The Next Destiny 2 Seasonal Event Comes With New Legendary Gear And More

Bungie has recently announced the next seasonal event for Destiny 2. Beginning on 30 July and lasting until 27 August 2019, the Solstice of Heroes limited-time event will feature a host of interesting features and new gear. Get ready, Guardians.
On each day of the event, players can collect Elemental Orbs corresponding to the element of that specific day. The elements are: Solar, Arc, and Void. Collecting a set number of these orbs will allow you to upgrade your armour. If you manage to collect 30 orbs matching the daily element, you can get a temporary buff.
There will be a new time attack mode that can be played in a new area called the European Aerial Zone (EAZ). It’s a 3-player activity where you have to defeat as many minibosses as possible before time runs out. Once the timer reaches zero, a boss will appear and after defeating the boss, you get to explore the EAZ for loot. The more minibosses you defeat, the more treasure chests you can get.

Completing activities during the Solstice of Heroes will get you Solstice Key Fragments. These are used to open Solstice Packages that you can find through the EAZ activity I mentioned. Inside the packages you can find materials, enhancement cores, and even rare or legendary gear.
Speaking of gear, the update also comes with Drained armour sets that you can restore to their Renewed and Majestic conditions. You’ll need to complete a few objectives for each armour piece to upgrade them. The sets can Masterwork-ed and there will be extra objectives for that.

Seeing as how the upcoming Shadowkeep DLC will be introducing Armor 2.0, Bungie has done the smart thing of making the Solstice of Heroes armour set the first 2.0 armour you can acquire. Otherwise, it’d become obsolete really quickly. Armor 2.0 will basically revamp the way armour stats work in Destiny 2.
Last but not least, the update adds a bunch of new cosmetics and emotes such as these:

For more in-depth info, check out the official Bungie blog post here.


Here Are The Golden Globes 2022 Winners

The 79th Golden Globes Awards took place fully online for the second time. However, for the first time ever, all winners were announced via Twitter, and there was no big live event (live-streamed or otherwise).
The biggest winners of the night were West Side Story and The Power Of The Dog, each bagging three different awards, respectively. We found West Side Story to be one of the best movies in 2022, with Steven Spielberg’s reimagining turning out to be a great cinematic experience (check out our full review here).
All in all, we have a diverse variety of winners this year. You can check out all the winners below:
Best Motion Picture â€“ Drama

Belfast
CODA
Dune
King Richard
The Power of the Dog â€“ WINNER
Best Motion Picture â€“ Musical or Comedy

Cyrano
Donâ€™t Look Up
Licorice Pizza
Tick, Tickâ€¦ BOOM!
West Side Story â€“ WINNER
Best Director â€“ Motion Picture

Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog â€“ WINNER
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
Denis Villeneuve, Dune
Best Screenplay â€“ Motion Picture

Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast â€“ WINNER
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
Adam McKay, Donâ€™t Look Up
Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos
Best Actor in a Motion Picture â€“ Drama

Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Will Smith, King RIchard â€“ WINNER
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Mahershala Ali, Swan Song
Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Best Actress in a Motion PictureÂ â€“ Drama

Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos â€“ WINNER
Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
Kristen Stewart, Spencer
Best Actor in a Motion Picture â€“ Musical or Comedy

Leonardo DiCaprio, Donâ€™t Look Up
Peter Dinklage, Cyrano
Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tickâ€¦ BOOM! â€“ WINNER
Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza
Anthony Ramos, In the Heights
Best Actress in a Motion Picture â€“ Musical or Comedy

Marion Cotillard, Annette
Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
Jennifer Lawrence, Donâ€™t Look Up
Emma Stone, Cruella
Rachel Zegler, West Side Story â€“ WINNER
Best Actor in aÂ SupportingÂ Role in Any Motion Picture

Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
Jamie Dornan, Belfast
CiarÃ¡n Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kotsur, CODA
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog â€“ WINNER
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

CaitrÃona Balfe, Belfast
Ariana DeBose, West Side StoryÂ â€“ WINNER
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Ruth Negga, Passing
Best Motion Picture â€“ Foreign Language

Compartment No. 6
Drive My Car â€“ WINNER
A Hero
Parallel Mothers
The Hand of God
Best Original Score â€“ Motion Picture

AlexandreÂ Desplat, The French Dispatch
Germaine Franco, Encanto
Jonny Greenwood, The Power of the Dog
Alberto Iglesias, Parallel Mothers
Hans Zimmer, Dune â€“ WINNER
Best Original Song â€“ Motion Picture

â€œBe Aliveâ€ from King Richard â€“ BeyoncÃ© Knowles-Carter, Dixson
â€œDos Orugitasâ€ from Encanto â€“ Lin-Manuel Miranda
â€œDown to Joyâ€ from Belfast â€“ Van Morrison
â€œHere I Am (Singing My Way Home)â€ from Respect â€“ Jamie Alexander Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King
â€œNo Time to Dieâ€ from No Time to Die â€“ Billie Eilish, Finneas Oâ€™Connell â€“ WINNER
Best Motion Picture â€“ Animated

Encanto â€“ WINNER
Flee
Luca
My Sunny Maad
Raya and the Last Dragon
Best Television Series â€“ Drama

Lupin
The Morning Show
Pose
Squid Game
Succession â€“ WINNER
Best Television Series â€“ Musical or Comedy

The Great
Hacks â€“ WINNER
Reservations Dogs
Ted Lasso
Only Murders in the Building
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Â
Dopesick
Impeachment: American Crime Story
Maid
Mare of Easttown
The Underground Railroad â€“ WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series â€“ Drama

Brian Cox, Succession
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
Billy Porter, Pose
Jeremy Strong, Succession â€“ WINNER
Omar Sy, Lupin
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series â€“ Drama

Uzo Aduba, In Treatment
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaidâ€™s Tale
Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Pose â€“ WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series â€“ Musical or Comedy

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso â€“ WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series â€“ Musical or Comedy

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Elle Fanning, The Great
Issa Rae, Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
Jean Smart, Hacks â€“ WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Paul Bettany, WandaVision
Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage
Michael Keaton, Dopesick â€“ WINNER
Ewan McGregor, Halston
Tahar Rahim, The Serpent
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jessica Chastain, Scenes From a Marriage
Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha
Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision
Margaret Qualley, Maid
Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown â€“ WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
O Yeong-su, Squid Game â€“ WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick
Andie MacDowell, Maid
Sarah Snook, Succession â€“ WINNER
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso


Hideo Kojima Unveils First Look At Death Stranding 2

During The Game Awards 2022, Hideo Kojima officially revealed Death Stranding 2, the sequel to 2019’s Death Stranding.
However, Death Stranding is just the working title for now. It will likely be years before the game comes out.

DEATH STRANDING 2 (Working Title) has officially been announced at The Game Awards 2022! pic.twitter.com/Id37TKhbCs
— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) December 9, 2022

The following actors will return in the upcoming game.

Death Stranding 2 is being developed for the PS5.
Check out the trailer below:


So What’s Free On This Version Of Destiny 2?

This month is starting off good for new Destiny 2 players, as they will be enjoying the game free-of-charge starting 1st October.
So what can they experience? Here’s but a smattering (via Bungie’s Twitter):

Your starting power level is at 750.
All seasonal ranks and rewards are free.
Â Year 1 exotic weapons and armour.
Free roam access to all destinations.
The following PvE campaigns: The Red War, Curse of Osiris, and Warmind.
Additional content like Black Armory Forges, Gambit Prime, and the Menagerie.
Additional modes like the Year 1 Nightfall strikes, Gambit, and Gambit/Crucible private matches.
Crucible mode, Year 1 Strikes, and Year 1 Raids (alongside Year 1 rewards).
The following in-game events: Iron Banner, Festival of the Lost, The Dawning, Crimson Days, The Revelry, and Solstice of Heroes.

You still need to buy the Shadowkeep expansion to get everything else, which will cost you RM138/S$49.40. And the fact that if you’re a Destiny 2 early adopter, you’ve just lost RM200+.


Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart Launches On PS5 This June

We finally have a release date for one of the most highly-anticipated PS5 exclusives. Insomniac Games has announced that Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart is launching exclusively for the PS5 on 11 June 2021.
According to PlayStation Blog, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a brand-new full-length adventure. When the evil Dr. Nefarious uses a device that can access alternate dimensions to find a galaxy where he always wins, Ratchet and Clank are separated. As they try to reunite, they will meet a new Lombax resistance fighter, explore new and familiar locales (but with new dimensional twists!), and wield a whole new arsenal of out of this world weapons.
If youâ€™ve never played a Ratchet & Clank game before, Insomniac Games said that this is an excellent one to start with as the story is considered standalone, but longtime fans of the series will find deeper layers of connection to previous games.
Check out the official physical box cover art below:

Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart Pre-Order Bonuses
Pre-orders for the game begin today start today too. Check out the digital content you can unlock early when you pre-order the Standard Edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game:

Fans of the franchise who pre-order the game can look forward to unlocking two fan-favourite pieces of content, including the Carbonox armour from Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003), which is now updated with high-definition materials, lighting responses, and ray-traced reflections, as well as an early-unlock of the Pixelizer weapon, the retro-blaster from Ratchet & Clank (2016), also updated visually for the PS5 console.
The Digital Deluxe Edition is also available to pre-order, and it includes the following additional content: Five additional armour sets, 20 Raritanium to get a head start on upgrading your weapons, a sticker pack to use in Ratchet & Clankâ€™s first-ever photo mode, as well as a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack.

In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


A Life-Sized Mario Kart Made A Pit Stop At IOI City Mall

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is coming to Malaysian cinemas next week on 20 April 2023, but you and your family/friends can experience some fun with Mario starting from today until 1 May 2023 at IOI City Mall in Malaysia.
Situated on the Ground Floor of IOI City Mall 2 (East), United International Pictures (UIP) Malaysia has brought a life-sized Mario Kart for you to take pictures with. It’s an awesome prop and one that you should stop by.
https://www.facebook.com/GSCinemas/posts/pfbid02PhfHYpstDhpsYWvMgDBg5Gdkjk38zLLQRSn26GkHRpL6KPG2jZbRqHx7Mm4Gg394l
In the meantime, check out our review of the Super Mario Bros. Movie here.


The Joker Movie Sequel Gets A Fall 2024 Release Date

Despite the Batgirl movie being cancelled, Warner Bros. is dead set on getting a Batman character story out in a few years. A sequel of it, in fact.
Todd Phillips’ Joker sequel, titled Joker: Folie à Deux, will be getting a 4 October 2024 release date (via Deadline). Warner Bros. has that day on hold for an untitled DC event film, which is why the upcoming Joker sequel is getting its time in the first weekend of that future October.
The first Joker movie in 2019 was the highest-grossing R-rated movie on a global scale at US$1.07 billion. Furthermore, the film won two Oscars for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and Original Music Score (Hildur Guðnadóttir). It was also nominated for 11 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director (Todd Phillips).
As far as we know, the next Joker movie just entered production last December, and that it also stars Lady Gaga as Joker’s future romantic interest Harley Quinn. For more on why the aforementioned Batgirl movie was cancelled, head here.


The Overwatch League 2021 Season Kicks Off This April

Blizzard has announced that the Overwatch League 2021 Season will kick off in April 2021, which is later than usual when compared to previous years. It will also be the first Overwatch League season in which the league starts off with remote matches due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
That translates to big differences to he overall league format. Hereâ€™s how the Overwatch League will work when the season kicks off in April.
Regular season play will be structured in four tournament cycles. Teams will play four qualifier matches each cycle to determine qualification into and seeding for each of the culminating tournaments.
As with the 2020 Season, teams will be divided into two groups based on their location for the season: East and West. Regular season qualifier matches and tournament qualification will be based on competition within each group.
The East includes the eight teams competing in China and South Korea: the Chengdu Hunters, Guangzhou Charge, Hangzhou Spark, Los Angeles Valiant, New York Excelsior, Philadelphia Fusion, Shanghai Dragons, and Seoul Dynasty.

The West includes the twelve teams competing in Europe and North America: the Atlanta Reign, Boston Uprising, Dallas Fuel, Florida Mayhem, Houston Outlaws, London Spitfire, Los Angeles Gladiators, Paris Eternal, San Francisco Shock, Vancouver Titans, Toronto Defiant, and Washington Justice.

Top qualifying teams from the West will travel to Hawaii, where they will play against the top qualifying teams from the East via a directly-routed connection from Hawaii to Asia. If necessary, though, due to changing health, safety, and travel conditions, Blizzard is also prepared to quickly pivot back to a regional tournaments model.

Regardless of where teams are located, Blizzard will be utilizing the minimum latency technology now available in Overwatch, so Overwatch League teams will be competing on a level playing field from all over the worldâ€”in North America, Europe, Korea, and China. New server deployments will also help us keep the competition fair.
In addition, Blizzard also has plans to level up the quality of Overwatch League match streams, add even more value to watching live matches through a viewership rewards program, and improve the discoverability of live Overwatch content. They’re working on improvements to match broadcasts such as a new and improved virtual set, a freshly redesigned graphics package, and changes to show format that place even more emphasis on match play.
Last but not least, the company is working on a much-requested spoiler-free viewer mode for OverwatchLeague.com.
At BlizzConline 2021, Blizzard will air a very special San Francisco Shock vs. the World competition.


What You Need To Know About League Of Legendsâ€™ Latest Pussy…

League of Legends players rejoice! You’re getting a new champion on 14 May, and it’s a cutie! Warning: may trigger dog lovers.

She’s a bubbly magical kitty named Yuumi and she plays like a character tailor-made for newbies. She’s a support champion who attaches herself to allies to buff them up, and by doing so she’s untargetable except by towers. You just have to worry about keeping your ally alive.
Also, she sounds like a higher-pitched version of a well-known JRPG cat who tells you that it’s bedtime whenever he goddamn feels like it. We won’t be surprised if it turns out to be voice actress Cassandra Lee Morris.

Here’s the breakdown of her skills.
Passive – Bop â€˜nâ€™ Block
Every X seconds, Yuumiâ€™s next attack against a champion restores X mana and grants her a shield that blocks X damage. This shield follows Yuumi until it’s broken and will apply to Yuumiâ€™s attached ally if she has one.
Q – Prowling Projectile
Yuumi summons a missile that deals X magic damage to the first enemy hit. If the missile exists for X seconds before impact, it deals X magic damage instead and slows champions for X% decaying over x seconds.
If cast while attached, Yuumi can control the missile using her mouse cursor.
W – You and Me!
Passive: Yuumi and the ally sheâ€™s attached to gain X% of each otherâ€™s AD or AP, converted to Adaptive Force.
Change of Plans: Yuumi dashes to an ally champion and attaches to them. While Yuumi is attached, she follows her partnerâ€™s movement and is untargetable except from towers.
Change of Plans has a X second cooldown, but Yuumi can cast it anytime she is already attached to switch between partners or unattach.
E – Zoomies
Yuumi heals herself for X to X, increasing based on missing health, and gains X% movement speed decaying over X seconds. If Yuumi is attached, this spell affects that ally instead.
This spell has two charges. Yuumi gains a charge every X seconds. Maximum healing at X% health.
R – Final Chapter
Yuumi channels for X seconds, launching seven waves dealing X magic damage (extra missiles deal X% damage). Champions hit by three or more waves are rooted for X seconds.
Yuumi can move and cast Change of Plans and Zoomies while channeling, and can deal a maximum of X magic damage to any single enemy.
Like we said: this pussy can be used by everyone new to the game thanks to her passives and support abilities. If you can’t wait to try her out, she’ll be available 30th April on the League of Legends beta servers.


Sniper Elite, A Samurai Game & Five New PlayStation VR Titles Announced

During a special PlayStation VR spotlight today, Sony Interactive Entertainment revealed seven new PS VR titles coming to PS4 and PS5. The last spotlight took place in February 2021.
Check out the games below:
Arashi Castles Of Sin

Arashi Castles of Sin is a stealth-action sandbox game coming to PlayStation VR in summer 2021. Arashi is built from the ground up for VR. With state-of-the-art movement and a deadly arsenal of feudal era weapons, there are endless ways to play.

Puzzle Bobble 3D Vacation Odyssey

Puzzle Bobble 3D Vacation Odyssey is slated to launch for PlayStation VR, PS4 and PS5 later this year.
It is the next evolution of the classic Japanese action puzzle game franchise so many of us grew up playing. For the first time in Puzzle Bobble history, bubble puzzles now take the 3D form to create new brain-teasing challenges which will test the most die-hard veterans and newcomers to the franchise alike.

Wind & Leaves

Winds & Leaves is a flora-builder game coming to PS VR on 27 July 2021.
Stranded in a barren landscape, you are the only being capable of mastering the ancient art of growing vegetation. Journey across the Steppe to gather ancient dormant varieties. Learn to read the signs of the various climates, awaken old landmarks, and grow your own forests in this VR flora builder.

After The Fall

After The Fall is an immersive thrill ride with fast-paced 4-player co-op action in a 1980â€™s inspired post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. This is not your typical sunny LA though; in After the Fall, all of hell has frozen over and LA has been left in ice-covered ruins. Set nearly 20 years after the apocalypse, the city is overrun with ferocious, once-human creatures called the Snowbreed that have driven humanity below ground, where they continue a raging fight for survival.

Fracked

Fracked is a seamless, fast-paced action-adventure game coming in summer 2021, which will be experienced on foot, and whilst skiing and climbing. Fracked equips you with an interactive arsenal, as well as special weapons, providing you with the tools to step into the shoes of an action hero.
Youâ€™ll be able to freely move (with 1:1 accuracy) throughout the level, whether that be on-foot, whilst climbing, on a zipline, or whilst hurtling down a mountain on your skis. The fluid action also provides you with cover shooter mechanics, giving you the freedom to intuitively grab environmental objects and use them to your advantage.

Wanderer

Wanderer is an action-adventure set in an alternate timeline. One where nature has taken over and everything you know about our real world has been flipped on its head. Is it within your control to change back the course of history or are some things just inevitable?
Wanderer lets you jump back and forth through time and dive headfirst into beautifully detailed worlds that pay homage to real events and moments from history. Wandererâ€™s themes explore historical, futuristic and post-apocalyptic settings while discovering bygone eras including ancient civilisations, war times, the highly contested space race, and the hippie-cultured 60s.

Sniper Elite VR

Sniper Elite VR is coming to PlayStation VR on 8 July 2021.
Southern Italy, 1943. Fascist forces occupy your homeland. Using stealth, authentic weaponry, and your skilled marksmanship as an elite sniper, fight for the Italian Resistance in this exhilarating first-person shooter. You will experience a powerful World War II story through the eyes of an Italian Partisan, rising with your brothers and sisters to protect your homeland from the fascist forces that threaten to destroy your homeland.
Sniper Elite VR has been designed from the ground up as a VR exclusive game that retains the authenticity that the title is famous for and delivers a new perspective on our critically acclaimed sniping and stealth mechanics.


Who The Heck Is Resident Evil Village’s Tall Vampire Lady? [Update]

The Resident Evil Village trailer is turning heads, mostly because it looks promising, it’s a return to Europe, it’s utilizing some Resident Evil 4 mechanics, and maybe the most bats*** insane entry yet in a series about bioterrorism and “zombies”. Now we can add “vampires” and “werewolves” to the mix; the former especially thanks to the appearance of one very tall and towering vampire lady. She’s well-dressed, beautiful, has the internet charmed, and will probably curb-stomp you in the game.

Who is she though? Let’s break it down.
Her name is Lady Dimitrescu
According to a recent PlayStation blog entry, her name is Lady Dimitrescu and she owns the castle in Resident Evil Village. In the trailer, she is seen talking to a Mother Miranda and reveals a bit more about the game’s plot:
“Mother Miranda, I regret to inform you that Ethan Winters has escaped that fool Heisenberg. …because he is in my castle and has already proven too much for my daughters to handle. When I find him… No… Yes, of course. I understand the importance of the ceremony.”
Who is Mother Miranda? Will she be the grandma figure like in Resident Evil VII’s Baker family? Is she a literal mother among her vampire brood? So many questions!
She Has A Brother Named Heisenberg(?)

In another reveal, we get to see another character who looks like a dishevelled gardener carrying a heavy weapon. That bit where Lady Dimitrescu refers to “that fool Heisenberg”? It’s probably this guy. He’ll probably act as the game’s earlier bosses.
She Has Claws For Weapons

Check out her nails. They’re looking very “Tyrant”-ey.
She Has Three Monstrous Daughters

As shown in the trailer & gameplay reveal, Lady Dimitrescu has three daughters who can transform into a swarm of insects and are pretty strong. They also brandish long skirts like Tall Vampire Lady, although not as lavish and as elegant. We’re guessing Lady Dimitrescu is going to turn into a monster late in the game.
Where have we seen bug abilities like these before? From Marguerite in Resident Evil 7. We’re guessing this insect-based “bioweapon” masquerading as superstition and folklore is related to the limbed C-virus infected monster in Resident Evil 6, or the Novistador from Resident Evil 4, or the Drain Deimos from Resident Evil 3 (both versions).
She’s Going To Be Part Of Some Ceremony

During her phone call, the Vampire Lady said she understands the importance of “the ceremony”. That’s obviously going to be the mystery surrounding Resident Evil Village; odds are it will involve Ethan’s daughter. That is the reason why you’re in some godforsaken place in Europe; to search for her.
It probably has a lot to do with the symbol we saw at the start of the world premiere: a birds nest, some wings, and a foetus of something. It may be related to Ethan’s wife Mia, who was controlled and infected by the E-Type bioweapon from Resident Evil 7. Perhaps their daughter is a hybrid of sorts.
Family Is Still A Big Theme In This Resident Evil
Much like the Baker family in Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village will have the theme of family relationships at its core. Ethan’s looking for his daughter, who may be related to said ceremony. Lady Dimitrescu has three daughters and a brother that we know of.
Lady Dimitrescu Is Eight Feet Tall (Probably) Nine Feet Six Inches Tall
According to Kotaku’s calculations, Tall Vampire Lady is bigger than a 15th-century French door. And by taking into account the way she entered the mansion at the end of the Maiden demo and the door measurements, it’s estimated that she is eight feet tall (96 inches).
Capcom officially announced that Lady Dimitrescu is nine feet six inches tall (2.9m). This includes her hat and high heels.

Your love for Lady Dimitrescu is loud and clear. ?
Here's a message from our RE Village art director Tomonori Takano, along with a very curious fact you may have wondered about: pic.twitter.com/Lj4m5pN2dJ
— Resident Evil (@RE_Games) February 2, 2021

For comparison, the world’s tallest woman was recorded to be seven feet and seven inches. Since Lady Dimitrescu is a fictional character, it’s fine to embellish some facts about her stature.
Ethan’s Daughter Is Probably The Maiden (Update: No, She Isn’t)
There’s going to be a Resident Evil Village demo available on PS5, and there’s a good chance you’ll be playing as Ethan’s daughter as she makes her escape from the castle. Turns out, our own resident evil Alleef “Comicslord” played through the demo; you play one of the maidservants. Interesting to note, the castle owner and the Mother Miranda want to shape these maidens into “something”. The maidens here are divided into “worthy” and “unworthy”; probably as a sacrifice for the aforementioned ceremony.
She Was Inspired By Hashaku-Sama, Elizabeth Bathory, And Anjelica Huston’s Morticia Addams
RE Village art director Tomonori Takano said on IGN that Lady Dimitrescu is inspired by those historical and pop culture characters. Vampires, monsters, goth ladies from cartoons & sitcoms; the works.

“In the early stages of planning, we decided on going with [a] castle and vampires motifs. However, we did not want to be constrained by how vampires have been portrayed in various forms of popular entertainment.
We analyzed the characters and elements in the Resident Evil series so far to see if they were truly scary, or if they had become so conventional that they lost their effectiveness in scaring players.
I tried to forget the design logic of the past, and began to think about the best ways to create fear. For Resident Evil Village, we are using similar concepts of â€˜Evilâ€™ like we did inÂ Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, which was neither based on normal humans nor zombies.
I was particularly struck by comments like, â€˜I want to be chased by her”.”

Resident Evil Village will be out 7th May for PS5, PS4, PC, and Xbox Series. Read our first impressions here.


SDCC 2019: Henry Cavill Has Probably Played More Witcher 3 Than You

Henry Cavill may be one of the buffest and coolest actors around, but he’s actually a gamer too (which makes him one of us). Although the upcoming The Witcher Netflix series will be based on the original books by Andrzej Sapkowski, the popular CD Projekt Red games are still influencing the show, especially for Cavill himself.
Fans of the actor may already know that he almost missed the opportunity to portray Superman in 2013’s Man Of Steel because he was too busy playing World Of Warcraft. Imagine the muscular and suave actor screaming “For the Horde!” at the top of his lungs, now try getting that image out of your head.
In an interview with IGN, Cavill explains how him having played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt multiple times will affect his portrayal of Geralt in Netflix’s The Witcher:

â€œFor me personally, it’d be like playing another run of the Witcher 3 but with a completely different skin on.
That, I think would be interesting.
I’ve played it through a number of times now, and it’s like OK, cool, I’ve done it, I’ve seen, and I still get that enjoyment of playing it through, but what if I could play it slightly differently.
Then yeah, this is kind of what it is for me when you’re doing the show.
Yes, it’s Geralt of Rivia, the Witcher, but he looks like me now.
For me, that’s an interesting thing.
It creates a freshness to it because the themes are still very similar.â€

It’s great to hear such passion from Cavill and to know that he’s played what sounds like multiple playthroughs of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Who among us can claim the same? I shamefully admit that even I have only beaten the game merely once.
Cavill is one of us, and it will be fascinating to see how his Geralt will differ from Doug Cockle’s iconic voice acting for the character. For more details and information on Netflix’s The Witcher trailer that was released earlier today, head on over here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSqi-8kAMmM&w=560&h=315]


These PS5 Games Are Also Coming To The PS4

It looks like not all the PS5 games will be exclusive just for the next-gen console.
According to PlayStation Blog, Sony Interactive Entertainment will release Guerrilla Games’Â Horizon Forbidden West, Sumo Digital’sÂ Sackboy: A Big AdventureÂ and Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales for the PS4, alongside the PS5.
Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan said:
â€œWhile these three games [includingÂ Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man: Miles Morales] were designed to take advantage of PlayStation 5 and its unique next-gen features like the ultra-high-speed SSD and DualSense controller, PlayStation 4 owners will also be able to enjoy these experiences when they launch.The PlayStation 4 digital versions of launch games include a free upgrade on both PlayStation 5 consoles, while the PlayStation 4 disc versions of these games include a free upgrade on the PlayStation 5 with Ultra HD Blu-Ray disc drive.â€
Both Sackboy: A Big AdventureÂ and Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales are slated to release on 12 (or 19) November 2020 as launch titles. However, Horizon Forbidden WestÂ is slated to release sometime in 2021.
In case you missed it, check out ALL the games from the recent PS5 Showcase, or head on over here to find out the official price and release date for the PS5.


Silent Hill Creator Influenced By Death Game Comics For Next Horror Game

Silent HillÂ andÂ Gravity RushÂ creatorÂ Keiichiro Toyama has revealed several new details about the upcoming debut game from his newly-formed Bokeh Game Studio. He previously also mentioned that the game will be horror-oriented and focus more on entertainment elements; as well as that the game is still in development primarily for the PC and will take at least three years to finish.

In a new nine-minute â€œFocusâ€ video featuring Toyama, he discussed more what exactly inspired his next game. He said that the theme of his next game will be on how horror shakes up everyday life:

â€œThe view I have of horror is the everyday life being shaken. Rather than showing scary things, it should question our position, make us challenge the fact that weâ€™re living peacefully.
I like bringing this type of thoughts in my concepts. I would like that to be the theme of my next game.”

Toyama also revealed that he reads a lot of comics in his past time and that recent trends have featured the “death game” genre, popularized by manga/anime/live-action series adaptations like Netflix’s Alice In Borderland. He said that these “death game” comics have influenced him and his upcoming game.

â€œI often read comics as a form of entertainment, recently you see a trend for â€˜death gameâ€™ type of content. These works tend to add entertainment to somewhat brutal worlds.
I enjoy these works and often read them. I naturally took that approach. You have these regular people driven into irrational situations.
Theyâ€™re on the edge emotionally, while dealing with action or drama. This influenced me and I think it will show in my next game.â€

Last but not least, Toyama revealed that one Asian city that he has visited in the past will also be featured as a theme in his upcoming game.

â€œOne trigger was a trip I took in my private time. My family and I went to visit this city in Asia.
It had this dynamism proper to Asian cities, keeping an exotic touch mixed with a feeling of modernity. I started to imagine a setting that kept that feeling of evolution and the energy of the people.
I thought it was a good theme to include in my game.â€

Toyama and Bokeh Game Studio’s first game is expected to arrive on PC and other unspecified platforms sometime in 2023. In the meantime, check out the full interview video below:


Former Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Expansion Will Become Standalone Game; Set For 2023

Despite some troubles, Ubisoft is still running the open-world Assassin’s Creed gravy train.
Ubisoft is reportedly planning to release a smaller-scale stealth-focused AC title later -codenamed Rift– in 2023 according to a Bloomberg report. The game was planned to be an expansion for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and stars Basim, but it’s now spun into a standalone title.
The upcoming AC title won’t be a large open-world RPG, but a smaller scope title that focuses on stealth gameplay. Assassin’s Rift Rift will be out before the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Infinity, the mass multiplayer AC game that’s slated for lord-knows-when. AC Rift will be out either at the end of 2022 or in 2023.
In the meantime, players can look forward to the AC Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok DLC this March.


Project L Confirmed To Be Free To Play; Illaoi Confirmed A New Fighter

The future of fighting games going mainstream is looking bright.
It seems as if Riot Games’ upcoming 2v2 fighting game Project L will be a free-to-play game, according to lead Tom “I founded EVO” Cannon. Here’s a quote from him during the developer diary:
“One of our goals is to remove as many barriers as possible from you enjoying Project L. We want you to be able to play no matter where you live, what your skill level is or how much money you have to spend on a game. To that, I’m happy to confirm that Project L will be free-to-play.”

We called this a while ago, but it’s nice to know that it’s officially confirmed. We mentioned that F2P would work in a fighting game in amassing lots of players; look at MultiVersus as a good example.

Apart from that, Riot Games also announced the next character in the roster: Illaoi. She’s a big brutish shaman who wields spectral tentacles and also starred in the awesome JRPG Ruined King: A League of Legends Story. She will have a “simpler to learn, hard-to-master kit” who has massive hits but slow movement. Think Zangief; she may even be a grappler of sorts.

Project L has no release date or platform yet, but we will hear more news during EVO 2022 this coming weekend 6 to 8 August.


Riders Republic Brings Fun Extreme Sports Racing Back To Video Games

Platform(s): Xbox Series (version reviewed), PS5, PC
Genre: Extreme sports open-world game
Remember that open-world racing game Steep? Yeah, me neither. Riders Republic is basically the sequel of that “hidden gem” of a sandbox title, down to its extreme racing trials and challenges. Oh, and dirt/summer racing segments in the mix, making for the ultimate in an extreme sports video game package for all seasons. Literally.
And just like any surprise Ubisoft title that isn’t a Far Cry or Assassin’s Creed game, it’s pretty fun even with some of its quirks.
Get Tricky

The basic premise of Riders Republic is this: win races, do a ton of tricks, earn stars for the next big and tough events and set of challenges using your custom avatar. All of this is done to earn more gear for racing and unlocking new racing and tricks-based challenge. It’s an easy goal with tons of ways to do it. You can’t specialize in one type of sport: you’ll have to play them all from snowboarding down a steep hill to downhill super-fast biking with tons of ledges for that precious airtime for tricks-performing. There are even halfpipe events where you’re given a limited amount of tricks to get the highest score possible.
Riders Republic nails the speed and extreme sports feel down pat; you’re not going to find a game with this level of polish and scale that makes you feel like you’re careening down a hillside just blazing through the competition, while jumping off a ledge to perform “monties”, backflips, front flips, or whatever it is young kids do nowadays.
The best part? The current-gen technology of gaming makes Riders Republic’s open-world jaunts a seamless experience. Want to go from one end of the snowy map to the rocky terrain all the way to the east? Fast travel takes you there quick. Or you can just switch to the jetpack and fly there. Yes, this is an extreme game where it felt appropriate to give its many contestants rocket packs and wingsuits to fly around the world. Don’t think too much about the real-world implications and insurance issues here; Riders Republic only cares about letting players have fun in these kinds of sports consequence-free. And it does this really well.
Of course, a game like Riders Republic lives and dies with its controls. I’m pretty half-and-half with Ubisoft’s execution with the controls. Yes, it’s great if you’re playing the earlier courses of the game where you’re freestyling and just racing downhill, or if you’re just aiming for the bare minimum of stars (the more you get, the more stages & sponsors you unlock). But as you get to the tougher stages and are aiming for a perfectionists’ run, the faults start to crop up: there’s actually a bit of a delay with the game’s inputs especially if you’re doing sharp turns and quick directional changes.
I understand that an online game of this magnitude needs to take into account the many players on the servers and take lag into account, and I commend Ubisoft for actually getting Riders Republic to a great and playable state. However, it doesn’t change the fact that the gimped controls and delays, not to mention the mass player exodus that can eff up your run anytime, can make your races feel like a game of chance that doesn’t put you in full control.
Speaking of online, I haven’t come across any huge online issues on my Xbox version of Riders Republic; there’s a graphical glitch or two that can only be cleared by quitting and restarting the game, but nothing completely game-breaking. However, I have heard of server disconnects for the PC (via Ubisoft Connect) and PS5 versions. Your mileage may vary, but just be prepared for the usual launch week kerfuffles if you’re planning on investing in this digital extreme endeavour.
Camp Not-Kill-Yourself
The spiritual successor to Steep has a few kinks to work out, but by and large Riders Republic is a helluva fun trip. Simply put: there’s really no other game right now that lets you switch between different modes of traversal in an open-world game so fast and without a hitch, while also offering a ton of X-games things to do, be it in competitive spirit or in Zen mode where it’s just you and nature. Players who are wary of online games and their fickle nature may need to wait a bit for patches, but so far I’m enjoying the rough and tumble.
Time will tell if the game will have legs beyond its launch month and beyond, but Riders Republic’s open-world online nature and mass player competition incentive has a ton of promise.
Pros

Loads of races and tricks events to partake in.
Great transitions and little load time in-between.
Looks clean and pleasing to the eyes.

Cons

Mass racing can mess up your no-restart runs.
Some online issues.
Intro stages take a while before getting you to the good stuff.

Final(?) Score: 80/100


Stranger Things Spinoff Will Not Be About Eleven Or Existing Characters

Stranger Things Season 4 recently ended but there’s more to the future of the franchise than simply a fifth season down the line. According to Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers (via an interview with the duo on the Happy Sad Podcast), Matt Duffer said that they will be passing the baton for the Stranger Things spinoff.
He said:
“The idea, ultimately, is to pass the baton to someone else, someone who’s hopefully really talented and passionate. Even the idea of Ross and I, say, doing a pilot and leaving it, it just feels silly to me. You really need to be there from the beginning to end. I think we need to find a partner to help us with that.”
Matt Duffer also confirmed that the Stranger Things spinoff won’t focus on existing characters like Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven or Gaten Materrazzo’s Dustin. Instead, it will be very different and probably feature new characters but obviously set in the same world and continuity.
He continued:
“I’ve read these rumors that there’s gonna be an Eleven spinoff, that there’s gonna be a Steve and Dustin spinoff or that it’s another number. That’s not interesting to me because we’ve done all that. We’ve spent I don’t know how many hours exploring all of that. So it’s very different.”
However, it might be a while before we actually get the Stranger Things spinoff, or Stranger Things Season 5, for that matter. Major TV shows like these usually take a lot of time and effort to actually come to fruition. In the meantime, check out when Stranger Things came to Malaysia and our review of Stranger Things Season 4 here.


Indonesian Universities Are Stepping Up Their Game With New Esports Series

Indonesia is upping its game in the esports department with a brand new university tournament series: the IEL University Series 2019.
The series is the first official esports competition for university level in Indonesia which is fully supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), Indonesian Society for Recreational Sports Federation (FORMI), and Indonesia Esports Association (IESPA). The competition is also authorized by the Federation of Electronic Sports Asia (AeSF), which will later become part of the official university league under the auspices of IESPA.
Students from 12 universities play against each other in Mobile Legends and Dota 2. The universities involved are:

 Universitas Gadjah Mada
Universitas Dian Nuswantoro
Universitas Ciputra
UPN Veteran Jatim
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Universitas Kristen Petra
Binus University
Universitas Tarumanagara
Universitas Trisakti
Universitas Bunda Mulia
Universitas Indonesia
Universitas Multimedia Nusantara

12 IEL participating universities will be divided into two groups that will carry out the preliminary rounds conducted online from January to March 2019. Then, the 4 best teams from each branch will compete in the semifinals and finals at the end of April 2019.
The venue for theÂ  IEL 2019 University Series final will take place at the LigaGame Arena. The total prize of 1 billion Rupiah (RM289,535) will be contested by IEL 2019 University Series participants in this first season.
The IEL 2019 University Series was held to accommodate talented young people from 12 leading campuses in 5 cities to develop their abilities while preparing the successors for national esports athletes.Â The birth of these new talents will enrich Indonesia’s esports ecosystem to become better and sustainable.
The brainchild behind this league is MIX 360, a business entity to develop esports in Indonesia. Together with sponsors such as Razer, AirAsia, and Rexus, as well as partners like Meta.us, GoodDay and LigaGame, make organising this league possible.

Razer, being the main official sponsor for the program, is committed to sharing their expertise in managing the ecosystem of the largest integrated hardware, software and services for gamers to ensure smooth content delivery to the fans.
To find out more about the series, click on the link here.


Dead Cells Castlevania DLC Will Add Richter Belmont As A Playable Character

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood’s main character Richter Belmont will be a playable character in the upcoming Dead Cells DLC.
The new Dead Cells DLC, Return to Castlevania, will be out on 6th March and lets you control The Beheaded and play in Castlevania levels and castle mazes courtesy of a partnership with Konami. The Beheaded can “roleplay” as characters like Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. But yeah, if you play your cards right and are diligent enough, you can play as Richter with his original Castlevania moveset to replay Dead Cells levels.

With the Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC emerging soon, we wanted to highlight how the dev team packed the iconic Castlevania essence into every inch of the DLC with a little teaser. Watch to the end for one last reveal before launch day… #deadcells #castlevania #gaming pic.twitter.com/g3cBdCOhTH
— Motion Twin (@motiontwin) February 23, 2023

Apart from Rondo of Blood, Richter also played a role in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and also was a fighting game character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania will be available for PC, consoles, and mobile devices on 6th March.


Mortal Kombat Onslaught Announced

Good news: NetherRealm Studios is making a new Mortal Kombat game.
Bad news: it’s not a new 2D fighting game, but it’s a mobile game for iOS and Android in 2023. It’s a mobile role-playing game with collection mechanics and will launch globally. Here’s the product description:

Mortal Kombat: Onslaught will feature the first mobile-exclusive cinematic story experience for the franchise, where players must build a team of fighters from a vast roster of characters—and unleash them in massive real-time group battles to stop a dark and dangerous threat from wreaking havoc across the realms.
This title will be the newest mobile entry for the Mortal Kombat franchise since the release of Mortal Kombat Mobile, which has amassed more than 150 million installs and is one of the top five most downloaded fighting games on iOS and Android. Mortal Kombat is also celebrating a major milestone this month with its 30th anniversary—a testimony to the enduring popularity and critical acclaim of this legendary franchise.

Here’s a quote from NetherRealm Studios chief creative officer Ed Boon, who is clearly going to cash in big from this following the success of the previous Injustice mobile games:

“We are pushing the boundaries of Mortal Kombat to allow players to experience the franchise in new ways, while still staying true to its core visceral nature. With Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, we reimagined Mortal Kombat into a strategic team-based collection RPG with fast-paced, group melee combat that both new and existing fans can enjoy.”

There’s some light at the end of the tunnel: if this MK game does well in a year, you can bet there’s going to be a new 2D fighting game from the company.


Seth Returns In Street Fighter V Champion Edition, But He’s Different Now

Capcom has unveiled new information about the upcoming Street Fighter V Champion Edition, which is slated to launch on 14 February 2020. Street Fighter IV boss Seth is officially returning as a playable fighter in the upcoming game, but he’s not exactly the same character he was all those years ago.

That’s right, folks. Seth is now female, at least in terms of appearance.
The blog post on the official website explains this bizarre transformation by stating that:

“…Seth is more machine than human, and was never male or female to begin with.
Sethâ€™s exact origins were never made abundantly clear, but this character didnâ€™t make it through the events of Street Fighter IV entirely unscathed.
The form you see here is the remnants of Sethâ€™s biological brain paired with the body of Doll Unit Zero.
Itâ€™s a different look, to be sure, but Seth still speaks with the same voice and craves both M. Bisonâ€™s demise and data on the strongest fighters.

So, it’s essentially the same Seth that you know, albeit in female form. Her, or its, V-Skills and V-Triggers are as follows:
V-Skill 1 (Tanden Engine) – In Street Fighter V, Sethâ€™s ability to steal opponentâ€™s moves is taken to a whole new level with V-Skill 1, Tanden Engine. By successfully punishing or catching the opponent off-guard with Tanden Engineâ€™s vacuum-like effect, Seth can steal a special move, such as Balrog’s Turn Punch or Chun-Li’s Lightning Legs.
V-Skill 2 (Tanden Booster) – Tanden Booster is all about adding momentum to Sethâ€™s pre-installed specials moves. Tapping this V-Skill 2 will make Seth dash forward from a full screen away. Tapping it again will cancel the dash before it finishes. Inputting one of Sethâ€™s special attacks during the dash will have a variety of effects.
The other advantage of Tanden Booster is that you can combo into it from Sethâ€™s target combo and standing heavy punch.

V-Trigger 1 (Tanden Ignition) – This three-bar V-Trigger unlocks teleporting follow-ups for all four of Sethâ€™s special moves. For example, the Hecatoncheires leads into the Titanomachy gut punch, while the Mad Cradle dragon punch transitions into the Mad Spin descending drill.
Tanden Ignition is also compatible with many stolen moves.
V-Trigger 2 (Tanden Maneuver) – Tanden Maneuver turns Seth into a pinball wizard. Upon activation, Seth will summon a large sphere of energy. You can move the sphere in different directions up to four times before the sphere dissipates.
The sphere can strike the opponent while moving â€“ with the potential of putting them into a juggle state â€“ or it can be left in place to act as a stationary projectile.

Critical Art (Tanden Destruction/Tanden Extreme) – Seth draws them into a large sphere of energy as the Tanden Engine goes into overdrive. In the final moments of Tanden Destruction, the opponent is propelled into the arena wall with significant force.
However, if Seth has V-Trigger 1 active, Tanden Destruction becomes Tanden Extreme. This overclocked Critical Art lets us witness the true power of the Tanden Engine as Seth summons a doppelganger to intensify the destructive forces at play. The end result is more damage and a face crushing connection with the fourth wall.
Check out the all-new Seth in action in the trailer below. For more details and information on results of the Capcom Cup 2019, head on over here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7wcIGqnwgk&w=560&h=315]


Warhammer 40,000 Darktide Closed Beta Is Happening Next Month

Fatshark has announced the closed beta test dates for the 4-player co-op game Warhammer 40,000 Darktide. From 14 to 16 October 2022, PC gamers will be able to visit Hive City.You can sign up now by heading on over to www.playdarktide.com for your chance to have an intense weekend in October.
Warhammer 40,000 Darktide will release on PC on 30 November 2022, and the pre-order for the game is live with two versions available for purchase. Warhammer 40,000 Darktide (US$39,99)

The Atoman Star Weapon Trinket: A cosmetic weapon trinket awarded to those who answered in the hour of Atoma’s need.
Vanguard of the Imperium Portrait Frame: A cosmetic portrait frame reserved for those first to enter the fray and last to leave it.

The Warhammer 40,000 Darktide – Imperial Edition (US$59,99)

Loyalist Pack: Purge heresy in style with these 4 unique class outfits, 8 weapon skin patterns, one headgear, and an Ogryn body tattoo.
Mortis Veteran Portrait Frame: A cosmetic portrait frame used to pay tribute to the fallen defenders of Tertium Hive.
Caducades Backpack: A cosmetic backpack for human characters. Scavenged from the fallen troops of Cadia, this backpack has been repurposed to serve those still alive and fighting.
2500 Aquilas (premium currency)
The Atoman Star Weapon Trinket: A cosmetic weapon trinket awarded to those who answered in the hour of Atoma’s need.
Vanguard of the Imperium Portrait Frame: A cosmetic portrait frame reserved for those first to enter the fray and last to leave it.

The release date for Xbox Series X/S version will be announced in the near future. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


The Umbrella Academy Season 3 Confirmed By Netflix

Netflix has officially confirmed the renewal of The Umbrella Academy for a third season. According to Variety, The Umbrella Academy Season 3 will begin production in February 2021 in Toronto, Canada.
Returning cast members for Season 3 include Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David CastaÃ±eda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, and Colm Feore. Steve Blackman will also return as showrunner and executive producer.
The Umbrella Academy Season 3 will feature 10 one-hour episodes, just like previous seasons.
In the meantime, check out our review of The Umbrella Academy Season 2 here, or head on over here to find out more about what to expect from The Umbrella Academy Season 3.


The Riders Republic Open Beta Is Now Live

The Beta for Riders Republic is now open to everyone until 28 August 2021 on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and PC via the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store with cross-play support. Players can now freely access the beta without registration via their Ubisoft Connect library and first-party stores.
The Riders Republic Beta will give players a first glimpse of 3 careers, such as Bike Races, Snow Tricks and Air Sports (Rocketwing and Wingsuit). Players will also be able to compete in multiplayer modes that will unlock throughout the Beta, including:

Starting from 26 August 2021:

Mass Races:Â The crazier the better in these epic, multisport races with more than 50 players*. New races appear randomly on the map every hour, so players will need to get ready to watch their blind spots, protect their position and remain agile with their skills as they fight their way to the finish line. This Beta will feature up to 6 different Mass Races.
Versus Mode:Â Players can join up with 5 friends in career events and see whoâ€™s the very best.
Tricks Battle:Â Players will compete in 6v6 matchups and try to land as many tricks as possible on the various modules to capture them and earn points. The team with the highest score wins.

Starting from 27 August 2021: Free for All:Â In this mode, players can challenge up to 11 opponents and show them how itâ€™s done through a select playlist of events.

All multiplayer modes and career events can be experienced with other riders and players will be able to group with 5 friends to shred alongside them. Players can train and prove themselves in the Republic during the beta before their skills are put to the test in future competitions.

Developed by Ubisoft Annecy, Riders Republic invites players to jump into a lively social playground where they can experience the thrill of outdoor sports in an open and densely populated world. Players will roam freely with their friends in a huge and vibrant open world where they can compete and nail crazy moves through an exciting range of sports such as biking, skiing, snowboarding, wing-suiting and rocket wing-suiting across some of the most iconic American national parks.
Whether players want to catch some major air with friends or ride solo to dominate the mountains and canyons, there are plenty of exhilarating moments and activities to be discovered. Riders Republic will be available on 28 October 2021 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and for PC exclusively on both the Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store.


Genshin Impact Starter Characters, Gacha Guide, & Tier List [Update]

This guide will be updated periodically, as Genshin Impact is a constantly-updating anime RPG. Right now, we’ve included 1.2 content.Â
Genshin Impact is out for PC, PS4, and mobile phones, and it’s a helluva fun online RPG to play. It’s got some solid production values (albeit a familiar art style), and feels like a good hybrid of anime RPGs fares like the Tales of series as well as the Phantasy Star Online titles. Best of all, it’s free to play and pretty packed with content.
But who are the best characters to get in this game clearly tailored as a money-sinking gacha title which conveniently requires you to gather a party of four to venture to the lush outlands of Teyvat? Who should you fuss over and gacha for, as well as do rerolls for in case your previous attempt isn’t good enough?
Here’s a protip to enjoy Genshin Impact:Â forget about all that. Don’t worry about getting the perfect roll and spending more than a few hours just restarting and trying to roll the perfect anime waifu or husbando. This mobile gaming culture of staying glued in the first 40 minutes over and over (for god-knows-how-long) because you can’t get that high-powered pretty boy is very unhealthy and can potentially ruin your experience.
Enjoy the game, roll with what you’ve got, and experience what developer/publisher Mihoyo has created with just the Unity engine and a lot of hard work. And if you want to keep track of collectibles, teleporters, and whatnot, this Interactive World Map will do the trick.
With that said, here’s a guide which you all can use: which free characters you get is worth a darn. After playing the tutorial and early moments of the game for the first two to three hours, you’ll get a Pyro, Cryo, and Electro hero to make up your first-ever Genshin Impact party.

We will talk about them in great detail and tell you if they’re worth leveling up and focusing on in the long run. As a general rule, your starter characters are more than sufficient to play through and win Genshin Impact’s main story mode. Tier & power levels for gacha characters, starters included, only count if you’re doing high level Domains and Spiral Abyss dungeon runs. We’ll touch upon heroes you should aim for when gachaing with your free Fates currency later.
Also, we have an all-purpose beginner guide to get you up to speed; go check that out. With that said, let’s start with:
The Traveler (ie: Your Main Character)

Role: DPS
Whether you picked a boy or a girl here, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that the Traveler is your jack-of-all-trades who can be easily ascended and leveled up to the maximum number. Just finish the main quest and level up your Adventurer Ranking.
Halfway in the game, you can choose to switch the Traveler’s element to either remain Anemo or change it to Geo. Our advice? Stick to Anemo because the Traveler’s basic kit (spells, attacks, great AoE elemental burst) is adequate enough to fill in the Anemo slot. Unless you roll for S-tier Anemo warriors like Jean -more on that later- you’ll be fine sticking with the Traveler for the majority of the game.
Alright, now onto the first three playable heroes of the game.
Amber (Pyro)

Role: DPS
Amber is more or less the poster child of Genshin Impact, being the game’s archer to complement your melee main character. Her kit is pretty standard: she can shoot charged Pyro elemental shots, summon an explosive puppet that draws aggro, and a nifty Elemental Burst super move called Fiery Rain that deals AoE damage in a large area. As such, she is a useful starter character to get you through most of the game’s quests and Pyro-based puzzles.
As for the long-term game, however, she isn’t worth keeping around in your primary party. Amber’s combat suffers because she has weak scaling in her elemental skills and her damage output for her kit isn’t high when compared to the other starter characters. Fiery Rain is nice and all, but it won’t win high-level Domains and fights.
Verdict: Good in the main game, but replace her once you get another Pyro character if you’re looking for a better DPS character. Still, her invaluable glider stamina reduction bonus means she’s worth keeping around when exploring & uncovering Genshin Impact’s secrets.
Kaeya (Cryo)

Role: Enabler
Kaeya the eyepatch-bearing pretty boy who is common in most anime RPGs is a pretty good fighter for the most bits of the main story. You’ll need him for some Cryo-based puzzles in the game. His primary attack Frostgnaw comes out in a cone, has pretty short cooldown, and applies Cryo status pretty efficiently. His Elemental Burst, Glacial Waltz, is a decent shield for Kaeya but has limited range. You have to be really up-close to enemies for it to take effect.
Like Amber, he becomes obsolete if you gacha better Cryo damage dealers and supporters, especially for the high-level content you’ll be experiencing later. Still, Kaeya’s useful when he fills in the enabler role, which basically amounts to him applying Cryo status for other party members to use elemental exploits on.
Verdict: Good in the main game, but he’s a better enabler and Cryo status applier for the rest of the adventure. Replace him if you gacha better Cryo damage dealers.
Lisa (Electro)

Role: DPS, Enabler
Lisa the “witchy” librarian is a pretty formidable free character you should use not just for the main quest, but for the rest of the game. She has fantastic burst damage power and scales over time if you invest in her from start to finish.
Her elemental skill Violet Arc makes her shoot out homing lightning orbs and comes with a short cooldown. If you hold the skill key for this, she delivers a devastating AoE electro damage shockwave. The damage increases based on how much conductive status enemies have, so it’s best to have her dish out regular attacks with other enablers, then use Violet Arc’s hold ability for the finish. Her elemental burst Lightning Rose applies Electro status to anyone within a large radius. Ara ara!
Verdict: Long story short, she’s a keeper. Use her as a primary damage dealer, with secondary enabler abilities for other heroes to take advantage of.Â  A-tier material all the way.
Let’s now move on to a character you’ll most likely get when you gacha early on after an hour or so into the story mission.
Noelle (Geo)

Role: DPS, Tank
The most common character you will get to add to your repertoire, at least during this September and October when the banner is currently active. She is a 4-star Geo elemental claymore-packing maid knight who hits hard and gets a good defense buff early on. Her elemental skill Breastplate summons a protective geo shield that persists even when swapping characters. If you find yourself losing too much life, Noelle’s Breastplate and her passive will make sure to eradicate that problem just by being in the party.
She has a useful elemental burst Sweeping Time that makes her clear mobs better because of its absurdly long range. However, she doesn’t deal the most consistent damage despite handling a heavy weapon.
Verdict: She’s a keeper and a cleaner. She is better as a Support due to her good defense stats.

Now that we’ve wrapped that up, you can go ahead and play through most of the Story mode and get a good chunk of Fates currency for a good number of gacha rolls. Also another protip: trade your Primogems for Intertwined Fates because they’re useful for the banner events when gachaing.
NEXT: The top 10 gacha characters you should aim for


DNF Duel Will Be Out Mid Next Year; Adds Three More Playable Characters

Nexon and Neople just released a new DNF Duel trailer, which features a release period for the upcoming 2D fighting game.
DNF Duel will be out in Summer 2022 for PS4 and PS5. In addition, the game will add three more playable characters to its roster: the Ghostblade, the Mechanic, and the Troubleshooter. The total number of characters in the game is 13 so far.
The new trailer below showcases a bit about the Ghostblade: he’s a samurai with a ghost partner who will most likely act as a “stand” or “Persona”, performing additional attacks to help the Ghostblade out.

Here’s how the other two characters look like in the MMO; their DNF Duel counterparts will no doubt look similar.
Mechanic

Troubleshooter

The game’s open beta session is active right now until tomorrow evening.


Disney+ Hotstar Releases MPower, A New Series Showcasing MCU Women

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the new series MPower is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar with episodes spotlighting several of the MCU’s most inspirational women heroes.
Executive Producer Justin W. Hochberg said:
“Every hero has an epic origin story and so does this series. When I conceived ‘MPower,’ I did it out of love for my teen daughter so she would have more icons to look up to, voices to learn from and role models to help her impact the world. Today, that vision is now a reality thanks to Brie Larsen, Elizabeth Olsen, the women of Wakanda and Zoë Saldaña, whose leadership was ‘Mpowering.’”
Zoë Saldaña is featured in episode four and serves as an Executive Producer of the series alongside Cisely and Mariel Saldana for Cinestar Pictures.
She said:
“‘MPower’ is a tribute to women’s representation and empowerment. We’re enthused to have the involvement of a diverse group of women whose voices and stories will serve as a source of inspiration. Our hope is that this series will ignite meaningful conversations and drive real change towards a more equal and inclusive world.”
“MPower” consists of four stand-alone episodes. From Carol Danvers and Wanda Maximoff to the women of Wakanda and “The Guardians of the Galaxy,” the series unpacks the journeys of these characters from their birth in Marvel Comics to the MCU and beyond. Archival footage, imaginative animation and candid interviews work in tandem to profile how these characters and the women behind their success have impacted fans around the world.
Episode Lineup:

MPOWER—THE WOMEN OF BLACK PANTHER invites viewers back to Wakanda, where the women are the backbone of the world’s most powerful nation. Okoye (Danai Gurira), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), Ayo (Florence Kasumba) and Shuri (Letitia Wright) are as unbreakable as vibranium, and this episode of “MPower” dives into their roots in the original comics, how the performances were influenced by the actors’ own lived experiences and how the spirit of Africa and black excellence shaped every aspect of the films.

MPOWER—CAPTAIN MARVEL journeys with one of the MCU’s most powerful Super Heroes, Captain Marvel (Brie Larson)—seen through the eyes of those who helped bring her to life. Through animation and never-before-seen footage, viewers will gain a new sense of the transformation from Carol Danvers to Captain Marvel, the women who look up to her—Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani)—and how the teams behind and in front of the camera helped bring it all together.

MPOWER—SCARLET WITCH celebrates Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings)—plus the creative forces behind the Scarlet Witch’s iconic journey. The hero with undeniable power and a tragic backstory has withstood insurmountable odds reaching back to her childhood in Sokovia, through her years flourishing as an Avenger, and of course, her ascension to self-realization as the Scarlet Witch.

MPOWER—GAMORA explores the evolution of the captivating character, Gamora (Zoë Saldaña), from her days as an assassin to life among the Guardians of the Galaxy. As the backbone of the team of misfits, Gamora is forced to reevaluate what family means to her and address her dysfunctional relationship with her sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan). Vets of the “Guardians” movies weigh in on the plight of Gamora and how she is brought to life in an emotional and dynamic way.

In the meantime, head on over here for our interview with She-Hulk herself, Tatiana Maslany.
Check out the trailer below:


[Report] Doom 64 Is Making A Comeback To PC And PS4

Back in 1997, Midway Games developed and published a Nintendo 64 (exclusive) sequel to a corridor shooter that was beloved by many and they were even supervised by game’s original developer, id Software. That’s right, I’m talking about Doom 64 and it looks like the game is finally coming to modern platforms.
In July 2019, we were pleasantly surprised to find the game being listed on the PEGI (the European counterpart of the ESRB) website which clearly showed that the game would be released for PC and PS4. [via Gematsu]

PEGI has rated DOOM 64 for PS4 and PC. This was in addition to ratings of DOOM (1993) and DOOM II (Classic). There’s no DOOM 3 rating. pic.twitter.com/5CtEBtV61X
â€” Gematsu (@gematsucom) July 26, 2019

Recently, the Australian Classification Board has also given the game a new rating. Both of the ratings have been jointly applied for by Zenimax and Bethesda, so we can be sure that this isn’t just some hell-spawned coincidence. [via Bloody Disgusting]
It may be a bit disappointing to see that other consoles such as the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch aren’t listed but do note that back when the ratings for DOOM and DOOM II were given by PEGI, they also only listed PC and PS4 and yet those games also came out for Xbox One and Switch.


Bond 25 Official Synopsis Revealed, Set In Franchise’s Historical Location

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have confirmed that the 25th James Bond movieÂ officially begun principal photography (filming) on 28 April 2019. Veteran fans of the franchise will love that the upcoming Bond 25 movie will be set in Jamaica, where previous Bond movies 1962’s Dr. No and 1973’s Live And Let Die were filmed.

Jamaica is also the birthplace of 007 AKA James Bond, where Ian Fleming created the character we all know and love. Bond 25 is set to be the fifth outing for actor Daniel Craig, who will be reprising his role as the dashing and suave secret agent.
Meanwhile, Bond 25 will also star award-winning actor Rami Malek as the primary antagonist, as well as the following actors/actresses:

Ralph Fiennes as M,Â the head of MI6 and Bond’s superior officer.
Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny, a former agent who left the field to become M’s assistant.
Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner, the MI6 chief of staff.
LÃ©a Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann, a psychiatrist who assisted Bond on a previous mission.
Ben Whishaw as Q, the MI6 quartermaster who outfits Bond with equipment for use in the field.
Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter, Bond’s friend and a CIA field officer.
Ana de Armas as Paloma.
David Dencik as Waldo, a villain.
Lashana Lynch as Nomi.

Here’s the official synopsis for Bond 25:

Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica.Â  His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix LeiterÂ from the CIA turns up asking for help.
The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous newÂ technology.

Bond 25 is the working title for the new James Bond movie, and the official title will likely be announced at a later date. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (best known for his work on HBO’s True Detective), Bond 25 is slated to release in the UK and the rest of the world on 3 April 2020.
In the meantime, check out our new Bond girl, as played by the beautiful Ana de Armas of Blade Runner 2049 fame.
[wpvideo sjou9Mrq]


The OG VTuber Is Trying To Sell You NFTs

Et tu, virtual anime girl?
The original VTuber, Kizuna AI, is going to sell NFTs to her fanbase. The virtual idol has announced a hiatus from streaming on YouTube; she will be connecting with her fans via the metaverse and NFTs transactions, with the latter being her primary focus.
“I think you’ve been hearing words such as metaverse and NFT recently. It sounds complicated but new and fun at the same time. I want to bring things like that closer to people and experience new fun things together.
I want to be more in part of everyone’s daily lives.”

While the subject of NFTs has been vague and controversial, it can be a good monetary avenue for artists. Seeing as Kizuna AI has her own artwork, or at least owns the stuff that she has commissioned other people to make for her brand, this seems like a logical choice after retiring from the VTuber scene. The Kizuna AI team has dabbled in NFTs earlier this year, selling ownership receipts to a set of custom avatars back in September via a Metaani partnership.Â
Kizuna AI has been a VTuber since 2016, being the original person to coin the term before others like the Hololive company started entering the picture.


Comic Book Movies Guide for 2018

Back in 2017 we had the pleasure of receiving great comic book adaptations like DCâ€™s Wonder Woman and Justice League, Marvelâ€™s Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok, as well as less conventional non-superhero fare like Atomic Blonde and Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle. With 2018â€™s offering looking to surpass 2017, the comic book bubble ainâ€™t popping anytime soon!
At the time of writing, the release dates are based on the latest accurate information
available for Malaysian cinemas.
1. Black Panther (Marvel Studios) Date: 15th February 2018
Black Panther is going to be different than anything weâ€™ve seen in the MCU before as weâ€™ll finally visit the mysterious nation of Wakanda, one of the most technologically advanced nations in the Marvel Universe. Black Panther will have big shoes to fill as it is also the last MCU film before the highly – anticipated Avengers: Infinity War.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjDjIWPwcPU&w=560&h=315]
2. Avengers: Infinity War (Marvel Studios) Date: 26th April 2018
Undoubtedly the most anticipated comic book film this year, Avengers: Infinity War is the culmination of a decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Everything for the past 10 years has been leading to this, with Earthâ€™s Mightiest Heroes finally facing the Mad Titan Thanos and arguably the biggest comic book film to date.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZfuNTqbHE8&w=560&h=315]
3. Deadpool 2 (20 th Century Fox) Date: 31st May 2018
The sequel to the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, Deadpool 2 continues the adventure of the fourth-wall breaking Merc With A Mouth, with new additions like fan-favorite Cable and Domino from the comics entering live-action for the very first time. What kind of crazy yakuza ninja shenanigans will we be seeing Wade in this time?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Cjsnq8kVU&w=560&h=315]
4. Ant-Man And The Wasp (Marvel Studios) Date: 5th July 2018
The third and last MCU film this year, we last saw Ant-Man in 2016â€™s Captain America: Civil War joining Steveâ€™s side, imprisoned in the Raft and breaking out by the end of that film. Comic book fans will be ecstatic to see the Wasp in action for the first time. Fun fact: In the comics, Ant-Man and the Wasp are original founding members of the Avengers.

5. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (20th Century Fox) Date: November 2018
After the disappointing X-Men: Apocalypse back in 2016, Fox really needs to show that this new generation of X-Men are worthy of claiming the mantle left behind by stalwarts such as Hugh Jackman and Sir Patrick Stewart. Hereâ€™s hoping that the iconic Dark Phoenix Saga finally receives the respectful treatment and adaptation it truly deserves.

6. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures) Date: 13th December 2018
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse will be the first high-budgeted comic book animated film adaptation since the release of Big Hero 6. Starring the â€˜Ultimateâ€™ Spider-Man Miles Morales with his striking black and red suit, this film is about him trying to live up to the legacy of Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, and how great responsibility comes with great power.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii3n7hYQOl4&w=560&h=315]
7. Aquaman (DC Films) Date: 20th December 2018
The only DC Comics film to be released this year, Aquaman takes place after the events of Justice League and will presumably portray the conflict between Arthur Curryâ€™s Atlantean and surface-dweller heritage. Hopefully Aquaman will be closer to Wonder Woman in overall quality and add to the expanding mythology of the â€˜DC Extended Universeâ€™.

8. Venom (Sony Pictures) Date: To Be Confirmed
Another â€˜riskyâ€™ comic book film, similar to Foxâ€™s The New Mutants, Venom will incorporate horror elements instead of being conventional superhero fare. As of now, it remains to be seen where exactly Venom belongs in terms of continuity or whether itâ€™ll be taking place in the MCU or a new universe envisioned by Sony.

Did we miss anything out? Which of these eight is your most anticipated comic book movie of 2018? As usual, share us your thoughts in the comments section below


Ikenfell Is The Harry Potter RPG We’ve Been Waiting For

Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo SwitchGenre: Turn-based RPG, Retro, Pixel Art
Why is it that no one’s ever made a Harry Potter RPG? Sure, that Hogwarts Legacy game is coming next year, but it’s taken them all these years to finally make one. Well, indie developer Happy Ray Games has beaten Warner Bros. to the punch with Ikenfell.
Ikenfell is a nostalgic trip combining turn-based and tactical RPG elements with gorgeous 8-bit pixel graphics and phenomenal music. This game is more than just a retro game evoking pointless nostalgia; it’s a throwback to simpler days of classic RPGs.
What It’s Like To Be Muggle

For non-Harry Potter fans, a Muggle is what a non-magical human is called in the Wizarding World of the franchise created by J.K. Rowling. Instead of featuring a protagonist like Harry Potter, Ikenfell subverts my expectations from the very beginning, as I assumed control of Maritte. She is an Ordinary (Ikenfell’s equivalent of a Muggle) in a magical world.
The game begins with her searching for her missing sister, Safina, who is a gifted but troublesome student at Ikenfell; a school for magic users. Despite being an Ordinary, Maritte suddenly manifests magical fire-based powers. This mystery, and that of her missing sister, fuels the central premise of the game’s plot. Along the way, you’ll meet five other playable characters who will join your party.
One of the best story themes explored in Ikenfell is how estranged Maritte feels as an Ordinary in a world of magic, despite having manifested her own powers. As we progress through the story, she realizes more and more how little she knows about her own sister, let alone this strange magical world.

I’m also impressed with how much personality and depth the developers have managed to instil in the characters featured in Ikenfell, despite being limited by 8-bit pixel art. These characters feel unique and diverse without coming off as forced or stereotyped.
The game is further bolstered thanks to its great music, which is composed by aivi & surasshu, best known for composing the music in Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe animated series. The music in Ikenfell is atmospheric and complements whatever’s happening in the game.
Music can be one of the most important aspects of an RPG game in order to convey emotion and tone. This is especially true for games without voice acting, like Ikenfell.
For instance, there was one unforgettable boss battle in the game that was elevated by its great accompanying track. This one (It’s Showtime! – Gilda’s Theme) even had vocals. However, this is the exception (rather than the norm) since most of the music in this game is instrumental.

Wizarding World Meets Final Fantasy Tactics

Some gamers tend to find turn-based combat outdated and boring (I don’t personally share that opinion at all). Therefore, it’s worth pointing out that Ikenfell introduces a few twists of its own to the tactical turn-based RPG combat system (as popularized by franchises like Final Fantasy Tactics and Fire Emblem).
Just like those franchises, battles take place on a small space of grids. You’ll have to position your characters and choose their actions, each of which has its own finite range. Still, that’s not a new mechanic by any means.
What does spice up the turn-based combat in Ikenfell is the timed reaction mechanic. Every action (be it attacking or getting attacked) requires the players to in a QTE of sorts. You have to press the A button (I played on PC with an Xbox controller) at the right cue and timing for it to be more effective.
Timing your attacks will result in either Oops, Nice or Great. Great will obviously result in the most damage, while Oops will often result in just one measly damage. This timing mechanic also comes into play when your characters get attacked by enemies. Timing your button press correctly will result in less damage inflicted, or in some cases, avoid getting detrimental status effects like poison.
It’s actually pretty simple to pull off, but it can sometimes be frustrating when getting distracted for even a second can mean an Oops. The combat system is made even more complex considering that every attack has different animations and features unique timing cues.

That can make the process of getting new abilities and encountering new enemies frustrating due to the amount of trial and error involved. However, all of that goes a long way towards avoiding the game from becoming too passive or stale.
Most importantly though, the developers added several game-changing accessibility options so that everyone can enjoy the game. You can turn on Instant Victory in the options and win every battle. If you still want to experience the game’s combat but can’t get used to the timing mechanic, you can turn that off too and play the game more like a traditional turn-based RPG.
I can understand why the developers added those accessibility options in. While the timed action mechanic can be exciting when it works in your favour, it can quickly become annoying when the opposite happens. What is a game if it’s not fun and you can’t enjoy it?
Besides the game’s combat system, everything else in Ikenfell‘s gameplay is pretty simplistic and true to its retro RPG roots. These include a simple inventory system and gear/clothing that affect stats, as well as basic puzzles in dungeons. The dungeons never overstay their welcome, and I experienced several “just one more dungeon” moments (you know, like those “one more turn” moments in strategy games).
A Treat For RPG Fans, Old And New

Happy Ray Games has certainly succeeded in making an indie retro RPG that’s a must-play for both old and new RPG fans. It blends classic RPG elements with a refreshing timed mechanic and charming characters, as well as great music to boot.
With a single playthrough ranging from 20 to 30 hours, Ikenfell will hit the right notes for RPG fans looking for a more bite-sized experience. They can’t all be 100-hour odysseys like Dragon Quest or Persona, and that’s perfectly fine, especially when they’re as good as Ikenfell.
Pros
A diverse cast of characters oozing charming personalities.A decent narrative that’s sort of a parody of Harry Potter.Beautiful 8-bit pixel art.Tactical turn-based combat with a unique timed mechanic twist.Phenomenal music.
Cons
Probably not for gamers who don’t like RPGs in general.Combat can be tedious and frustrating.
Final Score: 80/100
Ikenfell was reviewed on PC.


Sega Fans Are Getting Their Own HD Retro Console Next Year

Analogue, the makers of the Super Nt, has announced its latest project for Sega Megadrive fans like yours truly: the Mega Sg.
This HD Sega-tailored console will be able to play every game from the Sega Genesis, Megadrive, and Master System. It will also be able to output video from these titles in 1080p with zero latency whatsoever. How soon can you get this bad boy and for how much? Try April 2019 and US$190.
Just like the Super Nt, it doesn’t come with pre-installed games so you’ll have to shop/hunt for the old games yourself. Think of this console as a recreation of the original hardware but with 1080p-enabled outputting. Analogue itself stressed that it’s a company that makes enthusiast products for an enthusiast audience. Kinda like how there are still record players being made in this day and age for vinyl collectors and hardcore music enthusiasts.

Here are more Mega Sg tidbits in point form:
–The Mega Sg use FPGA (field-programmable gate array) technology to mimic everything the original console hardware was doing. It’s definitely no emulation, which means no lag and the pixels/sounds are in better shape than what you’ll find in other third-party retro consoles.
–The Mega Sg also has an edge connector that can plug directly into a Sega/Mega CD so that games from both can output in 1080p as well. Analogue plans to release additional adapters (US$10 each) for the rest of Sega’s pre-Saturn hardware like the Game Gear and Mark III.
–Analogue said the Mega Sg’s increased quality is noticeable in the sound department. The new retro console recreation of the Megadrive’s YM2612 sound chip will be in 48KHz 16-bit stereo and will sound better than the originals. Fuller, warmer, and clearer; so they say.
Is US$190 enough to justify buying a standalone retro Megadrive console to complement your Sega collection? Let us know either on this post or on Facebook. Meanwhile, check out the gameplay of some Sega classics on the Mega Sg.


Call Of Duty Modern Warfare Multiplayer Reveal Drops Next Month

The next Call Of Duty is only three months away, so both Activision and Infinity Ward are gearing up for its upcoming release with an official Call Of Duty Modern Warfare multiplayer reveal next month.
Keep in mind that unlike the ridiculous Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 in 2018, the Call Of Duty Modern Warfare reboot will feature an actual story campaign. However, players may still choose to play multiplayer modes if they really want to.
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare will feature unified progression across modes, as the developer plansÂ to eventually support cross-play across platforms and the removal of the traditional season pass system. This will allow them to deliver a greater mix of more free maps, content and community events post-launch.
Earlier today, our first glimpse at the gameâ€™s new 2v2 Gunfight mode showcases quick-action, close-quarters duo-based combat. Check out the replay of the gameplay footage below.

The full Call Of Duty Modern Warfare multiplayer reveal will be unveiled on its official Twitch stream hereÂ on 1 August 2019.
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 25 October 2019.


The Good Life Is The Latest Quirky SWERY Offering That Occasionally Delights

Platform: PC (version reviewed), PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Adventure Game Featuring Photography, Animal Transformations, & Some Life Sim Debt-Paying Stuff
If you know the name SWERY and the games the developer has done, chances are you know what you’re getting into. You’re either getting a broken mess of a game with an engrossing and weird story, or a semi-decent game with an enthralling if surreal narrative.
With his latest game The Good Life under his new company White Owls, you’re getting into pretty much the same thing albeit with more cartoony graphics and a British countryside setting. And a cat/dog war dynamic going on.
Village People

You play a reporter named Naomi Hayward, who hails from New York and has a bitchy attitude. She’s assigned to uncover the dark secret of the British village of Rainy Falls, while also taking photos to earn money. Why? To pay off her debt of Â£30,000,000. Also, about close to an hour into the game, she drinks a potion made by a hippie witch which can make her transform into a cat at will. She can also transform into a dog, ride a sheep, wear different getups for buffs, take odd jobs to earn more money, and just wander around the countryside donating money to shrines for quick fast travelling. Oh, and she’ll also have to pick a side between cats and dogs.
In case you couldn’t tell, The Good Life is an adventure game with RPG elements. Naomi can get hungry and tired, so you need to keep her well-fed and sane to continue her investigation and money-making. She also needs to take baths and beautify herself lest she ends up all smelly and piss off the village folk. When some of her stats get critical, she may even need to get to a doctor to patch her up quick, though that’ll cost her extra. Honestly, with all the quick travel options and transformation bits, this “problem” isn’t that big a deal and does add some challenge to maintaining your protagonist’s sanity.
The main problem with The Good Life is that a number of its open world and gameplay mechanics are simplistic and underdeveloped. Yes, you can ride a sheep, but apart from a few quests involving racing with sheep, there isn’t much to it apart from just travelling really fast. Puzzles and platforming that involves Naomi’s cat form is simplistic, and the overall photography bit is just pointing your camera at a busy place, take pics of key subjects, and uploading them on your slow-ass computer to earn a lot of money. That’s it!
The other jobs are just you getting the item for that specific task, then approaching the interactive spot to get that resource. Repeat ad nauseam. Control-wise, it feels pretty archaic so it takes some time getting used to if you’re not into old-style adventure games.
Perhaps that is The Good Life’s intention -emulating an Animal Crossing style simulation with a mystery story injected into it. But one element feels more developed than the other. I’m referring to the story and quirky characters. Naomi herself is a determined money hound with lots of sass, but she’s also the butt of the many jokes in the story. The villagers and other visitor NPCs that crop up have their fair share of colourful behaviours and odd conversations that entertain and delight. For newbies of SWERY’s adventure story chops, you’ll have a ball. For veterans, you’ll be right at home.
Life Goes On

The Good Life also has a few technical flaws, though the Nintendo Switch version is reportedly more buggy than the PC version I received for review. Despite all that, The Good Life kept my attention longer than it should. I was willing to brave through the mundane just to see what unfolds and what bitchy retort Naomi has in store for the weirdos in Rainy Woods.
The gameplay loop that revolves around photography, animal shapeshifting, and everything in-between is fine and isn’t completely banal, though it can wear out its welcome over time. Maybe it’s the narrative that just turns sideways close to the end when you least expect it. Either way, SWERY is doing something right in providing a less-than-janky open-world adventure with some simple colours and shapeshifting nonsense. It clearly lacks polish, but The Good Life makes it up with some heart and humour.
Final Score: 70/100


Bleach: Brave Souls Is Coming To PC This Summer

Anime fans burned by the Bleach series can find solace in the mobile iOS and Android game Bleach: Brave Souls, a top-down action RPG title that’s as simple to play and grasp. With 50 million downloads and a free-to-play approach, it’s essentially THE gacha game for Bleach fans trying to recover from the disappointment that is the shoddy latter half of the anime series and the rushed manga ending.
You can now wallow in the F2P game on PC soon as KLab will release the 3D action game onto PC via Steam. The PC port features controller compatibility, high-quality up-rezzed graphics, and support for multiple devices.

For the latter, if you linked your KLab ID and Facebook accounts, you can play with the same user account on both your smartphones and PCs. Beats going through the BlueStacks nonsense, eh?
Check out the gameplay below, in case you want justification for another mobile F2P gacha fix:


Our Neighbor’s All-Female Team Will Be In WESG CS:GO World Finals

Image credit: Straits Times, Weibo
Good news for esports in Singapore! Team Asterisk’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive all-female team are qualified to face off against another all-female team named Etab in the WESG CS:GO World Finals that is slated for this March. They won US$4,000 for their troubles.
Here are a few choice quotes from the team’s captain and leads via Singapore’s Straits Times:
“Asterisk’s team captain Tasha Chew, 23, who has just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, said: “We couldn’t believe it. It’s our first time playing on such a big scale and being able to come in second is amazing.
Miss Sabrina Ang, 20, an events planner at Ape Works and the team’s strategist, added: “The other teams were so well-equipped and looked like pro-gamers. We were like little villagers who knew nothing.”
The other players are Miss Meryl Oh, 22, who is in the biomed sector, Miss Dinah Marinah, 30, who works in the construction industry, and graphic designer Nurlelawati Hussain, 26. Property agent Hanzel Chua, 31, is the team manager.
Despite facing tough competition in the grand finals, Asterisk remains hopeful.
“We’ve had a taste of victory. Now everyone wants more,” said Miss Ang.
That’s pretty awesome, as a Southeast Asian myself championing more representation of an all-female team on the world stage. But this begs the question: in a prestigious esports tournament like WESG, why on earth are there still male and female segregated tournaments?
I’m with Kenn on the stance of female gamers in the Overwatch scene: skills & team dynamic matters. This doesn’t apply to just Overwatch but in all other competitive games. If you want to take this seriously, WESG should just axe the gender segregration and have male & female teams fight whoever they wish to prove their mettle.


Star Wars Squadrons Update 2.0 Improves Ranks & Nerfs Bombers

After last week’s The Mandalorian update, Star Wars Squadrons is getting a major update with patch 2.0. This new update improved the Ranked Fleet Battles system, nerfs bombers, and more.
Ranked Fleet Battles now featured a new “forfeit” system, replacing the previous “Safe to Leave” and “Match Not Scored” qualifiers. Winning a game will now always grant full rewards, regardless of how many opponents dropped out.
It was previously a problem when players left the match, causing everyone else to play an entire 30-minute match without being able to receive any Ranked skill points if they win.
Losing a match after a teammate abandons will also now result in the loss of fewer Ranked skill points in doing so.
Bombers have also been nerfed, due to complaints that they broke the meta by being too overpowered. Now, their hull integrity has been reduced, so there’s no way for players to park underneath an enemy Capital Ship.
Plus, everyone receives 1,200 Glory for free. You can check out the full patch notes here.
In the meantime, you can check outÂ my review ofÂ Star Wars SquadronsÂ here, orÂ head on over hereÂ for a full in-depth guide on how to be the best pilot in the galaxy.