihachi)
4. DUSG|Gen (Zafina, Lidia, Fahkumram, Leroy)
5. CRaZY|SuperAkouma (Akuma)
5. DUSG|Rangchu (Julia, Panda)
7. Joonya20z (Katarina)
7. Casual KoDee (Kazuya)
KOF XV
1. TMG|Tamago (Kula, Rock, Krohnen | Benimaru, Kula, Rock | Others)
2. TxC|ViolentKain (Iori, Rock, Krohnen | Rock, Kyo, Krohnen | Others)
3. AR|Wero Asamiya (Iori, Gato, Rock | Yuri, Iori, Rock | Yuri, Gato, Rock)
4. Pako (Luong, Elisabeth, Chizuru)
5. PG|Justin Wong (Chizuru, B. Jenet, Elisabeth)
5. KMT|FKang (Joe, Chizuru, Krohnen)
7. Grilla|Romance (Chizuru, B. Jenet, Elisabeth | Mai, B. Jenet, Elisabeth)
7. Juicebox (King, Rock, Blue Mary | B. Jenet, Rock, Blue Mary)
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
1. BAN|Sonix (Sonic)
2. Liquid|Riddles (Terry, Kazuya)
3. Toast (Young Link)
4. Liquid|Dabuz (Olimar, Rosalina & Luma)
5. PG|Marss (Zero Suit Samus, Joker)
5. TSM|Tweek (Sephiroth, Diddy Kong)
7. MVD (Snake, Diddy Kong)
7. PG|WaDi (R.O.B., Mewtwo, Ice Climbers, Banjo-Kazooie)
Dragon Ball FighterZ
1. BMS|Wawa (SS4 Gogeta, Vegito, Trunks | Blue Gogeta, Vegito, Android 17)
2. VGIA|Shanks (Base Vegeta, Cell, Janemba)
3. Rise|Nitro (Kid Buu, Ultra Instinct Goku, Android 21)
4. PG|HookGangGod (Base Vegeta, Broly, Piccolo)
5. Kasuga (Kefla, Android 21, Android 18)
5. Garlic Bread (Beerus, Super Baby 2, Krillin)
7. 860|Kite (Base Vegeta, Vegito, Android 21)
7. Perfección (SS4 Gogeta, Cell, Vegito)


Borderlands 3 Director’s Cut DLC Is Strictly For Fans, And That’s OK

Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5
Genre: Expansion to 2019’s best looter shooter game
5 expansions later, Borderlands 3 went from a great game to an even more packed one. So what else is there for a sixth DLC pack? How about something for or loot-and-shoot fans and Borderlands lore hounds alike? For the former; more guns & endgame opportunities. For the latter, a bunch of deleted scenes and content for superfans.
Is it worth RM64 though? It really depends on how much of a fan you are.
A Cut Above?
In Borderlands 3: Director’s Cut (DLC6), you’re given a few story-esque missions involving everybody’s not-so-favourite Siren loudmouth Ava where she hosts a ghost story podcast, and you have to go through a bunch of missions in familiar & reused locales to get to the bottom of it.

While its objectives are pretty standard and linear, this mission chain does introduce us to a tanky final boss Guardian alien called the Seer. She comes with her own set of gimmicks and mechanics that may prove a challenge for solo players. It’s a mite challenging the first time around and requires you to have friends if you want to get through mostly unscathed.
Of course, the new DLC brings in a new Vault Card system that is essentially dailies and weekly quests akin to an online RPG. Do the tasks & miniquests on the card (like kill certain enemies or bosses) to gain XP, Diamond Keys (to open special loot rooms), and exclusive Card items.

These at least give longtime players a bit of a purpose beyond farming for loot for an hour or so. The Legendary items on the card are pretty awesome: right now they’re themed after fallen Borderlands heroes from a super-shield based on Roland to a Hyperion shotgun that pays tribute to Borderlands 2’s Angel. We’ll be seeing new Vault Cards get introduced and offer new items in the next few weeks and months, hopefully.
The other fine meats in this DLC include a new Raid Boss called Hemovorous: pay 500 Eridium to gain entry and beat this giant-as-heck Varkid. It’s not as tough as the other Raid bosses in Borderlands 2, but it still requires a four-Vault Hunter team if you want to beat it efficiently without running out of bullets midway.

The loot it drops is also really great ranging from “company themed” artifacts that give manufacturer bonuses, to an Atlas handgun that basically makes all other Atlas homing and tracking guns obsolete. Let’s just say that the loot from DLC6, be it from bosses and even in the Designer’s Cut Arms Race, will make their way in the top spots of the “best Borderlands 3 legendary guns” list.
Gun Shy?
In the context of a review, scores are meaningless for fan-driven DLC content like this. Players who follow Borderlands 3 since its 2019 debut are going to straight-up buy DLC6 for the extra guns, levels, updates, raid bosses, and the actual extras. Yes, even the one animatics that could actually change the series’ hated character into a justified one.
Anyone who is new to Borderlands 3 and did not buy the rest of the DLC may want to wait for a full-on bundle that’s lower than its current price because it’s just that: extras. Even so, DLC6 is slightly low-tier extras compared to DLCs 2 to 4 which have fleshed-out plots and levels/monsters that aren’t reused assets.
Unless you really are into Borderlands 3 like I am even after a couple of years, you may want to hold off buying this DLC until it’s at a good discounted price. To the superfans who still like to experiment with OP Vault Hunter builds with better weapons & want dailies, go nuts with Borderlands 3: Director’s Cut.
Final Score: 70/100


New Army Of The Dead Trailer Even Has A Zombie Tiger

Netflix has unveiled the first full trailer for Zack Snyder’s Army Of The Dead, which is slated to premiere on 21 May 2021 on the streaming service.
The new trailer is a lot longer than the previous teaser trailer, and shows a lot of Dave Bautista’s main protagonist character, along with the rest of the ensemble cast. Most importantly, we get closer looks at some of the zombies in the upcoming movie, including a freaking zombie tiger.
The synopsis reads: