Reimaru Files’ Top 10 Best Games Of 2020

2020 is not the best year for everyone, with a global pandemic forcing businesses and other industry sectors to shut down or put in a crawling state, and everyone staying indoors for safety precautions. However, this doesnâ€™t stop us to enjoy playing video games, in fact, it gave us more time to finish some of our bottomless game backlogs and even try out the new games this year.
This year brought us a lot of great games ranging from remakes, sequels and new IP that were a great closure to the current generation of gaming consoles. These ten games listed are the ones that stand out to me the most in terms of game experience, from engaging gameplay, memorable characters, incredible soundtracks and eye-candy visuals. Or in short, the games that you will remember about 2020 (and not the virus) and kept you sane throughout the year.
So, letâ€™s get started.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore Edition

A Wii U JRPG that was finally ported to the Switch with some cosmetic additions. Itâ€™s Shin Megami Tensei (though it feels much more like Persona) meets Fire Emblem set in fictional Shibuya where its main highlight is the entertainment scene, from idol culture, J-Pop and even tokusatsu.
Some may have overlooked this game early this year over other JRPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles and Persona 5 Royal, but Tokyo Mirage Sessions holds out pretty well with a polished turn-based combat system, colourful characters and an anime clichÃ© story that is still entertaining to see. It may not be as heavy with content as Persona 5, but Tokyo Mirage Sessions will surely be worth your 30-hour playthrough.
Star Wars Squadrons

Nobody expected a Star Wars game from EA to be this good since Fallen Order, and it has been a while since we last saw a Star Wars space flight combat game for a decade.
Star Wars Squadrons landed a great combination of a solid space combat gameplay with solid controls, any fans of the Rogue Squadron and even the X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter series will definitely have a blast with the game, then hook up with a VR headset for that added immersion and you will be blown away with the game.
Itâ€™s also a good thing that EA decided not to put any microtransactions after the backlash from them mess that they did with Battlefront 2, and Squadron continues to get more support with free content updates for multiplayer and other game improvements.
Immortals: Fenyx Rising

Originally called Gods and Monsters, Ubisoft launched another open-world game this year, but from the three titles, Immortals stood out the most for me. Sure, itâ€™s just another open-world with Ubisoft formula, but this is one of those games that were given great effort in building the gameâ€™s world, where each section has a distinct landscape and not just another wide grass area.
The developers sure had a lot of fun making the game as Immortals has a lighthearted vibe that you either laugh or cringe at Zeus and Prometheusâ€™ banters, along with how the world was designed that you wonâ€™t get exhausted in playing as it doesnâ€™tâ€™ bombard you with tons of sidequests, it also got some inspirations for the puzzle elements and exploration from Breath of the Wild (in which some calls it Greek of the Wild) where you can choose how you progress to the story.
Genshin Impact

A controversial game even during its development, as some called it out for being a Breath of the Wild clone. But despite some of its similarities, Genshin Impact stood out as a unique game thanks to its colourful world and well-designed characters. Youâ€™ll be surprised that the game is packaged like a premium Action RPG considering it is a free-to-play mobile game, a large world to explore, an actual story quest to follow, a creative elemental combination-based combat system, a great soundtrack, an all-star cast of voice actors, and many more.
It still has those caveats that are common in any mobile or MMO games, such as grinding for materials, spending money on microtransactions to get the rarest weapons and characters. However, these nitpicks arenâ€™t exactly roadblocks to your playthrough as there are alternative approaches to them. Now it is available on different platforms with a cross-save feature that allows you to continue your journey whether youâ€™re at home or at the bathroom.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2

Will you look at that? A classic extreme sports game being remastered (again) and finally done right. The Tony Hawkâ€™s Pro Skater series was a hit for the skater and non-skater kids in the late 90s that help boost the skating scene and even Tony Hawk himself into the mainstream.
The third remastered release of Tony Hawkâ€™s Pro Skater combined the first two games together with new mechanics added from the newer Tony Hawk games, all of the stages were given a major makeover without changing their layout design and almost all of the soundtracks make a return with new songs from new artists of this era. The remaster brings nostalgia to longtime fans and a great experience for newcomers to try out skateboarding games.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Many people endured the long quarantine period still keeping in touch with friends thanks to this game. The latest Animal Crossing puts you in your own island to build and grow, and pay up the big debt that you got from Tom Nook at the same time, and just like in any Animal Crossing games, itâ€™s more about building your dream place and socializing with your neighbours, and a great way to socialize with friends online.
Itâ€™s one of those games that let you relax and not think about what is happening around the world for just a short while, and there were many stories that told how Animal Crossing help them cope up with the ongoing pandemic, heck even brands are using the game as their marketing tool to practice social distancing and it worked. Animal Crossing: New Horizons wins our hearts for keeping us sane throughout the year.
Streets of Rage 4

This is how you make a modern game that is still faithful to its classic roots, the 2D beat â€˜em up finally gets its sequel after more than two decades, and it plays like a charm.
A lot of love was given to the game as three developer groups teamed up in creating this proper sequel. The gameplay is faithful to the original along with added improvements to make it a refreshing yet familiar experience, which gave fighting game and beat â€˜em up fans one hell of a treat. And to add some nostalgia feel to the game, the team brought back composer Motohiro Kawashima and Yuzo Koshiro to create some of the tracks for the game, the developers also went with hand-drawn characters over the usual cel-shaded models that match well with the aesthetics of the game.
Streets of Rage 4 is a fun action game whether you go solo or with friends online or local co-op (with social distancing of course).
Hades

Supergiant Games is known to release awesome games, and their latest title, Hades just tipped the scales in terms of quality. The rogue-like action game provided an engaging approach for its narrative, where dying is mostly encouraged so that you can learn more backstories from certain characters, itâ€™s still a challenging game but not to the point that it discourages you to restart from the beginning. A game that feels like you can finish in just a couple of hours can turn into dozens of game time hours, thanks to its unique loot system in acquiring power-ups called boons.
It has an incredible soundtrack that starts off with acoustic strings during your journey then builds up the tension with a rock metal score that prompts the start of an epic battle. Truly a masterpiece that can go toe-to-toe with triple-A games in terms of quality.
Ghost of Tsushima

If you are looking for an epic samurai film but in a form of a video game, get Ghost of Tsushima. This open-world action game puts you at the feet of Jin Sakai who must liberate the island of Tsushima from the rampaging Mongolian invasion, even if it means breaking his code of honour.
Ghost of Tsushimaâ€™s story isnâ€™t that as compelling as with other titles that launched this year, but how they made the playerâ€™s journey in the campaign more effective in fleshing out the characters around Jin and see their reasons and struggles.
Combat is responsive and challenging which makes you be more alert in taking out enemies, it punishes you if just mash your attack button to win and rewards you in doing countermeasures against your adversaries. Ghost of Tsushima has a world that is so alive that will make you explore and marvel at the environment and take pictures with the built-in photo mode, and tons of secrets that you can discover with the help of a fox or golden bird.
Final Fantasy VII Remake

Square Enix outdid themselves with Final Fantasy VII Remake, and itâ€™s something that you wouldnâ€™t expect from a remake. Focusing on the first arc of the original that spans only around 3-5 hours, FFVII Remake filled the arc with an expanded storyline and new characters packaged as a complete game.
The battle system took a new approach with real-time combat from Final Fantasy XV blended with the Materia system from the original that resulted in one of the most satisfying battles to conquer, and the battles wouldnâ€™t be as epic without an epic soundtrack, giving some of the familiar tunes with a new variant that sets up the mood of the narrative and fights.
The ending of the game left everyone with mixed reactions, yet it left an impression on how a good remake should be made and developers shouldnâ€™t limit themselves to just replicating a classic game piece by piece.
And there you have it. Iâ€™m pretty sure everyone has their own list of top games of 2020, and what matters is that everyone still managed to enjoy the new games amid the things that are happening right now. You can catch me on my gaming site at www.ReimaruFiles.com for some gaming goodness straight from the avid gamers. Have a great start to 2021, everyone. -Reimaru


New Netflix Locke And Key Trailer Offers First Look At Horror Narnia

Netflix has finally released the first trailer for Locke And Key, the upcoming based on the graphic novels and comics of the same name Joe Hill and Gabriel RodrÃguez. For those who don’t know, Joe Hill is actually the son of horror maestro Stephen King himself. Like father, like son, right?
Locke And Key follows three siblings who, after the murder of their father, move to their ancestral home only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities. Consider it like a more horror-like Narnia of sorts, where every door leads to worlds of wonder and mystery.
Locke & Key stars Darby Stanchfield as Nina Locke, Jackson Robert Scott as Bode Locke, Connor Jessup as Tyler Locke, Emilia Jones as Kinsey Locke, and Bill Heck as Rendell Locke. The cast also features Laysla De Oliveira as Dodge, Thomas Mitchell Barnet as Sam Lesser, and Griffin Gluck as Gabe.
As an added bonus, the URL at the end of the trailer leads to a special look at the very first scene of Locke And Key, which you can check out below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iKri0uMtg8&w=560&h=315]
Netflix’s Locke And Key is slated to premiere on 7 February 2020. In the meantime, check out the full trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EonRi0yQOE&w=560&h=315]


A Lord Of The Rings Game Starring Gollum Is In The Works

German developer Daedalic Entertainment has announced Lord of the Rings: Gollum, an action adventure game starring the character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic books. Not much is known about the game just yet but it’s slated to be released in 2021 for the PC and “relevant consoles”.
What we do know about Lord of the Rings: Gollum is that it won’t be based on the popular movie version of the series, That means an entirely new take on the character and not the iconic cinematic version of the character as portrayed by actor Andy Serkis. This is because Daedalic only owns the rights to the source material (books) since Warner Bros still owns the rights to the movies.
In an interview with PCGamer, Daedalic CEO Carsten Fichtelmann said:

“We already know what famous places we’ll be seeing in Middle-earth when you play the game. We’re concentrating on the character of Gollum, and we’re telling his story before we learn about what happens to him in the books. So it’s definitely new content that we’ll see.”

What’s most interesting about Lord of the Rings: Gollum is that the gameplay and plot of the game will be influenced by Gollum’s split personality and mental state. Fichtelmann continued:

“When you look at our history with storytelling games, it was obvious that we needed to do something where the protagonist has a conflict going on. This is also something you’ll play in the game.
You’ll come to decisions you have to make, and you’ll have the two voices talking to you. He may change his mind, and this is a clue about how it will play.”

At this point in time, we still don’t know what to expect from this game. 2021 is still two years away, and Lord Of The Rings: Gollum is still currently in its very early development stages.
Gollum won’t look like this in the upcoming game.


The 2021 Nier Remake Will Make You Forget About The 2010 Version

Platforms: PS4, PC, Xbox One
Genre: Action RPG with crazy twists and turns
Back in 2010, I had the pleasure of experiencing the action RPG that is Nier. For all of its rusty gameplay & subpar graphics, it boasts one of the best plots that require you to pay attention and play through to get the most out of it. Even then, it would be remiss of me to spoil the key bits of that old game.
Too bad it doesn’t hold up now. Believe me, I tried. I booted up my PS3 and played through the 2010 game. I felt ill after an hour or two. The sluggish controls and awkward gameplay, not to mention the graphics that didn’t age well over time, just made me felt like I was enduring through the game rather than relishing in it.
It’s like going through the first edition of a now-famous fantasy book; there’s a lot of rough edges here and there that make it painful before its superior editions fixed it. Luckily, Square Enix and developer Toylogic remade the 2010 game for this generation so you don’t have to sit through all that last-gen jank. Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (or just Nier 2021) is not just a faithful remake that improves so much but is a lovely action story-driven RPG on its own merit that newbies need to jump aboard on.
Black And Blue

Nier Replicant puts you in the shoes of the title character Nier (or “Toff33” since I can change his name to whatever I want). His young sister is plagued with the Black Scrawl disease and it’s up to you to find a cure. Luckily, you got a tip-off concerning a magic tome that can help with the conundrum; turns out the book is a sentient smart-aleck floating tome called Grimoire Weiss. Nier is then joined by a foul-mouthed skimpily-dressed woman fighter named Kaine and a magic-wielding boy named Emil.
Everything else that follows is a series of linear quests, some backtracking involved, a time skip in the main plot, and a boatload of enemies to fight and kill. The world of Nier Replicant is a relaxing-yet-desolate one filled with black-clouded beings called Shades, mysterious creatures who attack the villagers and are quite the pests for our hero. You have a few towns and cities for you to visit and a load of plains and wide spaces to traverse and fight enemies in. And of course, that lovely music from composer Keiichi Okabe that matches the serene yet desolate tone of the adventure.
As you progress, and as soon as the first 20 hours have passed, you may already have beaten the game and seen the ending. Soak it all in, then replay the game via your completed save file. Don’t stop.
In order to fully appreciate the full package, you will need to play through the game a couple of times for the full picture. You’ll find out that a lot of things on the surface are not what they seem. It’s through the game’s second playthrough (which puts you in the middle of the game, after the time skip) where you see the genius storytelling from Yoko Taro and his Cavia/Square Enix team unfold.
Without spoiling anything, the game’s plot revolves around perspectives between the heroes and who they’re fighting, what it means to be human, and whether the ends fully justify the means especially if someone is in the wrong direction of the moral compass.
And yes, when you figure out how to get the other endings in your third playthrough, you’ll then see why the series is the talk of the town for its many years to come. In many ways, Nier Automata would not be possible without the 2010 Nier, and subsequently, this remake.
Rules Of Nature

Thankfully for many fans looking to jump in, this isn’t the 2010 game you’re replaying that’s plagued with sluggish action controls and lacking gameplay. The 2021 remake with the square root subtitle has revamped combat and controls, running the in-game action & RPGing at 60fps or higher depending on what machine you’re running the game on.
Nier can cancel one attack to another (or to a dodge), and has a different set with their own animations and functions. Your light sword is the all-rounder, while the spear has the longest reach. The two-handed swords hit the hardest but have slow startups and animations.
All can be switched on the fly and all have their uses. You can also evade and do parries if you guard at the right time. And then you have your Dark spells cast by your grimoire. These range from giant demon fists that crushes guard tactics to “dark magic spears” that incapacitate enemies in a straight line, making them vulnerable to your attacks. But generally, you’ll need your trusty Dark rapid-fire spell bolts that will hit enemies at long range and also clear out stray spell “bullets” in the game’s many “bullet hell” segments.
Yes, the game switches things up by not only making some enemies and bigwigs spit out magic projectiles like it’s going out of fashion, but also making some of them only vulnerable to magic, requiring you to get up-close and risk getting a heavy beatdown. You also have to deal with top-down “shooter segments” and even an isometric-style maze in one major story area.
And of course, you have to fight many sizes of Shades ranging from the armoured kind to the behemoths with multi-stage boss patterns and segments. Defeating them can net you special words that you can equip onto your weapons and martial skills to buff them up passively; these range from increased attack damage to even sped-up mana regeneration for your Dark spells.
All these amount to lots of gameplay fun that’s part challenging and part enjoyable with the controls & movement. Best of all, replaying the game for the full context I mentioned is now less of a slog and more of a joyride.
Fighting Shades and the game’s bosses are the most exciting parts of Nier Replicant that players can look forward to. And if it’s not challenging enough, you can bump it up beyond Normal difficulty.
The bonus content is also welcome and adds replay value. Apart from the other endings you need to unlock for the full story, you can also play through the gauntlet called 15 Nightmares. This extra mode puts you in a series of levels and fights with remixed Nier music; it’s challenging and is a great source of rewards and materials (like these nifty alternate outfits for Nier, Kaine, and co.). Plus, it answers the question: “Where is 2010’s Papa Nier?”
To The Moon(face) & Back

For all of its positives, I do wish Square Enix and Toylogic found a way to make the game less repetitive in the first half. I would argue that there are better ways to implement the journey to Endings B and the rest, but having to replay the second half of the game and going through the same boss fights is required for that context and full picture. Still, a “skip to chapter X” option would be nice for the mandatory third or fourth playthrough so that you can go about settling the requirements needed in a timely and faster fashion.
Fans of Nier Automata who haven’t played the first game should buy this one without question. Anyone who has the patience to go through an action RPG for 30 hours and need a great story will not be disappointed with this title at full price. If you wished that the 2010 Nier needed a major tune-up, this version basically fixes the original’s glaring problems.
It’s a no-brainer: Nier Replicant is for the books. It’s a textbook example of how to combine narrative and gameplay into one cohesive experience that will leave an impact to your soul.
Pros

Improved combat from the original; more fun & flexible.
Great remastered graphics & amazing music.
New additions a plus.
Story still holds up thanks to its charm and dark themes.
The ending(s).

Cons

Sidequests & bits of the main quest can get repetitive & tiresome.

Final Score: 90/100


Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands New DLC Glutton’s Gamble Is Out Now; Features Updates & Class Nerfs

The next Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands DLC, dubbed Glutton’s Gamble, is out now. If you have your Season 1 Pass at the ready, you can play it right now.
The DLC features a Sand Witch named Imelda, who gets more powerful each week. And with each new form comes new loot she drops. Also, the enemies you fight are food-themed so you may want to eat first before delving in, lest you get the munchies halfway while looting and shooting.
The DLC also comes with the following updates, ranging from special Vending Machines at the end of a Chaos Chamber run to weapon buffs & class changes. That last one’s pretty important as players will need to reconfigure their gear and skill tree specs once this drops.
General

Added special Vending Machines to the Loot Room at the end of the Chaos Chamber; each machine has a Legendary of the week for sale that will change every Thursday by 9:00 AM PT.
Mission reward gear is now more likely to show up in standard vending machines.
Throwable Hole can now drop with enchantments and can be enchanted at the Re-Roller.
Many Mission rewards can now drop as enchanted and can be enchanted at the Re-Roller.
The Mushroom Healer has completed their mushroom trials and has been found worthy of a name: Mike, which is an okay name for a mushroom.

Class Changes & Adjustments

Brr-Zerkers would not stay enraged when multi-classed into Graveborn and using the “Reaper of Bones” action skill
Spore Warden‘s Mushroom pet would not clean up after itself after using its mushroom spore attack for all players
Clawbringer‘s Storm Smite would not properly switch between Fire and Shock damage. The splats on Storm Smite have been corrected to also match their expected visuals and damage type.
Graveborn‘s Faithful Thralls skill’s bonus’ could occasionally stack indefinitely
Stabbomancer‘s “Follow Up” stacks would trigger unintentionally with the chain lightning effect on the Dahlia SM Live Wire

Enchantments – Spore Warden:

Adjusted a Spore Warden Enchantment from receiving a chance for an explosion on Gun and Ability damage to having the chance only with Gun Damage. We found that the bonuses had unintended damage scaling when combined with other abilities.

Brr-Zerker:
Blast Chill and Blast Gasp (for Graveborn) could overlap and scale damage out of the anticipated range in the end game when combined with other damage scaling. The changes below here are focused on making Melee Attacks a bit more powerful during the mid-game and in Chaos Chamber.

Blast Chill has been adjusted to award a chance to release a Nova on Melee Attacks, instead of on all Melee Damage sources.
Savagery has been increased to doing 6% per point of Melee Damage
Damage received from attacks when close to enemies while using The Old Ways had been reduced to 40%
Iron Squall Melee Attack speed has been increased to 4% per point in the skill

Spore Warden:

Wrath of Nature has been adjusted to do 10% increased damage per point in the skill
Increased Affinity’s Ability Damage to award 9% per point to give additional power in the early game
Increased Bullseye’s Critical Hit Chance to 12% per point

Clawbringer:

Changed Cleaning Flame Action skill to do Fire Melee Damage instead of just Melee Damage
Increased Awe’s Critical Hit Chance to 13% per point
Increased Awe’s Critical Hit Damage to 7% per point
Increased Dedication Action Skill Cooldown Rate with Max Ward to 6%
Increased Dragon Aura Elemental Damage to 5% per point
Increased Rebuke Damage Reduction to 4% per point
Increased Oath of Thunder Bonus Melee Damage to 6% per point
Increased Fire Bolt Gun Damage to 10% per point
Increased Storm Breath Damage Reduction to 15% per point

Graveborn:

Adjusted Blast Gasp Ability Damage to 7% per point to compensate for additional bug fixes to the skill
Increased Harvest Bonus Dark Magic to 5% per point. This brings the bonus Magic Damage up to 30% total at max stacks.
Increased Stain of the Soul to deal 5% bonus Dark Magic Damage per point

Stabbomancer:

Increased Ethereal Blade Melee Damage to do 150% of your Melee Weapon
Increased Ghost Blade Weapon Damage to 85%

Spellshot:

Adjusted Double Knot to do 4% bonus Gun Damage on Spell Critical Hits


Rising Hell Is A Rocking Roguelite With Hellishly Good Music

Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X
Genre: Vertical Roguelike, Platformer Action Game, Indie, Bullet Hell
This year alone, I’ve reviewed several roguelike and roguelite games, including Gods Will Fall, Nigate Tale, and Returnal. It seems like everyone’s trying their hand at the genre these days, as it gets less and less niche with time, thanks mostly to the brilliant Hades by Supergiant Games.
Well, Indonesian developer Tahoe Games is next in line but fortunately, they’re doing something different and unique to make it all more refreshing. Turning away from the usual top-down 3D isometric perspective, they have opted for a vertical roguelite with a focus on fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping action.
The Devil Made Me Do It

In Rising Hell, as the name implies, players climb through procedurally-generated levels of hell. Yes, the hell of fire and brimstone fame. There’s a brief backstory about how players assume the roles of demons to free Lucifer from the roots of the Zaqom tree, where the dark lord is being caged. However, the story really isn’t important at all; it’s essentially just there to act as the setting, so don’t expect a grand and growing narrative of interesting characters like in Hades.
The meat of Rising Hell is the gameplay and combat, which is obviously where Tahoe Games poured all their hard work on. The controls are simple, with one button for attacking, one for jumping, one for dashing and one to interact with objects. That’s basically it; there are no complicated combos or multiple weapons to choose from.
Rising Hell makes up for all that with combat that feels tight and satisfying. Every hit that connects with enemies feels substantial and great. Despite the simplistic controls, the game spices up the combat with Artifacts and Relics. Artifacts are items that are randomly dropped by certain enemies, which grants players awesome additional elements to their basic attacks. These can be attacks that spawn energy blades, while another will spawn lightning with each attack. To keep players from getting too overpowered, these Artifacts’ effects are temporary, and it’ll be only a limited number of attacks before your attacks return to their regular combos.
Meanwhile, Relics are items that offer a permanent stat boost or benefit (like increasing attack/health stats or even granting an extra life). Players are given a choice of three random Relics to purchase at the top of each level with the red orbs that they obtain from killing enemies, and these same red orbs are the game’s main currency. On the other hand, the rarer green orbs help restore health, though the spawning of these green orbs can be increased via certain Relics.

The unique Hellbreak jump-attack mechanic allows players to chain special combos and one-hit kills that are satisfying as hell to pull off (pardon the pun). This mechanic can only really work well in a side-scrolling vertical platformer roguelite like this. There are no annoying 3D elements that would otherwise make jumping and platforming less precise and more frustrating to perform.
The best part of the combat in Rising Hell is how fast-paced and intense it is. You’ll have to keep killing enemies and moving upwards while avoiding enemy projectiles and traps like buzzsaws or spikes. To understand how fast-paced and intense it really is compared to even something like Hades or Returnal, each World in Rising World consists of several levels with a mini-boss and a main boss.
How long does it take to complete one World? Well, it’s only less than 10 minutes for each World. That’s right, Rising Hell is a perfect game for short bursts of intense and adrenaline-pumping combat. It only gets even more intense and faster as you get better and stronger. You get scores for each run, even if you fail and die. These scores get turned into points that contribute towards a rewards tier that unlocks more Artifacts, Relics and even grants another in-game currency called Blight as it accumulates.
Blight can also be used to unlock more playable characters with different stats that accommodates a variety of playstyles. One character is focused on physical attacks and better suited for players who like to both hit hard and get up close and personal, while another character is like Capcom’s Mega Man, unleashing a hail of straight bullets towards enemies from a farther and safer range.
Highway To Hell

The cherry on top of the cake of Rising Hell and what makes it truly stand out amongst other roguelites is the game’s rocking ear-melting heavy metal guitar riffs. Your frantic rush to escape the bowels and levels of hell is made even more intense and adrenaline-pumping thanks to how awesome the game’s music and soundtrack is.
Don’t believe me? Publisher Toge Productions have posted the game’s soundtracks on YouTube, so you can check them out for yourselves. For a little taste, take a listen to my favourite track from the game below:

Breaking Out Of Hell

Roguelikes and roguelites are notorious for having high difficulty curves, but Rising Hell doesn’t feel too punishingly hard even in the beginning, likely due to the length of the levels. Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t an easy game and you’ll still definitely die a lot of times, especially against the game’s bosses. But it’s bearable and adheres to standard roguelike stage lengths.
At the time of writing, Rising Hell remains in early access on Steam, but that will change soon as the developer is planning to add a final boss and more content in the game’s full version when it releases on 19 May, 2021. It’s a worthwhile effort from Indonesian developer Tahoe Games and it’s one to look out for as it keeps getting better.
Pros

Simple but fast-paced and satisfying combat.
Spot-on controls.
Rocking metal music.
Multiple unlockable characters equals various playstyles.

Cons

Barebones narrative.
Not much variety in level design.

Final Score: 80/100
Review copy provided by Tahoe Games/Toge Productions. Played on PC via Steam. Rising Hell is slated to release on 19 May 2021.


Netflix’s King Kong Skull Island Animated Series Drops Next Month

The next entry in the MonsterVerse won’t be Godzilla x Kong The New Empire in March 2024 but it will Netflix’s Skull Island animated series, which will premiere on 22 June 2023.
Produced by Powerhouse Animation Studios, the studio behind Castlevania and Masters Of The Universe Revelation, Skull Island follows the adventures of a group of explorers who rescue a mysterious woman named Annie from the ocean, then embark on an adventure to explore the fabled island home of Kong himself.
It features voice performances by Nicolas Cantu (The Walking Dead: World Beyond), Mae Whitman (The DUFF), Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever), Benjamin Bratt (Poker Face), Betty Gilpin (Mrs. Davis), and more.
The last MonsterVerse movie was Godzilla Vs Kong in 2021 (check out our review here). The cinematic universe began with 2014’s Godzilla, 2017’s Kong Skull Island and 2019’s Godzilla King Of The Monsters.
Check out the trailer below:


Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 Is A Welcome Return To License-Based Co-Op Brawling

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Marvel Mashup Button Masher
The days of multiple developers and publishers working on various genres featuring Marvel games of back then are slowly creeping back into the fold. This is probably thanks to the current Disney Marvel regime that’s arguably trying to do good by unifying its creative vision. Sure, it’s not as fruitful and elaborate as the mid and late 2000s, but there’s a bit to look forward to.
Like the upcoming Avengers game for Square Enix…no wait, we didn’t like that one. Or how about those dozen Korean auto-battlers with the Marvel license? No, we’re not quite fans of that. But there’s Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, a return to form to Raven Software and Activision’s co-op action RPG brawler courtesy of Nintendo and Team Ninja, the latter being famous for their rather bouncy fighting game Dead or Alive. If anything, the team are better at doing action games than stories.
Tales To Astonish?

Not so in this case. While the game starts off as a chase for Infinity Stones and getting the heck away from Thanos and his Black Order buddies, its narrative caps off in unexpected ways. It also blends in many aspects of Marvel lore in a seamless and fan-service-savvy fashion.
You’ll take a trip down to the X-Mansion and even Ryker’s Prison to fight Sentinels and super-powered criminals. And yes, you’ll see more Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan and GotG Starlord’s making their mark in the game’s many story-tying cutscenes. As long as you remember that the game is combining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and newer Marvel Comics characters and iterations in this package, you’ll enjoy this nonsense of a thrill ride.
Of course, you’re not going to nitpick too much about its portrayal because the game gives you a plethora of heroes to use.Â See, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 lets you create a team of up to four characters out of a roster filled with 36 heroes and villains (with more on the way). Depending on your setup, they can be buffed up if they’re from the same factions or if they work well together.
If you put Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Daredevil in one team, you’ll get a Defenders bonus amongst other stat boosts that can increase their toughness. Likewise, if you team up Nightcrawler, Psylocke, Deadpool, and Wolverine; you’ll get a huge boost at life and damage via the X-Force and X-Men alliance bonus. If you know your Marvel lore, you’ll want to team up your favourite heroes together for that stats boost and their potential synergy attacks. I’m sure a few of you want to just team Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider up for that Midnight Sons bonus.
Kinda surprised they added Elsa Bloodstone, a D-lister hero, into the fold.

And yes, Marvel vs Capcom fans; you can create your own OP team of Magneto, Storm, Wolverine, and Psylocke if you feel that the last MvC game was underwhelming. MUA 3 is the soothing ointment for that long-scarring burn.
A Rollercoaster Ride Of Marvel Fandom Old & New
Most stages in MUA 3 are long paths of corridors and small rooms filled with a ton of enemies. Some of them have stamina bars you need to exhaust so that they get stunned. Sometimes each room has a simple puzzle that changes the brawling up a bit. All you have to do for the most part is beat up anything in your way. Your controls are pretty slick; you have your light and heavy attacks, your jump, your block/dodge button which you’ll need to use a ton, and your special attack hotkeys
All of them are usually capped off with interesting boss fights against Marvel’s insanely-large rogue’s gallery, which are both fun and challenging. From Green Goblin’s fly-by attacks with his goblin grenades and Time Stone shenanigans to Ultron’s laser-dodging party, you may end up dying a couple of times before figuring out their patterns.

Speaking of which, you’ll need to have a balanced group of ranged, damage-dealers, and tanks to at least have various special moves you can synergize with. You can perform synergy attacks with your other teammates for hard-hitting damage, provided they’re close enough to you. You can also press A when you see your teammates doing a special move so that you can create another synergy attack.
All of this, coupled with Extreme attacks (press L and R when your yellow extreme meter is charged for a screen-clearing move) that can stack with your three other teammate’s Extreme move, makes for a very, very messy chaotic time. Even with the markers on your selected playable heroes, it can be hard to see what the blazes is going on once you unleash a lot of synergy attacks like Psylocke’s “psychic purple uppercut” and Ms. Marvel’s ground pound AoE moves.
The camera also doesn’t help as it sometimes can shove itself in a spot where it’s up too close to your characters unless you move further from the corner. Thankfully, the rest of the game gets pretty fun even if you’re at odds with the game’s way of presenting the action to you.
Stone-Cold Crazy

Apart from the Alliance bonuses, your heroes can equip ISO-8 stones that can give you stat boosts, as a way to fill up the RPG criteria of this game. Need to boost up Wolverine’s damage? Put on a giant big ISO-8 that increases his strength to 500. Want to make Nightcrawler take a bit more damage? Slap on a resilience and defence-focused ISO-8. Your characters can equip up to four of these bad boys once they’re at a high level, so you have ample opportunities to tweak your favourite Marvel-branded ass-kicker to be the best there is at what they do.
On top of that, there’s a giant-as-heck hexagonal tree you can level up to boost your current team’s overall stats. The nodes of the tree increase strength, vitality, and even some offensive and defensive buffs like faster XP-gaining.
All of this customization is useful and fun, and helps players experiment thoroughly if they want to make it out in one piece with the game.Â Example: If I find myself dying a lot at a boss or at a particular obstacle, I just go back to my menus and switch up my alliances, or just micro-manage my ISO-8s. And when your characters are level 20 and beyond, they can be equipped and tweaked up the wazoo.
Left Behind

Speaking of levels, your other neglected superheroes will be left behind. In a game with a 38+ hero roster, 3/4ths of them will not be beyond level 20 or up to par with your 1/4th pack. I got through 10 hours of the game with Ms. Marvel and the majority of the X-Men because those are my favourite characters. It’s friggin’ Kamala Khan; how can you not love her optimism and gung-ho attitude? Everyone else from Iron Man to the other Avengers gets the shaft.
Even with that problem, you still can replay the game over and over again to get the most out of it post-credits. That’s MUA 3’s other superpower apart from fun combat and its simple-yet-custom-heavy RPG system: replayability.
Finishing the game unlocks Superior difficulty where everything starts off at Level 40 and ramps up from there. There are also the Infinity challenges where you earn cosmetic rewards, new ISO-8 equipment, and XP boosters if you complete specific tasks like using Spider-Man alone for one stage or fight a super-powered version of a main story boss with extra stipulations like bleeding lifebars.
In case you think the main game wasn’t tough enough, all of these are sure to keep you invested and playing the game more. And then there’s the co-op aspect; you can play this with online folks or with your pals and loved ones on the couch.
Not-So-Secret War

I remember playing a ton of Marvel Heroes before it shut down. It’s pretty much action RPG fun with a group of folks online where you get your jollies from just beating up waves of enemies and getting loot out of it. I get the same kind of gratification in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, albeit in a more personal setting with your close pals, or with yourself if you just want to 100% the game.
It’s been a while since we’ve received a console action-savvy Marvel game that’s better than a sum of its parts. It even brought back some much-needed complexity in its action formula, especially when past MUA games take that away for god-knows-what reason. So if you want a licensed game done right and is content with what it wants to deliver, make yours Marvel.
Pros

Fun combat for all ages
Challenging gameplay and stages with huge replayability
Deep customization system with ISO-8s
Cute handling of story and Marvel lore

Cons

The camera gets wonky and stubborn during hectic bits
Can get incredibly messy; easy to lose track
You’ll end up with a lot of unleveled heroes once you finish the game

FINAL SCORE: 70/100


World Of Tanks Releases New 7v7 Game Mode

World of Tanks has a new competitive game mode aptly named Onslaught, a 7v7 game mode where players will use Tier X vehicles against opponents of similar ranks.
The first season, “Season of the Griffin,” will take place from 11 October at 7:00 AM (GMT+8) through 21 November at 1:00 AM (GMT+8).
New gameplay mechanics have been introduced to ensure the mode provides the optimal environment for tankers to compete on an equal playing field. All changes are designed to further enhance Onslaught’s competitiveness. The matchmaker will be selecting both allies and opponents for teams based on the mode’s ranked system. During the countdown before entering battle, players will be able to select a different Tier X vehicle in the pre-battle lobby or switch to a different set of equipment, shells, and consumables.

All vehicles in this mode feature their own combat roles, and each role will have a unique role skill with three levels of charge that players can use to strategize and upgrade during the battle. Instead of the classic three-player Platoons, Onslaught features two-player squads and offers an option to create a team of seven commanders and fight against an opposing Super Platoon.
To make battles even more unpredictable, Onslaught will feature the Fog of War mechanic. At the beginning of a battle, teams will not know the location and strength (i.e. vehicle types and models) of the enemy forces until they’re spotted.
The thrilling mode will offer two lines of rewards. The first line features unique progressive 2D styles, Dog Tag elements, and more, and is based on a player’s Rank. The second features more traditional, valuable rewards, such as bonds and pieces of equipment, and is based on the number of victories.
To read more about the new game mode Onslaught and the mechanics that come with it, feel free to check out World of Tanks’ official blog post.


Wonder Woman 3 Officially Greenlit By Warner Bros

Warner Bros has officially announced Wonder Woman 3. This news comes after only two weeks since Wonder Woman 1984 premiered in Malaysia and other countries, but only several days after it premiered in US cinemas and HBO Max.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Patty Jenkins and Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot will return for the sequel to Wonder Woman 1984.
Warner Bros. chief Toby Emmerich said:


Ary And The Secret Of Seasons’ Charm Fails To Mask How Broken It Truly Is

Platform(s):Â PS4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo SwitchGenre:Â  Action-Adventure, Platformer, Zelda-like with the best of intentions, but…
We don’t really see a lot of action-adventure 3D platformers these days. Most indie developers prefer to go full 2D retro instead, but Belgian studio Exiin decided to harken back to the good old days of the PS2 or GameCube era. This reminds me a lot of games like The Legend Of Zelda titles back then and even lesser-known games like The Legend Of Kay.
While Exiin’s intention may have been admirable, perhaps they’ve punched way above their weight class with Ary And The Secret Of Seasons. I have no idea what the problem might have been, but I’m not exaggerating when I say that this game is not only unpolished and broken, it feels incomplete and half-baked.
Too Ambitious

Here’s the gist of the plot in Ary And The Secret Of Seasons, which sounds like a cute little story that belongs in a Disney, Pixar, or Dreamworks movie. The world of Valdi is divided into four quadrants, each of which is permanently locked into one of four seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter), with each having a Guardian and apprentice to keep watch over their domain. Protagonist Ary is the daughter of the winter Guardian, while her older brother, Flynn, serves as apprentice and successor.
The game begins in the wake of a tragedy that sees Flynn presumed dead, leaving their father a broken, catatonic shell. However, once a catastrophic event occurs that shakes up the balance of the seasons, it’s up to Ary to defy tradition and help save the world in place of both her father and brother.
There’s definitely a Mulan vibe to it all, as Ary is trying to adopt the burden of her father and brother. In the very beginning before she sets out on her adventure, Ary even cuts her hair shorter and dresses more like her father to look like more Guardian apprentice-material, just like the legendary Mulan.

It’s a great narrative setup, but the game squanders all its potential later on. All of that is thrown out the window amidst an oddly-paced narrative and an ill-defined antagonist. Certain stuff happens and then are never spoken of again. At one point, you learn that a major character is abducting children and forced them into child labour.
It was weirdly dark and at odds with the game’s overall happy-go-lucky tone of fighting anthromorphic laughing hyenas and vegetable monsters. The game introduces that and ignores it, never mentioning it ever again. It’s bizzare, to say the least.
Unfortunately, the different regions of Valdi are bland and not terribly interesting to explore, but the best part of the gameplay in the game revolves around the four dungeons, which are varied in design, from a jungle look to a steampunk one. There is a certain degree of exploration, but there’s not much incentive to do so.
There are chests and collectibles strewn around, but they are often marked on the map. Players just need to figure how to reach and obtain them. Currency in the game is used to buy cosmetics and upgrades, though the only way to get more money is through chests, as enemies don’t drop anything in this game.

Therein lies another problem, since there’s not much of a progression system for Ary, or any interesting way to develop her throughout the game. It’s absurd to expect massive RPG skill trees, but at least a more fleshed out and deeper system would be appreciated to spice up the combat.
The unique gameplay hook (and best part of the entire game) revolves around utilizing the power of the seasons to create localized spheres in order to beat enemies, solve puzzles, and traverse tricky platforming sections. For example, casting Winter can create floating ice platforms, while the other seasons can drain water from a lake or instantly grow climbable vines. Using these tools to manipulate the environment is exciting, and many of the game’s puzzles can be quite challenging.
Ary can also use the seasons in combat, though the fighting combat is easily the weakest part of the game. You attack with one button (with only one combo in the whole game) and parry with another. The lock-on mechanic is frustrating, and the collision feedback is non-existent, which makes for an unsatisfying experience. As previously mentioned, player also get nothing from defeating enemies, no EXP and no loot.
In most cases, it’s better to run past enemies and ignore them completely. The game would definitely benefit from dropping swordplay altogether and just focus on the puzzle aspect of the game. They feel tacked-on at best, and it’s clear that the developers didn’t put much effort in making the combat at least feel good.
Bugs, Bugs Everywhere

While it’s true that bugs and glitches can be patched in future updates, that still doesn’t forgive my horrible experience with the game. So much so that I couldn’t even finish the game properly. The game is such a broken and buggy mess that I struggled to enjoy my time with it.
The last hour or so of the game is the worst, as I had to restart the game several times to overcome a recurring bug I encountered during a boss fight that prevented any progression, as well as my character becoming literally invisible in parts that I had to jump on moving and disappearing platforms.
Still, the game is brimming with potential. The dungeons are good (when Ary isnâ€™t turning invisible or when the game doesn’t bug out) and the puzzles are the strongest part of the game.
Unfortunately, the weak narrative, plain bad combat, and a plethora of bugs and glitches make it so that I simply canâ€™t recommend that anyone buy this ten-hour-long game. Well, at least not until the developer releases some patches to fix the game. As it is now, the game is just broken and needs more work.
Pros
Great and varied dungeon design.Awesome puzzles that are challenging to solve.Good narrative setup…
Cons
…but weak story and plot pacing.Bland world.Atrocious combat and progression system.Bugs, bugs and more bugs.Game-breaking glitches that prevent players from advancing.
Final Score: 40/100


Rainbow Six Siege Operation Wind Bastion Details Revealed

As promised by Ubisoft earlier this month, the full details for Rainbow Six Siege Operation Wind Bastion have been revealed.
Rainbow Six Siege Year Three Season 4 will add an attacker and defender named Nomad and Kaid, respectively. Nomad is equipped with AK-74M and ARX200, allowing her to trigger the proximity of air blast grenades to lure enemy defenders out of hiding. Meanwhile, Kaid can use his Rtila Electro claw electrify all metallic objects in proximity, as well as being armed with an AUG A3 and TCSG12.
Operator: Nomad
Additionally, the Rainbow Six Siege shop will receive a redesign to improve the player experience, including a new full-screen view for weapons, a new light theme, and the possibility for players to browse left and right within a category.
Last but not least, the new Fortress map will feature a good rotation between floors, an accessible roof and many dangerous lines of sight and flanking routes. It will provide a new challenge for veteran players to conquer.
Operator: Kaid
The Operation Wind Bastion Test Server will go live today exclusively for PC players on November 19, 2018. It functions as a beta, so players should expect gameplay issues, which they can report to the developer.
For your first look at the upcoming Operation Wind Bastion, check out the gameplay video below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msOG2T1cLOE&w=560&h=315]


Octopath Traveler Mobile Game Prequel Will Be Out In English Mid-2022

Octopath Traveler is venturing off into mobile game territory with Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent which will release in summer this year.
The hit JRPG that combines the classic look of older games with revamped modern graphics will be getting a mobile spinoff in the form of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. The game will be a prequel to the Square Enix RPG set a few years prior to the events of Octopath Traveler, where Orsterra is ruled by tyrants hungry for â€œwealth, power, and fame.â€
The game will let you control a variety of characters known as â€œthe Chosen Onesâ€ of a divine ring and will feature 2D pixel art, enhanced with 3D-CG effects known from the previous game but this time on your handheld devices. The game aims to bring fans back to the wonderous world of Orsterra with beautifully stylized environments filled with side quests, dangerous bosses, and treasures.

An evolved command style battle system utilizes up to eight party members, with swipe controls that allow for fast paced command selection, with over 64 characters to find and recruit at launch. The vast roster of party members will allow players to explore an endless combination of characters to build your ultimate team. The game promises many different pathways you could take with the player being able to experience them all, with the help of improved social features. Character interactions such as â€œInquireâ€ for information, â€œEntreatâ€ for items, or â€œHireâ€ for recruiting party members will determine how these events fold out and what these new relationships yield.
If you liked the music from the first game, Yasunori Nishiki, the composer behind Octopath Traveler, is back for this latest installment with new compositions exclusive to this game. A proper sequel is still in the works, however the last update we got for that was in February 2021.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQV-U8IgGjc&t=1s
The mobile game prequel will be available for iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play in the summer later this year, plus Android users can sign up for the closed beta test right now.


The Mandalorian Is Getting A Second Season Late 2020

I won’t mince words here: The Mandalorian TV series on Disney+ is the best thing to happen in the Star Wars storyline canon since the Expanded Universe and The Old Republic storylines. And I’m happy to report that it’s getting a second season.
A tweet from show overseer Jon Favreau confirms that the second season of the show that also stars Baby Yoda is coming out Fall 2020 and may feature a Gamorrean or two. Coincidentally, this is the Southeast Asian release window of Disney+, since most of us are watching this show via VPNs and paying a bit on our overseas-approved credit cards.Â

Season 2 of #TheMandalorian coming Fall 2020 pic.twitter.com/8VQYLDMQ0V
— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) December 27, 2019

What else can I say about the show apart from it emphasizing the “Western” feel of the Star Wars series, focuses on one of the most interesting and badass races in the show’s lore, and also introducing new ways of telling Star Wars stories that aren’t a complete rehash of the original and prequel trilogy?
Nothing. So go watch it if you haven’t. I heard the last episode has a few story revelations that is sure to get your Force hype levels pumping.
Oh, and we should also thank The Mandalorian for bringing back the “concept art at the end credits” bookend en vogue. Beautiful stuff.


Say No! More Pokes Fun At Work Culture Within Its Incredibly Short Run Time

Platform: PC
Genre: Outspoken adventure game for your extended lunch break
If you were to rate the indie title Say No! More just on its length alone, it gets a failing grade. The adventure game will take you at least two hours or so to beat in one playthrough. Despite its length, Say No! More wears its “one word, many languages” linguistic arcade adventure badge loud and proud.
You play an intern trapped in a corporate world where people become whipping boys/girls without fail. Upon discovering a tape that teaches you the power of the word “no” (in English, Chinese, French, and other languages) and the many methods to say it, your adventure in breaking the norm begins.
Your quest basically amounts to saying “no” to various people with the press of a few buttons on your keyboard (or gamepad). No directional inputs here; just good old-fashioned button prompts. Sometimes, you can charge up your “no” and dish out a full-blown rejection.

Other times, you need to butter up your obstacles either with a cacophony of laughter or just nod sarcastically to their inquiries, then lay out a big fat “nope” to their faces. Almost all the obstacles in your path can be destroyed in any way, regardless of how you say the main word of this questline.
Non-Disclosure
Yes, the gameplay lacks a huge amount of player agency, but it makes up for it with its presentation and zany storyline. If you miss the old PS1 games of the experimental kind (think Parappa the Rapper and Incredible Crisis), Say No! More delivers on all fronts. It also comes equipped with a heartwarming message about self-advocacy and where we draw the line when saying “yes” to certain things.
Should you buy Say No! More? If you like a simple story with a quirky block-esque art style, some funny & exaggerated voice acting, with simplistic button prompt gameplay that costs you RM32, go for it. Don’t expect a huge game-changing experience though; just some good indie fun with hearty laughs.
Final Score: 70/100


PS Plus October 2022 Adds Injustice 2, Hot Wheels Unleashed & More

PlayStation Asia has announced that gamers will have five new games to look forward to in the PlayStation Plus Asia October 2022 lineup. PS Plus subscribers will be able to redeem Injustice 2, Hot Wheels Unleashed, Superhot, Rogue Explorer, and Crisis Wing.
PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Premium members can add these three titles to their game library from Tuesday, October 4 until Monday October 31. The PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog lineup for October will be announced later this month.
Hot Wheels Unleashed | PS4, PS5

Collect, build and race in this fantastic arcade sim based on the Hot Wheels universe. Earn new vehicles then take them to the track to race side by side with friends in two-player split-screen, or face up to 12 opponents in online challenges. One you’ve raced, why not try and build your own course? Create amazing layout inside and outside the track editor. Ad loops, special boosters, obstacles and special elements to make an incredible amusement park for your races, then share your creation online for other players to try.
Injustice 2 | PS4

The creators of Mortal Kombat return to the DC universe with the biggest superhuman roster. Select from twisted versions of iconic heroes and supervillains and bring epic-scale battles to awe-inspiring locations across the globe. Take on other players locally and online, or immerse yourself in the story-driven single player campaign as Batman struggles against Superman’s regime. You’ll earn gear after every match to equip, customize and evolve your roster.
Superhot | PS4

Blurring the lines between cautious strategy and unbridled mayhem, Superhot is the FPS in which time moves only when you move. No regenerating health bars. No conveniently placed ammo drops. It’s just you, outnumbered and outgunned, grabbing the weapons of fallen enemies to shoot, slice, and maneuver through a hurricane of slow-motion bullets. Superhot’s polished, minimalist visual language helps you concentrate on the most important – on the fluidity of gameplay and cinematic beauty of the fight.
Rogue Explorer

Rogue Explorer retains the challenge of classic roguelikes without the harsh restrictions or futile frustrations. Every “metroidvania” style dungeon in Rogue Explorer features multiple layers – upper levels do not change for a day, shifting in their layout only after the in-game day/night cycle has progressed, while deeper journeys take you into more dangerous dungeons that unpredictably change every time you enter them. But don’t worry too much! Even if you fail a quest, your dear character will survive and retain their gear, losing only the stat boosts and special skills unlocked on the last journey into the Abyss Tower.
Crisis Wing

Push your shoot’em up skills to the limit in nostalgic pixel art style as you launch into Crisis Wing, lovingly crafted to recall the frantic action of arcade classics. Featuring 7 vertical scrolling stages, upgradeable weapons and cooperative multiplayer, Crisis Wing combines modern gameplay advancements with nostalgic presentation, enriched by a ricking FM soundtrack and CRT filters for a genuine old-school vibe.


Diablo 3 Season 27 Guide: The Best Class & Sets To Aim For

With a few weeks away until August ends, it’s time for action RPG fans to cherish a brand new season for the long-standing Blizzard title Diablo 3. Season 26 is coming to a close, with one of its major additions Echoing Nightmare turning into a permanent feature for the game (both off-season and seasonal play).
Season 27 is the next season, starting on 26 August at 4pm GMT+8. What else is there to expect from Diablo 3’s latest? Here’s a guide on what’s new and the best classes to use (pending).

Season 27 Theme
Looking to turn the tide of an unremitting war between light and darkness, the Angels of the High Heavens have embedded a token of their righteousness in Sanctuary. Cunning Nephalem seeking an advantage in combat will undergo an angelic trial, crystallizing a symbol of their morality into pure, otherworldly perfection. The specific celestial force imbued within by the divine is unknown—an answer waiting to be sought on the battlefield. Go forth, Nephalem!
The biggest addition to this season is Angelic Crucibles, a new consumable item that can sanctify any equippable Legendary item, infusing it with one of three new class-specific powers at random. This is Blizzard’s way of giving super Heaven powers to the Nephilim and having them playable in an action RPG setting. Here are the class-specific powers;
Barbarian

Whirlwind pulls in and holds all enemies within 25 yards.
Hammer of the Ancients hits in all directions around the Barbarian. Every seventh cast of Hammer of the Ancients unleashes a powerful shockwave.
Hitting enemies generates stacks of Tempest Rhythm. Activating Wrath of the Berserker consumes 50 stacks of Tempest Rhythm and startles enemies within 16 yards, causing them to take 0.5% increased damage per stack for 10 seconds. Max 100 stacks.

Crusader

Blessed Hammer now crackles with energy damaging enemies within 15 yards of its path. All runes but Dominion now throw the hammer in a direct path in front of the Crusader.
Every two seconds, call down Fist of the Heavens on a random nearby enemy.
After casting Falling Sword, you descend from the sky with two Archangels that wield immense holy skills and benefit from your holy damage skill modifiers.

Demon Hunter

Strafe now casts the last non-channelled Hatred spending ability casted.
Casting Vengeance unleashes a barrage of rockets that deal damage equal to a percentage of an enemy’s current hit points. The percentage per rocket is reduced if the enemy is an Elite or Boss. This effect cannot occur more than once every 60 seconds.
Firing Cluster Arrow concentrates its explosive force into a piercing ray of light.

Monk

Casting Wave of Light now summons a bell at the target location that deals damage when the caster attacks the bell. Up to seven bells can be active at one time.
All Way of the Hundred Fists combo punches use the second stage combo punch.
The target of your Seven-Sided Strike is barraged with spiritual punches for 15 seconds. This can only affect one enemy at a time.

Necromancer

Your Golem now picks up corpses within 20 yards. Each corpse it stores allows you to cast any corpse spending ability with the max number of corpses consumed per cast. Up to 30 corpses can be stored.
Enemies within 50 yards are constantly assaulted by the Army of the Dead – Unconventional Warfare while this item is equipped.
Hitting enemies with Death Nova five consecutive times adds a spirit that afflicts an enemy every fifth cast of Death Nova. Up to three spirits can be sent at a time.

Witch Doctor

Five seconds after casting Haunt, all Haunted enemies within 50 yards are pulled to the Witch Doctor.
Horrify becomes an aura that causes enemies to receive 100% more damage and deal 15% less damage in addition to its other effects.
Your Gargantuan spreads Locusts Swarm to any enemy within 16 yards and summons Zombie Dogs periodically. Zombie Dogs now gain every rune when summoned.

Wizard

Casting Storm Armor sends a power thunderbolt from the skies that instantly kills a random enemy within 30 yards. Bosses are not killed but take significant damage. This effect cannot occur more than once every 60 seconds.
Arcane Orb now periodically spawns up to four orbiting charges that will generate an additional orb when cast. All charges from the Arcane Orbit rune now detonate at the same time.
Magic Missile fires 20 missiles and gains the effect of the Seeker rune.

Here are more details about Angelic Crucibles:

Angelic Crucibles and Sanctified Items can only be acquired in Seasonal play and will not transfer to your non-seasonal character when the season ends.
Angelic Crucibles can drop anywhere in Sanctuary at level 70.
Players can obtain as many Sanctified items as they would like, however, only one Sanctified item can be equipped at a time.
Sanctified items can be Sanctified again using another Angelic Crucible.
No stats are preserved when Sanctifying an item.
Only level 70 equippable items can be Sanctified—crafted items cannot be Sanctified.
Followers cannot equip Sanctified items.

Season 27 Cosmetic Rewards

New Season Journey rewards include the Laurels of Knowledge portrait and Corvus Cadaverous Pet. In addition, a series of portrait frames themed around the struggle of the Eternal Conflict will be available, along with the pet Belphegor.

Season 27 Haedric’s Gift

Completing Season 27’s Season Journey Chapters 2,3, and 4 will reward you with three of Haedrig’s Gift. Each Gift contains a few pieces from one of the following Class Sets. So if you want a full Set, pick just one class from Haedrig’s Gift’s prompt.
Here are the sets granted by Haedric’s Gift this season. They’re looking pretty good if you love the Barbarian, Witch Doctor, and Necromancer.

Barbarian – Wrath of the Wastes
Crusader – Roland’s Legacy
Demon Hunter – Unhallowed Essence
Monk – Raiment of a Thousand Storms
Necromancer – Bones of Rathma
Witch Doctor – Helltooth Harness
Wizard – Tal Rasha’s Elements

Patch Notes
General Updates

Adventure Mode is now unlocked for all accounts by default. Players are no longer required to complete the Campaign to access Adventure mode.
Default difficulty selection has been updated to be consistent for all players and platforms. All players now have access to Normal-Torment 6 difficulties by default, and upon reaching level 70 with a character, players gain access to Torment 7–Torment 16.
Uber Boss Realms now automatically close 60 seconds after the Uber Bosses have been defeated. Additional portals to the same Uber Boss Realm can now be opened in a single game session.
The Experience rewarded upon completion of an Echoing Nightmare has been reduced by 83%.

Item Changes
Long story short: Guardian’s Jeopardy is going to be the new hot set for every class, and Monk’s Inna set is getting a nerf.
General

Guardian’s Jeopardy (2-piece bonus): Your melee damage reduction is increased by 1% per 1000 base Vitality from equipped items. Your missile damage reduction is increased by 1% per 1000 base Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence from equipped items depending on your class.
Guardian’s Jeopardy (3-piece bonus): You gain an additional 100% of your base Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Vitality attributes from equipped items.

Crusader

Armor of Akkhan (2-piece bonus): Judgment has no cooldown and gains the effect of every rune.
Armor of Akkhan (4-piece bonus): Attacks from Phalanx Avatars reduce the cooldown of Akarat’s Champion by 0.5 seconds, and also apply Condemn when attacking enemies that is affected by Judgment.

Fixed a typo in the Armor of Akkhan 4-piece bonus.
Fixed a bug that allowed any attack to proc the 4-piece bonus to reduce the cooldown of Akarat’s Champion.
Fixed a bug that caused the damage bonus of Akkhan’s 6-piece to sometimes not work with Phalanx Avatars.
Updated the visual effect of Phalanx Avatars proccing Condemn to reduce visual clutter.
Updated the AI of Phalanx Avatars to prioritize targets around the player.
“Increases Phalanx Damage” affixes and the Enforcer Legendary Gem can now benefit Phalanx Condemns.

Eternal Union: Increases the duration of summoned Phalanx Bowmen and Bodyguard indefinitely.

Necromancer

Trag’Oul’s Avatar (2-piece bonus): Blood Rush and Siphon Blood gains the effect of every rune. Your Life-spending abilities no longer cost Essence.

Fixed a bug that caused the Siphon Blood – Power Shift rune damage bonus to be multiplicative.

Trag’Oul’s Avatar (4-piece bonus): While at full Life, your healing from skills is added to your maximum Life for 45 seconds, up to 300% more.
Trag’Oul’s Avatar (6-piece bonus): Your Life-spending abilities deal 10,000% increased damage and your healing from skills is increased by 100%.
Iron Rose: Attacking with Siphon Blood has a 100% chance to cast a free Blood Nova. After cumulatively losing 10% of your maximum Life, your Death Nova deals 40% increased damage for 60 seconds. This effect stacks up to 10 times.
Bloodtide Blade: Death Nova deals 300-400% increased damage for every enemy within 25 yards, up to 25 enemies.
Funerary Pick: Siphon Blood drains blood from 2 additional targets. Each target takes 250-300% increased damage from you unless there is only 1 target, then it gains double the increased damage. The bonus from Siphon Blood – Power shift is now 20% per stack and benefits all skills.

Wizard

Delsere’s Magnum Opus (2-piece bonus): Casting Arcane Orb, Energy Twister, Magic Missile, Shock Pulse, Spectral Blade, Electrocute, or Arcane Torrent also casts Slow Time at them. This effect will not trigger if the target is already inside a Slow Time bubble. The cooldown of Teleport will reset while you’re inside bubbles generated from this set or cast by you.
Delsere’s Magnum Opus (4-piece bonus): You take 75% reduced damage while you have a Slow Time active. Allies inside your Slow Time gain half benefit.
Delsere’s Magnum Opus (6-piece bonus): Enemies affected by your Slow Time and for 5 seconds after exiting take 12,500% increased damage from your Arcane Orb, Energy Twister, Magic Missile, Shock Pulse, Spectral Blade, Electrocute, and Arcane Torrent abilities.
Crown of the Primus: Slow Time gains the effect of every rune except Point of No Return and permanently follows you.
Tal Rasha’s Elements (2-piece bonus): Damaging enemies with Arcane, Cold, Fire or Lightning will grant immunity to that element and cause a Meteor of the same damage type to fall from the sky. The same meteor cannot happen twice in a row.
Tal Rasha’s Elements (4-piece bonus): Arcane, Cold, Fire, and Lightning attacks each increase all of your resistances by 50% for 8 seconds.
The Smoldering Core: Lesser enemies are now lured to your Meteor impact areas. Meteors deals 40-50% increased damage on consecutive hits to the same target. This stacks up to 10 times.

Fixed a typo in The Smoldering Core’s tooltip.

Mirror Ball: Magic Missile fires 2 extra missiles and deals 400-500% increased damage.
Mempo of Twilight: Meteor Shower rune is now applied to all casted Meteors and deals 300–400% increased damage.

Monk

Inna’s Mantra (6-piece bonus): Gain the passive abilities of the five runed Mystic Allies at all times. Attacking enemies creates your chosen Mystic Ally that lasts 15 seconds, up to 10 Mystic Allys. The damage of your Mystic Allies is increased by 900% for each Mystic Ally you have out.
Bindings of the Lesser Gods: Enemies hit by your Cyclone Strike take 150-200% increased damage from your Mystic Ally for 5 seconds. Split Fire Allies gain 3 times this bonus.

Demon Hunter

Strafe: Updated base skill to allow any equipped weapon, rather than requiring a Bow.

Bug Fixes

Fixed a bug that prevented the Legendary Spear Empyrean Messenger from dropping.
Captain Crimson’s Trimmings: Fixed a bug that caused the 3-piece set bonus to occasionally drop off.
Updated Bone Spike and Siphon Blood tooltips to reflect the appropriate damage values.
Fixed a bug that caused Sanctified items to not always roll with Ancient-level stats.
Fixed a bug where Slow Time and Archon Slow Time stacked.

Best Class & Sets To Use For Diablo 3 Season 27
This list is still under development…

Demon Hunter

Marauder Sentry
With so much nerfing going on with the Gears of Dread Hungry Arrow build, it’s only a matter of time until the meta changes for the frail-but-high-DPS Demon Hunter. The Marauder Sentry build lets your Demon Hunter put up turrets and gets damage buffs from said turrets. Also, the turrets will fire the Cluster Arrow and other primary attacks/enemy-seeking shots you have equipped. Easy gameplan, and a great way to clear the room really, really fast.
The Marauder Sentry’s few downsides include low mobility and heavy reliance on positioning, since you are setting up turrets and finding the best place to fire your Cluster Bombs to get max damage and AoE on mobs. Still, this build is the way to go if you want a top-tier Demon Hunter that can go solo. The best part about this set is that you can acquire it easily via Haedrig’s Gift for this season’s early rewards.
Skills
LMB – Evasive Fire (Focus)
RMB- Cluster Arrow (Cluster Bombs)
1- Sentry (Polar Station)
2 – Companion (Wolf Companion)
3- Vault (Tumble)
4 – Vengeance (Seethe)
Passives: Cull the Weak, Ambush, Custom Engineering, Ballistics
Kannai’s Cube Power: Manticore, Zoey’s Secret, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Gear
Armour & Set: Marauder’s Visage (1x Flawless Royal Diamond), Marauder’s Spine, Marauder’s Gloves, Marauder’s Carapace (3x Flawless Royal Diamond), Captain Crimson’s Silk Girdle (craft), Captain Crimson’s Thrust (2x Flawless Royal Diamond, craft)
Weapon: Yang’s Recurve (Sanctified, 1x Flawless Royal Emerald), Bombardier’s Rucksack
Amulet/Ring: Focus (Bane of the Trapped), Restraint (Enforcer), Squirt’s Necklace (Zei’s Stone of Vengeance)
Angelic Crucible Powers: Firing Cluster Arrow concentrates its explosive force into a piercing ray of light.

Barbarian

Waste Whirlwind Rend
Still the best and most consistent Barbarian build ever. Spin to win using Whirlwind, but with Rend effects. Furious Charge to get to one spot super-fast and get all the buffs from Band of Might. The Essence Anguish makes it all the more painful for mobs. You get this set as part of Haedrig’s Gift in Season 27.
Skills
LMB – Furious Charge (Merciless Assault)
RMB – Whirlwind (Wind Shear)
1 – Rend (Bloodbath)
2- Sprint (Marathon)
3- Ignore Pain (Bravado)
4 -Wrath of the Berserker (Insanity)
Passives: Rampage, Nerves of Steel, Boon of Bul-Kathos, Pound of Flesh
Kanai’s Cube: The Furnace, Mantle of Channeling, Band of Might
Gear
Armor & Set: Helm of the Wastes (1x Diamond), Pauldrons of the Waste (Sanctified), Gauntlet of the Wastes, Cuirass of the Wastes (3x Diamond), Tasset of the Wastes (2x Diamond), Sabaton of the Wastes, Lamentation, Mortick’s Brace.
Weapons: In-geom (Essence of Anguish), Ambo’s Pride (1x Emerald)
Amulet/Rings: Squirt’s Necklace (Molten Wildebeast’s Gizzard), Focus (Taeguk), Restraint (Bane of the Trapped).
Angelic Crucible Powers: Whirlwind pulls in and holds all enemies within 25 yards.

Raekor Boulder Toss
If you like charging headfirst into danger and throwing exploding rocks for guaranteed crits and kills, this Barbarian build is for you. The Raekor set received a reworking last season and its current power levels have yet to be nerfed by Blizzard. So go nuts and rock out, so to speak.
Skills
LMB- Weapon Throw (Balanced Weapon)
RMB -Ancient Spear (Boulder Toss)
1 – Ignore Pain (Iron Hide)
2 – Battle Rage (Bloodshed)
3 – Furious Charge (Set and equipment will give you all Runes)
4 – Wrath of the Berserker (Insanity)
Passives: Rampage, Relentless, No Escape, Boon of Bul-Kathos
Kanai’s Cube: The Furnace, Ancient Parthan Defenders, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Gear
Armor & Set: Raekor’s Will (1x Flawless Royal Diamond), Raekor’s Burden, Raekor’s Wrap, Raekor’s Heart (3x Flawless Royal Diamond), Skular’s Salvation, Captain Crimson’s Silk Girdle, Captain Crimson’s Thrust (2x Flawless Royal Diamond), Raekor’s Striders
Weapons: The Three Hundredth Spear (Sanctified, 1x Flawless Royal Emerald), Arreat’s Law (1x Flawless Royal Emerald)
Amulet/Rings: The Traveler’s Pledge (Bane of the Stricken), The Compass Rose (Zei’s Stone of Vengeance), Band of Might (Bane of the Trapped)
Angelic Crucible Powers: Whirlwind pulls in and holds all enemies within 25 yards.

Necromancer

Rathma Army of the Dead
The best Necromancer builds are all Legacy of Dreams-focused (at least for other Seasons; see the next build), so we have to resort to this Rathma set to make your life a bit easier. The Bones of Rathma Necromancer build is pet-focused & comes with a nuke: summon skeletons, bum rush them onto enemies, use Army of the Dead often and stay away from enemies. You get this set as part of Haedrig’s Gift in Season 27.
Skills
LMB- Grim Scythe (Cursed Scythe)
RMB- Command Skeletons (Frenzy)
1- Bone Armor (Dislocation)
2 – Army of the Dead (Blighted Grasp)
3 – Blood Rush (Potency)
4 – Revive (Horrific Return)
Passives: Spreading Malediction, Eternal Torment, Swift Harvest, Grisly Tribute
Kanai’s Cube: Nayr’s Black Death, Fate’s Vow, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Gear
Armor & Set: Rathma’s Skull Helmet (1x Diamond), Rathma’s Spikes, Rathma’s Macabre Vambrace, Rathma’s Ribcage Plate (3x Topaz), Rathma’s Ossified Sabatons, Captain Crimson’s Silk Girdle, Captain Crimson’s Thrust (2x Topaz), Bonds of C’Lena.
Weapons: Jesseth Skullscythe (1x Flawless Royal Emerald), Jesseth Skullshield
Amulet/Rings: Squirt’s Necklace (Gogok of Swiftness), Krysbin’s Sentence (Sanctified, Bane of the Trapped), Convention of Elements (Zei’s Stone of Vengeance)
Angelic Crucible Power: Enemies within 50 yards are constantly assaulted by the Army of the Dead – Unconventional Warfare while this item is equipped.

Trag’Oul Death Nova
The Trag’Oul set has been reworked for Season 27, and for the better too! This build lets you use up your life to cast Blood Novas for insane damage (via the set), and your chances at surviving solo are pretty high. This set is arguably better than the existing Legacy of Dreams Necromancer Nova build that was dominating the Season meta for quite a while. If you want to try something a little more different than skeletons and nukes, go for this AoE-focused build.
Skills
LMB- Siphon Blood (Set & equipment will give you all Runes)
RMB – Death Nova (Blood Nova)
1 – Bone Armor (Dislocation)
2 – Frailty (Aura of Frailty)
3 – Blood Rush (Set & equipment will grant you all Runes)
4 – Simulacrum (Blood & Bone)
Passives: Spreading Malediction, Stand Alone, Swift Harvesting, Final Service
Kanai’s Cube: Bloodtide Blade, Mantle of Channeling, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Gear
Armor & Set: Trag’Oul’s Guise, Trag’Oul’s Claws, Trag’Oul’s Scales (3x Flawless Royal Topaz), Trag’Oul’s Hide (2x Flawless Royal Topaz), Trag’Oul’s Stalwart Greaves, Aughild’s Power, Aughild’s Search, Dayntee’s Binding
Weapons: Funenary Pick (Sanctified, 1x Flawless Royal Emerald), Iron Rose (1x Flawless Royal Emerald)
Amulet/Rings: Haunted Visions (Bane of the Stricken), Krysbin’s Sentence (Bane of the Trapped), Convention of Elements (Zei’s Stone of Vengeance)
Angelic Crucible Power: Hitting enemies with Death Nova five consecutive times adds a spirit that afflicts an enemy every fifth cast of Death Nova. Up to three spirits can be sent at a time.

Wizard

Tal Rasha Meteor
Arguably the most iconic Diablo playstyle for spellcasters, the Tal Rasha Meteor build lets you summon tons of one-hit kill Meteors with little to no cost as long as you use all four elements for damage-dealing. The AoE and explosion effects are a joy to behold. Like any Wizard build, you have to play keepaway and ranged since it’s squishy as heck.
You can also get the Tal Rasha set easily via Season 27’s Haedrig’s Gift reward.
Skills
LMB – Spectral Blade (Ice Blades)
RMB – Meteor (Star Pact)
1 – Black Hole (Spell Steal)
2 – Familiar (Sparkflint)
3 – Teleport (Safe Passage)
4 – Storm Armor (Shocking Aspect)
Passives: Audacity, Arcane Dynamo, Illusionist, Elemental Exposure
Kanai’s Cube: The Smoldering Core, The Shame of Delsere, Ring of Royal Grandeur,
Gear
Armor & Set: Tal Rasha’s Grasp, Tal Rasha’s Stride (2x Flawless Royal Ruby), Tal Rasha’s Relentless Pursuit (3x Flawless Royal Ruby), Tal Rasha’s Brace, Nilfur’s Boast, Aughild’s Power, Aughild’s Search, Mempo of Twilight (Flawless Royal Topaz)
Weapons: The Grand Vizier (Sanctified, Flawless Royal Emerald)
Amulet/Rings: Tal Rasha’s Allegiance (Bane of the Stricken), Convention of Elements (Bane of the Trapped), Halo of Karini (Esoteric Alteration)
Angelic Crucible Power: Casting Storm Armor sends a power thunderbolt from the skies that instantly kills a random enemy within 30 yards. Bosses are not killed but take significant damage. This effect cannot occur more than once every 60 seconds.

Monk

Raiment Generator
This set alternates between Dashing Strike and Way of Hundred Fists for about 6,000% worth of damage, and is blazing fast too. Given the fact that the Inna sets are nerfed in this season, you’ll have to use an alternative set that’s also part of Haedrig’s Gift. The Raiment of a Thousand Storms set will do just fine in that regard.
Skills
LMB – Way of the Hundred Fists (Hands of Lightning)
RMB – Serenity (Ascension)
1 – Mantra of Salvation (Agility)
2 – Breath of Heaven (Infused With Light)
3 – Dashing Strike (Blinding Speed)
4 – Epiphany (Desert Shroud)
Passives: Beacon of Ytar, Harmony, Alacrity, Seize the Initiative
Kanai’s Cube: Flying Dragon, Depth Diggers, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Gear
Armor & Set: Mask of the Searing Sky (1x Flawless Royal Diamond), Mantle of the Upside-Down Sinners, Fists of Thunder, Heart of the Crashing Wave (3x Flawless Royal Diamond), Spirit Guards, Captain Crimson’s Silk Girdle, Captain Crimson’s Thrust (2x Flawless Royal Diamond), Eight-Demons Boot
Weapons: Shenlong’s Fist of Legend (Sanctified, 1x Flawless Royal Emerald), Shenlong’s Relentless Assault
Amulet/Rings: The Traveler’s Pledge (Bane of the Trapped), Compass Rose (Simplicity’s Strength), Unity (Bane of the Stricken)
Angelic Crucible Power: All Way of the Hundred Fists combo punches uses the second stage combo punches.

Crusader

Akkhan Condemn
A tanky and great AoE-focused Crusader build that’s sure to thrive in this current Season, particularly due to the Angelic Crucible power that’s specific to Falling Sword.
Skills
LMB – Justice (Sword of Justice)
RMB – Judgment (Akkhan set will activate all Runes)
1 – Phalanx (Bowmen)
2 – Falling Sword (Rapid Descent)
3 – Laws of Valor (Unstoppable Force)
4 – Akarat’s Champion (Prophet)
Passives: Heavenly Strength, Lord Commander, Finery, Long Arm of the Law
Kanai’s Cube: Frydehr’s Wrath, Tasker & Theo, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Gear
Armor & Set: Warhelm of Kassar (1x Flawless Royal Diamond), Pauldrons of Akkhan, Gauntlets of Akkhan, Breastplate of Akkhan (3x Flawless Royal Diamond), Sabatons Of Akkhan, Captain Crimson’s Silk Girdle, Captain Crimson’s Thrust (2x Flawless Royal Diamond), Strongarm Bracers
Weapons: Blade of Prophecy (Sanctified, 1x Flawless Royal Emerald), Unrelenting Phalanx
Amulet/Rings: Talisman of Akkhan (Bane of the Trapped), Focus (Bane of the Stricken), Restraint (Enforcer)
Angelic Crucible Power: After casting Falling Sword, you descend from the sky with two Archangels that wield immense holy skills and benefit from your holy damage skill modifiers.

Witch Doctor

Zunimassa Poison Dart
After enjoying some highs in past Seasons, the Witch Doctor is now back on the bench. However, the Zunimassa Poison Dart Fetish-filled pet build is still powerful enough to power through the Season, especially with the new Heaven Powers the class can acquire.
Skills
LMB – Poison Dart (Spined Dart)
RMB – Pirahnas (Pirahnado)
1 – Spirit Walk (Jaunt)
2 – Fetish Army (Legion of Daggers)
3 – Soul Harvest (Languish)
4 – Horrify (Frightening Aspect)
Passives: Spirit Vessel, Grave Injustice, Fetish Syncophants, Pierce the Veil
Kanai’s Cube: Echoing Fury, Mask of Jeram, Ring of Royal Grandeur
Gear
Armor & Set: Carnevil (1x Flawless Royal Diamond), Zunimassa’s Marrow (3x Flawless Royal Ruby), Zunimassa’s Finger Wraps, Aughild’s Power, Aughild’s Search, Depth Diggers, Zunimassa’s Trail, The Witching Hour
Weapons: The Dagger of Darts (Sanctified, 1x Flawless Royal Emerald), Zunimassa’s String of Skulls
Amulet/Rings: Squirt’s Necklace (Bane of the Stricken), Zunimassa’s Pox (Simplicity’s Strength), Convention of Elements (Enforcer)
Angelic Crucible Power: Horrify becomes an aura that causes enemies to receive 100% more damage and deal 15% less damage in addition to its other effects.


Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Is Re-Evaluating Its Relationship With Activision Blizzard

Talk about reading the room.
First, it was Sony Interactive president and CEO Jim Ryan criticizing Activision Blizzard in an internal email. Now, it’s Xbox boss Phil Spencer sending a similar email to Microsoft staff (via Bloomberg). Spencer said that the Xbox leadership team is “disturbed and deeply troubled by the horrific events and action” at Activision Blizzard. He is currently evaluating all aspects of Microsoft’s relationship with Activision Blizzard and “making ongoing proactive adjustments”. As long as the situation still remains, the partnership between the two could suffer.
“I personally have strong values for a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our employees at Xbox. This is not a destination but a journey that we will always be on. The leadership at Xbox and Microsoft stand by our teams and support them in building a safer environment for all.”
Could this mean that certain Activision/Blizzard games may end up being blacklisted on Xbox Game Pass? That would be pretty drastic but it would send a message for the company to change it ways. Nothing makes a company shift its tune by cutting off most of its revenue.


Star Trek Picard Trailer Explores Why Jean-Luc Left Starfleet

The first trailer for the Star Trek Picard series has arrived, featuring the return of a much older Sir Patrick Stewart in the role of Jean-Luc Picard. The brief teaser finally gives us a hint of what to expect from the upcoming series.
In the trailer, it is revealed that sometime in the years after 2002’s Star Trek Nemesis, Captain Picard was promoted to an Admiral and that he “commanded the greatest rescue armada in history.” However, something tragic and “unimaginable” happened, which led to Picard doing something we never thought he would; leaving Starfleet.

Star Trek Picard will take place 18 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis. In an interview with the LA Times, showrunner Alex Kurtzman said:

â€œWhat happens when circumstances have conspired to not give him the happiest of endings?
Hopefully, itâ€™s a reinforcement of [Trek creator Gene] Roddenberryâ€™s vision of optimism. Heâ€™s going to have to go through deep valleys to get back to the light.”

It sounds like things are about to get dark, perhaps even the darkest the series has ever gotten. Star Trek Picard will also star Alison Pill (The Newsroom), Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful), Isa Briones (American Crime Story: Versace), Santiago Cabrera (Salvation), Evan Evagora, and Michelle Hurd (Blindspot).
CBS has yet to announce a release date as of yet, but it will stream exclusively on CBS All Access in over 200 countries all over the world, including Malaysia and Singapore.
Check out the Star Trek Picard trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA-GJNebJj0&w=560&h=315]


This Is How You Complete Ori and the Will of the Wisps In Under 1 Hour

While Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a heckuva epic Metroidvania title spanning about 12 hours or so, it’s also a new proving ground for speedrunners. Just like with the prequel, hardcore players are finding out ways to beat Ori 2 using glitches and shortcuts in the shortest time possible.
After days of being out in the wild, we have our first-ever world record: speedrunner Isaia on YouTube who just completed the game in just an hour and 36 seconds to spare.
The trick? Well, this particular run uses the “sword leap glitch” where Ori can jump to greater heights if you have the sentry and sword power equipped while also pressing the commands for these two as quickly as possible. It’s all explained here by Isaia himself via Reddit:

Equip sentry (the turret) and sword. Hold up. Press sentry then sword quickly. The shorter the gap the more height you get. Super easy if you stand on the ground but aerial once are more finicky so I don’t use them much yet.

Easier said than done, as he also exploited other glitches as well to get by most segments like the Howler. Check out the magic below.


Latest PS5 Firmware Update To Add In SSD Storage, 3D Audio, And Trophy Tracking

Good news for people wanting to add more storage to their PS5s: the next major firmware update for the new PlayStation console will add in the following:

M.2 SSD storage expansion support,
UX enhancements, 3D audio for built-in TV speakers,
PlayStation Trophy trackers

The SSD expansion option is clearly the most-requested feature from every user out there who aren’t satisfied with the 875GBs-or-less they have to work with. There’s even a F.A.Q. on how to add an M.2 SSD to your PS5 console. Here are the basic answers and a how-to video that goes step-by-step:

M.2 SSD requirements for PS5 consoles

Interface
PCI-Express Gen4x4 supported M.2 NVMe SSD (Key M)

Storage
250 GBâ€“4 TB

Supported sizes
2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, 22110

Size including heat-dissipation mechanism
Width: up to 25 mm
Length: 30/40/6080/110 mm
Thickness: up to 11.25 mm (up to 8.0 mm from above the board, up to 2.45 mm from below the board)

Sequential read speed
5500Â MB/s or faster is recommended

Socket type
Socket 3 (Key M)

Both single-sided and double-sided M.2 SSD devices are supported.
M.2 SATA SSDs aren’t supported.
Remove the M.2 SSD before sending your PS5 for repair.
You must format the entire M.2 SSD for the PS5 if you want to fully use it for the console.

Good move, PlayStation. Check out the breakdown video below, as well as a guide on how to install an M.2 SSD to your PS5:


Coffee Talk Is Getting Its Own Weekly Webcomic Series

Similar to VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, Coffee Talk is a talking simulator game where players can partake in brewing coffee and listen to the problems of fantasy-inspired modern peoples.
In our review of Coffee Talk, we found the game by Indonesian games developer Toge Productions to be a refreshing brew indeed. It’s not surprising that the game is now one of the top and trending titles on Steam, where it is currently available for just RM30.
Toge Productions has announced that they will be collaborating with Indonesian comic book publisher Kosmik for a Coffee Talk weekly webcomic series, which will be posted on the Coffee Talk and Toge Productions official Twitter accounts every weekend.
The first few pages of the first issue have already been revealed, which you can check out below.

Hello, Coffee Talk players! âœ¨â˜•ï¸
We’ve posted this on @coffeetalk_game, might as well post this here too! So we’re collaborating with talented comic artists at @kosmiknetwork to make a webcomic and we’ll post it weekly!#coffeetalk #webcomics #comicstrip #gamedev #indiedev pic.twitter.com/oiCrn9ViH1
â€” Toge Productions âž¡ï¸ PAX East (@togeproductions) February 10, 2020


Thor Love And Thunder Is Not The First Movie Banned In Malaysia, Here Are Others

Earlier today, it was confirmed that Thor Love And Thunder will not be released in Malaysian cinemas. However, it’s not the first movie to be banned in Malaysia and sadly, it probably won’t be the last either.
Here are some of the other movies in the past that got banned in Malaysia and didn’t get past the inconsistent standards of the Film Censorship Board Of Malaysia (LPF). You can check out the full list by heading over here.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)

This was one of the first major motion pictures that were banned in Malaysia. According to the source, it was banned due to its explicit sexual and (ultra)violent content, which is on par with what we’ve come to expect from the late legendary director Stanley Kubrick. This movie has always been controversial even in other countries, where it was also banned, including the UK, Singapore and others.
The Exorcist (1973)

This movie was notorious for being too scary, and some viewers even reportedly passed out while watching the movie back in 1973. In Malaysia, The Exorcist was banned due to intense violence and cruelty. We ARE dealing with a girl who is possessed by the devil, after all. Nothing is sacred, basically. Not even a cross.
Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg’s classic is still regarded as a masterpiece. In Malaysia, Jaws was banned due to intense violence, but it’s now likely tame by modern standards. The 70s was a different time indeed.
Monty Python’s Life Of Brian (1979)

This was the first movie to be banned in Malaysia because of blasphemous content or content that didn’t align with the religious values in the country. Life Of Brian was essentially a parody of Jesus Christ; of course people will take umbrage.
Scarface (1983)

In Malaysia, this movie was banned due to excessive violence, strong language and drug usage. Even by modern standards, this movie was a lot to take in. There was a curse/swear word or an F-bomb in almost every sentence, and the drug use was pretty gratuitous. We’ll never forget the time when Tony Montana came close to getting chainsawed in a bathroom.
Pulp Fiction (1994)

In Malaysia, this movie was banned due to intense violence, drug abuse, explicit nudity, and scenes of sexual violence. No surprise, Quentin Tarantino’s movies would eventually be famous for their violence.
Babe (1995)

In Malaysia, this movie was banned due to “babe” sounding similar to “babi,” which is the Malay word for “pig”, and the main protagonist of the movie is a pig, so there’s that. Pigs are taboo for Malaysian Muslims.
The Prince Of Egypt (1998)

This was another movie that touches on religious sensitivities in Malaysia. In Islam, prophets like Moses (Musa) cannot be depicted in imagery or pictures, let alone a whole animated movie. At the time before the internet, YouTube, and streaming services weren’t fully developed or even existed, many were deprived of seeing one of the best animated epics that rival even The Ten Commandments in scope, score, and emotional pathos.
Zoolander (2001)

There’s a funny reason why this relatively harmless comedy was banned. One of the main plot points in Zoolander involved a plot to assassinate a fictional prime minister of Malaysia. Beyond that, the film was comedically tame and zany, brandishing a PG-13 rating.
Brokeback Mountain (2003)

This was the first high-profile movie to be banned in Malaysia for featuring LGBT elements, since the main focus of the movie is the romantic relationship between two men.
The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

A 2013 classic from Martin Scorsese. This movie was banned for scenes of sex, drug abuse, and offensive language. It also had Margot Robbie’s debut to add to the “sex” part.
Noah (2014)

Just like The Prince Of Egypt, this movie about a guy, a flood, and a giant boat full of animals was banned due to religious content and its depictions of the prophets. In this case, it was the Noah (Nuh).
Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)

Is there anyone who hasn’t heard of this sexy movie? Fifty Shades Of Grey was banned in Malaysia due to strong sexual content and graphic nudity.
Abominable (2019)

This is a unique case, as this harmless animated kid’s movie from DreamWorks was banned in Malaysia due to a scene involving the Nine-Dash Line, a demarcation line used by China to lay claim over a portion of the South China Sea. That region is contested by several countries, including Malaysia.
Lightyear (2022)

This kid’s movie was banned due to the depiction of a same-sex kiss between two animated female characters.
Thor Love And Thunder (2022)

The most recent movie on this list but we still don’t know why it was banned, due to silence from both the LPF and Disney Malaysia. Speculations are rife, from the movie being banned due to the depiction of a same-sex kiss to being banned because of a major plot point involving killing gods.


Blizzard Cancels Overwatch League Matches Due To Chinese Coronavirus Precautions

Thanks to the recent Chinese Coronavirus crisis, Blizzard has recently cancelled all Overwatch League matches scheduled to take place in China for the next two months.
Initially, there were supposed to be OWL matches scheduled in Shanghai, Foshan, and Hangzhou between February and March.
Here’s a short statement from the company that was published just less than an hour ago.

“We have decided to cancel our February and March matches in China in order to protect the health and safety of our players, fans, and staff. We hope fans have a safe and happy Lunar New Year, and we remain incredibly excited to play Overwatch League matches in China later this season.
We’ll share more information about when and where the matches will take place at a later date. Thank you for your support and understanding!”

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— Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) January 30, 2020

Even OWL teams in China have moved to South Korea as a precautionary method.
In more pressing and related news, the death toll for the Coronavirus outbreak approaches 200, with almost 8,000 people now estimated to be infected; 95 percent of them are from the province of Hubei. Stay safe, everyone!