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THE BRATZ PACK RETURNS TO CONSOLES IN THE MOST FASHIONABLE VIDEO GAME OF 2022!

Bratz fans old and new can play as one of the original four – Cloe, Sasha, Yasmin, and Jade – as they strut into an all-new globe-trotting adventure and become global fashion influencers!

Sydney, Australia – 7th November 2022: Outright Games, the leading worldwide publisher of family-friendly interactive entertainment, and MGA Entertainment (MGA), one of the world’s largest and fastest growing privately held toy and entertainment companies, are excited to launch BRATZ: Flaunt Your Fashion. This brand-new video game stars the girls with a passion for fashion, available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Developed by Barcelona-based Petoons Studios, BRATZ: Flaunt Your Fashion is the first new Bratz game for consoles in over a decade. Fans can play as the original, trendsetting Bratz Pack, starring Cloe, Sasha, Yasmin, and Jade as they work together to create the coolest magazine in the world and become the ultimate fashion influencers!

Become the best in the fashion biz while serving the latest cutting edge looks and making new friends! Complete quests, publish stories, and play exciting minigames to grow the magazine and gain followers. Collect style points to make sure the Bratz girls are dressed to impress as they explore Stylesville, travel to exciting cities such as Barcelona and Seoul and attend events such as the Stylin’ Soiree where they will chase the biggest stories and make it to the top of the fashion world!

Bratz is one of the best known and biggest globally recognized fashion doll brands, first launched by MGA in 2001. The original collection of dolls first introduced the world to Cloe, Sasha, Yasmin, and Jade – a super fashionable, diverse group of friends who are all about setting trends and expressing themselves. Between 2001 and 2002, Bratz beat all toy sales records, and throughout the 2000s the original Bratz Pack starred in their own TV show, movies, and games that were loved by fans worldwide, cementing Bratz as the most iconic and fashionable dolls in the world. Today, the girls are back and the Bratz brand is enjoying a spike in popularity.

Beth Goss, CEO of Outright Games said “It has been wonderful working with our friends and partners at MGA Entertainment once again, as we bring the Bratz back into the world of video games for the 2020s. We’re very excited for the millions of existing fans around the world, and new audiences who will be introduced to this iconic brand and these beloved characters. This is the first Bratz game to come to PC and consoles in over 10 years, and we can’t wait for everyone to play the game themselves.”

Isaac Larian, Founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment said “Bratz are back, and we’re excited to bring an all new Bratz video game to players where they can virtually become the girls with a passion for fashion again. BRATZ: Flaunt Your Fashion brings back the elements loyal fans love: the original, iconic Bratz Pack characters, full customisation with a large collection of new looks, world travel, and a goal to make the quintessential Bratz magazine. Whether a returning fan, a newcomer, or simply a lover of fashion, this is the perfect game to celebrate what the Bratz brand is all about.”     

BRATZ: Flaunt Your Fashion is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

About MGA Entertainment:

MGA Entertainment is one of the world’s fastest growing and largest privately held toy and entertainment companies. Headquartered in Chatsworth, Calif. and with offices globally, the company creates innovative, proprietary, and licensed consumer products and entertainment, including toys, games, dolls, apparel, consumer electronics, home décor, stationery, sporting goods, movies, and television series. The MGA family includes award-winning brands such as L.O.L. Surprise!™, Little Tikes®, Rainbow High™, Shadow High™, Bratz®, MGA’s Miniverse™, Na! Na! Na! Surprise™, Mermaze Mermaidz™ Color Change, Micro Games of America™, Baby Born® Surprise and Zapf Creation®.

About Outright Games: 

Outright Games is a global video games publisher with a focus on bringing quality family entertainment to a worldwide audience. Founded in 2016, Outright Games has established its place in the market delivering engaging interactive games of beloved entertainment licences globally. Outright Games brings stories and characters to life with titles including favourites such as My Friend Peppa Pig with Hasbro, Fast & Furious Spy Racers: Rise of SH1FT3R with NBC Universal, Jumanji: The Video Game with Sony Pictures and PAW Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls with Nickelodeon. With an Outright Games title there will  be fun for all the family to enjoy.

For more information please visit: www.outrightgames.com 

Optimised for Gaming and Creative Applications – Samsung Brings High-Performance SSD 990 PRO to Australia

Blazing speeds of the SSD 990 PRO can cut load times and increase game responsiveness while its thermal control solutions help keep the drive at optimal temperature for virtually uninterrupted play.

Available from today, the first 100 people to pre-order the SSD 990 PRO via the Samsung Online store between 7- 20 November 2022 will receive a bonus Portable SSD T7 500GB valued at $149.00[1].

The speed and efficiency of the SSD 990 PRO makes it a go-to choice for avid gamers and creatives

SYDNEY, Australia – November 7, 2022 – Samsung Electronics, the global leader in advanced memory technology,[2] today launched pre-order for the SSD 990 PRO in Australia – a high-performance NVMe SSD based on PCIe 4.0 which delivers seriously-fast speeds and power efficiency. Available from Samsung’s online Store and select resellers in a 1TB model and 2TB model; the new SSD is optimised for graphically demanding games and other intensive tasks including 3D rendering, 4K video editing and data analysis.

“With continuing innovations in gaming, 4K and 8K technology as well as AI-driven applications, consumer need for high-performance storage is growing exponentially,” said Phil Gaut, Senior Director of Display, and Brand Memory, Samsung Electronics Australia. “The 990 PRO provides the optimal balance of speed, power efficiency, and reliability, making it an ideal choice for avid gamers and creative professionals seeking uninterrupted work and play.” 

Extreme Performance for an Immersive Gameplay Experience

Featuring Samsung’s latest V-NAND and a new proprietary controller, the 990 PRO series offers the highest speed currently available from the PCIe 4.0 interface[3]. The SSD delivers sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,450 megabytes per second (MB/s) and 6,900 MB/s, respectively, while random read and write speeds come in at up to 1,400K and 1,550K IOPS[4], respectively. With up to a 55% improvement in random write performance over the 980 PRO[5], the 990 PRO is particularly well-suited for heavy gaming as well as creative and productivity tasks.

High-performance NVMe SSDs are also critical in reaping the full benefits of the latest game console and gaming technologies. Powered by NVMe, the 990 PRO brings fast loading times to compatible PCs and consoles for an immersive gaming experience. When tested with Forspoken[6], Luminous Productions’ action role-playing game supporting the latest game-loading technology, the map loading time was around one second, compared to 4 seconds for a SATA SSD and 28 seconds for a hard disk drive (HDD).

Outstanding Power Efficiency and Reliable Thermal Control

Built on a low-power architecture, Samsung’s newly designed controller dramatically improves the SSD’s power efficiency by up to 50% compared to the 980 PRO[7]. Additionally, the 990 PRO employs a nickel coating on the controller and a heat spreader label on the drive for reliable thermal management. Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard technology further ensures that the drive’s temperature stays in the optimal range.

Samsung’s SSD 990 PRO is also an excellent solution for laptop and desktop upgrades as well as for build-your-own PCs, providing a significant performance boost while using minimal power for long battery life and thermal management.

Launching on 21 November, the SSD 990 PRO is available for pre-order from today via Samsung’s online Store in 1TB (RRP: $265.00) and 2TB (RRP: $439.00). The first 100 people to pre-order the SSD 990 PRO via the Samsung Online store between 7- 20 November 2022 will receive a bonus Portable SSD T7 500GB valued at $149.00 RRP[8].

A 4TB capacity version and a 990 PRO with Heatsink version has been confirmed to launch next year, with Australian availability yet to be announced. The 990 PRO with Heatsink version will offer an additional layer of thermal control while its RGB lights will make it a stylish addition to PC builds.

For more information, including warranty details, please visit https://www.samsung.com/au/memory-storage/


[1] T&Cs apply. A bonus Portable SSD T7 (MU-PC500H/WW) will be added to the cart on eligible pre-order purchases of Samsung SSD 990 PRO models (MZ-V9P1T0BW or MZ-V9P2T0BW). Offer starts from 09:00 am (AEDT) 07 November 2022 and ends 11:59 pm (AEDT) 20 November 2022 unless withdrawn earlier. Bonus Portable SSD T7 (MU-PC500H/WW) will be available on the first 100 pre-orders only, offer redeemable once per customer. Purchase must be made on the Samsung Online Store (shop.samsung.com/au) and eligible partnership portals which display the offer only. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise advised. Subject to stock availability at the time of purchase. Visit Samsung.com/au for full T&Cs: https://www.samsung.com/au/memory-storage/nvme-ssd/990-pro-2tb-nvme-pcie-gen-4-mz-v9p2t0bw

[2] Samsung is the World’s No.1 brand for flash memory since 2003 based on data source:

2003-2021 OMDIA data – NAND suppliers’ revenue market share.

[3] PCIe 4.0’s highest theoretical sequential read speed is 8000 MB/s — 990 PRO reaches 7,450 MB/s as of Q3 2022.

[4] Sequential and random performance measurements are based on IOmeter1.1.0. Performance may vary based on SSD’s firmware version, system hardware & configuration.

* Test system configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-Core Processor [email protected], DDR4 3600MHz 16GBx2 (PC4-25600 Overclock), Windows 10 Pro 64bit, ASRock-X570 Taichi

[5] The 980 PRO NVMe M.2 SSD 2TB has a random write speed of Up to 1,000K IOPSreads and up to 1,000K IOPS writes. The 990 PRO SSD has read speeds up to 1,400K IOPS and write speeds up to 1,550K IOPS. Random write performance for the 980 PRO NVMe M.2 SSD 2TB was measured with Intelligent TurboWrite technology being activated. Intelligent TurboWrite operates only within a specific data transfer size. Performance may vary depending on SSD’s firmware, system hardware & configuration and other factors. For detailed information, please contact your local service center or visit https://www.samsung.com/au/memory-storage/nvme-ssd/980-pro-2tb-nvme-pcie-gen-4-mz-v8p2t0bw/

[6] FORSPOKEN © Luminous Productions Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. FORSPOKEN, LUMINOUS PRODUCTIONS and the LUMINOUS PRODUCTIONS logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd.

* Test system configuration: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor 3.70 GHz, AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB, DDR4-2666 (16GB x2), Windows 11 Pro 21H2

[7] 980 PRO provides power efficiency of 1,129/877 MB per watt for sequential read/write while 990 PRO’s is 1,380/1,319 MB per watt for sequential read/write, based on internal test results of the 1TB capacity model.

[8] T&Cs apply. A bonus Portable SSD T7 (MU-PC500H/WW) will be added to the cart on eligible pre-order purchases of Samsung SSD 990 PRO models (MZ-V9P1T0BW or MZ-V9P2T0BW). Offer starts from 09:00 am (AEDT) 07 November 2022 and ends 11:59 pm (AEDT) 20 November 2022 unless withdrawn earlier. Bonus Portable SSD T7 (MU-PC500H/WW) will be available on the first 100 pre-orders only, offer redeemable once per customer. Purchase must be made on the Samsung Online Store (shop.samsung.com/au) and eligible partnership portals which display the offer only. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise advised. Subject to stock availability at the time of purchase. Visit Samsung.com/au for full T&Cs: https://www.samsung.com/au/memory-storage/nvme-ssd/990-pro-2tb-nvme-pcie-gen-4-mz-v9p2t0bw

HARDCORE MOBILE TACTICAL SHOOTER ARENA BREAKOUT LAUNCHES CLOSED BETA TEST SIGN-UPS

New Immersive Mobile Shooter, Coming Early 2023 Globally, will Feature Dynamic Firefights,
Console-Quality Visuals and 700 Gun Attachments

November 7, 2022 – Global game developer MoreFun Studios Group, a subsidiary of Tencent Games, has announced that their hardcore tactical free-to-play first-person shooter Arena Breakout will be hosting its first closed beta test for Android users in Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines later this month. Players can sign up now for early access to the game and to be notified of more regional closed betas coming soon.

Sign up for Arena Breakout’s Closed Beta HERE: http://www.arenabreakoout.com

Watch the Arena Breakout Closed Beta announcement trailer HERE:

Arena Breakout has a planned global release on iOS and Android mobile devices in Early 2023. Soon, players around the world will experience an explosive console-quality tactical shooter in the palm of their hands.

Arena Breakout will offer a realistic, immersive and competitive gaming experience that will make your heart race during every match. Featuring a deadly open world called the Dark Zone, Arena Breakout gives players the choice to become an honourable task force member or an unscrupulous rogue.

Carefully monitor your vitals with Arena Breakout’s realistic health system and apply the right treatment to more than 10 different wound types to ensure survival in a brutal universe where the winner takes all.

Defeating enemies isn’t the only way to win: the goal is to search for supplies and successfully break out. Players have the freedom to play however they desire, whether it’s sneaking around or taking on enemies head-on!

Arena Breakout will feature real-time dynamic rendering for realistic light and shadow effects, Volumetric Cloud technologies and more than 1,200 sound effects for a jaw-dropping visual and audio console-quality experience on mobile. The game’s Ultimate Gunsmithing system will offer high levels of customization with more than 700 parts to fit in over 10 modification slots to create your very own weapon.

Valuable weapons, equipment, and supplies can be traded in the title’s open market system to build your wealth and help you dominate the Arena. Trade to strike it rich and fight for fortune in the ultimate tactical shooter on mobile.

Players can sign up for Arena Breakout’s Closed Beta HERE : http://www.arenabreakoout.com

For more information, please visit the game’s official website.

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About MoreFun Studios

MoreFun Studios Group, a subsidiary of Tencent Games, was established in 2010, and has developed a number of projects with world-renowned intellectual property such as Naruto and Rock Kingdom. MoreFun has the experience of working on a wide variety of genres including action, shooter, RPG, casual, and more. MoreFun Studios Group is committed to delivering quality content and experiences to its players across the globe.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Heroes Aang, Toph and Zuko Will Join Brawlhalla as Epic Crossovers on November 16

Sydney, Australia — November 7, 2022 Today during this year’s Brawlhalla World Championship, Ubisoft announced a collaboration with Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, bringing heroes Aang, Toph and Zuko to Brawlhalla as Epic Crossovers on November 16. Brawlhalla fans can also look forward to Battle Boots, a new Weapon available in December. 

Aang, Toph, and Zuko Join the Brawl on November 16: 

  • Aang, an Epic Crossover for Wu Shang, is the last Airbender and only known survivor of the Air Nomads. His destiny is to learn the art of the Avatarand defeat the Fire Lord of the Fire Nation. Because Aang is the Avatar, he must learn how to bend all four elements: water, earth, fire, and air. He is a trickster and longs for a life full of fun experiences. Aang uses Gauntlets and Spear, and his Signature attacks show Aang bending all four elements, even entering the Avatar state. 
  • Toph, an Epic Crossover for Kor, was born blind and grew up learning to adapt and thrive. As a powerful Earthbender, she’s stubborn, uninhibited, exuberantly self-confident, and loves to say and do whatever she pleases. She has no patience with other people telling her what to do, but she’s more than happy to boss others around. Used to being underestimated, she uses people’s misperceptions of her to gain an advantage over them. Toph uses Gauntlets and Hammer, and her Signatures use her earthbending skills to increase the power of her attacks. 
  • Zuko, an Epic Crossover for Hattori, is the son of Fire Lord Ozai and a powerful Firebender, banished from the Fire Nation for speaking out against his Father and the Fire Nation’s conquest. During his mission to retrieve the Avatar, Zuko faced much internal struggle and turmoil. Supported by his uncle, General Iroh, Zuko ultimately joined the Avatar’sgroup to become Aang’s firebending mentor and restore both his and the Fire Nation’s true honor.​ Zuko uses Sword and Spear, and in his Signatures he takes on the disguise of the Blue Spirit and unleashes his firebending mastery. 

Developed by Blue Mammoth, Brawlhalla is an epic free-to-play platform fighting game that transports over 80 million players to a fight for glory in the halls of Valhalla. Choosing from more than 50 unique characters, players can jump into single-player and co-op modes, as well as online and local competitions. Brawlhalla also supports cross-platform play between the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 system, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices where players can play custom games and queue together for all online matchmaking. 

For more information on Brawlhalla, please visit: brawlhalla.com 

For the latest news on Brawlhalla and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit: news.ubisoft.com

About Nickelodeon 

Now in its 43rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands. 

About Blue Mammoth 

Founded in 2009 and acquired by Ubisoft in 2018, Blue Mammoth Games is a development studio based in Atlanta, Georgia. The experienced team specializes in online multiplayer games with large player bases. 

Blue Mammoth develops Brawlhalla, a Free-To-Play fighting game on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, Mac, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 system, iOS, and Android devices. Brawlhalla has over 80 million players and is currently the most played fighting game on Steam. 

About Ubisoft 

Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew®, Tom Clancy’s The Division®, and Watch Dogs®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2021–22 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2,129 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com

© 2022 Ubisoft. All Rights Reserved. Brawlhalla is a registered or unregistered trademark of Blue Mammoth Games in the US and/or other countries. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Blue Mammoth Games is a Ubisoft Entertainment company. 

Bayonetta 3 Review

Bayonetta 3

Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $59.99 USD – Available Here $79.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Has it really been over a decade since Bayonetta debuted? Since then, a lot has changed, as the angel slayer has become a namesake in the industry, getting an exclusive Nintendo deal along with an appearance in Smash Bros. – forever cementing her legacy with her impact, rather than just a long and tenured library. Platinum are out to fix that last part now, with Bayonetta 3 finally launching for the Nintendo Switch. Does this title still have the luster of prior releases, or is the third installment the first dark mark for the franchise? Let’s find out. 

Story 

Bayonetta 3 starts off with a bang. Introducing an alternate universe, we see a scene play out as an alternate universe Bayonetta is destroyed in front of a young woman by the name of Viola. Desperate to right the wrongs of her reality, Viola sets out to find the Bayonetta we all know and love to save all sides – with many former allies joining in along the way. For spoiler purposes, that is all I can really say about the plot, but it is indeed fantastic. This is one of those titles where you can feel the chapters melt together as the writing is still sharp and exciting, with plenty to become immersed in throughout the journey. The new characters fit great, and the old ones are just as fun in this installment, all perfectly adding to an already stellar experience. Personally, I did feel like this ending doesn’t have the punch or the satisfaction of the past two titles, but most should still leave with little disappointment as this third chapter stands tall by the time the credits roll. 

Gameplay 

The gameplay within Bayonetta 3 has a lot of new additions this time around, but first you should know that the feel and fast-paced combat is still very much still the forefront of the experience. For those new to Bayonetta, you should know that the gameplay falls into two different categories that complement each other as you progress through. Large, focused battles have the player practice timed based dodges and attacks to avoid damage and rack up combos, utilizing the time-altering “witch time” in order to slow down the chaos and center in on a specific target. Players can upgrade equipment and concoct recipes for health and other boosting options to better their chances of survival, while also unlocking new weapons and techniques as they head into new areas. 

The second part of the combat relies on exploration. Players get some lengthy sections where they can take a look around, participate in puzzles, and hunt for rings and other currencies in order to gain strength for their next battle segment. It’s a game still built on balance, with some new options to make it feel distinct and original. Instead of summoning Infernal Demons for only climaxes, Bayonetta can now utilize new abilities to control these large, over-the-top allies in real-time battles. This means that while you can still cut down enemies the old-fashioned way, you have a great advantage in doing a quick summon to knock out larger foes in quick fashion.  

It’s interesting for sure to see this change, as at first glance, I felt it would slow down combat and was a bit worried. Thankfully, these keep that pace and enhance it a bit with new strategies that can be used to attempt to get closer to platinum ranking for each fight. Demons battle while the player “controls” their attacks nearby, where you can unleash attacks via various button inputs. Due to how seamless this mechanic is, the player can still attach parries and dodge, keeping these moments exciting and fluid. I will say that if I had any changes I would make, it would be a bit more of the blend of exploration and big battles, as I feel exploration takes a bit longer to get to this time around and doesn’t always allow the player to have those long-winded breaks from the past, as Bayonetta 3 is without a doubt more intense than the last entry. While the boss battles are fantastic in scope and feel, I do think more time to get to know this world and new sights would have easily cemented this installment as the best in the franchise, rather than just putting on par with the rest (which is still nothing to be ashamed about). 

Visuals

Sure, the Switch isn’t known for power, but Bayonetta 3 still pushes the limits of the hardware with non-stop animation and fluid combat without much stutter or slowdown. Character models are crisp, and the colors look phenomenal as all the action hits high notes. Everything plays silky-smooth, and while the cutscenes could use a little bit of polish with dialogue syncing up, I had very little issue with still enjoying the story segments that quickly churn into action bouts in a moment’s notice.  

Audio

Bayonetta 2 still has my favorite soundtrack from the series, but that doesn’t mean what 3 brings is any less than stellar. This selection of tracks fits in perfectly with the quirky darkness that the franchise is known for and captures the action and thrills from the battles as the music selection changes to set the stage for even grander encounters. Hellena Taylor is hard to replace as our featured protagonist, but Jennifer Hale does a fantastic job with her new duties as she still captures Bayonetta’s charm and cocky endearment without missing a bit. The rest of the cast return and do a great job reprising their roles, with Anna Brisbin stepping into the role of Viola with a phenomenal performance played. 

Overall

Bayonetta 3 is ultimately more of what we love. While the new mechanics do a lot to make the game feel distinct and original, this is still the same action romp that we fell in love with over a decade ago. Some could argue that it is time for the franchise to start taking some risks, and to that I could slightly agree. That said, if it isn’t broken, enhance the formula- and that is exactly what this sequel is all about. Bayonetta 3 is a fine installment that creates another notch on the bedpost for this Umbran Witch, with more seamless and intense combat, and another tale that will surely be cherished for generations to come. 

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Potionomics Gameplay

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In Potionomics players inherit their uncle’s potion shop as well as his massive debt. Watch as we learn the ropes of potion brewing and haggling through the first two days as we begin our mission to win the upcoming contests and save the business.

You’ve inherited your uncle’s potion shop—and a huge debt. Better get brewing! Customize your store, hire heroes to gather ingredients, befriend (or romance) fellow vendors to learn new haggling strategies, and go head-to-head with competitors in this narrative-driven, deck-building shop simulator.

Potionomics
Developer: Voracious Games
Publisher: XSEED Games, Marvelous USA, Inc.
Website: https://www.xseedgames.com/
Platform: Windows
Release Date: 21 Oct, 2022
Price: $24.99 USD

Available now on Steam – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1874490/Potionomics/

Summary:

Recommended – Potionomics combines management sim, crafting, and deck building together to create a fine game that oozes with charm but is far stricter than it appears.”

Check out our Review for Potionomics here!

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Resident Evil Village: Winters’ Expansion Review

Resident Evil Village: Winters’ Expansion

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: Xbox Series X (Reviewed), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, PC
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $19.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

As the credits rolled on Resident Evil Village it always seemed like there was more to the Winters family’s journey and that Capcom would simply bring out some DLC to bring their story to a close. Well, after more than a year wondering just what that DLC would entail the company revealed that not only would it continue to follow the Winters family but would also add in a bit of extra content to the base game in the form of a third person camera and some powerful new characters in the Mercenaries mode. So, now that Resident Evil Village: Winters’ Expansion has arrived, was it worth the wait?

Story

Now it is worth noting that the main focus of this expansion happens to be the Shadows of Rose storyline, meaning that those who have yet to play the original Resident Evil Village until completion will want to do so before playing it or continuing to read further as this expansion takes place explicitly after the events of the base game. 

That being said, Shadows of Rose begins many years after the events of the game where players learn that while Rose has managed to grow up, it wasn’t without hardship as her special powers have been more of a curse than a blessing. As such, when she learns that there may potentially be a way to completely cure herself of these abilities Rose is ready to take the risk even if it means having to delve into the consciousness of what might be the last surviving piece of the Megamycete. The very same piece responsible for her own abilities, her family’s hardships, and the vessel for every memory of those that have come in contact with it. Despite the unknown dangers that may await, Rose accepts the challenge only to find that the mindscape of the Megamycete is more twisted than anything she could have expected.

Initially dealing with a familiar face turned foe before facing down a harrowing encounter with an old enemy and more, Shadows of Rose brings the player through three levels of consciousness all of which take place in hauntingly familiar but twisted locations from the base game. Rose’s journey through these areas is a fairly interesting one with numerous reveals about her past as she struggled to grow up with her powers and interactions with the manifestations within the Megamycete. 

It is a bit unfortunate however that not only does Rose’s journey feel a bit on the short side clocking in at a little under three hours with there easily being plenty of untapped potential from her past and other areas from the core game but her powers are also fairly uninspired for most of the playthrough. While players do learn more about Rose’s abilities as the story unfolds, they are kept mostly tame until the finale which feels like a missed opportunity despite the fact that the ending does feel emotionally satisfying and fills in some gaps from what players have already learned.

Gameplay

The most notable difference in Shadows of Rose is that it can only be played with the third person camera angle that has been introduced in this expansion. Not only does this allow players to get a small taste of the camera angle outside of the original story mode but also allows for some of the new gameplay mechanics to come into play. Now Rose will obtain the usual rundown of weapons including a pistol, shotgun, and pipe bombs to take down the enemies that she encounters within the Megamycete but she will also be able to use her powers for a variety of things. Initially Rose will use her abilities to eliminate sources of corruption blocking her path but can eventually use them to stun enemies, freezing them in place. Frozen enemies will begin to move after a short time but players can use this advantage to either escape or put down a creature should they wish. This same ability can be used to immediately throw an enemy off of Rose should they grab a hold of her but players will need to be careful, any offensive use of Rose’s abilities will drain her until she can recover using a new recovery item.

Besides shooting and dodging a new type of enemy that will appear vaguely familiar to fans of the latest games, players will also need to solve a few small puzzles throughout their time in Shadows of Rose though these are fairly simple as well as take part in a number of stealth sections. These stealth sections actually work incredibly well here and serve as some of the best source of scares that players can experience, especially with how certain sequences play out. Alas, as mentioned before, the Shadows of Rose mode is fairly short and will leave players wanting more especially since, outside of the final battle, the last area is incredibly simplistic.

Outside of the Shadows of Rose mode players will also be able to experience the third person camera through the main campaign. This camera angle does spice things up a bit for those looking to see the world of Resident Evil Village in a new light, especially since the camera angle does wonders for some boss encounters. That being said, while the camera angle can be changed on the fly through the options, having it shift between third and first person view whenever a cutscene plays out is a bit of an odd feeling.

Finally the third major addition in the Winters’ Expansion comes with the improved Mercenaries mode. Players will find that Mercenaries will now automatically have Chris Redfield unlocked for use on all stages with Chris playing as a physical powerhouse that can utilize powerful punches and far stronger orbital lasers to take down the hordes of enemies that attack in a far more aggressive manner than in the base mode. In a rather odd decision, especially since they are part of paid DLC, both Heisenberg and Lady Dimitriscu are actually locked away from players unless they have already accomplished certain goals. 

Heisenberg can only be unlocked once players beat all stages with at least an A rating and while this may not be too difficult, it is a strange obstacle to put in the way of a DLC character. Once unlocked Heisenberg serves as an even stronger powerhouse capable of meleeing foes using his makeshift hammer, using metal as projectiles, and even summoning a lycan to fight by his side. In similar fashion, Lady Dimitriscu can only be unlocked once players get an S rating on the newly added Blood River stage which is a rather odd requirement especially since she is by far the most enjoyable of the three as her powerful claws, ability to summon her daughters, and more make her a force to be reckoned with. All three of these characters certainly help spice up what was a lackluster mode though the strange way that the two best characters remain locked behind challenges is strange especially since the core aspects of the Mercenaries mode remain the same as before.

Visuals & Audio

As mentioned before, players will be playing through the Shadows of Rose mode entirely in third person which provides a great sampling of what the angle can offer throughout the main campaign. The areas in Shadows of Rose are a scary twist of familiar areas corrupted by the Megamycete with the first two areas really standing out as a great use of assets, even if they simply are reused areas. It is worth noting that the new enemy types are a bit on the bland looking side and while their attack animations and Rose’s death animations are handled well, the way each enemy dies the exact same way is rather noticeable.

As for the soundtrack the title makes great use of the familiar music as well as some new tracks used as subtle background noise while the English voice cast have handled their characters well, especially with the Mercenaries mode allowing players to hear a bit more of two fan favorite characters as they tear through enemies.

Overall

With Resident Evil Village: Winters’ Expansion bringing a number of enhancements to the table, players will find that it is mostly a great addition to an already amazing game. The Shadows of Rose mode offers an emotional and occasionally scary story with new gameplay elements that ends a bit too soon for its own good while the third person camera gives the main game some extra flair for those looking to dive back into it. As for Mercenaries mode, the new characters are a blast to play especially since enemies are more aggressive; though locking most of them behind challenges is a strange move.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Review

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Developer: Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Beenox, Treyarch, High Moon Studios, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: Xbox Series XXbox OnePlayStation 4PlayStation 5PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: 28 Oct 2022
Price: $109.95 AUD – Available Here $69.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

Do you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to TV shows? You know, that one series you watch that isn’t exactly stellar, the acting is average at best, the story is so and so but at this point, you invested a lot of time that it would feel weird to throw in the towel. Call of Duty franchise is my guilty pleasure when it comes to video games. I’m not particularly invested in the overall story, wouldn’t even consider myself a fan but whenever a new entry in this franchise is out, I say to myself “well, I might as well give it a go”. And that’s not a bad thing at all. Being reserved and somewhat detached from all of it helps me to be objective about it and without a strong bias. So, let’s do that while we dig deeper into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.

Story

One thing to point out at the start is that this game and its predecessor is a soft reboot of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series. So if you played the OG games, you have a general grasp of the story. The previous game ended with the introduction of iconic Task Force 141. Here we will be joining the ranks of Soar, Gaz, Ghost, Captain Price, and Colonel Alejandro Vargas as the campaign takes us all over the world.

We start by hunting the dangerous terrorist Hassan Zyani, then getting involved with a cartel and ending up in the skyscrapers of Chicago. Of course, the story this time has gone through some minor changes. Shepard’s betrayal is still here but it is done in a way that will make sense for the reboot. Some new characters and levels are introduced just to amp up the stakes and because it’s not fun playing the same game over again with nothing but updated visuals.

Gameplay

There is a lot of new stuff and surprises in this reboot. Stealth missions, the one where you provide support to ground units from a military plane, a couple of stealth missions, driving sections (where you can hijack vehicles GTA style), and my personal favorite – Alone. A mission where you play as injured Soap, starting without any weapons and you have to sneak around enemies while looking for resources to craft makeshift smoke bombs, traps, and grenades.

As for the multiplayer, I never thought I’d say this but……I’m actually having fun with it. This is coming from someone who played every single Call of Duty game in existence. In some of them, multiplayer was glued as an afterthought, in some, the campaign would be generic and hamfisted to no end cause all of the focus was spent on multiplayer, and then there were some that had nothing good in them. I like the choice of being able to customize everything. From weapons, perks and kill streaks to everything about your profile (emblem, calling card, operator skins).

I also have to mention that I’m playing with the Vault edition of the game, which means I get some exclusive operators such as Farah, Ghost, Soap, and Price. There is also the FJX Cinder weapon blueprint and 50-tier skips for season 1 of the battle pass. But even with all that aside, there is surprisingly a lot of content here. Customizable playlist for multiplayer (if you only prefer team deathmatch you can select it in the filter and you will only join sessions with that mode), third-person mode, co-op, invasion, prisoner rescue mode…..the fun never stops.

Visuals

I’m glad that Activision finally decided to move away from one particular engine that only had minor facelifts and tweaks throughout the years. It only took them a decade or so but hey, better late than never. All joking aside, the game looks great even on medium settings. The night vision missions are especially immersive and motion capture has probably reached the ceiling in this game considering how natural and smooth it looks. In any case, you haven’t played this game properly until you visit Amsterdam and admire all of its beauty. The gunsmith addition for multiplayer is a notably welcome feature considering just how much freedom in customization you have when it comes to making your own signature weapon (camo, attachments, stickers, and so on).

Audio

There is no room here for nitpicking. While the sound design is something that will rarely come into focus in the campaign, the multiplayer is where it really shines. The symphony of weapons, choppers, and explosions is something that is best experienced in the invasion and ground war modes. There is nothing like the feeling of bullets zipping over your head while you try to evade missiles and explosions as you race to the nearest cover. Even the sounds of various sniper rifles are distinguishable, instead of them sharing the same generic subsonic sound effect (as is usually the case in other games).

Overall

It wouldn’t be your average Call of Duty game if it didn’t come with a plethora of bugs and crashes. I figured at least this one would be an exception to that established rule, but no. It might seem like something that you have to willfully look past it but the overall shoddiness in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will only drag down the overall experience.

One particular moment in the mission Dark Water stands out. I’m well into the half of the campaign and I get to this mission where the game would always freeze at one specific point. The only solution was to kill the game via the task manager. Only after some googling, I found out that I’m not alone in this and one solution that might or might not work was to restart the whole mission (luckily, it worked for me). Not to mention to occasional random 1-second freezes in multiplayer, where that one second can mean a difference between life and death. So it is business as usual. If you think of buying it maybe it would be better to wait for some inevitable fixes and updates. What can I say, it is classic tale of rushing the game to meet a release deadline.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II – Campaign & Multiplayer Gameplay

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In this gameplay for Modern Warfare II, we are on the hunt for a dangerous terrorist Hassan Zyani throughout the first 4 levels of the campaign and then we switch to some good old multiplayer carnage as a bonus!

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II drops players into an unprecedented global conflict that features the return of the iconic Operators of Task Force 141.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Developer: Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Beenox, Treyarch, High Moon Studios, Sledgehammer Games, Activision Shanghai, Demonware, Toys for Bob
Publisher: Activision
Website: https://support.activision.com/
Platform: Windows
Release Date: 28 Oct, 2022
Price: $69.99 USD

Available now on Steam – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1938090/Call_of_Duty_Modern_Warfare_II/

Summary:

Recommended – “Great campaign, coupled with intense multiplayer mayhem but all of that is dragged down by an infuriating number of freezes, crashes, and stutters – both in single-player and multiplayer.”

Check out our Review for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II here!

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This Week in GTA Online: Heist Bonuses All Month Long, Double Rewards on Street Races, Hunting Pack (Remix), and Much More

The Heists Event in GTA Online Reap Huge Rewards All November in GTA Online

This November, GTA Online celebrates the organized criminals who dare to commit the most magnificent acts of robbery and fraud that Southern San Andreas has ever seen. Escape unscathed, count your take, and enjoy the fruits of your criminal labors all month long.

Crime never takes a day off in Los Santos, but it pays overtime to plan and execute schemes on vaults and stashes around the city this month, including:

  • 2X GTA$ and RP on all Setup Missions for all classic Heists and 1.5X GTA$ and RP on all Prep Missions in The Doomsday Heist for the whole month
  • Complete all the Heist Finales within the next 3 weeks to receive a lump-sum bonus of GTA$2,000,000 within 72 hours of completion

This week, learn the ropes and polish your skills by completing The Fleeca Job to earn Double Rewards through November 9. The extra 50% GTA$ for GTA+ Members stacks on top of this, resulting in a 3X GTA$ bonus.

Additional Doomsday Bonuses

This week only, operators can also earn an extra 50% GTA$ and RP, plus the Cliffford Hoodie for thwarting a global threat in The Doomsday Heist.

To make matters easier, setup costs for The Data Breaches, The Bogdan Problem, and The Doomsday Scenario are all 50% off, and Gas Masks used during The Doomsday Heist are 35% off.

Successfully breaching a submarine and completing The Bogdan Problem anytime this week, meanwhile, will net you the Cliffford Varsity bomber jacket.

Get the Black Rockstar Tee

Visit Los Santos anytime this week to claim the rare Black Rockstar Tee. We’ll be giving away more tees to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Grand Theft Auto throughout the month, so be sure to check back on the Rockstar Newswire periodically for further details.

2X GTA$ and RP on Street Races

A real motorhead looks at the map of Los Santos and sees an ocean of choices: stoplights turn into starting lines; traffic turns into a field of competitive racers; detours turn into lap-saving shortcuts. Whether you’re first or last, all competitors will earn 2X GTA$ and RP for taking part in Street Races this week.

2X GTA$ and RP on Hunting Pack (Remix)

Hunting Pack (Remix) takes the high-speed tension of the original Hunting Pack, and injects it chock-full of adrenaline, weaponized vehicles, assorted unpronounceable research chemicals, and Double Rewards all week long.

Only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S

Premium Test Ride: Bravado Banshee

At this point, the Bravado Banshee is practically synonymous with Grand Theft Auto. Generations of players have cut their teeth weaving through oncoming traffic in the Banshee, and now the crew at Hao’s Special Works is determined to put it in a lane all its own.

This Week’s HSW Time Trial
Once Hao’s sorted you out with best-in-class performance, floor it in this week’s HSW Time Trial between East Vinewood and Vespucci Beach to put his modifications to the ultimate test.

Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom
Pay a visit to Simeon Yetarian’s Premium Deluxe Motorsport showroom to stroll between the following vehicles — just don’t ask the local auto-mogul how he got his hands on them:

  • The Karin Sultan RS Classic painted Torino Red
  • A Bleached Brown Vapid Hustler with the Basic Pinstripe livery equipped
  • The Übermacht Sentinel Classic in Bluish Silver with Racing Blue Pearlescent
  • A Black and Pearlescent Race Yellow Albany Hermes with the Ghost Flames livery
  • The Übermacht Cypher dripping in an Olive Green paint job and wrapped in the Fleeca Circuit livery, which is only available for a limited time 

Luxury Autos Showroom
Stop by the Luxury Autos Showroom — located right across the street from Record A Studios — and peer in the window display to get a look at the Übermacht SC1 and Lampadati Viseris, compare stats and specs, and buy either (or both) of them.

Car Meet Prize Ride: The Declasse Mamba
Competitive LS Car Meet Members who manage to fight their way to the top of the pile and place Top 3 in Street Races for 5 days running will earn the keys to the Declasse Mamba.

Visit the Test Track inside the Car Meet to give the Ocelot Pariah, Överflöd Autarch, and Grotti GT500 a spin before you commit to purchase. The Test Track allows you to freestyle however you’d like, or you can compete in a Scramble against your peers, or race against the clock in a Time Trial.

On The Diamond Casino Podium: The Pfister Comet SR
Drop by the lobby of The Diamond Casino & Resort to spin the Lucky Wheel and potentially walk away with the Pfister Comet SR rotating on the podium nearby.

GTA+

GTA+ Members can make the most of this month with a Buckingham SuperVolito helicopter and Penthouse Suite 1 atop Eclipse Towers. Plus, get a free Apartment Style change for any of the three Penthouse Suites at Eclipse Towers, as well as:

  • Guaranteed Panther Statue target once per week on The Cayo Perico Heist
  • 50% extra GTA$ on The Fleeca Job, The Prison Break, The Humane Labs, Series A Funding, and The Pacific Standard Job
  • Free Utility Vests and Bulletproof Helmets, plus the Still Slipping Tie-Dye Tee and Hat
  • 2X Rep on all LS Car Meet Races
  • Additional Member bonuses

Visit the GTA+ website to check out all the GTA+ Membership Benefits available through December 12. To learn more about how to make the most of your GTA+ Membership, check out the GTA+ Guide.

DISCOUNTS:

Extend your empire’s tendrils far underground: purchasing a Facility, as well as any Upgrades and Modifications you might make to your siloed base of operations, costs 40% less this week.

See below for the full list of vehicles discounted this week to see if there are any additions to your roster that you’d like to make. And check back in at the Newswire next week as the Heists Event continues to dole out increased rewards and rare unlocks.

  • Buckingham Akula – 35% off
  • HVY Barrage – 35% off
  • Brute RCV – 25% off
  • TM-02 Khanjali – 25% off
  • Överflöd Autarch – 30% off
  • Grotti GT500 – 30% off
  • Ocelot Pariah – 35% off
  • Volatol – 35% off
  • Übermacht SC1 – 35% off
  • Lampadati Viseris – 35% off
  • Vapid Hustler – 35% off
  • Übermacht Sentinel Classic – 35% off
  • Albany Hermes – 30% off
  • Canis Kamacho – 30% off

Prime Gaming Benefits
GTA Online players who successfully connect their Rockstar Games Social Club account with Prime Gaming will get GTA$125K just for playing anytime this week. In addition, by playing anytime between November 3 and December 7, receive a one-time log in bonus of GTA$500K for being a Prime Gaming Member. Those who are also GTA+ Members will receive an additional GTA$500K on top of this bonus.

All bonus GTA$ will be deposited into your Maze Bank account within 72 hours at the start of the next weekly event. To ensure access to future benefits, make sure to visit Prime Gaming and sign up.

Check Rockstar Support for details and limitations.