Square Enix Launches TGS 2022 Special Website & Schedule

Square Enix has launched a new Tokyo Game Show 2022 special website. At TGS 2022, The Square Enix booth at Makuhari Messe will be showcasing playable demos for; Forspoken, Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Valkyrie Elysium, Star Ocean The Divine Force, and Romancing Saga Minstrel Song Remaster.
TGS Online will deliver a full lineup of programs from “SQUARE ENIX PRESENTS” studio for four days. Some programs are scheduled to be delivered in English, Chinese, and Korean in addition to Japanese so that more people can enjoy them. However, some programs are only broadcasted in Japanese.
For gamer fans who cannot attend the Makuhari venue, it will be a program that will be viewable online at the following links (times in GMT+8):
SQUARE ENIX PRESENTS Program Guide
Thursday, 15 September 2022
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Nq99mlN0Xrg
6pm – Square Enix Music Program
7pm – Star Ocean Program Tokyo Game Show 2022 Special – A Tokyo Game Show special version of the Star Ocean official program, “Star Ocean Program.” The program will introduce new information on Star Ocean: The Divine Force with the voice actors., as well as the first live gameplay. Featuring Subaru Kimura (voice actor), Yuka ?tsubo (voice actor), Fairouz Ai (voice actor), and Shingo Mukaitouge (tri-Ace producer).

Friday, 16 September 2022
YouTube: https://youtu.be/brUxACCAGck
4pm – Square Enix Trailer Lineup at Tokyo Game Show 2022
5pm – Let’s Play Games on PC! – Featuring Furukawa Mirin (Dempagumi.inc) and HighGai (game streamer).
6pm – SaGa Series Tokyo Game Show 2022 Special Broadcast – The latest information on the SaGa series, with a focus on Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered, Imperial SaGa Eclipse, and Romancing Saga Re:univerSe. Featuring host Nobuo (of the comic duo Penguins), Yuu Urata (voice actor for Albert in Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered), Akitoshi Kawazu (SaGa series general director), Masanori Ichikawa (SaGa series producer), Hiroyuki Miura (Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered producer), Kazuma Oushuu (Imperial SaGa Eclipse producer), Benny Matsuyama (game writer, novelist), Yousuke Fujimoto (Think & Feel director), Hikaru Ishihara (Akatsuki development staff), and Shinji Ueno (Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered director).
8pm – Open Today! Square Enix Store Tokyo Game Show 2022 Special – Featuring Shoko Nakagawa, Atsuko Uchida (announcer), and Ryota Aomi (head of merchandising).
9pm – Eiko Kano’s Critikano Hit Tokyo Game Show 2022 Special Eppisode – Featuring Eita Kano, Kenta Sakai (Alco and Peace), and Masayuki Kibe (game writer).
Saturday, 17 September 2022
YouTube: https://youtu.be/TJmCRqmhRnI
11am – Ryuji’s Bazu Recipe feat. Dragon Quest Treasures! – Popular chef Ryuji cooks up something from Dragon Quest Treasuers!? Enjoy a lovely cooking show alongside some Dragon Quest talk with Ryuji, who loves video games. Featuring Ryuji (chef / YouTuber) and Taichi Inuzuka (Dragon Quest Treasures producer).
12pm – Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius Official Broadcast at Tokyo Game Show 2022 – Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius members barge into Tokyo Game Show 2022! The latest game information and behind-the-scenes stories from Makuhari Messe. Featuring Rie Ishikawa (from the Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius YouTube channel), Yusuke Suda (producer), and Gussan (planner).
1pm – Leonis Private Broadcast at Tokyo Game Show 2022 – The operations team of War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius introduces the game, including new content. There may even be a giveaway! Featuring host Susumu Imadachi (Eleci Comic), Kay Hirono (Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius series producer), and Kazuhide Nakai (War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius operations producer).
3:15pm – Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent Music Concert Video – Featuring Atsuki Yoshida (Vn, Va), Kirin Uchida (Vc), Yuya Mori (Pf), Ren Tsukagoshi (E-Gt, A-Gt), Seku (E-Gt), Tetsuya Ueda (E-Bass), Yoshiyori Imai (Drums), and Kaon Kokudo (Vo).
5:30pm– Valkyrie Elysium and HARVESTELLA Tokyo Game Show 2022 Special Broadcast – A two-title broadcast featuring the latest information on the imminently-due Valkyrie Elysium (PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions) and November 4-due life simulation RPG HARVESTELLA. Featuring Susumu Imadachi (Eleci Comic), Tetsu Inada (voice actor for Eygon in Valkyrie Elysium), Takahiro Kondo (Valkyrie Elysium producer and director), Daisuke Taka (HARVESTELLA producer), and Furuya Hiroto (HARVESTELLA director).
6:45pm – The DioField Chronicle Pre-Launch Special – The DioField Chronicle is due out on September 22. As the title suggests, this is a pre-launch special introducing the game with its cast and development staff. Live gameplay and behind-the-scenes voice recording stories you will only be able to hear here with Nobuhiko Okamoto, who voices protagonist Andrias Rhondarson. Featuring host Misuzu Yamada, special guest Nobuhiko Okamoto (voice actor), Shigeyuki Hirata (producer0, and Takahiro Kumagai (art director).
8pm– Wash Away Your Stress and Fatigue! PowerWash Simulator Tokyo Game Show 2022 Summer Fatigue Wash-Away Show! A Soothing 60-Minute Broadcast! – The latest information and gameplay for PowerWash Simulator, which is out now. Let us wash away your daily fatigue with a most-relaxing experience. Featuring host Susumu Imadachi (Eleci Comic), Takashi Akaishizawa (localization producer), and Ken Rose (localization director).
9pm – Artisan Spotlight: Front Mission Model and Diorama World – Featuring Takashi Segawa (diorama artist / professional modeler).
9:25pm – Open Today! Square Enix Store – Featuring Ryoutarou Okiayu (voice actor), Yuuta Kasuya (voice actor), Rina Natsume (voice actor), Takeshi Segawa (diorama artist / professional modeler), and narrator Mirei Suda (voice actor).
Sunday, 18 September 2022
YouTube: https://youtu.be/yweKrVrweus
10:45am – Starting Now, You’re a Card Gamer Too! Final Fantasy Trading Card Game Beginner’s Hall at Tokyo Game Show 2022 – Featuring Kabukin (YouTuber) and Marika Kouno (voice actor).
11:45am – Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai Game Project Tokyo Game Show 2022 TremenDAIs Edition – Game-related information on the popular anime Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai. This includes the latest information on the in-development action RPG Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai and information regarding Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero’s Bonds with NON STYLE’s Yusuke Inoe and talent Yurino Okada. Featuring Ryuutarou Ichimura (Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai Game Project general producer), Makoto Nakayama (Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: Xross Blade producer), Takuya Shiomi (Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero’s Bonds producer), Yusuke Inoe (NON STYLE), Yurino Okada (talent), and Saito-V (V-Jump editorial department).
1:30pm – NieR: Automata End of YoRHa Edition for Switch Pre-Launch: Platinum Games’ Takahisa Taura Discusses His Passion for Creating Action Games – Information and developer discussion for the October 6-due action RPG NieR: Automata End of YoRHa Edition for Switch. PlatinumGames senior game designer Takahisa Taura joins the broadcast to discuss his passion for creating action games. (There will be no new information during this live stream.) Featuring host Hiroki Yasumoto (voice actor), Yosuke Saito (NieR series producer), Yoko Taro (NieR series creative director), and Takahisa Taura (NieR: Automata senior game designer at PlatinumGames).
2:30pm – Tactics Ogre: Reborn Tokyo Game Show 2022 Special Broadcast – Tactics Ogre: Reborn is due out on November 11! This is an introduction to the game mixed with new information and behind-the scenes development stories. Featuring Hiroaki Kato (producer), Hitoshi Sakimoto composer), Tomoaki Maeno (voice actor), and Yuichi Nakamura (voice actor).
4:00pm – Final Fantasy XIV: A Stroll with Yoshi-P in Tokyo Game Show 2022 (Japanese-only) – Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida visits a public world and plays Final Fantasy XIV with the players in this Tokyo Game Show 2022 edition of “A Stroll with Yoshi-P.” Featuring Naoki Yoshida (Final Fantasy XIV producer and director) and Toshio Murouchi (Final Fantasy XIV global community producer).


Gamescom Asia 2020 Cancelled

It’s truly a sad day for gaming fans all over Southeast Asia who want to make a yearly pilgrimage to Singapore.
The inaugural edition of Gamescom Asia is pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The show was originally scheduled from 15th October to 18th October, but has been delayed to 14th to 17th October 2021. The venue will be the same: at Singapore’s Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Here’s the official statement from Koelnmesse Singapore managing director Mathis Kuepper (ie: the folks behind Gamescom Asia):

“[The global pandemic has forced us to] adapt and refocus our efforts on 2021. Moreover, for an inaugural event, we felt it was important to give the regional gaming community and fans the full experience of what an international event of this scale would be like and not anything less.”

Despite some countries recovering from the pandemic, Kuepper added that the show’s stakeholders, partners, and even the Singapore government agree that the world is “not situationally ready for this to happen”. We saw this coming a mile away ever since the offline Gamescom event was cancelled, but it’s still a bummer.
Fear not, as Gamescom 2020: The Heart Of Gaming digital expo is still a-go this August. At the very least, you’ll still get your hot gaming announcements and playthroughs through the comforts of your own home.


Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Voice Actress Finds Issue With Xenoblade 3’s Ending; Fans React

The internet JRPG community is at it again, and it involves yet another voice actor in the business.
Skye Bennett is known for voicing Pyra and Mythra in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, two prominent main characters in the JRPG entry as well as in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. She recently finished Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and seems to take issue with one particular endgame moment.
Naturally, fans are vocal about this. We’ll be adding spoiler tags as this topic is dealing with the ending of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, a JRPG that came out mid-last year.

Skye basically saw the picture with Xenoblade 2 hero Rex, his pals, and three of his “wives” Pyra, Mythra, and Nia holding a baby each. This was a short clip in the massive ending of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 where the world it’s set in has to split up, with help from Melia of Xenoblade 1 and Nia from Xenoblade 3. Melia and Nia have long lifespans and have outlived their friends and lovers(?), and are thus tasked to preserve their respective worlds.
Long story short, Rex f***ed all three women, and VO Skye does not accept this as canon in the Xenoblade universe.
” I’ve decided to pretend the XC3 3 wives thing is not canon. In my head, Rex friendzoned Nia, Mythra is single and loving it and Pyra is the one he actually ended up with. Rex doesn’t have enough game to pull all 3 lol and also just no. P&M are basically sisters like??? no”

The post she did has 1 million views, 168 retweets, and 620 quotes at this point of writing. Her name is even trending on Twitter over a couple of hours ago. The replies have been interesting, with Skye replying appropriately.

Some people are going to be weird about your perspective, but I think it's a fair one to have
I will say that Rex comes across completely differently as an adult compared to when he was a kid.
The DLC is just crazy good in general but Rex was such an amazing dad character pic.twitter.com/GkZGQ0ROjm
— PK Gaming (@Shock_and_Roll) May 8, 2023

I really don't care about this, but I think this image is really funny pic.twitter.com/yAKnjWkdnF
— Will (@from90total) May 8, 2023

In my hating Skye era
— M1narc @ToF & HSR (@M1narc) May 8, 2023

People in the comments crying about the definition of headcanon
— Sacha (@Shadenessi) May 8, 2023

 Skye Bennett’s reaction THAT photo: by      u/Bl_nk7 in      Xenoblade_Chronicles

Despite the voice actress having an issue with this, the developers have made it clear with the Future Redeemed DLC that Rex’s polygamy is indeed canon and has a kid out of it: Glimmer (technically, since the Glimmer in the DLC is a clone of the real one who probably died ages ago) and maybe Mio. If you haven’t, you should play Future Redeemed.
In any case, do respect her opinion and do not harass her if you feel different about it. There are far too many cases of VOs being harassed by dumb angry fans who just want to pick fights to the point of ruining their lives.


This Popular Anime Mobile Game Has Been Delayed

Aniplex has announced that they haveÂ delayedÂ the mobile gameÂ Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba â€“ Keppuu Kengeki RoyaleÂ from its previously planned 2020 release window to an unannounced release period.
The reason given for the delay is to further polish the game and improve its quality. This is understandable considering the current ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba â€“ Keppuu Kengeki RoyaleÂ is an asymmetric battle survival action developed by Quatro A in cooperation with Soleil. It is slated to release for Android and iOS devices.
Meanwhile, the Demon Slayer Mugen Train movie is coming to Malaysian cinemas soon.


SDGR EA EBLZ & Team Bosskurr Rise To The Top Of MPL Malaysia Season 8 Qualifiers

SDGR EA EBLZ and Team Bosskurr are your qualifying teams for MPL Malaysia Season 8. Previously known as Pasukan Rahasia, the team has been acquired by Bosskurr to compete for the upcoming Regular Season from 13 August to 3 October 2021.
Mobile Legends Bang Bang fans can expect to see some old â€˜flamesâ€™ and surprises this season, with several team roster changes. The Regular Season will run each Friday to Sunday and will be broadcasted on TikTok, Youtube, and Facebook.Â
There will be ten teams competing in a Best-Of-Three (BO3) format during the Regular Season, for the prize pool of US$100,000. For the safety of the players and staff, the competition will be hosted through an online format, with the players competing in their gaming houses and facilities under COVID-19 measures as per government guidelines.Â
In the last MPL Malaysia season, RSG MY managed to pull off incredible feats in the upper brackets and become the reigning champion. You can catchÂ all the action on the following MPL Malaysiaâ€™s social channels:Â

TikTok
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram

For more details and information, you can head on over to the official website here.
MPL Malaysia Season 8 Teams
RSG MY RSG is a well-renowned team in Malaysia. With the start of Season 7, their lineup of new playersÂ has been updated with the most famous faces to enter the fighting arena this time.Â With Lolealz, Izanami and Zacus in their ranks,Â their lightning speed and incredible teamÂ chemistry, RSG MY has become unstoppable,Â winning the MPL MY S7 Champion and was theÂ Top Four for MSC 2021. Their mind is all set inÂ putting all their focus on the tournament. For S8,Â Mom joined RSG as a jungler so that Leixia canÂ take a break.
TODAK TODAK has proven itself as one of the biggest MYSG teams after winning the Season 6Â championship with a perfect record for itsÂ unique aggressive style.Â They won the 1st runner up in MPL S7 thanks toÂ their powerful team chemistry. In S8, they willÂ likely be introducing some new players for theÂ season. For instance, Ajiq (Delus) was fromÂ Orange Esports last season and YumS is theirÂ new tank.
Suhaz Esports Suhaz was the 2nd-runner up for MPL MY S7. In the last season, the team collaborated withÂ EVOS but for this season – they are now backÂ as just Suhaz.Â Suhaz will continue with their team roster fromÂ S7, and have added Mali from Orange.
RED ESPORTS Red Esports made it to the top four spots in MPL MY S7. They will still retain their S7 teamÂ roster for S8.
ORANGE ESPORTS Orange Esports is back with a completely new roster this season – with some from TeamÂ Lunatix (Orange Esports youth team). Man andÂ Min are twin brothers from S7 Reborn.
GEEKFAM GEEKFAM is a team steeped in history. They were the Champions of MPL MYSG S3 and theÂ runner-up for MYSG S5.Â Their roster is the same as last season, with anÂ objective to win the championship for S8 andÂ qualifying for M3.
Team SMG Team SMG is back for more in MPL MY S8. They’ve been present in the MPL MY sceneÂ since S5.Â For this season, Jamesss will continue to serve as their coach. Another team highlight is Deto, their jungler, who is only 16 years old (the youngest jungler for MPL MY).

HomeBois Homebois have now added a new player from TODAK – Vins.Â The stars of the team are Chibi, Sepat, and Aul.Â Sepat is a talented player to watch out for thisÂ upcoming MPL MY Regular Season.
SDGR EA EBLZ Semi-pro team that fought their way through the qualifiers. Their coach Cr1tics was RSGâ€™s coachÂ during S7.
Team Bosskurr A few players came from Orange Esports in S7, and theyâ€™ve quit Orange to start afresh.Â With Kuja as their coach, Neo and Aim are theÂ veterans of the team, theyâ€™ve battled their wayÂ through the qualifiers.Â Another highlight of this team is their up andÂ coming talented jungler, Sonic from semi-proÂ team Mad Esports.


Here’s When You Jump Into Battlefront II’s Public Beta

This October 6.
Yes. That’s how soon you can hop into the public beta for Star Wars: Battlefront II. As confirmed by EA’s APAC Regional Manager,Â players can expect to get an appetiser of sorts for the game, a month ahead of its full release come November 17 2017.

Bigger maps, more vehicles and special characters and thank the maker – a single player campaign. Also, check out the awesome, newly released trailer of the game below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNGWh_-R1VE&w=560&h=315]
EA even released a graph comparing the sequel to its 2015 predecessor and from the looks of things, we stand to get over triple the number of locations, double the amount of heroes and almost triple the types of vehicles you are able to pilot. Yes. We’ll get Kamino, Yavin 4, Kashyyk, Jakku and even Starkiller Base. Oh did you know you can pilot a Tauntaun as shown during the first reveal at Star Wars Celebration Day?

As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll get to play as characters across all three Star Wars trilogies on multiplayer which means a Kylo Ren vs Darth Vader deathmatch is totally possible. Mind you, there will be 14 playable heroes this time so just imagine the possibilities.

The introduction of classes in the player progression system allows a deeper sense of progression on multiplayer which hopefully adds to the longevity of the game itself. This also bleeds to the vehicles so that’s pretty interesting. The last time Battlefront came out, the number of players plummeted a couple months after The Force Awakens hit the cinemas due to dying hype and lack of content so this is probably EA’s answer to avoiding similar issue.

And yes – don’t forget the single player experience. Battlefront II will put players in the other side of the conflict – the Galactic Empire – Â in the shoes of Commander Iden Versio of Inferno Squad. She’s a badass, she’s out to kick some Rebel butt and players will somehow get to understand the motivation of the members of the Empire, rather than seeing them as mindless, faceless enemies. A bold move on EA’s part to do so and I’m sold on picking up the game just by this premise alone.
Anyway the hype for Star Wars is definitely picking up steam ahead of Episode VIII’s release and the game hitting shelves a month before the movie screening surely helps. I’m a huge Star Wars fan so expect to read more of Battlefront II here – despite me feeling super annoyed with the lack of content in the first. I have a good feeling about this one. Trust. In. The. Force.
For full details of the beta, stay tuned. We are doing some digging for full details and what the event entails – you know – what do we get, what’s in it etc etc.
Star Wars: Battlefront.II releases worldwide come November 17 2017 and will be available on the PS4, Xbox One and PC.


Five Best Heroes to Counter Brigette

Since hero 27, Brigette Lindholm was made available for Competitive ModeÂ  on Overwatch, the scene is rife with folks calling for her nerf and declaring the new support-tank hybrid hero as being broken and even overpowered. But is she? Today we are going to dissect this argument, suggest ways on how to counter her and decide whether she really is, overpowered.
First, facts:Â  Brigette’s kit
Rocket Flail
Range: 6m. 35HP/hit, 0.6/sec
Shield Bash
Range: 7m. 50HP/hit + stun, 5sec cooldown
Whip Shot
Range: 20m. 70HP/hit + knockback, 4sec cooldown
Barrier
600HP. Barrier charges health after 2 seconds after undeployed/ breaking
Inspire (Passive)Â
Range: 20m. Heals 80HP/sec (16HP/sec)
Repair PackÂ
Range: 30m. 150Â HP heal, overheal adds up toÂ 75Â armor
Rally (Ultimate)
Range: 7m.Â Increases Brigitte’s runspeed, +150Â armor to herself + nearby allies
Right out of the bat, Brigette is a character highly effective in dealing damage in close-quarters brawl. Her primary attack has a considerably wide cone of effect and is able to deal some serious damage to MULTIPLE squishies within reach. In less than three and a half seconds, she would be able to take out the flankers while at the same time allowing her teammates freedom to be a bit more aggressive thanks to her passive ability. But once you zoom out, she is pretty much a sitting duck as you figure out how she plays with her teammates.
The most effective strats involving Brigette sees her being clumped up with less-mobile tanks who rely from her AoE. You’d mostly see this setup in maps where chokepoints are present such as Temple of Anubis, Hanamura, Volskaya and Junkertown. Like Reinhardt, Orisa and Roadhog, Brigette is NOT a mobile hero so her movement pattern is pretty much predictable. She may use her shield bash to dash through open areas which leaves her vulnerable for the next five seconds. More than enough time to wipe her out.
Now we got those laid out, here are our suggestions forÂ Brigette Counters.
Obvious Choices
PharahÂ
Pharah is currently the best counter to Brigette due to her ability to stay way out of Brigette’s reach while at the same time dealing significant damage to the enemy. Brigette heals 80HP over five seconds (16HP/sec) yet Pharah’s rockets deal 120HP per direct hit, a maximum of 80 per splash with a minimum of 20. With a rate of 1.1 rockets/ second, a precise placement of her rockets should be able to not only nullify Brigette’s healing effect (about 20m radius), well-placed shots should be able to take her out for good.

Pharah players should focus on dropping rockets in the relative common area if the enemies are clumped up. Don’t worry if you aren’t hitting direct rockets. The splash damage alone should nullify Brigette’s passive ability which instantly levels the fighting ground. When possible, use the Concussive Blast to boop her further from her teammates while still spamming those rockets. One full clip (six rockets) or two well-placed shots should be able to whittle her health enough for your flankers to clean her up. Just remember – keep your distance
JunkratÂ
Another effective hero to play against Brigette, Junkrat players tend to stay way beyond reach of the rocket flail while casually lobbing grenades from a distance. The fact that these grenades can be bounced off angles make it even logical for Junkrat to simply spam chokepoints and openings which aren’t directly within their line of sight. Always remember that Brigette – due to her lack in mobility is expected to walk through a limited number of paths in the game.
Just like the splash damage from Pharah’s rockets, Junkrat’s grenades deal significant amount of damage to enemies. A direct grenade deals 120HP, while splash deal a maximum of 80 damage with a minimum of 12.5HP. While these stats appear less stellar than Pharah’s rockets, Junkrat more than make up for that with two concussion mines (120HP damage, splash 50) and steel traps.

Clever use of angles will effectively limit Brigette’s movements and forces her teammates to either invest in their ults and abilities, or even break formation. The main idea early on in countering Brigette is to disrupt her team’s composition as she is very vulnerable when not protected by others.
Creative SolutionsÂ
MeiÂ
A well-timed ice-wall will instantly cut Brigette off from the rest of the team for that quick cleanup.

Ana
Tossing a Biotic Grenade onto the Brigette Brigade will instantly disrupt any healing for the next four seconds. Timing this with your mates’ dive should wipe the enemy clean in one fell swoop but make sure to keep one ranged damage dealer to constantly lay rockets / lob grenades into the area of effect for maximum effect.

(Brass) Ballsy Move
BastionÂ
Hunkering down and continuously spray bullets at Brigette’s shield WILL cut her down in about three to four seconds – assuming your aim and tracking is pretty steady. However, as the title suggests, doing so leaves you super vulnerable to other heroes who’d hound you down the moment they spot you.Â  Use sparingly.

Most teams tend to run Brigette with a second ranged healer who have lesser heals/second potential so once you take down Brigette, send someone to dive onto Zenyatta or Ana who are usually unguarded at the back. If eliminating them turn out to be tricky, simply disrupt their line of sight and focus.
In short, Brigette is NOT overpowered nor in need of a nerf. In fact, we think she could use perhaps a minor buff in shortening her dash cooldown time, while reducing the damage dealt. Her addition adds a ton of new playstyles and her anti-dive kit forces players to approach the game in more creative manner, which should be lauded – not condemned.
Do you have your own unique counters to Brigette? Do share! Comments section is right down below.


Here’s An Angry-Looking Movie Poster For That New Ni No Kuni Movie

We’re not sure what the main characters in the upcoming Ni No Kuni movie from Warner Bros. are mad about, but boy do they look pissed in this latest poster.

Maybe it’s the new determined look these anime protagonists sport. Or maybe they’re taking lessons from American Kirby. Either way, I’d be pissed too if I was dragged into an alien world filled with Ghibli-esque mutants with freaky ears.

Also, here’s a new trailer with some more smiling, at least at the start of the film, featuring a bunch of new scenes including Ding Dong Dell street acts, belly dancers/strippers, and an airship ride.

The Ni No Kuni film will be out on 23 August in Japan. No English version release date is announced as of yet. Keep in mind while it looks like a Studio Ghibli movie, it isn’t made by that company. It’s animated by OLM, Inc., and features music from Joe Hisaishi and character designs by Yoshiyuki Momose, whom you may remember as Studio Ghibli associates. This is still Level-5’s baby.


You Can Become Master Chief Using This Halo Infinite App

Halo franchise hype is at an all-time high right now, especially with only about a week or so to go until the release of Halo Infinite on 8 December 2021. To commemorate this, the Xbox official website currently has a special app where you can “become Master Chief”.
In this instance, becoming Master Chief means having a render of your face appearing as Master Chief in a brief video. However, you can technically scan any face, even a celebrity or famous figure’s, and turn them into Master Chief.

Suit up, Spartan. Scan your face and become Master Chief in our brand-new digital experience, which puts you directly into the action.
??? https://t.co/n45LDDimrW pic.twitter.com/VCa1o7wRSQ
— Halo (@Halo) November 29, 2021

You can head on over to the website here to “become Master Chief” yourself. In the meantime, check out our review-in-progress ofÂ Halo InfiniteÂ byÂ heading over here.
Check out an example of it below, where I tried it out for myself:
[videopress yjnsUWyE]


Is Ubisoft Going To Resurrect Prince Of Persia Again?

Ubisoft has recently registered a domain name for Prince of Persia 6, sparking instant speculation from fans of the franchise that the iconic action/platformer series of games will finally be making its long-awaited comeback.
The last game in the franchise was Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC back in 2010, which is over a decade ago now. Starting out as a revolutionary platformer with 1989’s Prince Of Persia for the Apple II, the series has been rebooted several times, and even received a live-action adaptation with 2010’s Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
However, registering the domain name for Prince Of Persia 6 doesn’t necessarily mean that a new game is currently in development, as Ubisoft has kept mum on the status of the franchise for years now, without any new announcements.
According to Reddit user @NayamAmarshe, the registrar of the Prince Or Persia 6 domain name might not even be Ubisoft, but another party entirely. It looks like we’ll have to wait for Ubisoft to officially confirm or deny the rumours.
With Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on the horizon, Ubisoft could potentially be planning a return for the Prince Of Persia franchise soon. What better way for the franchise to return than on next-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X?


Tales Of Crestoria Final Trailer Teases An Epic Mobile RPG Experience

Bandai Namco has released the final trailer for Tales Of Crestoria, an upcoming free-to-play mobile entry in the venerable JRPG franchise for Android and iOS platforms. It is slated to launch sometime in June 2020, with an open beta test planned for sometime in May 2020.
Tales Of Crestoria features protagonists Katana Hjuger and Misella as they’re hunted down for committing a sin. What’s interesting for existing fans of the Tales franchise is that the game also features key characters from previous mainline Tales games, including Cress Albane (Tales Of Phantasia), Velvet Crowe (Tales Of Berseria), and Luke fon Fabre (Tales Of The Abyss).
Katana Hjuger
Misella
Unlike the real-time combat of mainline Tales games, Tales Of Crestoria will instead feature a turn-based gameplay system. Up to four different people can be commanded in a single battle, with powerful Artes and Arcane Artes available.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p0WCnD4o7o&w=560&h=315]
Velvet Crowe
Luke fon Fabre
Your characters in Tales Of Crestoria will even engage in dialogue and banter as you explore the world. In addition, as you continue to battle and increase a characterâ€™s proficiency, you will unlock special side episodes dedicated to that character. These are separate from the main story of the game.

In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IROV8mNEvcY&w=560&h=315]


She-Hulk Trailer Confirms Charlie Cox’s Daredevil Appearance

During San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Marvel Studios unveiled a new trailer for She-Hulk, and it confirmed that Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil will be appearing in the series. In fact, this will technically be the first time that he officially suits up in the MCU. Keen-eyed viewers would also notice that Daredevil will be sporting a comic-inspired yellow crime-busting costume. Check it out in the freeze-frame below.

The trailer also reveals that the premise of the series will be Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters AKA She-Hulk will not only have to train under Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner AKA the Hulk, but she will also have to represent Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky AKA the Abomination as his lawyer. Along the way, she’ll meet other MCU characters as well, including Benedict Wong’s Wong.
She-Hulk will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on 17 August 2022.
Check out the trailer below, as well as what a full recorded message from She-Hulk’s work number sounds like (via a SDCC 2022 She-Hulk promo poster).

Here’s the full recorded message from #SheHulk when you call the number on the new #SDCC poster! pic.twitter.com/dfwRBml7Kd
— She-Hulk Updates (@shehuIkupdates) July 22, 2022


IzanagiGames Announces TGS 2021 Plans & Schedule

IzanagiGames has announced details about cast members and much more regarding their special program that will air live from Makuhari Messe from 10pm GMT+8 on 30 September 2021.
The company has also provided details about the novelty goods giveaway at the Yurukill: The Calumniation Games Demo Booth that will be up and running from 30 September to 3 October 2021 at TGS 2021.
IzanagiGames, Inc. (located in Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan, and led by CEO/Producer Shinsuke Umeda) has announced further information about their participation in TOKYO GAME SHOW 2021 ONLINE. The announcement includes details about the cast and the content – including a special giveaway – of their special program that will air live from Makuhari Messe from 10pm GMT+8 on 30 September 2021, as well as details about the novelty goods available at the Yurukill: The Calumniation Games demo booth from 30 September to 3 October 2021 at TGS 2021.Â

The recently-announced official ambassador for Yurukill: The Calumniation Games, Moe Iori, will appear in IzanagiGamesâ€™ special TGS2021 program, and details about her cosplaying characters from the game will be unveiled.
An exclusive special movie featuring Takuya Eguchi (the voice of Sengoku Shunju) and Saori Hayami (the voice of Rina Azami) will air, featuring them discussing their own â€œfalsely accusedâ€ experiences. Furthermore, a special giveaway for the viewers from Moe Iori, Takuya Eguchi, and Saori Hayami, is scheduled.

â—† TGS2021 ONLINE IzanagiGamesâ€™ Official ProgramÂ
Date: 11pm to 11.50pm GMT+8 on 30 September 2021
TGS official website special program URL:Â
https://tgs.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2021/contents/program.htmlÂ
ãƒ»TitleÂ
The Yurukill: The Calumniation Games official ambassador Moe Iori will appear in the special program.
â—†TGS2021 ONLINE IzanagiGames ExhibitionÂ
Date: 30 September to 3 October 2021 at TGS 2021
Location: Makuhari Messe Hall8 401 (Immediate left from the north entrance)
ãƒ»TGS official exhibitor site:Â
https://tgs.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2021/exhibition/list_genre.htmlÂ
ãƒ»IzanagiGames will be featured during the HIS virtual tour!Â
HIS virtual tour application site URL:Â
https://tgs.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2021/contents/tours.htmlÂ
Japanese tour:Â
Date: IzanagiGames to be introduced between 10am to 11.30am GMT+8 on 2 October 2021 Tour guide: Jicho Kacho (scheduled)Â
English tour:Â
Date: IzanagiGames to be introduced between 10am to 11.30am GMT+8 on 2 October 2021 Tour guide: Daniel Robson (Chief Editor at IGN Japan) and moreÂ
â—†About Yurukill: The Calumniation GamesÂ
An escape adventure and bullet hell shoot â€˜em up game based on an original story by Kakegurui â€“ Compulsive Gambler author, Homura Kawamoto, with a scenario by his younger brother, Hikaru Muno.
Features character design from Hiro Kiyohara, known for his work on Valkyria Revolution, and a soundtrack from Yuko Komiyama,Â who worked on the Monster Hunter series. The shoot â€˜em up elements were developed by the veteran studio, G.Rev.Â


Diablo Immortal Will Not Launch In The Netherlands & Belgium

Last week, it was announced that free-to-play Diablo Immortal has been delayed to 23 June 2022 for those in Southeast Asia, and 2 June 2022 for the rest of the world. However, it turns out that several countries won’t even be getting the game at all.
According to Dutch website Tweakers, the Activision Blizzard communication manager for Benelux confirmed that Diablo Immortal will not be released in the Netherlands and Belgium. The reason is due to “the current operating conditions for games in those countries”.
Both the Belgian Gaming Commission and Netherlands Gaming Authority have strict laws against loot boxes. Basically, the presence of loot boxes in Diablo Immortal is against the law in those countries. For more information feel free to check out their website and if you haven’t already you can still pre-register for Diablo Immortal at diabloimmortal.blizzard.com.


Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla’s Failed Save Game Issue Will Be Fixed In Its Next Title Update

The latest title update for Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla will fix an ongoing problem in the game: failed save games.
At times, your saves for the game on the PS4 and PS5 will display the dreaded “unable to save progress” prompt, which is mostly popping up in the second DLC of the game, The Siege of Paris. The DLC came out on 12th August. The next title update, which should be available right now for PlayStation console owners, will fix this failed game issue. The download is only 530MB and 420MB for the PS4 and PS5 versions respectively.
This same issue is also plaguing the Xbox Series X and S (via Sirus Gaming), so hopefully Ubisoft will sort that out too. For more on the latest DLC for AC: Valhalla, check out our review and guide.


We May Not Get An Offline BlizzCon This Year, Says Blizzard

Bad news: there wouldn’t be a BlizzCon 2020. At least on the physical space.
Blizzard will still hold its annual fan convention in Anaheim this coming November, but it may be cancelled if the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing. Can’t have huge crowd gatherings if it’s a virus that can spread through physical contact, right?
Our guess? If the pandemic is still ongoing, the event will be done online. So all your new info on Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV will be livestreamed on Blizzard’s Irvine, California offices.
Here’s anofficial statement from the company:

“While we’re all hopeful things will look better later in the year, the bottom line is that at this point it’s too early to know whether BlizzCon 2020 will be feasible. The health of our community, employees, and everyone who helps with the show is our top consideration. It might be a few months before we know for certain if or how weâ€™ll proceed, but as soon as we have a meaningful update, weâ€™ll share it.
We do want to mention that prior to the recent events we had been actively working to finalize our plans and in fact are still doing so, despite the workplace changes weâ€™ve now made at Blizzard. That includes considering a range of scenarios and possibilities, not just in terms of the show, but also regarding what the experience would be for you. We know BlizzCon also involves preparation on your part, so weâ€™ll do our best to provide as much clarity as we can, as quickly as we can.”


Counter-Strike 2 Is Real & Coming Soon – Find Out More About The Sequel Here

Last week, the entire CS: GO world went into a huge meltdown over all the teases and rumours of a CS:GO 2.
Well…it’s true. It’s actually real.
My hands are shaking out of excitement writing this because this isn’t just any new game being released. IT’S CS: GO 2!
CS: GO is certainly an influential game and has had a significant impact on the esports scene. It’s also paved the way for many other FPS games, including Valorant, which is one of the more popular FPS games these days.
What We Know So Far
All of the game’s new features will be revealed when it officially launches this summer, but the road to Counter-Strike 2 begins today as a Limited Test for select CS:GO players. Players are selected for the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test based on a number of factors deemed important by the Counter-Strike 2 development team.
This includes (but not limited to) recent playtime on Valve official servers, trust factor, and Steam account standing. Counter-Strike 2 arrives this summer as a free upgrade to CS:GO. Read on below to find out more about the features of the Limited Test.
Tick Rate No Longer Matters For Moving, Shooting, Or Throwing.
What you see is what you get, folks!

Sub-tick updates are the heart of Counter-Strike 2. Previously, the server only evaluated the world in discrete time intervals (called ticks). Thanks to Counter-Strike 2’s sub-tick update architecture, servers know the exact instant that motion starts, a shot is fired, or a ‘nade is thrown.
As a result, regardless of tick rate, your moving and shooting will be equally responsive and your grenades will always land the same way.

Smoke’s Out!

Smoke now has the ability to interact with other gameplay events, creating new opportunities. Bullets and HE grenades can push smoke to briefly clear sightlines or expand occlusion.

Now the smoke will seep out of opened doorways and broken windows, go down and upstairs, as well as expand in long corridors and combine with other smokes.

In Counter-Strike 2 smoke particles work with the unified lighting system allowing for more realistic light and colour.
There’s More!
From UI to the actual gameplay, everything has been reimagined. All the visual effects have been updated. With Source 2 lighting and particle systems, there’s an all-new look and behaviour for water, explosions, fire, smoke, muzzle flashes, bullet tracers, impact effects, and more.

In Counter-Strike 2 the most critical gameplay visuals have been redesigned with readability in mind. Bullet impacts can be easily viewed at a distance, and directional blood impacts (that fade over time) give you more information as you move through the world. Say goodbye to the sucky blood splashes from the old CS boys and girls!

Experience completely reauthored explosions, fire, C4 lighting, and more. Environmental effects are now more consistent and looks much, much better.

The UI has also received a completely new look! So the improvements, don’t just look nice, they also communicate important game state!

Best of all, you get to carry over all your stuff from CS:GO! Also, these weapons are going to benefit from better lighting. For the most parts, all that money you spent in CS:GO will not go to complete waste. In addition to supporting legacy models and finishes, all stock weapons have been upgraded with high-resolution models.
Better Audio

Counter-Strike 2 sounds have been reworked to be more distinct and easygoing on the ears. Basically, it’ll be way more comfortable than the BANGBANG sharp sounds you hear that give you jumpscare (for people like me).
Source 2 Tools Available To All

Yes, you get it all! Mod makers all over, rejoice! The Source 2 tools and rendering features will be available for community map makers to make it easier to build, experiment and iterate. And the workshop will be coming soon, with limited test play.
Map Overhaul
The overhauled maps have been fully rebuilt from the ground up, leveraging all of the new Source 2 tools and rendering features. These are maps that use new Source 2 lighting, including a physically based rendering system that produces realistic materials, lighting, and reflections.
How To Join The Limited Test
At this point in time, Valve has yet to divulge this information. The game will be out this Summer as a free update; the Limited Test will most likely be given to seasoned players way before the second quarter of 2023.
Well, that’s all we know for now. We’ve gotta just hang in tight, and wait for more news on the Limited Test. We’ll be sure to keep you guys updated on what we find out.
In the meantime, GO CRAZY GUYS! IT’S ALMOST HERE.


Justice League’s The Flash Actor Joins Another Superhero Ensemble Lineup

Last weekend, the panel forÂ AmazonÂ Prime Videoâ€™sÂ InvincibleÂ at CCXP Worlds 2020 announced the addition of several big names to its voice cast.
These include:
Mahershala AliÂ as TitanClancy BrownÂ as Damien DarkbloodNicole ByerÂ as Vanessa & FionaJeffrey DonovanÂ as Machine HeadJonathan GroffÂ as Rick SheridanJon HammÂ as SteveDjimon HounsouÂ as Martian EmperorEzra MillerÂ as D.A. Sinclair

Just when you thought the INVINCIBLE cast was already too good… (thread)Introducing Clancy Brown as Damien Darkblood pic.twitter.com/I7ISXXGhrk— INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) December 6, 2020

Ezra Miller is D.A. Sinclair pic.twitter.com/W0881zeSkc— INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) December 6, 2020

.@nicolebyer is voicing two new characters, Fiona and Vanessa pic.twitter.com/8SzaaXHf1l— INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) December 6, 2020

Jonathan Groff is Rick Sheridan pic.twitter.com/ADVSwqUY5W— INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) December 6, 2020

And Mahershala Ali (!!!) is Titan pic.twitter.com/50X4CJffjv— INVINCIBLE (@InvincibleHQ) December 6, 2020

Amazon’s Invincible is an animated series adaptation of The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley’s comic book series published by Image Comic.
It follows seventeen-year-old Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), whoâ€™s just like every other guy his age; except that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). But as Mark develops powers of his own, he discovers that his fatherâ€™s legacy may not be as heroic as it seems.
InvincibleÂ also stars previously announced Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, Zazie Beetz, Mark Hamill, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Mae Whitman, Chris Diamantopoulos, Melise, Kevin Michael Richardson, Grey Griffin, and Max Burkholder.
The Invincible comic book series concluded in February 2018 after a whopping 15-year run.
The eight-episode, hour-long animated series will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories sometime in 2021. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Overwatch’s McCree Is Now Called Cole Cassidy

Overwatch’s best gunslinger has gone through a name change. Jesse McCree is no more; meet Cole Cassidy.
Here’s the statement from Blizzard, who changed the character’s name because he was labelled after an ex-Blizzard lead (named Jesse McCree) who was heavily involved in the workplace abuse and sexual harassment allegations that resulted in the company’s recent California-based lawsuit.
“Running from his past meant running from himself, and each passing year only widened the divide between who he had been and what he had become. But in every cowboy’s life, there comes a time when he has to stop and make a stand.
To make this new Overwatch betterâ€”to make things rightâ€”he had to be honest with his team and himself. The cowboy he was rode into the sunset, and Cole Cassidy faced the world at dawn.

Meet Cole Cassidy.
Rides into Overwatch October 26. pic.twitter.com/CT6PmaNXNs
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) October 22, 2021

The community did call for the change and Overwatch casters stopped using the name in mid-August, so this was necessary. Cole Cassidy will make his debut on 26th October.


Be The Ultimate Marvel Fan With The Complete Infinity Saga Box Set

During New York Comic Con 2019, Marvel Studios has finally revealed the complete Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Infinity Saga box set, containing all 23 movies starting with 2008’s Iron Man to 2019’s Spider-Man Far From Home on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray, as well as the following items:

A letter from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
A lithograph art piece by Marvel artist Matt Ferguson.
A special bonus disc with extended and deleted scenes.

However, the Infinity Saga box set will be produced in limited amounts, which means that it is truly a collector’s item for ultimate Marvel fans. That also means that it comes with a hefty price, at a whopping US$549.99, or roughly RM2,300++.
Thatâ€™s actually US$90 more than if you bought each individual movie Blu-ray for US$20 each. However, if you bought them all on 4K UHD at the average price of US$25 each, then youâ€™d actually be saving US$25, along with getting some additional goodies.
It’s quite disappointing that the Infinity Saga box set doesn’t come with a life-sized Infinity Gauntlet or something awesome like that, especially at that price point. Check the complete Infinity Saga box set below, which is slated to launch on 15 November 2019, courtesy of Best Buy.


Black Desert Mobile Wins Google Play’s Best Games of 2020 In SEA Countries

BlackÂ DesertÂ Mobile, the mobile version of the popular Korean MMORPG, hasÂ been chosen as one of Google Playâ€™sÂ â€œBestÂ Games of 2020â€Â inÂ Singapore, Indonesia,Â Malaysia, andÂ Thailand.Â Â
SinceÂ itsÂ globalÂ releaseÂ inÂ DecemberÂ 2019,Â BlackÂ DesertÂ MobileÂ hasÂ attractedÂ millionsÂ ofÂ usersÂ acrossÂ theÂ worldÂ byÂ offeringÂ aÂ vastÂ open-worldÂ on mobile.Â
Every year, GoogleÂ PlayÂ runsÂ the â€œBest Of” awards to recognize the best mobile apps voted by users in each country.
Besides Black Desert Mobile, Minhoyo’s Genshin Impact also won several major Google Play awards, which you can check out here.

Black Desert Mobile has been awarded [Best Competitive] of 2020 by @?????????? in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia! ?Thank you to all Adventurers for your unwavering support! ?See the official list: https://t.co/lRmF80WxfR pic.twitter.com/2iD36jT60Y— Black Desert Mobile (@BlackDesertM_en) December 1, 2020


All The New Legendaries In Borderlands 3 Revenge Of The Cartels Mini-Event [Update]

Article originally published on 25th April.
Borderlands 3’s mini-event Revenge of the Cartels is out now until 4th June. Which means not just more Mayhem 2.0 modes or even more backpack/bank slots to purchase with your accumulated wealth, but also new Legendaries to farm.
Here’s a list of guns you should get from the Villa Ultraviolet mansion. Trust us: these weapons are sick! Again, these weapons will not be available after 4th June; get them before they’re gone.

OPQ System – Atlas Assault Rifle that can spawn a drone copy of itself. The drone will target the same location as where you are aiming. Drops from Josie Byte, Franco Firewall, and Joey Ultraviolet in Villa Ultraviolet.
NoPewPew – Â Incendiary COV Assault Rifle that fires three projectiles per shot and increases fire rate over time. Drops from Roaster, The Tenderizer, and Joey Ultraviolet in Villa Ultraviolet.
Grease Trap – Incendiary Maliwan Pistol that has 2 projectile options: â€˜Hot Greaseâ€™ which is a spread shot and â€˜Fire Starterâ€™ that shoots fireballs. You can get the Grease Trap from Roaster, The Tenderizer, and Joey Ultraviolet in Villa Ultraviolet.

Yellowcake – Radiation COV Launcher that a projectile that splits into 4 balls that drop and explode. The explosions have a high splash radius. You can obtain the Yellowcake from FISH SLAP!!!, Tyrone Smallums, and Joey Ultraviolet in Villa Ultraviolet.
The Iceburger – Hyperion Shotgun that shoots Incediary lasers and Cryo burgers. Drops from Roaster, The Tenderizer, and Joey Ultraviolet in Villa Ultraviolet.

Needle Gun – Tediore SMG that can apply a stacking vulnerability debuff on enemies. At Max stats, additional damage refills the Needle Gunâ€™s magazine. This effect does have a cooldown. Drops from Josie Byte, Franco Firewall, and Joey Ultraviolet in Villa Ultraviolet.
Firewall – Hyperion Shield with a Projected shield that has a chance to fire projectiles at your enemies. A portion of the projectileâ€™s damage will refill your shield capacity. Drops from Josie Byte, Franco Firewall, and Joey Ultraviolet.

Wattson – Anshin Shield that will spawn grenades based on the element of the incoming projectile. Drops from FISH SLAP!!!, Tyrone Smallums, and Joey Ultraviolet.
Fish Slap – Pangolin Grenade Mod that deals melee damage. 30% of the damage dealt is used to refill your shieldâ€™s capacity. You can get the Fish Slap from FISH SLAP!!!, Tyrone Smallums, and Joey Ultraviolet.
Mayhem 6 & Above Drops
The MonarchÂ (Shotgun, drops from Killavolt) â€“ Shotgun AR with high fire rate.
Multi-TapÂ (Pistol, drops from Katagawa Ball) â€“ Reloading fires a cryo rocket at enemies.
BackBurnerÂ (Heavy, drops from Agonizer 9000) â€“ Shoots lob orbs with Singularity which spawn smaller orbs MIRV-style
Plaguebearer (Heavy, drops from Warden) â€“ Shoots large, slow-moving orb that spawns other orbs.
RefluxÂ (Shotgun, drops from GenIVIV) â€“â€“ Corrodes nearby enemies kind of like Brainstormerâ€™s chain lightning.
Kaoson (SMG, drops from Captain Traunt) – Sticky shot that explodes on reload with a lot of splash damage.
DNAÂ (SMG, drops from General Traunt) â€“ Shoots random elemental pairs of projectiles.
Sand HawkÂ (drops from Katagawa Jr.) â€“ Fires a line of nine projectiles.


Game Companies Agree To Disclose Lootbox Odds; In Effect By End Of 2020

One of the controversial aspects about lootboxes is how much they resemble gambling. You pay for them but what you get is dependent on luck. It’s why countries like Belgium and the Netherlands have implemented strict laws on video game lootboxes.
I’ve covered the topic before and I can assure you that lootboxes have definitely been designed to encourage unhealthy gambling behaviours through video games. Check out my article here.
There are small steps being taken towards an improvement, if you can call it that. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) recently announced that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo will lay out policies requiring the disclosure of the odds of getting items from lootboxes.
Other game publishers such as Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Bethesda, Bungie, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast have also agreed to fully disclose the lootbox odds in their games.
Battlefront II‘s lootboxes were so controversial that they were primarily responsible for putting EA and the entire industry under government observation.
I’ve highlighted the more infamous perpetrators of extremely predatory behaviour in implementing microtransactions and lootboxes. It’s good that they’re making small positive changes to make up for their monumental offenses towards gaming.

“Many other ESA members are considering a disclosure. The disclosure will apply to all new games and updates to games that add such in-game purchases and will be presented in a manner that is understandable and easily accessed,”
– Statement from the Entertainment Software Association. Read the rest here.
According to PC Gamer, this decision is largely due to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley’s decision of calling for a complete ban on lootboxes in games “designed for kids” earlier this year. The motion is being supported by both sides of the American political spectrum. More on that here.
There’s no specific date yet as to when these policies start being implemented but the ESA expects all parties to comply by the end of 2020.


Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Is Getting A Battle Royale Mode, Because Why Not?

News originally from Frags of War.
Itâ€™s cool that they’re still adding something new to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, which speaks to the popularity of the game online. But Battle Royale wasnâ€™t something we were expecting. How can an RTS incorporate the big open map, scavenging for equipment, last-man-standing, chicken suits and silly dances?
Apparently, the devs of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition think they can. Well, not the chicken suits and silly dances bit. Age Royale is a new mode thatâ€™s coming in a massive November update, in celebration of the 1-year anniversary since the release of the Definitive Edition.
Read more here.


Ghostwire: Tokyo Confirmed For 25 March, Gets February Showcase This Week [Update]

Great news for PC and PlayStation 5 action-adventure fans: Tango Gameworks’ latest horror-laced title will be out pretty soon.
As predicted earlier, Ghostwire: Tokyo will be out for PC and PS5 on 25 March. In addition, there will be a showcase for the game on PlayStation’s YouTube channel later this week on 4th February, 6am GMT+8. We’ll most likely see first-person ghost-busting gameplay that’s close to the retail build in the next few months.
Here are the game’s key features; the back-of-the-box stuff:

Explore a Broken, Beautiful TokyoÂ â€“Â Ghostwire: Tokyo harnesses the power of the PlayStation 5 to re-create Tokyoâ€™s timeless beautyâ€”an unmatched mix of ultra-modern cityscapes, deep dark alleyways, and beautiful ancient templesâ€”but with a supernatural twist that will be a surprise even to those who are familiar with the city. While barren and ominous, the metropolisâ€™ splendour is on full display with iconic landmarks including Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, and more.
Next-Gen Fidelity on PlayStation 5Â â€“ Tango Gameworks is using the power and speed of PlayStation 5 to forge a beautiful, supernatural version of Tokyo like never before with haptic feedback for every ability and character action with the DualSense Wireless Controller and advanced 3D spatial audio that immerses the player in an ominous city with dangers to uncover around every corner.
Wield Paranormal AbilitiesÂ â€“Â Ghostwire: Tokyo features a robust combat system that allows players to employ supernatural powers to unleash devastating, otherworldly attacks and interact with the paranormal in a variety of waysâ€”cleanse, banish, and destroy. Throughout their journey, players will grow their newfound powers to suit their playstyle and take the fight to the supernatural.
Face the Unknown â€“ Tango is known for their creepy monsters and Japanâ€™s cultureâ€”stories of youkai (supernatural beings from Japanese folklore), ghost stories, and urban legendsâ€”provides plenty of inspiration. In the studioâ€™s version of Tokyo, evil spirits are wandering the city in search of victims. Players will encounter supernatural entities such as Shiromoku, a spirit of a young bride in a traditional white kimono who was unable to wed her lover and has endless regret, and Amewarashi, a paranormal entity in the form of a child wearing a raincoat that manifests due to its great sadness from being separated from his parents and his mischievous spirit.

Ghostwire: Tokyo looks sleeker and “cleaner” than Tango’s last game, the Evil Within/Psychobreak series, though we’re pretty sure this new title will have its fair share of memorable moments and dread-inducing atmosphere. In any case, the game’s a beauty to look at!
Check out the gameplay below:


Puzzle Quest 3 Is Available For Free On Consoles Right Now

Free-to-play match-3 puzzle game Puzzle Quest is now in its official third iteration.
Publisher 505 Games and developer Infinity Plus 2 announced that Puzzle Quest 3 is now available for Xbox Series, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. No Nintendo Switch version though.
Puzzle Quest 3 was released initially for PC (Steam), iOS, and Android last year in March. It received middling reviews due to its F2P nature. Check out the console version launch trailer & overview below:

Complete Endless Match-3 Puzzles: Win the day by matching multiple colourful gems and deadly skulls in any direction to create devastating combos.
Discover your Legend: Choose from seven hero classes; start a new character anytime—no lootbox required.
Unlock Epic Gear: Earn loot from your travels and deck your hero with legendary weapons and armour.
Embark on an Adventure: Start a new journey anytime with regularly rotating Adventures and rewarding live events. There is always a quest to complete.
Seasonal Content: Complete story missions or take on seasonal storylines to earn unique rewards added with each major update.
Incredible 3D Graphics: Discover unique monsters, charming characters, and epic heroes fully animated with incredible effects.
Recruit Allies: Meet a cast of characters who join your cause and help you earn more resources or build new equipment.
Collect and Equip Gear: Earn different weapons, armour, and spells to take on increasingly powerful foes.
Multiplayer Action: Battle heroes in player-versus-player and climb the leaderboards, or form a group with up to three friends to take on dungeons together in real time!


Final Fantasy 16 Is Banned In Saudi Arabia; Here’s Why

Hats off to Square Enix for not changing up its Final Fantasy game for one country that doesn’t share its ideals.
The upcoming Final Fantasy 16 for PlayStation 5 will be coming out for all countries save for one: Saudi Arabia. This is according to an official ratings board update by the country’s General Commission for Audiovisual Media (via Video Game Chronicle). The game has been banned due to containing unacceptable content that Square Enix refuses to change.
“For fans of Final Fantasy 16, we would like to clarify that it has not been released in the Kingdom, due to the publisher’s unwillingness to make the necessary modifications.”
A twitter post from the board’s general supervisor for video games Hattan Tawili mentioned the situation without saying the game’s name earlier this week:
“Unfortunately, after all our attempts over the past eight months without any success, one of the most important and biggest games of the year is on its way to being banned due to the company’s complete refusal to modify the content to suit the region.
Of course, it is clear to the company what happened, but they put it in abundance without reason and refuse to modify it.”

????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ????  ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? (???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ???????)
— Hattan Tawili ™ (@HattanTawili) May 2, 2023

What Is This Banned Content In Final Fantasy 16?
It turns out that the content that was banned in Saudi Arabia was LGBTQ+ related. Three writers from Saudi Arabia who covered the game during the February preview session for Final Fantasy 16 posted vague tweets implying the game’s LGBTQ+ content that could cause it to be banned in Saudi Arabia.

????? ???? #FinalFantasyXIV? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ????????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???????.
?????? ?????? ??????? #??????_???????? #?????_??????? pic.twitter.com/5OuWZJGEvX
— ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????????? (@VGAR_SA) May 3, 2023

There are a number of films that were banned in Saudi Arabia due to LGBTQ+ like Lightyear, Strange World, and Dr Strange & The Multiverse of Madness, with its parent company Disney refusing to make changes to appease the country’s censorship board. This situation seems similar, and does beg the question if other countries that aren’t so hot with LGBTQ+ might ban the upcoming Final Fantasy game for the same reasons.
Final Fantasy 16 will be out on 22nd June exclusively for PlayStation 5.


Which Final Fantasy Game Should You Start Off With If You’re New To The Series? Let Us Help!

Final Fantasy is a Japanese role-playing game brand that has spanned numerous entries and spin-offs since its 1987 debut. As such, it can be overwhelming for new players who want to jump into the game, given its many combat terms and systems, plethora of characters and plot points, and overall themes and constant icons and mascots like the yellow taxi bird Chocobo and the Black Mage outfit.

In lieu of Final Fantasy 16’s release later this month, we figured it’s high time to dish out our thoughts on which older Final Fantasy game is worth going into. This is especially if you want to know more about its lineage and feel, given that the series has always reinvented itself and try something new with each standalone entry. The fact that there are too many of them -from mothership entries to spin-offs- also doesn’t help.
Which begs the question: what defines a classic Final Fantasy game? What defines a modern Final Fantasy title? Which ones are the best that still hold up from parts 1 to 15?
It sure as hell isn’t Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XV, that’s for sure. Check out the correct answers below.

Final Fantasy IV – For Those Who Want A Pure Classic Final Fantasy Experience

Final Fantasy IV is about a dark knight named Cecil who ends up with the task of securing the world’s crystals after a slew of betrayals. At his side is best friend (sort of) Kain the Dragoon, his lover Rosa the White Mage, orphan tagalong Rydia the Summoner/Black Mage, and a slew of other party members ranging from a pair of twin kid magicians, an old sage, and a spoony bard.
Originally out in 1991 for Super Famicom and SNES, the game was ported and remastered a good amount of times, with arguably the best port being on the PlayStation Portable. FFIV was memorable because of its landmark storyline. While stupid and insane in retrospect with so many coincidences and deus ex machinas, the epic tale of Cecil’s redemption and his world-saving endeavour was rather groundbreaking for its time.
It also introduced the world to the patented Active Time Battle system which has you making commands and attacking while the fight goes on in real-time, eschewing turn-based patience with real-time tension and drama. The major boss fights that punctuated how effective the battle system was also deserving mention, as they go beyond the “have huge attack stats and win through big numbers” schtick that was commonplace with prehistoric RPGs at the time.

The fight with the desert antlion requires patience and paying attention to counterattacks. The Demon Wall battle requires you to be very adept with the ATB system and with status spells lest you get literally crushed. And one of the battles with the prominent group The Four Fiends is a back attack, putting your party at a huge disadvantage.  You really had to think on-the-fly and figure out how to defeat them with your brains moreso than with the biggest weapon.

And what would a Final Fantasy game be without Nobuo Uematsu’s heavenly and epic compositions? Tracks like “Theme of Love” and “Rydia” add emotion and pathos to the game’s key scenes, while battle themes for bosses and the aforementioned Four Fiends still haunt and give chills to old-school JRPG players to this day.
Where To Get It: Final Fantasy IV is as classic a JRPG experience as you can get, and it’s now in pixel remastered form on PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. So really, you have no excuse not to get one of the definitive versions of a classic Final Fantasy experience that isn’t distilled by newfound tropes and whatnot.

Final Fantasy X – For Those Who Want A Modern Final Fantasy Game To Start With

Final Fantasy X was a tour de force for the PlayStation 2 era, given that it was the sole reason JRPG fans flocked towards the Sony console back in 2001. FFX was Square Enix’s first time in dabbling with voice-acting and real-time story-telling using the then-new tech in a mothership title, and it paid off big.
Back in 2001, seeing in-game cutscenes and detailed character models in motion was just amazing. From the appearance of big bad enemy Sin to the scale of the game’s world of Spira and its many continents and locations, everything was just breathtaking to behold. The tale of outsider Tidus as he gets embroiled in main character Yuna’s plot involving her spiritual pilgrimage with her group of newfound friends is just captivating to watch and experience.
Though there are a few awkward moments particularly with sped-up dialogue bits and weird crossfade transitions out of the blue, it was nevertheless the game’s major selling point. Why do you think people still cosplay as Final Fantasy X’s Tidus and Yuna from time to time? The art style, backdrop, and epic music from Junya Nakano, Masashi Hamauzu, and Nobuo Uematsu certainly helped.

But it wasn’t just the graphics, art style, and music that held the test of time. It was the gameplay too as it introduced the Sphere Grid as a form of leveling up your characters and giving them new moves that branched from their roles or just amplified them. The game’s combat also reverted to turn-based fighting just like in Final Fantasy parts 1 to 3, but with the benefit of being able to swap your party members on the fly. All battles require at least a skillset from someone or two in your party that warrants the swap; Blitzball warrior Wakka can kill off aerial enemies with ease while Auron just power-hits everything to death.

Many folks might have complained about how linear the game is when compared to other Final Fantasy entries, but that’s the beauty of FFX: it’s streamlined but not dumbed down. It still contains hallmarks of an in-depth JRPG but it’s entirely focused on its story moreso than usual. Having said that, FFX does have its huge share of minigames and post-game uber-weapon-searching content that rivals those of Final Fantasy VI.
Final Fantasy X is perfect for what it’s telling: a moody and in-depth story with high-production values, along with a fun combat system that bucks certain traditions while keeping the patented Job system kinda intact. At the same time, it brought in stellar features like the Sphere Grid. All these features are more than enough to captivate players even in this generation of gaming, and deserves its coveted spot at the higher echelons of JRPG relevance and masterclass.
Where To Get It: You can get the Final Fantasy X HD Remastered edition on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.


Yakuza 7 Gets Earlier Release Date & PC Specs

Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have announced that Yakuza Like a DragonÂ will launch for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Series X/S on 10 November 2020 (three days earlier than the previous 13 November 2020 release date).
Unfortunately, PS5 players will have to wait until 2 March 2021. However, the bright side is that players who purchase the PS4 version ofÂ Yakuza Like a DragonÂ will be able to download the PS5 version at no additional cost when it launches. That said, save data will not be transferable.
Check out the PC specs requirements below:
Minimum requirements:OS: Windows 10Processor: Intel Core i5-3470 | AMD FX-8350Memory: 8GB RAMGPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660, 2GB | AMD Radeon HD 7870, 2GBStorage: 40GB
Recommended specs:OS: Windows 10Processor: Intel Core i7-6700 | AMD Ryzen 5 1400Memory: 8GB RAMGPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, 3GB | AMD Radeon RX 580, 4GBStorage: 60GB
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Destroy All Humans Beams Down On Nintendo Switch This June

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Black Forest Games have announced that they will release the Destroy All Humans! remake for Nintendo Switch on 29 June 2021. The Nintendo Switch version will include all available skins that were created for the game, including the downloadable content Skin Pack.
The original Destroy All Humans! was initially launched developed by the now-defunct Pandemic and launched in 2005 for the PS2 and Xbox. It features snarky alien protagonist Crypto, crash landing on Earth in the 1950s.
It became a hit for its unconventional humour poking fun at sci-fi and B-movie tropes, as well as unique physics-based gameplay, which includes telekinesis and death rays. Those who pre-order theÂ Destroy All Humans!Â remake will receive a set of exclusive skins, including one where Crypto wears a white Elvis Presly-like bodysuit.
You can check out my review of Destroy All Humans! here. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Persona 3 Portable & Persona 4 Golden Launches In January 2023

Sega and Atlus have announced that Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden will release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC and Xbox Game Pass on 19 January 2023.
Check out the key art below:

? Special Announcement! ?
Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden release for modern platforms on January 19, 2023! #P3P #P4G pic.twitter.com/OrAx46j8XG
— Official ATLUS West (@Atlus_West) October 8, 2022

Before both of those games, it was previously announced that Persona 5 Royal will launch on 21 October 2022 on the same aforementioned platforms.
Persona 3 Portable was originally launched for the PlayStation Portable back in 2009/2010/2011 while Persona 4 Golden was originally released for the PlayStation Vita in 2012. While Persona 4 Golden is now already available on PC via Steam since June 2020, Persona 3 Portable will be receiving ports for the first time.


The 30 Best Games Of 2021: #9

For the next few days, we’ll be unveiling our 30 best games of 2021 bit by bit. Here’s number 9.Â
#9: Unsighted

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
In this rather peculiar search action 2D pixel-lavished title from Studio Pixel Punk, time is against you. See, in the future of Unsighted, your main character is an android who is on borrowed time, having to finish her quest before time runs out. She also has to deal with a village full of androids that are also on the clock, from her mission handler to her shopkeeper friends.
While the game is a solid and fast-paced 2D Legend of Zelda-style title, it’s the cast and the ticking clock premise that gives all your actions weight. Do you blaze through the game to get to the finish line? Or do you spend time exploring and powering your character up while risking everyone else’s lives? Do you give the time-adding resource to the shopkeeper so she can supply you until the quest is over? Or save it for yourself since you’re the one doing all the work?
At the end of it all, Unsighted teaches us that you can’t truly save everyone. At least on the first or even second playthrough since there are new game+ options. While it’s grim in narrative, we applaud the developers for sticking to their guns and letting us feel more weight in what we do and how we do it. After all, being a hero means making hard choices.
[videopress oiuzZYFp]


Assassin’s Creed Rift May Be Set In Baghdad

Ubisoft, the company that’s known for Assassin’s Creed and possibly sending one of their big projects off to publicly die in November, will set the next Assassin’s Creed game in Baghdad.
Allegedly, that is. This is according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier who responded to an earlier claim online that the next setting in the AC series will be set in the Aztec.
“The next AC game is Rift, which is set in Baghdad. After that will be AC Infinity.”
Comment from discussion jasonschreier’s comment from discussion "Next Assassin’s Creed Game is set in Aztecs".

Assassin’s Creed Infinity will feature a bunch of different biomes, but neither this nor Rift will have an Aztec setting. While it’s not officially announced, Ubisoft plans to release a smaller-scale stealth-focused AC game either later this year or in 2023. 2023 seems likely, as they have a pirate game they want to get out of the doorway before the Singapore government comes a-knocking with a lawsuit.
Assassin’s Creed Rift will be out before AC Infinity, with the latter being a collaboration between Ubisoft Montreal and Quebec. AC Rift will star AC Valhalla character Basim and was supposed to be a Valhalla DLC before it became its own game. In either case, expect to hear more official news in September during the company’s Assassin’s Creed-focused showcase.


Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 Won’t Launch Until Late 2021

Hardsuit Labs’ Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 has been plagued by problem after problem since it was announced in early 2019. It was revealed to be delayed to 2021 back in August 2020, but now it seems that the game won’t even be launching until sometime in late 2021.
Speaking with Swedish publication Placera, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 publisher Paradox Interactive CEO Ebba Ljungerud said:
“I do not think it will come in the first half of the year, but we will see. To be able to develop for the next generation, you have to have development kits from the manufacturers. And I’m pretty sure that both Sony and Microsoft were affected by the pandemic because they did not have that many development kits.”
We’re sure the fact that firing several of the game’s important developers like its senior narrative designer, lead writer and creative director must have contributed to this worsening delay situation.
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2Â is slated to release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC sometime in late 2021. In the meantime, check out the latest trailer below.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=j6dTGZ11v7U


New Sonic Trailer Reveals His Glorious Game-Accurate Design

Paramount Pictures has finally unveiled the first new trailer for its upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog movie featuring the brand new redesign of the iconic Sega mascot. This new design is definitely more faithful to the one seen in the games, instead of the monstrosity that was initially shown earlier this year.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szby7ZHLnkA&w=560&h=315]
The new official description reads:

“Based on the global blockbuster videogame franchise from Sega, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG tells the story of the worldâ€™s speediest hedgehog as he embraces his new home on Earth.
In this live-action adventure comedy, Sonic and his new best friend Tom (James Marsden) team up to defend the planet from the evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and his plans for world domination.
The family-friendly film also stars Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic.”

Sonic The Hedgehog is slated to premiere on 14 February 2020.


TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Is One Part Tribute, One Part Co-Op Beat Em Up, All Parts Fun

Platform(s): PC (version played), PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: 80s license cartoon beat-em-up with 6-player co-op and lovely fan service
The late 80s and 90s Konami licensed beat-em-ups, particular the ones with the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series, rely on fast-paced offensive gameplay, simple controls, and relentless hordes tossed at you, along with major multiplayer options to keep players entertained and challenged. While half the time they’re made to just be cheap and get as many tokens/coins from you in the arcades, they’re still fun and attractive in short bursts; you’ll be done with the game in less than an hour whether you beat it or not.
Now, how would one transform that kind of bright and addictive gameplay for 2022, especially for a more fussy and hungry audience? Simple: you just make a game for fans of said licensed property and genre, while double downing on what makes them great. At the same time, add in defensive mechanics and design a control scheme so intuitive and smooth they have no one to blame but themselves if they messed up. Oh and a touch of replayability options to keep people hooked.
2022’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge from Dotemu and Tribute Games is essentially that, and delivers a lot for its target fanbase.
Half-Shell Heroes

As both a fan of the Ninja Turtles properties and 2D beat em ups -River City Girls and Streets of Rage 4 being my benchmarks for top tier genre picks- TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is a heckuva feat. The premise of  the game is easy to follow: you have to go through 16 stages chasing after big bad boss Shredder’s goons from gathering Krang’s uber-robot body and combining it for ultimate power. And yes, Krang is a talking brain with tendrils for hands who probably has a speech impediment. The plot here isn’t important: it’s the action and homages that comes with it. And boy, it’s as colourful and as 90s as they come.
It’s not just the 2D pixel aesthetics and music that really shine, but also the love and care put into making it a 90s TMNT product tailored for the current gaming generation. From the theme song by Mike Patton to even the cameos and nods to the series, everything here will make the most jaded of Turtles fans feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Gameplay-wise, you control any one of the Turtles and their pals, each with their own strengths and weaknesses though they almost play similarly. Almost.
Some of them have better reach, while others can move around when in their Super Attack animation. Some of them have multi-hit anti-air attacks, and they’re all at your disposal. There’s a hero for every playstyle: those who like hard-hitting characters can pick Raphael while those who love speedy combo-centric characters can use either Mikey or April.
Some additional mechanics to keep note here: your characters can dodge (and comes with a follow-up quick lunge), and also can taunt enemies to charge 1 level of Ninjitsu power for Super AoE moves. You can also hold the attack button and then let go to unleash a guard-breaking attack. And pressing the attack and jump together unleashes an anti-air attack that you can follow up with the patented TMNT arcade game divekick or a Super groundslam that hits anything close to its landing area.
All these additions are a huge improvement over the other TMNT titles where you use your lifebar for Supers; no need to worry about going down to one life and being unable to use your Super. You just need to charge it via the aforementioned Taunt (which will leave you wide open for a second or two) or just  beat up enemies. The guard breaks are handy in dealing with shielded foes, while dodging has so little recovery frames that very skilled players can go through the game untouched with this tool.
All these moves and options do not make the game easy though: enemies can still gang up on you and take down all your life if you’re careless. Some enemies have armour, while others purposely switch up their routine just to get a cheap shot at you. There are a few times when all this makes the experience seem cheap, but you have a ton of tools at your disposal to get through all of it. The big takeaway here from all this is that the controls are buttery smooth and the 2d beat-em-up challenges are fair.
Scoring is a big factor here. Get a high score by doing fancy moves and combos, and you level up the character you’re using so that they get extra hit points and special moves like a Super Dive Kick or Super Dash Attack.
Sharing Is Caring

Most importantly, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is built as a team game where having an extra friend or 5 will make the experience all the more fun. Plus, when playing co-op, you gain access to awesome tag-team moves like pincer attacks and fastball specials where you throw your pal towards the enemy for max damage. There are also moves that let you give part of your full life bar to your friend who needs it via a simple cute high five, and also a chance to resurrect a downed partner with a few seconds of pizza-waving. Additions like these, along with simple drop-in and drop-out options make the couch co-op play great; it’s a feature that’s sorely missed in gaming these days where the majority of it is all taking place online. Yes, you can play online co-op here but it’s not the same as shouting and cheering among your pals as you’re fending off waves of robot Mousers and Foot Soldiers, arguing over who should get the pizza box or who should take point in performing the TMNT equivalent of the fastball special.
If you’re a tough enough dude and need more out of TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, you can play Arcade Mode where your continues are limited and there are no retries after that. I’d suggest playing this mode after a few rounds in Story Mode getting the lay of the side-scrolling land and enemy placements; it gets really rough on higher difficulties as the Foot Soldier swarms are plentiful and bosses have new attacks to take into account.
The game also has collectibles that help boost up your points for additional Story Mode powerups; break open a door, for example, and you’ll let out Irma who needs her secret diaries in exchange for points. Simple stuff, but you’re only going back to the game to either max out your characters or getting a high Arcade Mode score on the leaderboards.
Turtle Power

My only issues in this clearly nostalgia-filled game is minute and nitpicky: the top user interface doesn’t expand automatically if you’re playing single-player mode, and the genre tropes of repetition does rear its head. Still, the game’s 2.5 hours Story mode is considerably meaty and varied, with stages featuring hazards from the past (ice turrets, moving turrets, and so forth), air skateboarding segments that auto-scroll, and fun boss fights.
If you are a huge TMNT fan since the 80s, this game’s a huge love letter to the franchise, cameos and all. If you loved the beat-em-up games Konami made before they became, well, Konami, this game will definitely sate that thirst.
Sure, it does pale in comparison to the top-tier beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage 4 in terms of staying power. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t have fun playing this solo and with 5 other friends in what could be a fun couch party game with easy controls and tough challenges that could require a friend’s help or two. Plus, Streets of Rage 4 is quite a high bar for modern beat-em-ups.
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is a hella fun and cheery beat-em-up that feels meaty and doesn’t wear out its welcome, especially with friends. And when’s the last time you’ve touched a Ninja Turtles game with this much love dedicated to the franchise and its 90s 16-bit & arcade video game legacy? Exactly. Score one for Tribute Games and Dotemu yet again for delivering a nostalgia-savvy hit that will shellshock even the most jaded of retro gamers.
Pros

Great aesthetics.
Loving tribute to the 80s cartoon series & TMNT fandom.
Great challenges and fights.
Sublime controls and drop-in/drop-out options.
Best with friends.

Cons

Top UI is hard to see if you’re playing in single-player.
Doesn’t do much new to the age-old genre, especially for single-player.

Final Score: 90/100
Need help with the game? Here’s a quick guide.


The Witcher Season 2 Is Coming In 2021, Will Be More Linear

Netflix’s The Witcher is now one of the most popular TV shows in the world, and fans must be eagerly waiting for the second season. The streaming giant already renewed the series for season two about a month before the first season premiere, but now we have an expected release window for the next season.
In a recent Reddit AMA session, The Witcher showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich confirmed that the earliest expected release date for Season 2 would be sometime in 2021. She said:

â€œWe don’t yet have a target launch date for S2, past 2021.
We don’t want to rush the product.
That doesn’t benefit anyone.â€

She also confirmed that The Witcher Season 2 will be more linear compared to the confusing non-linear narrative of the first season. This is good news for viewers who were frustrated with the unexplained time skips and jumps.
She said:

â€œThe story will be much more linear, now that the three characters’ stories have started to intersect.”

In the meantime, check out my review of The Witcher Season 1 here, or head on over here for all the easter eggs and references I found in the first season.


It’s Time For The Steam Autumn Sale And The 2019 Steam Awards [Update]

There are only two certainties in life – death and Steam sales popping up every few weeks to drain our bank accounts. The end of 2019 approaches, so it’s time to get ready for the season that’s the most painful for our wallets.

The Steam Autumn Sale has begun will be happening from 26 November to 3 December 2019. There are hundreds of amazing games on sale including those released in 2019. At the same time, you can also start nominating games for the 2019 Steam Awards. Voting will commence during the Winter Sale and winners will be announced on 31 December 2019.
Here’s a list of games we recommend getting:
Code Vein (RM111.30)

This anime-style Souls-like may not have perfectly emulated all the things we love about the Soulsborne games. However, it does a really good job in introducing some of its own charms through an interesting story and robust character creator.
Gears 5 (RM47.50)

Offering an action-packed single-player campaign and frantic multiplayer action, Gears 5 is a welcome entry for fans of the series. Newcomers might feel a bit lost, but the satisfying gunplay still makes this game worth trying out.
Devil May Cry V (RM45.87)

No other hack and slash series comes close to bringing the kind of stylish action that Devil May Cry offers and this fifth main entry is the best game in the series, period. Running on the RE Engine, the game looks beautiful and runs flawlessly.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (RM142.35)

Just when you thought From Software was done punishing us in Bloodborne, they come back, throw away the stamina bar, and toss us into the painful world of Sekiro. I’ll remind you once more that this isn’t the game for everyone but if you’re looking for a game that prioritises precise timing over brute force, this is the game.
Resident Evil 2 Remake (RM45.87)

I present you my personal Game of the Year. This is survival horror at its finest. There’s never a dull moment in Resident Evil 2. You’re always making progress towards escaping the zombie-filled hellhole that is Racoon City and it all gets really interesting when you’re constantly being chased down by an invincible brute whose footsteps reverberate through the whole map.
Disco Elysium (RM52)

If you could only play one RPG in 2019, this is the game I’d tell you to get. Disco Elysium puts you in the shoes of a detective facing a major existential crisis who must solve a hanging while also literally talking to all of the voices in your head who sometimes want to help you and sometimes want you to become a degenerate.
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (RM24)

If you want a chaotic physics-based history-based tactics game featuring cavemen, woolly mammoths, ninjas, vikings, and tanks, this is the one you should get.
The Surge 2 (RM71.40)

It’s no Dark Souls or Bloodborne, but this sci-fi action RPG with a huge emphasis on duels and limited stamina-based combat is apparently quite a thrill ride.
Dead Cells(RM30.80)

One of last year’s best indie titles is being sold for a pretty nifty price. Assuming you’re into roguelike 2D action-adventure titles, this is one dungeon crawler you can’t sleep on.
Cat Quest Bundle (RM45 or so)

Two pussy-filled games for the price of one. Pawfect for the family and casual crowd looking for a cool cat pun-filled RPG jaunt.

There are definitely lots of other games I’d like to recommend but the ones listed above are the ones you should look into first.

As for the 2019 Steam Awards, here are the categories you can nominate your favourite games in:

The Game of the Year Award
The VR Game of the Year Award
The Labor of Love Award
The Better With Friends Award
The Most Innovative Gameplay
The Outstanding Story-Rich Game Award
The Best Game You Suck At Award
The Outstanding Visual Style Award

Be sure to nominate a game in each category as you can earn reward badges from completing that task and more. Do note that some categories won’t allow you to nominate the same game more than once. Nominations will end on the same day that the Steam Autumn Sale ends.


E3 2021: All 12 Prime Matters Game Previews, Ranked

Koch Media unveiled its pretty new gaming label Prime Matters, featuring 12 upcoming titles slated for 2021 and 2022. The trove of games we saw in an early press preview were pretty interesting and varied; we’re honestly fans of seeing new game IPs thriving in this current landscape. So let’s list down our favourites from bottom to top, based on how much information we’re given about each title.
Payday 3

Starbreeze Studio is making a third entry in its co-op PvE shooter about pulling off crazy heists. We have seen the previous games to know how this works, so while a third game is interesting, we’re only given recaps of the first two games to base hype and initial judgments on.
Painkiller
Saber Interactive will be making a new first-person OTT shooter. That’s good. The bad news? They only have an announcement and title card to show; nothing more. Game’s still under development, so we can expect more later in the next year or so.
Gungrave G.O.R.E

A Gungrave anime shooter game from a South Korean developer that’s slated for 2022. We just got an announcement and a teaser; nothing more.
Project Echoes

Koch Media and Myrkur Games have announced Project Echoes Of The End, a new third-person action-adventure game coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, there’s no release date or window yet.
Project Echoes Of The End is a fresh take to the adventure genre based on a unique original fantasy world with an interesting combination of fighting, puzzling, and deep relation of our protagonists. We saw a few cutscenes with the game’s protagonists, but that’s about it so far. Not much gameplay shown and so forth.
The Last Oricru

This sci-fi fantasy hybrid Dark Souls clone looks and feels a little janky, but that’s expected from RPGs made in Europe (see Biomutant). I for one welcome the multiple paths and story choices made here. Let’s hope this game isn’t as broken as the Risen series. The couch co-op options is also a welcome addition if you’re into local RPG play.
Dolmen

Koch Media and Massive Work Studio have announced Dolmen, a new third-person action RPG coming to PC and consoles sometime in 2020.
Dolmen is all bout experiencing a terrifying and disturbing world. It challenges players with entities beyond comprehension and the sensation of discovery. The game wants you to feel alone in the world, like being forgotten by life itself. From the short-but-sweet gameplay demo we’re shown, this one may cater to your hardcore action RPG needs, especially if you like your sci-fi with a tinge of Cthulu-esque vibes.
Final Form (Working Title)

Made by Reikon Games, this first-person shooter about Valkyries fighting in a desolate sci-fi spaceship features customizability up the wazoo and blood-pumping combat.
The Chant

The Chant is an action horror set on the tormented grounds of a new age cult, that fulfils players’ thrill of supernatural horrors dealing with the dark sides of spirituality, cultism and untangle terrifying revelations about the universe. You play a young girl as she reluctantly joins a spiritual retreat, only for the place to be invaded by horrors unknown. The game’s vibe is also going for the psychedelic, so it’s less on jump scares and more on atmosphere and action ala Alan Wake.
Encased

Do you miss the lighthearted and clever isometric RPGs of yore? Then you’ll love the premise of Encased, an isometric RPG with humour, charisma, and a funky sci-fi dystopian landscape set in 1976. You’re a hapless volunteer who entered this place called The Dome, an amazing technologically advanced place that ordinary folks cannot escape from.
Players start off in one of five disciplines â€“ science, engineering, security, management or convict -Â  which affects both their initial stats, specialisation and opens (or prevents) unique dialogue within the game. After entering the dome and completing the initial level, a cataclysm happens that changes everything inside the dome. Features lots of quests, items, crafting, and everything you expect from an isometric RPG made in 2021. Speaking of which, this game is coming out in September 2021.
SCARS Above

SCARS Above is a challenging sci-fi action game with a balance of combat and exploration. The game allows players to make smart choices and use believable weapons and technology to overcome terrifying monsters on a planet of mesmerizing beauty and horrible nightmares. So far, it’s looking like Control, but with more survival game elements to up the challenge. The title’s eery alien vibe similar to films like Prometheus also helps accentuate its uniqueness.
This new third-person action-adventure game is coming to PC and consoles sometime in 2022.
Kings Bounty 2

Arguably the most fleshed-out game of the bunch, though to be fair, it’s coming out this 22nd August so it’s pretty soon. If you love turn-based fantasy strategy games like the Heroes of Might & Magic series, you’ll get on board this one quick.
Crossfire Legion

Despite this Crossfire spin-off game now veering towards “StarCraft knockoff” territory (like how the original Crossfire is a Counter-Strike knock-off) , there’s a ton of pedigree behind this Prime Matter-produced game.
See, the team behind Crossfire Legion include folks from Relic (and some EA folks) who have worked on the Homeworld, Company of Heroes, and Warhammer: Dawn of War series. Those real-time strategy games are nothing to sneeze at, and judging from how the game looks so far with its sci-fi elements and mechas, we can definitely expect great things from this title and the team behind it.
Crossfire Legion is slated for 2022 and will be for PC. I’m not sure if this is for consoles, because RTS controls are never going to work effectively on platforms that do not support keyboard and mouse. But if there’s a group who can attempt to figure it out, it’s definitely the team formerly from Relic.
Which title from Prime Matters looks the most promising? Let us know in the comments below, or just go on our Facebook and YouTube page and voice out your thoughts.


One Of 2022’s Best Horror Games, Scorn, Comes To PS5 This Fall

Kepler Interactive and Ebb Software have announced that they will launch first-person atmospheric horror game Scorn for PS5 sometime in fall 2023. They also announced today that the game has surpassed two million players since launch.
Scorn was originally launched for Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG on 14 October 2022, as well as via Xbox Game Pass.
An exclusive physical edition will also be available via select retailers for both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, distributed in partnership with Maximum Games. It includes the full game, a limited edition SteelBook case, the original soundtrack, and a digital art book.
Scorn drops its players into a nightmarish, dream-like world unlike any they’ve encountered before. With grotesque visuals inspired by the works of H.R. Giger, the goal in Scorn is to guide an unfortunate creature through a biomechanical labyrinth world on a journey of self-discovery. However, the ruins of whatever civilization existed there before, as well as the foul abominations calling the ruined halls their home, stand in its way.
By solving its puzzles and interacting with its strange denizens, players will make their way through Scorn‘s various themed areas. Navigate a world of striking visuals, unlock the secrets of its cruel machines, and come to understand what exactly the world of Scorn is and how your own fetid character fits into it.
Check out my glowing review of the game by heading over here.


Hi-Fi Rush Is A New Action Rhythm Game From Tango Gameworks; Out Right Now

During the Xbox Bethesda Developer Direct live stream earlier today, Tango Gameworks announced their next game, the action rhythm game Hi-Fi Rush. The developer is best known for previously releasing horror or horror-adjacent titles such as The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2 and last year’s Ghostwire Tokyo (check out our review of that here).
This is their first game not to include elements of horror. Hi-Fi Rush features vibrant and colourful cel-shaded visuals and fast-paced combat, which is a first for the developer. From what we’ve seen, the game features mechas and an anime-like style, as well as combines rhythm game mechanics with licensed music from bands like Nine Inch Nails and Black Keys.
The game puts you in the beat-up sneakers of Chai, a wannabe rocker wrongfully labelled a “defect” by a sinister tech corporation. Everything in Hi-Fi Rush automatically syncs to the music, from swinging your trusty “axe” to dodging out of the way of an oversized metallic fist. The game isn’t locked to the music track, since Hi-Fi Rush is rhythm-action with an emphasis on “action”.
Players must feel the rhythm to enhance Chai’s actions, pulling off heavy Beat Hits at the end of a combo like a cymbal crash, or syncing up with one of his allies for a devastating tag-team finisher. In Hi-Fi Rush, every battle is an opportunity to play out your own music video fantasy, seamlessly coordinating all your moves with the soundtrack.
Hi-Fi Rush is available on Xbox Series X/S, PC and Xbox Game Pass today on 26 January 2023.
Check out the trailer below: