ISSUE 96 / Vol.8 JuNE 2017
www.gameccamag.com
Soft Touch
Razer Ornata
Tekken 7 Injustice 2 Prey and more...
The Empir e Endless Space 2
Superbrawl Injustice 2
Audio Everywhere Logitech G231 Prodigy
Big Punch Tekken 7
Hunted Prey In it... Farpoint
Heartland Far Cry 5 finds a controversial home
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Gamecca Magazine: © Copyright Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd. (2009 – 2016)
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Ed’s Choice Awar
From the Editor
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ShiftingSands
by Walt Pretorius
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nd so another Gamecca Volume draws to a close. Issue 96 – this issue – marks the end of Volume 8, which is something that I normally start chatting about a few issues before it happens. To be honest, it kind of snuck up on me this year. It was almost a surprise, sitting back and going “hey, next month is out 8th birthday issue!” Perhaps it is because this year has felt a little strange. Not just in terms of what is happening around the globe – and there is a lot of worrying stuff going on, as I am sure you are well aware – but also because the year has been busier in terms of gaming than one might expect, particularly at this time. See, E3 2017 is just around the corner. In a few days, tens of thousands of people will descend on LA to get their fill of yet another showcase of what’s coming for the rest of the year, and over the next few years. Traditionally, around this time, game releases all but dry up. We have often faced the problem of “what’s going into the July issue” because E3 puts the brakes on release schedules as developers and publishers try to squeeze the last bit of big press out for their games. This year, things are different. We already know of a few of the games going into the July issue, and we have seen some pretty big releases already. Take, for example, Farpoint. It might not be the biggest game of the year, but the PS Aim Controller that it works with is pretty big news for PlayStation. A few years ago, it would have been on the E3 ticket. This year, not so much. It’s out already, and reviewed in this issue. It makes one wonder about the relevance of the “big game trade show”. Sure, E3 is still relevant (and we will bring you coverage of the
event in our July issue, of course) but the last few years have seen things shift in ways that may soon become more significant. See, when E3 started out, gaming websites weren’t the main source of public information – magazines were. In fact, social media as we know it didn’t even exist, and internet news delivery was nowhere near where it is today. That’s all changed, of course, and we are seeing those changes creep into institutions like E3. Allowing the public in, for example, is a sign that press are going elsewhere for their coverage. The connection between press and publishers is stronger than ever, thanks to a host of new information options. Similarly, publishers are finding great success in leveraging things like social media to get the word of their new products out – at a fraction of the cost of attending E3. Sure, they still have some kind of presence, but many have moved out of the halls at the LA Convention Centre, rather doing their own, smaller events around E3, instead of at it. So then shows like E3 become more valuable to the public, who don’t get the kind of early access to games that the press does. That is likely to change with time, too, as increased connectivity takes the idea of open betas – the new demo – to all-new heights. Soon, game shows like E3 may become things of the past, and publishers will likely start spreading their releases out more evenly over the year… they’re already starting to. It’s all speculation, of course, and I’m pretty sure you’ve heard enough of it for now… so, on to the issue. Enjoy! g mgeect 2 c7a 9 6 ggl a ad
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THIS MONTH’S COVER
Far Cry 5 is getting ready to ruffle some feathers...
Publishing Editor Walt Pretorius
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Feature: The Heartland Far Cry 5 moves to a new setting...
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Previews: Games 15 games to look out for
walt@novamentis.co.za
Art Director Katia Taliadoros katia@novamentis.co.za
Writers: Alex Scanlon Clive Burmeister Iwan Pienaar Noelle Adams Nthato Morakabi Rob Edwards Sibonisile Motha Suvesh Arumugam Walt Pretorius
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Reviews: Games 6 games thoroughly inspected
Regular: IndieView An echo of things to come...
Letters: letters@gameccamag.com
Competition Entries: competitions@gameccamag.com
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Copyright Š Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd 2009 - 2017
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Taking fun seriously! All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.
GAMECCA is published by Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd
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Feature: Get Your Gun The New PS Aim Controller is here
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reviews: Hardware 5 bits of awesome kit...
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Regular: Internet Try not to cry...
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COOL STUFF: Movies Yet another Mummy
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COOL STUFF: Comics Illustrated Literature
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COOL STUFF: Books great reads await!
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Gamecca Vol. 8 Issue 96 June 2017
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“Prey is thoroughly addictive. Whether it is chasing that next upgrade or trying to get as many side quests done as possible, it is the kind of game that will keep you coming back…”
Prey
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Features The Heartland
PReviews Destiny 2 AereA A Hole New World Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Brawlout Gas Guzzlers Extreme Goliath Sudden Strike 4 Starfighter Origins Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth Symmetry Tokyo 42 Unbox: Newbie’s Adventure Unknown Fate Yakuza Kiwami
Reviews 40 46 52 58 64 68
Prey Tekken 7 Injustice 2 Farpoint The Surge Endless Space 2
RegularS 72
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Far Cry 5
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By Walt Pretorius
ARTLAND rsial Move...
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he world we live in today is a place that seems a lot more frightening than it did just a few years back. There has been an increase in divisions along ideological lines that could, if treated in the wrong kind of way, become nothing short of a powder keg. There seems to be, at any given time, an undercurrent of dissatisfaction and violence bubbling just below the surface of today’s society. The election of Donald Trump, the Brexit movement, the rise of right wing political candidates in countries like France and the Netherlands, and even heightened racial tensions here in South Africa – all are signs that the cycle of history repeating itself is, indeed, in full swing. But we live in a very different world from the one in which the likes of Adolf Hitler could rise to power and commit terrible atrocities that were only discovered
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lone after the fact. We live in a world where a terrible act is almost immediately visible, even if one needs to dig through veils of misinformation and uninformed opinion to get there. What does this have to do with video games? That’s a good question. Video gaming has long been the subject of controversy and misinformation, from people like Jack Thompson chasing every viable ambulance to concerned parents not fully understanding what their children are doing within a video game environment. But now, there’s a new kind of controversy that has arisen, tied to what was mentioned before… and it comes in the form of the recently announced Far Cry 5. The Far Cry franchise has been around for some time, as the fact that the fifth one is on the way implies. Aside from the very first game, each subsequent title has been published by Ubisoft. And also apart from the
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Far Cry 5
first title, each one has touched on controversial ideas. Far Cry 2 took to Africa, placing the player in the midst of a civil war while hunting for an arms dealer (with very strong influences from the equally controversial Heart of Darkness.) Far Cry 3 investigated piracy and a lot more in the South Pacific, as well as taking the player on a trip into madness. Far Cry 4 took to a mountainous Asian country, ruled by a tyrant. Each also posed the player with difficult decisions, and put them in places that would test the morality of their game character. But each one, for the majority of the game playing world, was far away. Here in South Africa we could relate more to Far Cry 2, sure, but most of us spent more time marvelling at how well the familiar landscape had been captured, and laughing at some very colourful phrases delivered in native languages. But, theoretically, very few members of the
largest game playing communities, in Europe, Asia and the Americas, have ever been to even one of those locations. Far Cry 5 is a different kettle of fish entirely, however. Not only does it go right into well-known territory – a rural setting in the United States of America – but it does something that is almost unthinkable to the Western mindset… The bad guys in Far Cry 5 are an ultra-conservative, reactionary Christian group with survivalist overtones. And the announcement of that has kicked a hornet’s nest. Even if the political climate that the world finds itself in today had been more tolerant than it currently is, this idea would not have been received well, particularly in the USA. But as things stand, some folks are getting pretty angry. There is even an online petition doing the
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rounds, trying to force Ubisoft, among other things, to change the bad guys into fundamentalist Muslims. The idea is laughable, because of the massively blackand-white, us-against-them attitude taken by those that created the petition, but it is also the mood of the world right now. It’s hardly surprising that the plans for Far Cry 5 have ruffled some feathers. It’s a tricky proposition, given what is going on in the world right now. But it is also, perhaps, a good time for this kind of thing to be aired. The player, taking on the role of a small town cop hell-bent on taking back control, will be exposed to numerous outrageous and disturbing ideas, many of them doubtlessly exaggerated for entertainment effect and impact. Two questions arise, as a result. The first is, does an entertainment medium have a place in discussing such matters? Historically, we
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have seen many books, films and even games that have addressed serious issues, to varied degrees of success. So, yes, there is a space for this kind of commentary. Whether the timing is right remains up for debate, although it is doubtful that Far Cry 5 will do more than upset a number of people. The majority will probably understand what the game is trying to say, without taking undue offence. That leads to the second question – will the developers be able to convey the potential messages contained within this risky proposition properly? Their previous games have touched on themes central to the narratives with varying degrees of effectiveness, and so whether or not Ubisoft will be able to make any points with Far Cry 5 remains to be seen. And then there’s the question of whether nor not they are even trying to make a point? It seems that
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Far Cry 5
Ubisoft view Far Cry 5 as a video game, a work of entertainment, rather than some kind of political statement. Some within the publisher have implied that there is nothing more to Far Cry 5 than just being a video game, but there are too many direct comparisons to events and attitudes prevalent in the world right now for there not to be some kind of deeper motivation here. Attitudes and language contained within the material we have seen thus far for Far Cry 5 resonates strongly with the messages of the ultra-conservative, pro-gun religious right wing in the USA. These aren’t some kind of fantasy bad guys… they are based on ideas and ideals that exist in America. There has been a movement of late for video games to investigate some of the deeper ills in human society. This War of Mine looked at the terrible effects of war on society, while Mafia 3 explored deep seated racism.
There are many other examples, but all have seemed a little toothless compared to the potential message that Far Cry 5 could be delivering. And that message will not sit well with some people out there in the real world. One thing is for certain, though… video games, due to their interactive nature, have the ability to deliver strong messages in a much more direct way. Although efforts in the past have done little more than test the waters, the makers of Far Cry 5 have a chance to really drive their chosen themes home in a very direct way. Far Cry 5 could be a brave new step in video games, casting aside the careful tiptoeing around serious issues that the video game industry has undertaken for the longest time. Whether it actually does so or not remains to be seen – but it might just be the element that makes or breaks this controversial game. g
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Destiny 2 GAMING
The battle continues
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Destiny 2
by Walt Pretorius
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guardians (the players) must find a way to take it back. There isn’t too much known about Destiny 2 just yet, in terms of specifics. But the information that we have managed to glean is that there will be a whole new set of environments to explore, as well as new skills and equipment to discover. There are also some new co-op and competitive modes on the way, but we’re expecting to hear a lot more about this next instalment in the Destiny franchise around E3. One thing we do know for sure is that both pubishers Activision and developers Bungie are excited about what will be on offer in Destiny 2. “Destiny established a blockbuster, new franchise and a massive global community of amazingly
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here are few games that truly manage to marry different genres successfully, but when they do the results can be really spectacular. One such game was Destiny, which took the ideals of massively multiplayer online gaming and combined them with action-rich first-person shooter gaming. The end result was a game that, while not everyone’s cup of tea, certainly hit a chord with a large number of players around the globe. So much so, in fact, that we now have a sequel on the way. The story in Destiny 2 is simple enough – although the Guardians fought valiantly to preserve the last city on Earth, it ultimately fell to an invading force. Now the Red Legion occupy the city, and the ousted
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passionate fans. And today, we are giving people their first look at the gameplay of Destiny 2,” Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision, said. “Destiny 2 has a great story, an iconic new villain, awesome characters you want to go on an epic adventure with, and of course, tons of the amazing gameplay that Destiny is known for. We, along with our partners at Bungie, have listened carefully to our community, and have added thoughtful innovations that make the game, and all of its content, more accessible to more types of players than ever before.” Bungie shares to sentiment., “This is a defining moment for our studio, and we couldn’t have done it without the continued support of our partners in
Activision, Sony and now Blizzard,” Bungie CEO, Pete Parsons, said. “We have an amazing community of players who have been with us on this journey, but with the sequel, the team are paying close attention to welcoming new and returning Guardians to the universe with something for every type of gamer, including gameplay for solo, cooperative and competitive players with new places to explore and adventures to conquer.” Yes, you read that right… Blizzard. Destiny 2 will be the first ever non-Blizzard game to be offered via Battle.Net, Blizzards online portal and platform. This will, of course, be for the PC version, and will enable players to take advantage of a well-established MMO architecture. Exciting stuff indeed. g
AT A GLANCE Action
Bungie’s FPS MMO is making a comeback later this year, with a fresh new enemy for Guardians to take on. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Bungie Activision Megarom
Sep 2017
Platforms
GENRE
ETA
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
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Jun 2017 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Triangle Studios SOEDESCOE Online
PLATFORMS
Melodious musical magic
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Action RPG
Music is both life and death. Be a disciple of the Great Maestro Guido and restore the broken, floating island known as Aezir.
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by Nthato Morakabi
AereA
elcome to Aezir, the floating island that has fallen to despair, and is now broken to pieces. Many mysteries await those that navigate this fallen world. Everything is in disarray, and the nine primordial instruments have gone missing. Only the disciples of the Great Maestro Guido are able to traverse the world, fend of the creatures that roam, and restore both balance and peace to Aezir. Explore the beautifully handdrawn islands, populated by a wide variety of biomes extending to brimming lava caverns, snowy landscapes, extensive forests and city sites. The music themed style carries across the entire game, from the characters and abilities to the puzzles and monsters. Players will have to step into the shoes of the four disciples of Great Maestro Guido: Wolff the Harp-Archer, Jacques the CelloKnight, Jules the Lute-Mage, and Claude the Trumpet-Gunner. Each one has been gifted with unique musical abilities and instrumentbased weapons to be mastered. With quests to complete, puzzles to solve, The four warriors will use their musical abilities to both fight and restore Aezir to its utopian eminence. There are nine unique bosses to face, each one inspired by a specific musical instrument. Players will have to collect music sheets to learn new skills and abilities. Weapons can be customized to suit the gamers’ play style. This action-RPG has local play, for both local co-op and local multiplayer gaming. with a team of up to four players. SOEDESCO, the Dutch video game publisher based in Rotterdam, collaborated with Broforce composer Deon van Heerden, who worked on the soundtrack for AereA. This will be the first game in the AereA series. g
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A Hole New World
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A Hole New World Old-school is the future
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Mad Gear Games Mad Gear Games Online
PLATFORMS
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Jun 2017
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
of Fäy who has decided to join you in your quest. You will come to appreciate having a companion in this game because it was not made with the intention of being a breeze in any way. There are no tutorials nor is there an “easy mode”, you just have to figure your way through. Oh, there will be boss fights that may get you in a borderline rage-quit mode. I seem to be most fond of the 8-bit graphics and side-scrolling gameplay. With NES aesthetics, going old-school seems to be the future. g
AT A GLANCE 2D Action adventure, Side-scrolling, 8-bit
Born from a well-received game prior, many have invested in it being a successful title.
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by Sibonisile Motha
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is safe and living in tranquillity separated from the other side, full of evils. In an unexpected turn of events, the evil Lord Baduk has found a way (a hole) that enables them to crossover to the good side – not to do any good but rather unleash terror and destruction on the peaceful side. You, a potion master, must embark on this battle for the sake of all that is good to overcome this imminent danger, collect cores to upgrade your powers and save the world. At your side, you will have the help of a fairy companion by the name
Hole New World, developed by indie Mad Gear Games, is one of the games that have been given the funding greenlight thanks to fan contributions. Mad Gear Games has some pretty cool funding targets that each will add to the game – from 3 in-game music modes (, to creating a 16bit version and even publishing on Xbox One and PS4 platforms. But for now, in this soon-to-bereleased title, the world is one split in two – good and evil. The morally right side of the world
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
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Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony s
ixteen high school students are kidnapped and taken to Sai-shū Gakuen – the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles. Dense vegetation has overtaken the classrooms and hallways to create a sense of despair and neglect. A quintet of robot bears appear, named the Monokuma Kubs after Monokuma, the headmaster of Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles. The Monokuma Kubs proceed to declare an ultimatum to the students: the only way to escape the school, is to successfully kill another student and get away with it. If nobody is killed within two days, Monokuma will end the game early by killing everyone. Survival is not the only game played, as students are given an opportunity to solve the murders. This mystery adventure title has a brilliant premise that is reminiscent of the 2000 movie Battle Royale. You get to play as Kaede Akamatsu, the fierce student with a penchant for action. High-speed logic and intense detective skills will have to be at the fore to help solve the inevitable murders. You will be required to lie, deduct, and visit crime scenes in an effort to figure out who the killer is. The Scrum Debate pits students into two teams to represent competing arguments against each other. Interviews will either reveal motive or deem one innocent. Either way, you will have to explore the twisted hallways to solve the ultimate puzzle. Based on an anime of the same name, Danganronpa V3 Killing Harmony was developed alongside the production of Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School. It will be both a sequel and something new to the ongoing series. Ultimately, who will live? Who will be found guilty? It’s time to play. g
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Sep 2017 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Spike Chunsoft Spike Chunsoft Online
PLATFORMS
by Nthato Morakabi
Psycho-cool killer kids
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Mystery Adventure
High school students forced to kill each other and get away with it... it can only get better.
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Angry Mob Games Angry Mob Games Online
PLATFORMS
Please do fight
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Fighter
With fighting games creature comforts taken away, this title will push you to have a full on brawl with opponents.
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by Sibonisile Motha
Brawlout
ver had those days where you just want to punch someone in the face until you’re feeling better? No? Really? Well that doesn’t matter now, because people like me…I mean, people like that (that have horrible thoughts of violence, shame on you by the way), can let it all out with Angry Mob Games’ Brawlout. Just like in real-life, if you pick a fist fight, you must see it through to the end, and chances are that you will get your ass handed to you unless you’re an MMA prodigy. Fighting really is the key in Brawlout. No blocking or grabbing. Yes, I said no blocking or grabbing. You have to fight smart and fight hard to win. The more you combat the better you will be at it and the more you can do. You will be required to smartly use your character’s skills, ability and navigation of the environment which you are battling in, in order to succeed. Each environment has a stage on which you will be fighting, knock your opponent off the stage to win. You can play up to 2 to 4 players against one another at a time. Online play has the added character limit for play up to 8 players at a time. There are currently 6 revealed playable characters; each stunningly beautiful and deadly. The 3D animationstyled graphics and colours compliment the overall game aesthetics. With the focus on improving your style of fighting with the characters you choose to play as, your defeats will be a good thing as this will add more hours of enjoyable fights between you and your opponents. And maybe you won’t want to punch people anymore… maybe. g
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Gas Guzzlers Extreme
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Gas Guzzlers Extreme
Roaring engines. Guns. Flaming metal.
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Gamepires Iceberg Interactive TBC
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Q2 2017
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
to have a car that Mad Max would be proud of. The gameplay will feature different multiplayer tournaments to choose from. There’s classic race, power race, battle race, knockout, deathmatch, last man standing and capture the flag. There are also team races available. What’s a combat race without weapons on-board? There is an array of weapons to decorate your car with (and maybe give your opponent’s car a facelift too). As you progress through the game, you can upgrade and customize your car’s weapons to suit your destructive style. Race how you want. g
AT A GLANCE Racing, action, sports
Whether or not this will be a standout title in genre will be completely in players hands.
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mountains, to open road to postapocalyptic-looking wastelands, you will have your turn on every road (present or forged). Each environment will have its own conditions that will pose their own unique challenges to your drive. All tracks are multipathed so you can choose how you get to the finish line. Now to the real important bit – the cars. This game will include approximately 18+ cars that are all customizable as you progress through the game. The cars gaming controls will support full force feedback for controllers as well as racing wheels. And yes it is possible
ar racing games have at times seemed to be evolving in delivering an authentic racing experience for players. But just as with anything, there are highs and lows to this genre. Great moments will include stunning graphics that show-off the supercars of your dreams and responsive controls that put you straight in the driver’s seat, and the lows can be linear gameplay where nothing new and exciting is in store for the player. Gas Guzzlers Extreme is Gamepires’ attempt to reintroduce combat racing. Set in various tracks that vary from snowy
Goliath
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Goliath P
ortals are dangerous things, especially when you don’t know where they might take you. In this case, a portal transports you to an unknown world filled with gargantuan monsters, and ravaged by war. Strange factions battle for domination across this mysterious world scattered with fragments from dead civilizations. Thankfully, you are a skilled individual, able to build a giant robot that will help you fight against both monsters and factions. Time to build your Goliath. In Goliath, you have the ability to craft dozens of giant robot suits called Goliaths, from metal, wood, stone, and various materials. These Goliath’s will be customizable with various weapons, that players will have to craft too. Weather and terrain will test the durability of the Goliath, so players will have to ensure they have the right robot every time. The world of Goliath is procedurally generated and is set to feature a day/night cycle and dynamic weather. The world itself will be populated with dense forests, frozen tundra, eerie swamps and expansive prairies. Exploring the world reveals recipes for various Goliath designs, each with weakness and strengths. Players will have a choice of factions to join, each offering different strategic advantages such as robot plans and weapons unique to each faction. Factions will consist of: Forest Folk, Daemonari, sentient robots known as The Created, and of course, humans. Goliath will have a third-person isometric perspective. The campaign will be playable either alone or cooperatively with a friend. It will also feature competitive multiplayer in head-to-head arena combat. Whalebox Studio is an indie game developer company that won the E3 Best Sandbox award for Goliath in 2015. g
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Q2 2017 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Whalebox Studio Whalebox Studio Online
PLATFORMS
by Nthato Morakabi
A giant-sized adventure
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Action-Adventure
Explore the mysterious land of jumbled fragments, powerful factions and monstrous giants with the aid of a crafted Goliath at your side.
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Kite Games Kalypso Media Digital TBC
PLATFORMS
Login. Logout the real-world.
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Real-time strategy, action
All RTS games are subject to player preference, and although this title boasts a lot to impress, all is dependent on the user experience.
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by Sibonisile Motha
Sudden Strike 4
eal-time strategy is the most demanding genre of game in my eyes. Simply because although you may find it easy to be great at strategy in the game, figuring out how to be strategic in real-life seems to be much harder. Having to explain why you choose not to eat because you’ve just realized that there’s a flaw in your camp’s defence that could cost you all that you’ve worked for thus far. And yes, I realize that this isn’t real (to you!). oh, I’m supposed to be talking about Sudden Strike 4, my bad. If my earlier mental deviation was a bit much, then maybe Sudden Strike 4 isn’t for you. This is a RTS set in World War II. You can choose to lead one of 3 campaigns: Allied, German or Soviet troops. Each troop will have over 100 different units that you will have to manage and see to their survival and ultimate victory. To make things a little more interesting, you can choose from 9 historical commanders to lead as. Each one with their own personalities and traits come into play in unique abilities that they can employ in the field of tactical fighting. There is a single player campaign you can choose to follow. In it you will embark on a 20+ scenario campaign. Or you can go the crazy-challenging online/LAN battle mode, where you will be facing off with another human brain that not only wants to win, but might even have more time on their hands than you do (because maybe you have a life…). With the freedom to approach every mission the way you see fit, all’s fun in (real-time strategy) war… g
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Starfighter Origins
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Starfighter Origins
Space‌ the final frontier in a galaxy far, far, away.
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Madaboutgames MAG Studios Online
PLATFORMS
GAMING
Aug 2017
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
including a simulator, a challenge mode, instant action mode and campaign. No multiplayer option has been offered. Players will have six playable ships to use, each one varying in capability and offering a different role. There will be over twenty different enemy ships to fend off, ranging from gunships and fighter ships, to massive bases, large cruisers and frigates. Some critique has risen about this upcoming game regarding use of a gamepad over mouse and keyboard. Nontheless it looks like a beautiful combat simulator. g
AT A GLANCE Simulator
Inspired by 90s titles such as Star Wars and Freespace, Starfighter Online is a space combat simulator.
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await the call to action. The HUD reveals the battleground. You grip the helm. The fight begins‌ The first-person perspective thrusts you into the living cockpit of a star fighter. All HUD elements are visible on-screen components. This is the main pull of Starfighter Online, the simulator that focuses on full space combat simulation rather than dogfighting, or any real dynamic content. You are a pilot. Act like one. The game is limited to a single player game mode defined as a storydriven campaign. Four additional single player modes will be available,
he dark expanse of space stretches off into the infinite universe. The stars wax and wane in the distance as you feel the engines of your star fighter jet thrum through your body. While the serenity of space stills your beating heart, you see the warp gate open and its light cascading over everything. The ship sails through, carried across the galaxies in a blur. As you blink back into existence, and unfamiliar planets continue on their unhurried revolution, you spot the amassing armada of enemy ships rise across the speckled vista. You engage your weapons and
Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth
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Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth W
e have witnessed games recreated into movies, and movies into games. We’ve even witnessed shows become games and vice-versa. But not too often have we witnessed novels being made into games. This hesitation is quite understandable. Reader loyalty and possible failure on a large scale is pretty intimidating. I guess that is exactly why Daedalic Entertainment have chosen to take the risk. Taken from Ken Follett’s best-selling novel of the same name, Pillars of the Earth will be reimagined as an interactive novel. So how on earth will a 1200 page book be transformed into an interactive novel you ask? Well, in parts of course. In order for Daedalic to accomplish this mammoth task, the interactive novel will consist of 3 parts of 7 chapters each. So 21 chapters you will have completed by game’s end. Set for a hopeful release in August this year, a lot of work seems to be going into it. So what is this story about? Not to give much away, but in the game’s setting, you will be playing as 3 characters living in a time of conflicts and poverty and power-hungry-driven battles. Phillip, a monk whose morals are as straight as a ruler, Jack, a big dreaming architect and Aliena, a young woman left to fend for her & her brother after their father’s imprisonment and ultimate murder. The course that these characters will take is up to how you choose to let the story unfold. You can even change the fate of the characters in the book. This is meant to be an engaging story in time through the eyes of characters in a nonlinear timeline. Immerse yourself in the journey. g
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Aug 2017 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Daedelic Entertainment Daedalic Entertainment TBC
PLATFORMS
by Sibonisile Motha
1200-pages. 3 parts. 21 chapters.
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Interactive novel
I admire Daedalic’s fearlessness in bringing something new and daring to the gaming industry. This is one such project.
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2017 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Sleepless Clinic IMGN.PRO TBC
PLATFORMS
Time is of the essence in outer space. PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Adventure
Nothing is as it seems on the abandoned planet, and when things slip out of control, the crew must do what they can to survive.
gamecca96
by Nthato Morakabi
Symmetry
hen a mysterious signal from outer space bleeps into existence, everything changes for a group of Earth’s scientists. Together they travel to the distant planet, expecting nothing from the routine mission before them. However, nothing goes according to plan as everything goes awry. With communications down, the renowned scientist are castaways, left to survive the harsh frozen tundra of the mysterious planet. Only the environment is not their only enemy, as something is approaching… and it’s coming for them. At its core, Symmetry is a thriller/sci-fi time-management survival game. The main goal will be to manage the survivors through an extremely cold environment, all working towards fixing the spacecraft to escape. Not much else has been provided in terms of plot, but the developers promise a deep and compelling plot surrounded by an atmospheric musical score. Symmetry seems to capture the essence of desolation, and the harshness of the mysterious icy desert planet. The developers decided on vector graphics and contrasting dime and pastel colours to span the symmetrical scenery. All of this, to build a sense of remoteness for players. While many survival games focus on a single character, Symmetry will be spread across eight players, of which four will be controlled by the player at a time. Developing skill sets while sourcing out food and nutrition will be imperative. The upgradeable base is set to also play an important part in the game. All while, players will have to make moral decisions that will affect the direction of the expedition. Nothing so far has been said about whether it will have multiplayer or local co-op. Nonetheless, Symmetry could be a survival title worth a shot. g
Symmetry
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Tokyo 42
E M W A VIE G E R P
Tokyo 42
Translation: Death in Tokyo.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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SMAC Games Mode 7 Online
PLATFORMS
GAMING
May 2017
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
go, but flying bullets may not be such a bad thing either. Just a tip, bullets aren’t just random trajectory objects, but their physics will either aid you when used right, or help you fail. In case you’re the kind of person who dislikes playing games by themselves, there are multiplayer modes that will be available for this game. Details about multiplayer modes have yet to be revealed. I’m not so sure how, but cats are part of this game. All that’s missing is Thundercat’s track perfectly titled Tokyo. g
AT A GLANCE Action, adventure
A lot to see and an interesting background to the chosen number of 42.
gamecca96
by Sibonisile Motha
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judgement when using a knife to spread tomato sauce (or ketchup for the rest of you) on that guy’s jacket as a joke. But all that doesn’t matter now because you have to uncover the truth and hopefully clear your name from this shame (and no more sauces of any kind from now on). You will have to become an assassin to dive into the world that exists in the shadows of broad daylight. Uncover the dark secret that threatens the lives of all in the city. Stealth and sneaky tactics will get you where you need to
he team behind Tokyo 42 described their game as the lovechild of Syndicate and Grand Theft Auto 1. I guess when you do look at it you can see what they mean, from even a graphics standpoint. Tokyo 42 is an isometric open-world title. With bright and fitting colours, this is iso-Tokyo. There’s a lot to look at and to do. But you won’t have the privilege of exploring it as a tourist. Your character has been framed for a murder they did not commit. All you were probably guilty of is bad
Unbox: Newbie’s Adventure
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Unbox: Newbie’s Adventure t
he Global Postal Office has gone bankrupt. In an effort to restore itself and garner profits, they have created self-delivering boxes. These living cardboard creatures are now a thriving society. Unfortunately, the dastardly Wild Cards have sprung up and it’s up to Newbie to defeat them and restore GPS. Inspired by 90’s platformers, Unbox: Newbies Adventure takes all the fun, zany aspects of classic games and mashes them together. This physics driven game will let you bounce around the world, meet a variety of the box community, and engage in a number of challenges. You will play as Newbie, the newest living box. You will be tasked with traversing the fantastical world spanning tropical islands and frozen peaks, filled with cardboard characters, and a number of hidden secrets. Much of the gameplay will see you roll, jump and unbox across perilous environments. In single player, you will take up challenges that earn you stamps, battle against the Wild Cards to save innocents, and collectively let you face off against Boss Wild – the meanest of the Wild Cards. Newbie will also be customisable. The developers promise over 40,000 combinations of clothes, hats, accessories, and funny faces, ranging from formal wear to fancy dress. In multiplayer, up to four players can face off against each other on 11 different maps and custom tournaments. Game modes will include: Boxing, shooting fireworks and avoiding water: Collect, a race to see who grabs the most tape: Thief, the art of stealing coins and ruining friendships: Oddbox, to become the most wanted and avoid the hunters: Delivery, a race to get the falling boxes first. This looks like a load of fun. Pun intended. g
GAMING
Sep 2017 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Prospect Games Prospect Games/Merge Games Online
PLATFORMS
by Nthato Morakabi
Don’t be square… unbox in spectacular retro inspired craziness.
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV NS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Platformer
Global Postal Service is bankrupt and created self-delivering boxes as a last resort. It’s up to Newbie to save GPS and defeat the Wild Cards.
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TBA 2017 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Marslit Games 1C Company TBC
PLATFORMS
Strange things lie ahead.
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
AT A GLANCE Adventure, mystery
One can only hope that there aren’t too many WTF moments that could lose the admirable beauty of this game.
gamecca96
by Sibonisile Motha
Unknown Fate
have always been a firm believer in that the best naps are the ones where you wake up not knowing who you are, what day it is, what year it is or what solar system your planet is a part of. Be that as it may, some video games take this beautiful event and turn it into a premise for something to be feared. It’s tragic really. Marslit Games have developed a game that feels like a civil union of the beautiful nap amnesia and the you-really-shouldn’t-have slept-that-long-dude-becauseeverything-is-messed-up-nowand-you-will-have-to-spendthe-rest-of-the-game-fixing-itmaybe dilemma. It all seems to work however. Unknown Fate is a game that for starters is good with play on words. You may not remember anything about the past, but all that seems to matter is what could be. Set in a world where the lines that separate the realworld from an enigmatic one can become blurred and at times invisible. You will be forced to go through many mysterious environment that make as much sense as the “if Johnny had two apples, what time will Annie make it on the train 2 weeks from now?” equation. All you have going for you is that in due time, all will be revealed and all will be understood. Maybe you’ll figure it out before the end of the game (maybe). To get through it, there are mind-bending puzzles for you to solve. No specifics as to the difficulty layout of the puzzles. As crazy as all this sounds, the game’s visuals are beautiful in capturing the enigma of the quest and bizarre worlds you will encounter. This is as much a journey of discovery as it is one of admiring strange beauty. g
Unknown Fate
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Yakuza Kiwami
E M W A VIE G E R P
Yakuza Kiwami A promise is promise.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Sega Sega Ster-Kinekor
PLATFORMS
GAMING
Sep 2017
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
GENRE
graphics have been redone for the PS4, keeping the 1080p/60fps standard. The original Japanese cast reprised their roles to re-record audio lines. The combat has also been revamped to match the styles from Yakuza 0 (the prequel). This will allow Kiryu to change stances on the fly, chaining combos together for amazing Heat Actions (special moves). Majima Everywhere is a new feature where the one-eyed psycho, Majima, jumps out of random locations to challenge Kiryu to impromptu encounters. It’s Yakuza as it should be. Brilliant. g
AT A GLANCE Action-Adventure
Sega returns to play with a recreated extreme HD version of the original Yakuza. Next-gen graphics, more cut scenes, and new features.
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by Nthato Morakabi
I
extreme) is the remake of the 2005, PS2 game, Yakuza. Kazume Kiryu who has been imprisoned for 10 years. In that time, his clan kicked him out of the yakuza. Then ¥10 billion(Yen) goes missing from the clan treasury, launching the entire Japanese underworld on a hunt for it - and his childhood sweetheart is missing. An orphan girl named Haruka, is searching for her aunt, and the aunt happens to share the same name as Kiryu’s missing sweetheart. From there, Kiryu is thrust into a web of betrayal, underworld politics, and redemption. Yakuza Kiwami takes all the elements of the original, and magnifies them. The
f you haven’t heard of Yakuza, you must be new to gaming or been under a rock since 2005. What is Yakuza? It’s an action-adventure title, set in an open world with role-playing elements... you play as Kazuma Kiryu, a martial arts master and general bad-ass. The focus is Japan’s criminal underground - the Yakuza. It was praised for combining innovative gameplay with cinematic story-telling that authentically portrayed original Japanese culture. It has a number of sequels and even spawned a Live Action adaptation. Yakuza Kiwami (Kiwami means
We have
e issues!
E M W A IE G EV R
Prey GAMING
Exploring Talos I
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Prey
by Walt Pretorius
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In Prey, the player takes on the role of Morgan Yu (either male or female, at the player’s choice). After a little mind-bending psychological thriller stuff right at the beginning, the player finds themselves aboard Talos I, a massive space station near the Earth’s Moon. But things are not going well aboard the station – pretty much from the word go the player is thrust into the action, and must contend with a deadly alien enemy. As they progress through the game’s twenty or so hours (double if you take on the side quests) the plot unveils itself at a fairly steady pace. But the main narrative is a little bland and even predictable – what is far more fun is exploring the massive space station, both in terms of areas and titbits of information. Talos I really is the star of the show in Prey. The enormous space station is beautifully created, delivering
GAMING
einventing a game is never really an easy thing, particularly when you have to consider the game’s central theme – something that would have attracted people to it in the first place. Additionally, if the game has been around for a while, with a number of sequels and such, things get even trickier. But while that latter point may have been applicable to a series like Tomb Raider (which was very successfully rebooted, mind you) Arkane Studios didn’t face the same issues when it came to Prey. Rather, they had very little to rethink or ponder on, beyond the game’s premise that humans are the prey for a violent alien species. That’s because the original game, as fun as it was, never saw the promised sequel arrive. In fact, this latest version of Prey isn’t as much a series reboot as a new approach to a single title.
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a sense of tremendous scale and minute intricacy all at the same time. The art style is pretty unique, too – Prey is set in an alternate time line from our own, in which John F Kennedy was never assassinated, and the space race became a co-operative effort between the USA and the USSR. Because of this, Talos I is full of apparent juxtapositions, like advanced computer systems standing next to rotary telephones – it is very clear, at times, that Talos I became the major focus of technological advancement, leaving other elements behind. The result is an environment with a very unique feel. The art design feels somewhat reminiscent of other projects that Arkane worked on – a little Dishonored, and a lot of BioShock 2. The influences are clear, if not in play style, then at least in the visuals. With that said, there are times when the looks in Prey
are a little on the disappointing side. Most static or environmental objects are fine… the bigger problems arise in the sparse supporting cast of the game. Other humans sometimes feel a little stiff and stilted, despite great voice acting, and the enemy alien race – the Typhon – are really little more than smoky black blobs with slightly varied shapes. There are times when the player might be a little surprised that Prey was made by the same studio that did the Dishonored games, and not in a good way. Where Dishonored allowed massive amounts of player creativity in combat, stealth and other game mechanics, this is an area in which Prey is lacking. Sure, the game is fun, but the combat feels extremely short on finesse. Particularly in the early stages of the game, before you have managed to upgrade your weapons, fighting the
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is part of what makes exploring Talos I great, and even though you may return to areas over and over again, the inevitable acquisition of new powers almost always opens new possibilities and options. Another element to the RPG aspect of the game is how the player responds to situations. This kind of “causeand-effect” game play, in which the player’s attitudes define to final outcome, has been used before – even by Arkane – but in Prey, dialogue has virtually no effect. It all comes down to player actions. Saving a group of survivors or leaving them to die changes the outcome. Undertaking a revenge killing for another survivor, or leaving the situation alone… same thing. It’s actually a pretty satisfying system in which actions speak louder than words. Another aspect of the game is crafting. It is not a
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Typhon is basically spray and pray at a bunch of bulletsponge enemies, and hoping to make it out alive. It feels frantic, which might be what Arkane were looking for, but it doesn’t feel intentionally so. Similarly, the stealth option in the game feels flat and a little lacking in impact. It is actually better to just go with the guns blazing approach, particularly at stages when you have unlocked some of the cooler powers. Which brings us to the RPG style of the game. The player character can be uphgraded in terms of skills, with a wide variety of options to help define play style. Many of these tie into another excellent part of the game – exploration. Getting into a room can have several options applied, from kicking in the door to sneaking in via air vents, to even shape-shifting into a small object and slipping in through a crack. This
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particularly complex system – numerous items, from alien samples through to banana peels – can be collected and recycled into raw materials. These can then be turned into useful items, provided you have found the crafting blueprints for those items. So the player will likely spend a lot of time picking up bits and pieces as they wander around. The tension is heightened by the fact that any object you want to grab could be a Mimic class Typhon lying in wait to spring a trap… even much needed health packs or ammo are not immune to this nasty trick. Ultimately, Prey is a lot of fun to play, but it does have its issues. While exploring the massive Talos I and digging into the carefully crafted details left lying around (from meaningful emails through to funny role playing character sheets), not to mention enjoying the creativity allowed the player while moving from room to room, the combat
could have felt more polished, and certain graphical elements could have used more attention. With that said, there is something about Prey that is thoroughly addictive. Whether it is chasing that next upgrade or trying to get as many side quests (some of which can be quite protracted) done as possible, it is the kind of game that will keep you coming back, despite things that may annoy you. And that, ultimately, is what a game should be about: fun. Prey has many varied missions and more than a few white-knuckled moments to keep the adrenaline going. Despite some things that could have been handled better, it certainly is a game that is worth playing, even if it just to keep busy with the tons of things to do that it has on offer. And, quite frankly, there is something extremely enticing about exploring the wonderful setting that is Talos I... g
AT A GLANCE First-person adventure
Although Prey does have a few problems, it is ultimately a complex and enjoyable game that will keep you busy for a good long time. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Arkane Studios Bethesda Ster Kinekor
PARENTAL ADVISORY
18+ gamecca96
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
AWARDS
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice
REVIEWED ON
x360 PLATFORMS
GENRE
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
Score
82 45
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Tekken 7 GAMING
Family values…
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Tekken 7
by Walt Pretorius
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here are, when it comes to fighting games, three names that everyone pays attention to: Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Tekken. No, Injustiuce doesn’t make the list yet because, despite its excellent latest outing in the form of Injustice 2, the game simply doesn’t have the history of impact of the other three – yet. So when a new title emerges in any of those three franchises, it’s well worth sitting up and paying attention. The latest releases of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat have been mixed affairs, really… so it’s quite gratifying to see Tekken step up and deliver a power punch in the form of Tekken 7. Something needs to be noted here, though – while Tekken 7 certainly is an excellent title, there is a lot of cause to argue for the idea that Injustice 2 is a better game. This needs to be mentioned because the games were released very close together; just a couple of weeks separated their shelf dates. And so, while Tekken 7 may well have more appeal to fans of the franchise and the more hard-core fighting game players, Injustice 2 stands out for the fact that it is graphically beautiful, has tons of recognizable characters and potentially the biggest single player offering of any fighting game. With that said, Tekken 7 is no slouch when it comes to single player gaming, either. While it might not have the depth of Injustice 2, there is plenty to keep players busy here. The first, most obvious part is the story mode, which ties up the tale of the severely dysfunctional Mishima clan and their multi-generational internal feud. It’s well-crafted and will give fans a great ending to the story that been told for almost two decades, but newcomers may find it a little more difficult to follow. The game gleefully flits between voices languages as well, so don’t be surprised to
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hear a conversation conducted in English, Japanese and Italian; sub-titles are a must. While the story mode is woefully short, it does a fairly decent job of introducing players to a number of the character. Unlike Injustice 2, Tekken 7 does not work its way through the majority of the fighters, preferring to concentrate on a handful during the story mode. It also, like Injustice 2, dumps the player with a new character to deal with every few fights, which means getting used to new fighting styles on a fairly regular basis. However, for those that want to experience the plot (along with all its twists and turns) here is a particular combat mode that ties extremely impressive and powerful attacks to just a handful of buttons. Veterans will balk at the idea, but it is a more accessible way for newcomers to get to grips with some of Tekken’s more unique attributes. Like, for example, that unlike other fighting games, which tie themselves to a single movement plane, Tekken is fully three dimensional, allowing opponents to move around each other. With that said, the exploits that could be found in previous Tekken titles regarding this idea have been dealt with, making moving around an opponent much more effective in general, but less devastating in other instances. In fact, the whole thing feels a lot more level. Tekken has always been something of a more measured, tactical game than its on-shelf opponents. It is a franchise that doesn’t appreciate button-mashing much, and a skilled, measured player will almost always be able to best someone who it merely hammering away at the controls. That feeling is even more prevalent in Tekken 7, and it feels like a skilled player will not only perform well here, but will look absolutely impressive while doing so. Back to the single player gamecca96
Tekken 7
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Tekken 7
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Tekken fans will find tons to be happy about in
Tekken 7, including some excellent trims to the already great
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
16+ AWARDS Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice
Score
88
AT A GLANCE
PARENTAL ADVISORY
REVIEWED ON
PLATFORMS
combat system.
Bandai Namco Bandai Namco Megarom
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Fighting
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
the air while you lay down devastating combos, which has always been central to successfully winning Tekken fights. Next up (and easier to employ) is a reworking of the rage system. Like before, taking damage raises the character’s rage, which allows them to employ more powerful attacks. However, in this iteration, it can also be sued to employ devastating Rage Arts, special, almost super-powered attacks that, if times right, can be devastating to an opponent. Times incorrectly, and they will just get you smacked in the mouth. Novice fighters can also remap controls as they see it (from the character select screen, no less) and can bind some of the more impressive combos to single keys, if they want. It’s Tekken 7’s attempt (or part of it, anyway) to become more accessible, but on the whole getting anywhere in the game can still be a daunting task for the uninitiated. As stated before, Tekken 7 is all about flash, and to this end the graphics are really good. They’re maybe not quite as sweet as Injustice 2’s incredible visuals, but the detailed characters and levels on offer in Tekken 7 and still nothing to sneeze at. Powered by the Unreal 4 engine, Tekken 7 looks really good. With strong anime influences, Tekken 7 is as over-the-top as any instalment in this longrunning franchise. If you don’t “get” Japanese pop culture, the hammed-up voice acting and frankly outlandish plot points may well put you off. But if you are a fan of anime, or of Tekken in particular, you certainly won’t be disappointed by this latest instalment in the franchise. It’s big, loud, egotistic and brash… just like Tekken game should be. g
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offerings. Aside from a five-bout arcade style battle mode, there is also a treasure hunter mode. This mode allows the player to quickly unlock elements in the game’s massive customization catalogue. Tekken 7 allows for a wide degree of character customization but sadly (and unlike Injustice 2’s game changing customisations) they are all cosmetic. It is a little odd that this portion of the game is all style over substance, but, then again, there is a lot of flash in Tekken 7. Tekken 7 also offers a large roster of playable characters, including returning favourites and a few new faces. Many of these don’t feature as playable characters in the story mode (which is likely where most needing to get to grips with the game will go first) and it will take some time and experimentation outside of that mode to find the characters that suit your play style best. Additionally, players that like a ranged approach may find themselves scrabbling for purchase; Tekken 7 unashamedly prefers medium and close range combat, with very few (if any) options for an effective long distance combatant. Fighting against other humans is also great fun here. Tekken 7 offers ranked matches, casual matches and even a new online tournament mode. Aside from bragging rights, players can win more ways to unlock even more customization options. Online matches also tend to be pretty stable. When it comes to actually smacking people, Tekken 7 doesn’t do a lot that isn’t expected. However, the action is enhanced by adding a few new mechanics to enhance the experience. The first of these are Screw Attacks. They’re not as rude as they sound; these attacks help to keep an opponent in
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E M W A IE G EV R
Injustice 2 GAMING
A super-powered punch!
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Injustice 2
by Walt Pretorius
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Lois Lane at the hands of the Joker, and hell-bent on dispensing brutal, violent and fatal justice on criminals. On the other side of the divide is Batman, whose honour code wants to see justice served, without the need for execution. This leads to an odd, complex situation that often prefers to reside in moral grey areas to striding into black-and-white territories. Batman’s opposition to Superman and Wonder Woman may seem strange, but it is made stranger still by his alliance with the likes of Harley Quinn. There is very little in the story that Injustice 2 tells that is easily boxed into morality categories… and this is part of what makes the game enjoyable. But most people will be after the fighting, of course, taking on their favourite DC character in single player and multiplayer bouts. And this is where Injustice 2 truly
GAMING
ew fighting games hitting the shelves is not a common occurrence, but we have been fortunate to see two new titles made available around two weeks apart. The first, the subject of this review, was Injustice 2, with Tekken 7 (reviewed elsewhere in this issue) arriving not long after. This creates an unusual, almost direct comparison event between the two titles. The good news for fans of the genre is that both titles are great but better news for fans of the DC Universe is that Injustice 2 is a superior title. Injustice 2 is set in an alternate “what if” universe in which a strong divide evolves between various characters in the DC Universe (much like Marvel’s Civil War comics and movie). On one side we have Superman, maddened by grief after the death of
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shines, both as a sequel building on Injustice: Gods Among Us and as a fighting game in general. When compared to the original title, it is easy to see how things have improved. First of all, the somewhat plodding pace of the first game has been replaced by a fast, tense set of battles that require not only quick fingers, but quick wits too. Each character is unique in many ways, including move sets, so every one has to be mastered individually for full effect. Combos are unique, too, meaning that players will need to spend time honing their skills in order to draw the most out of the characters they choose to play. Will it be The Flash’s fast-paced, lighter attacks, or Gorilla Grod’s massive, slow smashes? Does the distance allowed by Green Arrow appeal, or are Wonder Woman’s more up-close attacks what you’re after? All of these options, and more, are available to the
player, with the most famous faces of the DC Universe (as well as a few obscure ones) available for play. In terms of fight mechanics, several things have been trimmed up. It is now easier to deal with ranged attackers, and breaking out of hit cycles is far more achievable. Additionally, the character’s meter (which allows massive super-powered attacks to be used when full) can now be used early on, to modify attacks and events on a smaller scale. This adds a deeper strategic level to the game, making it more enjoyable for all. And, of course, the looks are much, much better. With a few exceptions, the characters are beautifully recreated, and feature excellent animations and one-liners, as befitting a game based on this well-loved universe. The environments are equally gorgeous, with tons of details and lots of opportunities for environmental attacks.
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many of these adjustments become purely cosmetic in multiplayer games, their use in single player is fantastic. Even colour pallets can be changed and adjusted, and each hero offers numerous item classes to switch out… even logos. One can spend hours collecting, testing and implementing the modifications on offer. The story mode is a little weak, because it falls into that nasty idea of providing the player a few fights with each character as the story unfolds. Almost every playable character is present in this mode, but the issue is that the player never really gets enough time with any of them, and the fact that each one is unique in approach makes this not only jarring, but also perhaps a little too challenging at later stages. It is also potentially intimidating to newcomers. With all the testing and unlocking that needs to go into Injustice
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The real gem, though, is what Injustice 2 offers the single player. It has arguably the most content for single player ever seen on release of a fighting game, making it rather unique. The single player can spend many, many hours playing Injustice 2, either in the story mode, in AI fights or taking on the ever shifting challenges of the Multiverse Mode. Of the three, the Multiverse mode is probably the most enjoyable, because it gives the player a lot to do, while providing them with a very tangible feel for each character’s progression. Not only do the characters earn levels, but “loot crates” are also earned during play, which contain customisation items for the characters. And like any good loot, they come in various rarities and sets, which adjust the character’s base stats and moves, as well as altering their physical appearance. While
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2, not to mention the varied game modes, there is a massive amount to do. But getting through what could only be considered to be “fighting game grinding” carries enough rewards to make the activity worthwhile. With that said, there is a massive amount of accessibility here, and initial fights are easy enough to suck people in for good. That, combined with the recognisable cast of characters (OK, maybe not some of the more obscure ones) makes Injustice 2 a great, exciting and action packed way to get into the genre. In terms of multiplayer, Injustice 2 is slick and massive amounts of fun – even online. And for those who have connections that are slightly less than perfect, training modes even allow the player to learn how to use their combos with lag or slowed timing. Injustice 2 is nothing short of a masterful game. It’s
fantastic graphics, addictive pace and flowing combat, combined with a great cast of well-known characters, make it an exciting and exhilarating fighting game experience. Veterans of the first game will love the tweaks and changes brought in here, and newcomers will find a title that feels very friendly (before it punches you in the face). It is a game that is extremely easy to get into, yet possessed of a single player depth that is pretty much unheard of in the fighting game genre – with Injustice 2 you’ll never be looking wistfully at the empty seat and unused controller next to you when you want to get some fighting action in. The Ai is wonderfully adept and challenging, and the sheer amount of things to do in the game will keep you busy for ages before you need to press a controller button in anger at another human being. This is a job extremely well done. g
AT A GLANCE Fighting
REVIEWED ON
Injustice 2 offers a massive amount of single player content, great graphics, wellknown characters and tons of awesome action... it’s a real winner. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
NetherRealm Warner Bros Ster Kinekor
PARENTAL ADVISORY
16+ gamecca96
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
AWARDS
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice
x0 PLATFORMS
GENRE
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
Score
92 57
E M W A IE G EV R
Farpoint GAMING
Ready, aim, fire!
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by Walt Pretorius
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a number of rough edges in need of some serious polish, the overall feel of the game moves beyond the feel of “look what we did” and into the realms of more serious gaming (if there should be such a thing). Farpoint places the player in the role of a shuttle pilot setting out to rescue two scientists stranded on an alien planet. The campaign is relatively short – around five hours or so – and takes the player across the surface of the alien world, throwing ever increasing numbers of tougher and tougher enemies their way. It sounds like a great premise, but there are some things that need to be noted. If Farpoint wasn’t a VR game, it would be a pretty lackluster FPS title. However, some of the things that would lay it low if it wasn’t experienced on PSVR are there exactly because it is a VR game – they are
GAMING
layStation VR is still a hot topic, with many people rushing out and buying it while others save up their hard earned cash to get hold of Sony’ surprisingly good virtual reality system. But, until a short while ago, most of the games felt like little more than tech demos or proof of concept projects. There has been very little (with a few notable exceptions) to do with VR that didn’t feel like a third grader showing you his latest science project. Fun, sure, but lacking in a lot of substance. Things have changed, however, taking a step in the right direction with the release of Farpoint. A step, mind you – there is still a way to go as developers try out various different things with this relatively new medium. What Farpoint does get right, though, is leaving behind that tech demo feeling. While it still has
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concessions that needed to be made to keep the game sensible and playable with the VR system. For example, the vast majority of enemy attacks come from the front. That’s to avoid the player wildly spinning in a fire fight, because there are folks out there who have a bad reaction to the VR environment if not handled carefully. In fact, the game defaults to a front-facing, set viewpoint that needs to be disabled in settings. And you’re going to want to do that, because free movement (granted by the analog stick on either the DualShock 4 or the New PS Aim controller) makes a big difference to the immersion of the experience. That marks a good spot to tale a little sideline and talk about the controller. While we take a more in-depth look at the PS Aim Controller elsewhere in this issue, it is important to note that Farpoint was made with this
peripheral in mind, and it is, by far, the best way to play the game. The PS Aim allows the player to naturally raise and lower their weapon, as well as aim extremely efficiently. It also feels great when you raise the controller up to your shoulder to switch between the two equipped weapons. Sure, you can play Farpoint with the DualShock 4, but it is much, much better with the PS Aim controller. It creates a better sense of immersion, too, which is a massive added bonus. So, with free movement enabled and the PS Aim Controller in hand, Farpoint feels much more like the real thing than many other FPS games, probably because you’re going through most of the motions associated with using an actual weapon to shoot bad guys. And that is where this game is a winner. Sure, it may have limited weapons on offer, a short campaign and other issues that
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rocket launcher), a shotgun (with an attached grenade launcher), an alien plasma weapon, and a spike thrower. You’ll probably stick to the first two as much as possible, because they really are the best weapons in the game, with a great compliment between the long-range precision of the rifle and the up-close devastation of the shotgun. There isn’t much else by way of equipment, which is sad, but possibly necessary due to the VR nature of the game. However, a few inventive design decisions may have worked well to flesh out the player’s overall kit in-game. The story is predictable, for the most part, and doesn’t really do anything very exciting. It’s also over pretty quickly. Beyond that, though, Farpoint offers co-op missions (which are great, frantic fun that absolutely demand free movement being active), as well as arcade
GAMING
keep it from being a top-notch FPS title, but the feeling it evokes is fantastic. The gun play is great – detailed weapons that react beautifully to the player’s input combine with the feel granted the player by the PS Aim Controller. Lifting the controller to aim down the weapon’s sights is fantastic, and the freedom of movement that the player has makes the gun play fast, brisk and extremely versatile. Blasting through waves of enemies doesn’t only feel good, but intuitive, too. There’s no being let down by analog stick aiming here – the player is in full control of where that aiming reticule goes, as it is tied only to the controller and the player’s movements. No look to shoot, no slow aiming… In terms of weapons, there are only four on offer. There is a precise assault rifle (with an attacked
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style challenge modes. There is a fair bit to keep you busy, even after the credits have rolled on the main campaign (which, it must be said, ends a little too abruptly). The main problem is that Farpoint feels like it could have used an extra coat or two of polish. There are a few bugs and oddities that really shouldn’t be present in a game that is the flagship for a new peripheral, and while they aren’t game breaking as such, they really can mess with the flow of your VR experience. Thankfully that game saves often, with generous checkpoints dotting the alien landscape – although there have been a few reported bugs surrounding reloading, too. Additionally, the interface feels a little awkward, largely due to the fact that the player needs to point their weapon at everything (there are analog sticks on the Aim Controller,
remember?) In short, Farpoint could have been a much better FPS game had there been a little more work and thought applied to it. But, quite honestly, it is important to consider that Farpoint isn’t your average FPS game. Comparing it to a non-VR title is not particularly fair, because it cannot do the same things as a traditional FPS game, simply due to its platform. It needs to be compared to other PSVR FPS games and, oh, look, there aren’t any. That makes Farpoint something of a pioneer, a ground-breaker for a genre (on VR) that can prove to be extremely popular. And as a pioneer, Farpoint does the job extremely well. While it certainly does not have much competition to face up against, it is, most definitely, a game that every VR owner should experience, even if just as a taste of what is certain to come. g
AT A GLANCE First-person shooter
While not a perfect FPS, Farpoint is a great introduction to VR FPS play on the PS4, and leaves behind that tech demo feel.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Impulse Gear SCEE Ster Kinekor
PARENTAL ADVISORY
16+ gamecca96
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
AWARDS
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice
REVIEWED ON
x360 PLATFORMS
GENRE
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
Score
79 63
E M W A IE G EV R
The Surge GAMING
Dystopian holiday…
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The Surge
by Rob Edwards
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Lords of the Fallen. The biggest of these is similar to the system used in the Souls games… if you die, you “drop” your experience and loot. You have a limited time to get it back. This adds a frantic, sometimes frustrating and sometimes rewarding element to The Surge, because dying is something that your character will do a fair amount of. Naturally, hitting things is a good way to keep that from happening, and The Surge uses an excellent combat system to enable damaging enemies. Virtually all body parts are targetable, and the player can happily lop bits off of enemies, either to hamper the foe, or because there is a valuable upgrade part in the bit getting hacked off. The game has an extensive upgrade system, and adding this element to combat – the ability to “harvest” specific parts from enemies – adds a nice level of strategic depth to what could have become an arcade-like hack-fest.
GAMING
hen all hope seems lost, perhaps science can bring some back – at least that’s what seems to be going through the player character’s head in the beginning moments of The Surge. As the player guides the wheelchair bound character into a room in which he will be fitted with a powerful exosuit – granting him the ability to walk again – there is even a sense of anticipation that the game engenders. But something goes wrong with the procedure… the anaesthetic fails, and the character goes through the painful experience fully awake, only to be tossed aside as a failed experiment afterwards. It is this kind of dystopian attitude that pervades The Surge, the new game from Deck 13 (who also developed Lords of the Fallen). Aside from wildly different settings, there are a few similarities between The Surge and the fantasy-themed
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The upgrade system is extremely deep, and most of what the player can use, including the exo-suit and weapons, can be upgraded. There are some crazy weapons, too, mostly repurposed tools scattered about the wasteland in which the game takes place. Sadly, though, upgrading weapons can result in early plateaus, meaning the you get a weapon early on that is better (once upgraded) than anything you will find during the rest of the game. The Surge offers a decent amount of challenge to the player (as stated before, dying is something you get used to here), as well as more than a few side quests to enjoy. The environment is rich and very detailed, with small nuanced elements adding to the overall dystopian feeling of the game. In fact, these details adds wonderful character to the world. Sadly, that character didn’t make it into the main
narrative, which becomes a convoluted affair before long, and doesn’t get any better. The Surge had great potential for story-telling, but it is never realised properly. Another thing not utilised too well, particularly later in the game, is the AI. While they are challenging and put up a good fight, sometimes they feel like they have no selfpreservation. That works fine for earlier enemies, which are mainly broken robots and animated, half dead workers, but once humans enter the picture, it feels a little off. Still, The Surge is a surprisingly satisfying game, despite its quibbles. And with a campaign that can take up to forty hours to complete, it certainly will keep you busy – particularly when experimenting with the massive variety of gear set-ups that the player will eventually have access to. This game is a massive step up from Lords of the Fallen, and shows excellent potential for Deck 13. g
AT A GLANCE Adventure
REVIEWED ON
Despite a few quibbles, The Surge has many interesting elements, as well as an excellent strategic combat system.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Deck 13 Focus Home Interactive Apex Interactive
PARENTAL ADVISORY
18+ gamecca96
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
AWARDS
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice
PS4 PLATFORMS
GENRE
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
Score
79 67
E M W A IE G EV R
Endless Space GAMING
Room to breathe…
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Endless Space 2
by Alex Scanlon
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a massive empire. But even at the point of choosing which race to play, the depth that Endless Space 2 has on offer starts becoming apparent… See, while the technologies that the races research are the same, the ways that the races employ them and spread through the stars are wildly different. Some use colony ships, others trade, and even other spread through the starts using an organic, root like system. Each races requires a different approach, overall, even though the factions within the races are quite similar to each other. The tech tree is the next clue – there are tons of things to research, each thankfully explained fairly thoroughly thanks to various tool tips.
GAMING
here have been a higher than normal number of 4X (that’s explore, expand, exploit and exterminate for those who don’t know) games lately. That still doesn’t mean that there have been a lot of them, mind you, because this is a genre that is as slow-paced in releasing new titles as the games are in being played. But turn-based empire building has become more popular at present, so it is hardly surprising that a game like Endless Space 2 has arrived. Endless Space 2 is a turn-based empire building title in which the player takes to the stars. On the surface, it looks pretty simple, really, particularly for those with 4X experience. Players can choose one of eight space faring races to guide through setting up
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The real depth, though, comes into play with internal politics. While external diplomacy is a little vague at times, keeping balance within the empire can be a tricky affair. Keeping each of the factions within the player’ empire happy can be a careful, challenging and (for fans of the genre) joyful balancing act. Playing Endless Space 2 is a protracted affair. Games can last absolute ages, because there is a lot of space to explore, not to mention a ton of intricate detail to get into. And while Endless Space 2 does try to explain things for newcomers, it doesn’t do a particularly great job at it. The end result is a game that can be quite intimidating in its depth and scope. But it certainly is pretty – the graphics in Endless
Space 2 are great, complete with a minimalist, yet wonderfully functional, interface and beautifully rendered planets. The space battles look fantastic, too, even though the player has very little control over them (aside from general tactical decisions at the start of each encounter). While Endless Space 2 isn’t exactly a forgiving game, it is one that allows the player a lot of leeway when changing course for empire development, and as such feels like a more organic 4X game than many others. It is a long-term game, and one that offers some wonderful challenges, even to the point of side quests. 4X fans will likely love what it has on offer. g
AT A GLANCE GENRE
Turn-based strategy
REVIEWED ON
PC
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Amplitude SEGA Ster Kinekor
PARENTAL ADVISORY
7+ gamecca96
PLATFORMS
A pedantic and deep game, Endless Space is great 4X and science-fiction lovers.
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
AWARDS
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice
PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS
Score
85 71
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Atmospheric psychological de
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nteractive storytelling is a massive part of gaming. A strong narrative can make or
GAMING
break a game. We recently spoke with South
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Echo Echo
evelopment with Output Games
By Nthato Morakabi
African indie developer, Tyron Janse van Vuuren, about stories, translating skills from other media, and dealing with criticism.
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could get involved with the story and experience. Gaming is able to do exactly that and the indie gaming industry right now is probably the most creative place to be. The ideas I brought centered around narrative and how to hook people in through a story. Henk and I wanted to make it an interactive experience. My hope is that the final version of EchoPlex is going to be a story rich experience combined with an arcade puzzle game. 3 GM: Was EchoPlex the first idea that you wanted to implement into a game? TJvV: All of my projects always start as an experiment. Everyone has ideas and before you implement anything, you have to experiment, prototype and make it in some simple format. EchoPlex developed very organically. It started more as an atmosphere than a full concept. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be interesting to express this as an interactive environment?” We started adding sounds to the minimalistic environment for atmosphere, but we didn’t have an objective. The Echo was born from asking questions regarding objectives that would work well with the atmosphere. What if you were followed by a past version of yourself who did everything you did exactly – adding a psychological edge to it. We added switches to doors where a player locks but the trailing echo unlocks. It worked as a cool mechanic. From this simple mechanic, we realized it had huge scope for creating puzzles. 4 GM: That’s just great, to see that whole process develop. Now,
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with all of that I have to ask, are you a gamer? TJvV: I’ve been playing games since I was a little kid. If I tell you how far back you might be a little shocked. My first computer was an Apple 2E, we’re talking black and green screen. I touched on programming for a while, but decided film would be cooler. Now programming is the new cool thing. Who knew geeks would take over the world? 5 GM: On that topic, clearly game development wasn’t at the fore of your thought process, what did you study and what was the thought process towards your studies. TJvV: It definitely wasn’t game development. I studied being a Film Director at AFDA as it sort of brought all my interest together; writing, visual aspects, photography and paint, story and acting. It wasn’t so much the movies, but the fact that I could use all of those interest in one go. Game development has become an extension of that, as it incorporates all the things I’m interested in. 6 GM: With all these experiences and background, would you still consider studying game development? TJvV: Well put it this way, I would recommend people to study it. The real value is the people you connect with. There are people, to this day, that I studied with and work with now professionally. Those connections, to me, make studying in any scenario worth doing. Right now, I would be very interested in taking programs to explore specific things. VR for instance, is something I want to look in to as a medium for storytelling. 7 GM: As an indie
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GM: Greetings Tyron. Good to chat to you again since we met at the rAge Expo last year. Getting into it, tell us about Output Games, where did the name come from and with it, a brief history? TJvV: Well, Output Games started as a home for EchoPlex, which is our first project as Output Games. ExchoPlex was always a fun project for myself, Henk and Ronny, where we worked on it on weekends, before work, or after work (we all work in the same company). After we released our demo, showing it at places like rAge, we worked towards getting funding for the game so we could work on it full time. Output was born as an extension of that and “output” as a concept is close to our hearts. We believe in producing results, producing work, not just talking about. 2 GM: I understand you guys were working on EchoPlex on the side, but how did it all begin? What was the thought process towards EchoPlex; I remember something about it being a short film idea? TJvV: Yes, well, I come from a film background. I worked on videos and commercials, made a few short films, some of which have been lucky enough to be shown at festivals around the world. My background is film and screen narratives. As far as new film makers, or someone who puts out short films, it’s difficult to find a home. Cinema or TV stations won’t show them. I was looking for a platform where people and stories could connect and people
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on as your points are very valid. We made fundamental changes to the direction of the game and it’s a better game than when it started. You have to realise, when you put something out in the world, some people are going to like it, some won’t. Those who don’t, there could be real value in what they are saying, as long as you don’t take it personally. 8 GM: Easier said than done yeah? Does this mean the EchoPlex we played at rAge is different to the EchoPlex today? TJvV: It’s definitely a progression, more dimensional. When you played it, the game was just flat, now we’ve added both horizontal and vertical elements. We’ve added running, jumping, climbing, some light core elements as well. There’s multiple Echoes in some of the puzzles as well. We’re adding security drones that shoot at you, Premonition allows you to freeze time so you can explore the puzzle without the Echoes chasing you. We’ve also introduced a story element too, so with every level you complete you collect a memory fragment and you start piecing the story, and why you’re in the simulation. So, its moved from just a concept into a more narrative experience. 9 GM: That is just great! Now, being on the other side of the coin, as a developer as opposed to a gamer, what has been your experience? TJvV: It has given me an enormous amount of respect for indie developers who are able to make a successful game, and to continue making
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a streak of successful game. There are so many moving parts, that when I look at Klei, who made Don’t Starve and Oxygen Not Included, those guys have been consistent. Simple to play, simple to explain but almost infinite amount of depth to them. I’m much more forgiving when I run across a bug. I know this shit isn’t easy so it’s completely changed the way I look at games. 10 GM: Winding it down, what is the key feauture that makes EchoPLex stand out? TJvV: There’s two things that make EchoPlex stand out. The first is the central mechanic that a duplicate of yourself follows, repeating everything that you do. It’s not a new idea, but the way it is executed in a first person atmospheric environment, produces a gameplay experience I think will feel fresh to people. Especially since it’s just a faceless entity with no mind. The second has an introduction of a Live Action video, bringing a new dimension to the game. We are kind of combining a puzzle platformer, with a short film form, seeing fragments of the story which you gradually start piecing together. 11 GM: Lastly, let’s talk platform, release date and those kinds of details? What can we expect? TJvV: Right now, we’re releasing to Windows and Mac. EchoPlex is on Steam. We would love to get into VR eventually as I think it would a great platform with the type of game EchoPlex is. As for release date, there’s no specific date but all I can give is Q3 2017. g
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developer, what are some of the challenges you’ve had to face? TJvV: That’s a really interesting question. Gee, where do I even begin? I’ll have to filter out all the boring ones though… I guess there are things you learn about afterwards that you wished you would have known. For me it was market research. Understanding where I fit in in terms of genre, type of gamer, and gaming audience. We’ve been lucky enough to work with Novi PR from America. They taught us about market research, understanding the game, looking at games similar to yours and understanding what made them successful. Being a genre defying game sounded great, I mean Stanley Parable managed to pull it off and was very successful. But it’s also risky because it’s harder to pitch, and harder for people to explain it to others. There were also things I was not prepared for, like an intelligent negative review from a player. You expect to get trolls, or “Worst game ever, thumbs down.” But I didn’t expect an established user, with a large following and 500 games in their library to write a 500 word takedown. I was rattled because this guy really knows what he’s talking about and he hates our game. I learned from it as well. Stripping out the emotions, I realised the points he made were super important. It was also the most highly rated review, with 95% of people saying it was useful. Our best review was a negative takedown of our game. In the end we reached out to him and said, these are elements we want to improve
Features 80
Get Your Gun
HARDWARE Reviews 86 88 90 92 94
Logitech G231 Prodigy Console Gaming Headset Razer Ornata Chroma Gaming Keyboard MSI DS502 Gaming Headset Razer Deathadder Elite Gaming Mouse MSI Gaming X GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Card
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TECHNOLOGY
GET YOUR GUN 80
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Get Your Gun
PlayStation VR has a new weapon of choice gamecca96
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TECHNOLOGY
tu a Fe
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Aim Controller looks a
away from taking
Warfare and Star Wars:
little bit like a modified
chances and, for
Battlefront, in the form
piece of PVC pipe. It
the most part, the
of playable VR levels.
doesn’t look much like
calculated gambles
EVE: Valkyrie tried to
a gun at all, unless
that the PlayStation
do more, but it still
you’re one of those
manufacturer
didn’t get it quite right.
kids who could turn a
undertakes pay off.
Neither, for that matter,
stick into anything with
Take, for example, the
did RIGS.
your imagination. But
idea of console based
What was lacking from
this was part of the
virtual reality. To some,
these efforts, as well
design ethic taken by
while the whole idea
as a number of others,
the crew behind the Aim
of VR is still in fairly
was the fact that the
Controller. They didn’t
early stages for the
level of immersion could
want it to look like a
PC gaming crowd, the
have been greater. And
specific weapon, to
idea may seem a little
that is something that
make sure that it ‘fits’
premature. But, is
Farpoint, whether it is
into any game, and they
initial sales figures are
treading familiar ground
wanted everyone to feel
anything to go by, the
in FPS terms or not,
comfortable using it by
PSVR came at exactly
manages to do, thanks
making it essentially
the right time. It’s well
in a massive part to the
as non-threatening as
priced, comfortable
latest peripheral that
possible.
and effective, and has
Sony has added to the
struck quite a cord with
VR arsenal… the PS
PS Aim Controller is
PlayStation 4 owners.
Aim Controller.
perfect for its intended
What was missing
While we review
Looks aside, the
implementation. It
from the whole affair
Farpoint earlier in this
takes the traditional
was a flagship title, a
issue, it is a good idea
DualShock 4 controller
game that felt like more
to look at the PS Aim
– or even the Move
than an afterthought,
Controller, because
controllers – and
gimmick or tech
Sony have stated that
replaces them with
demo. Sure, the latest
this device will be for
something far more
Resident Evil was VR
more games than just
tactile in terms of
enabled (and pretty
Farpoint. And it looks
shooting. And it
damned scary, too) but
so weird that a deeper
manages to incorporate
the game was designed
investigation is more
all the required controls
specifically for VR.
than warranted.
with grace.
VR was tacked on. It was also tacked on for
One could be excused for thinking that the PS
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Get Your Gun
Call of Duty: Infinite
Sony doesn’t shy
Tracking is performed with the now-familiar
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the user’s thumb, is
that the PS Aim
front of the device,
an analog stick (R3)
Controller is currently
which takes care of
which is surrounded
only supported by
where you’re pointing
by four buttons. This
one game. And
the weapon, while
ring of raised, easy
while Farpoint is fun
(we’re assuming) there
to reach buttons are
to play, it does not
are systems in place for
the X, triangle, square
necessarily warrant
overall orientation as
and circle buttons
the expenditure of yet
well.
that would normally
another PlayStation
be found on the face
peripheral, unless
the PS Aim Controller
of the DualShock
you’re extremely keen
has everything you
4 controller. Finally,
on a VR FPS game
need. From front to
at the top of the
(which you should be)
back, it breaks down
PS Aim Controller,
in the form of Farpoint.
like this: the L1 and L2
above the trigger,
But, if Sony lives up
buttons are provided
are the PS button
to their promise, the
as easy-to-identify
and a large, clickable
PS Aim Controller will
front-mounted triggers
button that serves the
become a necessity for
on the fore post of
same purpose as the
those wanting to draw
the controller, while
click function of the
the most immersive
(anterior to them) an
DualShock 4’s touch
experience out of their
analogue stick (L3),
pad (which is pretty
VR games. While we
D-pad and Options
much all that games
don’t know what to
and Share buttons
use these days).
expect yet, we’re pretty
glowing orb at the
In addition to that,
TECHNOLOGY
can be found. On the rear post, a chunky
necessary controls
will be more PS Aim
trigger acts as R2,
are present on the
Controller compatible
while dual R1 buttons
light-weight but sturdy
games announced at
(to keep the controller
PS Aim Controller.
E3 2017.
ambidextrous) are
While you won’t
mounted on the sides,
see it replacing the
a well-made and well-
just above it. These
DyualShock 4, it
designed controller –
are a little tough to
still offers all the
any FPS fan who wants
get to by feel alone,
functionality of that
to brave the world of
but you get used
controller, with the
VR shooters should
to their placement.
added benefit of
have one – even if they
To the rear of the
being trackable by the
wait for a few more
PS Aim Controller,
PlayStation camera.
supported games to
within easy reach of
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certain that there
In short, all the
Quite simply, this is
The thing is, though,
come out. g
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G231 Prodigy
TECHNOLOGY
An all-encompassing solution
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Logitech G231 Prodigy Console Gaming Headset
e Gaming Headset
V
by Alex Scanlon
AT A GLANCE: SUMMARY
TECH SPECS • • • • • • •
It works with everything, and it sounds great. The G231 is a fantastic headset from Logitech, even if it is a little stiff.
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40mm neodymium drivers PC compatible PS4 compatible Xbox One compatible 3.5mm jack
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ersatility in headsets is something that we have mentioned more than a few times over the years, and it remains as important now as ever. Quite simply, needing a separate headset for every application is nothing short of a pain in the rear end, particularly if you are a gamer that makes use of multiple platforms. But now, with Microsoft being much more forgiving in terms of connecting headsets to their controllers, a device that works equally well on PC, PS4 and Xbox One (as well as anything else that uses a 3.5mm jack) is more than possible. And that’s where the extremely cool Logitech G231 Prodigy Console Gaming Headset comes in. The name is a little misleading. This headset isn’t just for consoles – but with things being what they were, it’s probably necessary to state console, and imply PC. And that’s exactly where the G231 Prodigy will work – on PS4, Xbox One and PC. Thanks to an integrated 3.5mm jack, as well as an extension splitter cable for use with the PC, this headset will take care of every gaming requirement you have. It will naturally also work with smart devices and other, similar toys, too, so all your bases are pretty much covered, for both incoming and outgoing audio. The solidly built G231 Prodigy has a generously padded headband and over-ear cups, for maximum comfort (although it is a little stiff) with a fold-away mic boom built into the left ear-cup. And, as though a light shone down from the heavens and answered the prayers of every console gamer who ever had to fiddle with volume levels using the rather backwards systems provided by both PlayStation and Xbox, it has an in-line volume control. Something so small, really, makes such a massive difference. Powering the audio are 40mm neodymium drivers. A few years ago, 40mm wasn’t worth a second glance, but the G231 Prodigy has been trimmed to be pitch perfect. In short, the audio quality delivered by this headset is absolutely excellent, right up there with (and even better than) some of the biggest names in the personal audio business. Booming basses, crisp highs and full bodied mids are all there for the user to enjoy. If there is one criticism, it is that the headset could have been a little more comfortable. It’s not really bad, mind you – it’s light and well padded – but initially it is quite stiff. That may work out in time and, quite frankly, with the audio quality and versatility on offer, what’s a little discomfort between friends? This really is a great headset. Logitech have smacked it out of the park with this one, because it ticks all the right boxes. g
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice
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H C EW E T VI E R Razer
Ornata Chroma T The soft touch
TECHNOLOGY
here really isn’t all that much fence sitting when it comes to keyboard switches. Most gamers seem to prefer the clicky mechanical switches, while others prefer the quitter, softer feel of a membrane system. Razer, however, have bridged the divide with their Mecha-Membrane technology. They may not be the first company to take on this idea, but they really have done it well, as can be seen in their Ornata Chroma Gaming Keyboard. The Mecha-Membrane is quite central to the selling points of the Ornata Chroma. It delivers the clicky experience, but feels less jarring than a traditional mechanical keyboard, thanks to a clever combination of both technologies. Another compromise is the key height. Instead of the traditional tall key caps found on most mechanical keyboards, or the low-profile chicklet keys found on many membrane based boards, Razer have opted for medium height key cap for the Ornata Chroma. This means that the travel time – and therefore activation time – of the Ornata Chroma’s keys is shorter, resulting in a split-second better reaction time to user input. Putting the lower key height together with the undeniable comfort of the Mecha-mebrane system results is a great, responsive feel from the Ornata Chroma. Further comfort comes in the form of a generous, padded wrist rest that can be attached to the Ornata Chroma. It’s
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extremely comfortable, if you opt to make use of it, and it minimizes strain on the wrists well, particularly during protracted gaming sessions. And, of course, it can be removed if it isn’t your cup of tea. Further customization comes in the form of Chroma functionality. As expected, the Ornata Chroma provides the user with a host of RGB lighting options, across the entire colour spectrum. These range from the Ornata Chroma’s preset colour patterns through to per-key customization, for those who want to get into the specifics. Most of what the Ornata Chroma has on offer as a gaming keyboard sits under the hood. Looking at the Ornata Chroma, aside from the fact that it is Chroma enabled and carries the Razer logo, one doesn’t necessarily thing “gaming keyboard”. Only the dedicated gaming mode is a visual clue. But once you get to using it, its performance speaks a different language… With 10-key rollover and anti-ghosting that accommodates up to 10 simultaneous key presses, the Ornata Chroma delivers dependable, accurate performance. Additionally, even though it has no integrated macro keys, all the keys are programmable, and the board offers on-the-fly macro recording. The real winner here, though, is the Mecha-membrane. It’s been a while since a keyboard felt so… friendly to use. Razer have a winner here, for those who want to try something a little different. g gamecca96
NAME Ornata Razer OF THE Chroma PRODUCT Gaming Keyboard
Gaming Keyboard
SUMMARY The new Mechamembrane technology gives this keyboard a great, friendly feel… combined with excellent responsiveness. TECH SPECS • • • • • • •
Chroma enabled Synapse enabled Mecha-mechanical keys 10 key rollover Anti-ghosting
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Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice
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by Walt Pretorius
AT A GLANCE:
H C EW E T VI E R MSI
DS502
Gaming Headset
Virutal surround from MSI…
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ost of the products we see from MSI tend to be components, and even within that sphere we generally get to see motherboards and graphics cards. But MSI make a host of computer related items, including peripherals. While they may not be known for their peripherals, they do pack a lot of quality into them. As a good example, we have the MSI DS502 Gaming Headset. The thing is that MSI approach virtually everything they create from a PC perspective. That is their playing field, after all, so it is hardly surprising that the DS502 sits firmly in the PC camp; this headset can only be used with PC, thanks to its USB plug. With that said, there is good reason for MSI using a USB plug with the DS502… it allows for virtual 7.1 surround sound. This is a science that is no longer in
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its infancy – rather, virtual 7.1 has become an extremely viable, and enjoyable, way to experience in-game and movie audio, and the DS502 handles it very well indeed. The directional audio is very well tuned, and the 40mm neodymium drivers deliver a good range across the sound spectrum. The DS502 is a very comfortable headset, too. It’s large, round over-ear cups and suspension style, self adjusting headband are very reminiscent of what Steelseries was doing a few years ago, but that doesn’t change the fact that the generously padded ear cups and gentle head band system, as well as the light weight of the headset, make for a comfortable user experience. The 2 metre cable also comes fitted with an in-line controller, which adjusts volume, mutes the mic and adds what MSI term as a bass enhancement. This is pretty much a vibration function triggered by the bass, which some
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MSI DS502 Gaming Headset
by Alex Scanlon
AT A GLANCE: SUMMARY
TECH SPECS • • • • • • •
If you’re looking for a PC-only personal audio solution, this is one that you should consider.
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Virtual 7.1 surround sound USB plug 40mm drivers In-line control 2m cable Suspension headband
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users may find extremely uncomfortable when activated. One of the best aspects of the DS502 is that it looks really good, with red lighting accents and red speaker covers inside the ear cups contrasting against the black that dominates the design. The only real problem with the DS502 isn’t really a problem at all, and that is its versatility. As stated before, MSI play purely in the PC field, and making a headset that delivers virtual 7.1 surround sound necessitates that it only works on PC. It’s not a design or manufacturing error. And it is fine if you want a headset for PC use only. But if you want something that is going to deliver more than that, that will connect to multiple devices, then you may want to forgo the option for virtual surround sound and look at a headset that uses a 3.5mm jack. The choice, of course, comes down to how you want to experience your personal audio. g
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice
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H C EW E T VI E R Razer
Deathadder Elite T A truly sensitive rodent…
TECHNOLOGY
his is not the first time that a Razer Deathadder has shown up on my desk for review, and it probably won’t be the last – Razer have a way to sticking with what works, and the ergonomic, elegant design of the Deathadder is here to stay, for the time being at least. But what is different here, for this Elite model, are the guts on the inside. Razer have built what they claim to be the world’s most sensitive system into the Deathadder Elite, providing the mouse with a stunning 16 000 dpi maximum sensitivity. That is, for us here at Gamecca at least, the most sensitive mouse we have ever seen. The sensor allows for a claimed 99.4% accuracy, which is pretty incredible. The question is, though… how do you, as an end-user, measure that. Most people are perfectly comfortable with the presumably lower accuracy ratings of the mouse that they use, and wouldn’t really know a more accurate mouse (unless it was wildly more accurate). Which is what the Deathadder Elite claims to be. Still, it’s a number that sounds impressive, but is pretty difficult to translate into real world terms. As is the sensitivity. A great number of users chase those high dpi ratings, but never really use them, opting for lower ratings than the expensive mouse they’re using is capable of… simply because their play-style
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demands it. So, is the Deathadder Elite too sensitive? Is 16 000 dpi getting to the point of being too extreme? Well, that really depends on the user, but whether folks would actually jack the sensitivity up this high for gaming seems a little unlikely. Rather, it feels more like bragging rights. Or maybe the upgrade is a way to sell more Deathadders… What is certain is that the Deathadder Elite is a great mouse, much like any other Deathadder, with the added benefit of higher dpi adjustments than older models. The Chroma enabled Deathadder Elite is a five button mouse, capable of all the expected adjustments and settings that Razer’s Synapse software allows for. And it’s a great shape. Although it feels ambidextrous, thumb buttons only feature on one side of the mouse (meaning lefties will have to look for a left-handed model). Despite that, the overall design of the Deathadder Elite is great. It feels excellent under the hand, and makes for an effective and reliable gaming device. It’s optimised switches are responsive and long-lasting, too (although that is also a claim that cannot be proven during a review, but we have no reason to doubt it). In the end, the Deathadder Elite is a great mouse, but it does feel a little like Razer has gone to great (dpi) lengths to release another Deathadder model. g
Razer Deathadder Elite Gaming Mouse
Gaming Mouse
SUMMARY A fresh take on the Deathadder sees the most sensitive mouse ever released...
TECH SPECS • • • • • • •
16000 dpi Five button 99.4% accuracy Chroma enabled
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Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice
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By Rob Edwards
AT A GLANCE:
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Gaming X GeFor
TECHNOLOGY
The heavyweight
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Graphics Card
Big on power, big on size, big on price – this card is a massive monster in every way.
AWARDS
AT A GLANCE:
SUMMARY
Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice
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once you get a load of what this card has on offer, you’re not really going to care about it. The performance here is extreme. Being a member of the Gaming X stable means that the card is pretty much overclocked right out of the box, which is why it delivers such great performance. But that also means that the heat aspect is going to be much higher, so MSI have gone to great lengths to ensure that the Gaming X GeForce GTX 1080 Ti stays cool. That’s part of the reason for the thickness of the card – it has massive heat sinks. It also has two large fans cooling it, which make use of Twin Frozr VI technology, complete with customized, high pressure fins. And, of course, it comes with software for monitoring and overclocking, including a mobile app for monitoring. And for those that care about looks, the black and red housing of the card is accented with fully customizable RGB LED lighting, including the red accents in the black portion of the card housing. The truth is that this kind of performance – for the time being – costs a lot of money. But once you see what the Gaming X GeForce GTX 1080 Ti has on offer, you may feel that the expenditure is well worth it. As it stands, though, this is something of an elite card, because not many will be willing, or able, to buy one. g
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MSI TVR Distribution www.tvr.co.za
TECH SPECS • • • • • • • • •
GTX 1080 Ti chipset 11GB GDDR5X RAM Twin Frozr VI technology Gaming App RGB LED lighting
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by Rob Edwards
hen it comes to high end graphics cards, MSI have quite a few options. But as far as their stable goes, the MSI Gaming X GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the true heavyweight… quite literally. To call this card big if both literally and figuratively correct; the Gaming X GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a massive card in terms of physical dimensions and weight. While it may be a touch shorter than some of their previous offerings, it is quite a bit thicker, and it weighs a lot. So much so that you’ll want to make sure that you secure the card very well after you fit it, and possibly even have reinforced PCIe slots to help bear the weight (which MSI’s motherboards can certainly help you with). Big comes in terms of performance, too. The Gaming X GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is part of MSI’s higher powered Gaming range, obviously, and as a Ti model it really doesn’t get any more powerful. The chipset itself slices through complex graphics like a hot knife through butter – you’re going to have to try really hard to get a better performance, but that’s what you’d expect given that this card is equally weighty in terms of price. Supporting that big chipset performance is 11GB of GDDR5X RAM. 11 is an odd number for RAM, really, but
MSI Gaming X GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Card
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Don’t You Feel Like Crying … TECHNOLOGY
Cyber criminals are getting bolder
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mgeect 2 c4a 9 6 ggl a ad
by Suvesh Arumugam
extracting personal information was the new goldmine. Being able to collect an individuals’ identity, banking information and passwords. From this information, they can do anything from hacking into systems the individual has access to, making fraudulent payments and reconstructing entire identities. Using stolen identities, they are able to create accounts, and even purchase property and register marriages. It’s no mystery how the practice of hacking crossed over from misdemeanour into the criminal underworld. This kind of information was extremely valuable to criminal syndicates. Instead of having an army of thugs to perpetrate crimes (at extremely high risk for minimal reward), it makes more sense to have rooms full of computer nerds running keystroke malware, phishing scams, and trying to hack insecure sites to get lists and passwords of their users. The most difficult part of stealing money, credit cards and jewellery is, in addition to the high risk of hijacking or robbery, there are even higher risks trying to convert those stolen goods into cash. For cyber criminals this is even harder, as they need to use credit card details quickly (before the cards are reported stolen), but the difficult part is converting a credit card with funds on it into cash. The most common way is to purchase goods, like cell phones or laptops and then hock them quickly (or return them for refunds to a new account). However, there is still a risk to the hacker when the paper trail is matched to a delivery address or bank account. Even using the card details online leaves a digital footprint of IP addresses, cookies and other user information that can ultimately lead back to them. South American criminals figured out the easiest way to get money from people
“...impossible to trace the funds back to the hackers...”
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Don’t You Feel Like Crying...
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ast month saw the biggest global cyber-attack in history perpetrated by unknown hackers. The “WannaCry” cyberattack targeted Microsoft Windows users, especially users who did not have updated security patches. The virus encrypted the hard drives of infected systems and essentially locked users out of their own computers, unless they paid over large sums of BitCoin cryptocurrency. Due to the nature of cryptocurrency, it’s impossible to trace the funds back to the hacker. Several hundred thousand users and networks were affected, which also included major corporate systems like Deutsche Bahn, Britain’s NHS, Nissan, Renault, FedEx, Telkom, Hitachi and several government and university systems around the world. We’ve come a long way from the days of Matthew Broderick in WarGames, where hacking was a simple act of dialling into a computer’s modem and using brute force to essentially guess somebody’s passwords. The movie was a pretty accurate reflection of the purpose of hackers in that period. Aside from rare acts of espionage, it was mostly young programmers challenging themselves to break into various systems. It also usually meant that hackers would “tag” the system by leaving a footprint in an obscure location to show off their prowess. This was probably how a ton of the less intelligent ones were caught. It also meant that many “innocent” hackers were given a stern talking to and had their computer privileges revoked for a little while. As we left the ‘90s behind and headed into the age of big data, hacking became less of a hobby and more of a profession. Data not only became valuable to competing companies, but
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was not to take it when they weren’t looking, but to simply ask them for it. Since the early 2000s, South and Central American criminals have to turned to kidnapping to simply get victims to hand over their money. Instead of hatching complex plans to convert stolen goods into cash, they leave that part to the victim. They can then set their demands, ensuring that the cash is untraceable. Kidnappings have also increased in Asia and Africa, with India and Nigeria seeing increasing cases every year. One study reported more than 17,000 kidnapping cases in Venezuela in a single year. It was only a matter of time before cyber-criminals realised they could use the same modus operandi. Instead of trying
“What is the easiest way to get someone’s password?”
TECHNOLOGY
to figure out how to convert someone’s personal information into accessible cash, they simply encrypt the user’s computer (or the company’s private network) and then make that their problem. Cryptocurrency also minimised the risk to the hacker, since it’s virtually impossible to trace transactions or personal identities. All you need is one password to unlock everything, because hackers correctly assume that most people will use the same password for all their digital accounts. My computer science lecturer used to ask “What is the easiest way to get someone’s password?” The answer, of course, is you ask them for it. When you create the illusion of security, or appeal to people’s desire to get something, it’s frightening how quickly most will give up personal information and even bank details and ID numbers. This is the crux of phishing, or it’s more
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targeted cousin, spear phishing. RansomWare isn’t a new thing. Hackers started using this method to attack personal users as early as 2005. Reports were that this originated mostly in Russia, but soon became widespread. It became particularly popular to encrypt small business websites. Security experts estimate that over $30 million dollars have been extorted using ransomware. The WannaCry attack was aimed to be a huge financial blow to the global economy. The ransom of $300 per computer would have resulted in tens of millions paid over to hackers. With over 200,000 machines infected across the world, and ransom’s rising based on a timer, this should have resulted in losses close to $100 million. However, a security researcher found a killswitch in the malware code, which halted the progress of the attack. By the time hackers were able to circumvent this, security companies had released further patches and also figured out how to decrypt infected systems. While the hackers are likely to feel a little disappointed about the ultimate reward, they will most likely be celebrating their successful act of cyber-terrorism and looking to the next big effort. What is also clear is that users should be taking security very seriously. Using pirated operating systems (especially prevalent in Windows systems) was probably a bit more attractive (and the worst part of it would be an aggressively worded email from Microsoft). Now, not being able to constantly patch and update security systems could literally be an invitation to have your data encrypted. And instead of finding your bank account emptied (which in most cases the banks would refund), you could be the one emptying your account and losing it all! g
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Don’t You Feel Like Crying...
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COMICS 112 114 116 118
All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1 Jean Grey #1 Secret Empire #1 X-Men - Gold #1
BOOKS 120 122
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The Five Daughters of the Moon The Lamb Will Slaughter The Lion
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here are few people who don’t immediately crack a smile when they think back on 1999’s The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. That supernatural actionadventure was a rare remake that topped the popularity of the original, and became a beloved blockbuster classic for our contemporary times. Still, it’s been almost a decade since the last Mummy movie, and Hollywood never leaves potentially profitable properties to rest in peace for long. That’s why next month a new Mummy film is being released from its desert tomb. For better or worse. Unrelated to the Fraser Mummy trilogy, The Mummy 2017 shifts the action to a present-day setting. Surprising for what’s a horror reboot with a B-movie premise of Ancient Egyptian resurrection and magic, megastar Tom Cruise plays the movie’s hero. Details on Cruise’s character Nick Morton are scarce, but whether soldier, mercenary or treasure hunter, he’s instrumental in finding and stopping the mummy of this tale. Further mixing up the franchise formula is the fact that this time the mummy is female. Sofia Boutella plays princess Ahmanet, whose desire for power leads her down a dark, bloody path when denied her right to rule. Her punishment is being buried alive. When inadvertently freed millennia later by Cruise’s character, he becomes her chosen one in a grudge-fuelled quest for world domination. The Mummy is set in the Middle East and Britain, with an extended sequence promised in a subterranean labyrinth beneath London. In addition to Cruise and Boutella, the cast includes Courtney B. Vance and Jake (New Girl) Johnson as Nick’s military colleagues, as well as Anabelle Wallis as an archaeologist who uncovers Ahmanet’s past. There’s even Gladiator star Russell Crowe in the mix as Dr. Henry Jekyll. Why is that casting significant? Read the companion piece to this article to find out about Universal Studios’ grand plans for The Mummy.
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Judging by the preview material released so far, the new Mummy doesn’t have the sense of humour and fun of the 1999-2008 movies. However, if you’ve received strong Michael Bay-esque vibes from the epic, explosion-packed trailers, your senses aren’t deceiving you. The Mummy is produced and directed by Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote the first two Transformers movies. He also produced two of the rebooted Star Treks. Joining Kurtzman as a producer on The Mummy is Chris Morgan, who was involved in later Fast and the Furious movies. As for script duties, filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie is The Mummy’s co-writer, and he’s worked on other Tom Cruise blockbusters like Jack Reacher, Edge of Tomorrow and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. Together, these movie creatives have the potential to create something sleek and exciting. The Mummy has been in development since 2012, changing director and tone until Kurtzman settled into his guiding role. In interviews with the press he’s promised an intense, suspense-driven action movie, with as much practical effects work as possible to ground the supernatural spectacle in our reality. We’ll see if this is the case soon. The Mummy “awakens” on 9 June in South Africa, the United States and many other countries. It will be screening in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D.
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ARE MONSTERS THE NEW SUPERHEROES
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With Warner Brothers, Disney and Fox owning the rights to most of the big superheroes, other movie studios have been forced to get creative with building their own big franchises. Universal Studios is trying something different. As the poster tagline for The Mummy proclaims, “Welcome to a new world of gods and monsters.” You see, what Universal lacks in comic deals, it makes up for in iconic monsters. The studio has a unique back-catalogue of classic monster movies. Dating from the 1920s to 1950s, these include Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, Lon Chaney Jr’s The Wolf Man, and Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein. Then there are the many sequels, and even crossovers like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. Universal’s intention, starting with The Mummy, is to essentially bring these old movie properties back from the dead. The result would be a new, shared Universal Monsters movieverse, much like Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Warners’ DC Extended Universe. Universal Monsters will have a present-day setting and prioritise action-adventure ahead of horror to widen the series appeal. Laying the foundation for this shared universe in The Mummy is Russell Crowe’s appearance as Dr. Henry Jekyll, of split-personality Jekyll and Hyde notoriety. Meanwhile, Johnny Depp has signed on to star in The Invisible Man and Javier Bardem is being courted for Frankenstein. At the same time, scripts are also in development for The Phantom of the Opera, Wolf Man, Van Helsing and even a new take on The Creature From the Black Lagoon. The Mummy’s Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan are overseeing all of these projects, no doubt to ensure they all align in tone and plot. It’s a gamble – and the future of this shared fictional world will definitely depend on the success of The Mummy – but Universal Monsters could pay off, especially as audiences tire of cape-and-tights tales.
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The Mummy leading man Tom Cruise certainly needs no introduction, having starred in box office smashes for over 30 years. But what about the actress playing his powerful ancient foe? Scratching your head over where you’ve seen Sofia Boutella before? Hollywood’s taken advantage of her striking looks and impressive physical talents for the past three years or so, but the 35-year-old French-Algerian has been building a career since her teens. Boutella was initially a rhythmic gymnast (going so far as to represent France), and professional dancer. Not only did she appear in music videos for Rhianna and tour with Madonna in the second half of the Noughties, but she also starred in a series of inspiring Nike commercials. On the movie front, Boutella brought her hip-hop and street dance skills to StreetDance 2 in 2012. She had an attentiongrabbing lead role in this sequel to what is Europe’s answer to the Step Up series. Boutella’s first major Hollywood role was as Samuel L Jackson’s deadly blade-legged henchwoman in Kingsman: The Secret Service. She followed this up with an unrecognisable appearance in Star Trek Beyond as white-skinned alien scavenger Jaylah. Next up for Boutella after The Mummy is Atomic Blonde, opposite South Africa’s Charlize Theron. In this espionage actioner, Boutella plays a French operative who becomes a love interest for Theron’s cynical British spy. Atomic Blonde comes from John Wick director and former stunt man David Leitch. Expect Boutella to continue showcasing her dance and movement talents in many more movies. g
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Title: Writer: Artist:
COOL STUFF: COMICS
GET GRAPHIC
All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1 Gerry Duggan Aaron Kuder
Publisher:
Marvel
Rated:
Teen +
gamecca96
by Clive Burmeister
By now, everyone knows the Guardians of the Galaxy. With two block buster movies under their belt, cartoons, and countless comics, they no longer really need an introduction. But fame has its own drawbacks. In their own universe, they’ve also amassed a bit of a name for themselves, which makes getting a job a lot easier than before they saved the Galaxy, but sometimes that also means they get involved with the wrong people. And since their jobs often entail a lot of not so heroic deeds and all sorts of getting up to no good, it’s not unheard of for things to get bad really, really fast. The All New Guardians series is no exception, and sees our heroes doing what they do best, getting into endless trouble right from
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Title: Writer: Artist:
COOL STUFF: COMICS
GET GRAPHIC Jean Grey #1 Dennis Hopeless Victor Ibanez
Publisher:
Marvel
Rated:
Teen +
gamecca96
by Clive Burmeister
Recently in the X-Men comics, the classic X-Men team were pulled forward in time in order to help deal with a crisis, and they’ve now had to re-adjust to life in this much more chaotic and pressured time line. Not only that, but they have had to see what happened with their future selves, in most cases bringing them some concern at what they may become. While most of the team could deal with what they faced in their future selves, it was Jean Grey who had the most difficult time facing what became of her future self, who had been possessed by the god-like power of the Phoenix and almost destroyed everything in the process, and ultimately sacrificed her own life. But this Jean Grey, while living with that knowledge, that burden, is not the same Jean as the girl who became the Dark Phoenix. Or is she?
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Title: Writer: Artist:
COOL STUFF: COMICS
GET GRAPHIC Secret Empire #1 Nick Spencer Steve McNiven
Publisher:
Marvel
Rated:
Teen +
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by Clive Burmeister
The world, as we know it, has changed. The one who was the staunchest defender of freedom, who embodied heroism and lived the life of the super community’s unofficial leader and moral compass, has done the unthinkable. Captain America has been working as a sleeper agent for Hydra, and in a precise and co-ordinated strike, managed to trap and conquer most of the heroes who would stand against him, and change the USA, the world’s freedom capital, into a Hydra dictatorship overnight. With most of the world’s former heroes caught in the trap, there are few to oppose this regime. Indoctrination and brainwashing bombards the masses, while Hydra control keeps a stranglehold on its power. What few heroes and rebels that are left to fight, are all that stands in Hydra’s way of total domination.
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Title: Writer: Artist:
COOL STUFF: COMICS
GET GRAPHIC X-Men - Gold #1 Marc Guggenheim Ardian Syaf
Publisher:
Marvel
Rated:
Teen +
gamecca96
by Clive Burmeister
It is a new era for the X-Men. Following the events of the Inhumans war with Mutants, the X-Men find themselves back in a similar situation to when they started their team, in a world that hates and fears mutant kind. As the old saying goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same�. Now, with Kitty Pride returning to the team as their leader (replacing Storm), they must find the balance between being the heroes the world needs, improving their public image, and being the defenders of their species from those who would eradicate them. This would be a tall order for the team with only those challenges to face, but when the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants strike, it seems all their work for doing away with the fear of mutants might be in vain.
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E YL W T ES IE lIF EV R
The Five Daughters of the Moon A tale of sisters
Title:
LIFESTYLE
Author: Publisher: Genre:
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The Five Daughter of the Moon Leena Likitalo Tor Books Historical Fantasy
COOL STUFF: BOOKS
T
old through the perspective of each of the sisters, The Five Daughters of the Moon is a story of family, betrayal, loyalty and loss. About a kingdom on the brink of destruction and one man orchestrating its downfall through manipulation, deceit and fear.
Each sister’s perspective draws in their
unique personalities and gifting. Little Alina who is far more perceptive than her sisters think and sometimes, want to admit. Merile thinks too much of herself, too conscious of her future role and keeping appearances. Sibilia tends to her diary, writing her thoughts and hopes and fears. The more intellectual of the sisters yet still a child in many aspects. Elise balances between maturity and immaturity. Hopeful for something greater and willing to risk for it. Celestia carries the regal elegance of an empress-to-be, and as the older sister she must. However this also places her in the most precarious of situations. The Gagargi Prataslav, creator of the Thinking Machine, will do whatever it takes to succeed in his nefarious plan. Anything at all. The writing style is nostalgic and honest. Capturing the essence of each character well. more. g
gamecca96
by Nthato Morakabi
The ending is fitting and leaves one pining for
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E YL W T ES IE lIF EV R
The Lamb Will Slaughter The Lion Absolute freedom…
Title:
LIFESTYLE
Author: Publisher: Genre:
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The Lamb Will Slaughter The Lion Margaret Killjoy Tor Books Horror
COOL STUFF: BOOKS
D
anielle Cain is a traveller. Spending much of her life on the road, she is pulled towards the squatter utopian town of Freedom, Iowa, following her best friend’s suicide. Upon arrival, she becomes aware that not all is well in Freedom. Even more so when a
blood-red, three-antlered deer proceeds to rip the heart out of a resident. The summoned creature is a protector spirit, serving as both judge and executioner. Only it has turned against its summoners and now Danielle and her friends must save the town or get out alive. Not your typical horror, The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion takes a unique “what if” perspective on anarchy as a political ideal. Freedom, Iowa, is home to displaced drifters. They summoned a creature when their society was threated, establishing an external nonhuman authority figure. The story is thoughtful, with insight to an idealistic society of ungoverned people living in absolute freedom. The characters are varied and unique. Mystery builds alongside the characters while bizarre and disturbing elements of horror push the plot forward. There’s something with their chests ripped out – and a scarlet three horned demon deer staring you down. g
gamecca96
by Nthato Morakabi
unsettling about being chased by undead geese
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E
Ramjet’s rantality
very now and then a video surfaces showing some guy – always guys, never girls, oddly – flipping out over a video game. I recall one I saw a few days back. The guy, playing some unidentified game, sees things not going his way. I would argue, at this point, that things going wrong within the game are more than likely due to the fact that he sucks at it, but that’s probably just a little beside the point I will, eventually, get to. Anyway, things go wrong in the game, and he totally loses his shit. Like, completely. He jumps up, grabs the keyboard and starts smashing stuff with it, before turning his attention to his chair, which he throws aside is a rage… taking out a massive TV screen in the process. So let’s analyse this, for a moment… the guy, let’s call him Albert, has basically caused a ton of destruction because he got mad at a video game. Wow. All because a video game wasn’t going his way, Albert broke some really expensive stuff in an uncontrolled fit of rage. Let’s dig a little deeper into Albert’s action, shall we, and his reactions as well. First of all, he got enraged by a video game. Sure, there are lots
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of reasons to get irritated, annoyed, frustrated, vexed and even angry when playing video games. But enraged? Really? One gets enraged when finding that you have been scammed out of heaps of money, or when your house gets burgled, or when the stock markets crash, sending your hard-earned savings and investments into a bottomless pit from whence they shall never return. Those are reasons to get enraged. Getting enraged because some kid was a little quicker on the trigger than you and popped a sweet headshot between your eyes in not only unreasonable, but it is immature. Let’s cut Albert a bit of slack, though… let’s assume that he had run out of his hissy-fit medication prescription, and that his underwear was too tight. So he gets enraged. Here are things he could have done to deal with his sudden boiling, bile-infused rage. He could have counted to ten. He could have taken a walk. He could even have rage-quit the game and went and punched a tree. Instead, he lost control of his emotions, and trashed everything around him, including his PC and a rather nice flat screen that he could have given to someone else, if
gamecca96
BY rAMJET
Some Control...
he wasn’t keen on it. So not only did he lose control in a most pathetic manner, but he then took his anger out on his PC and environment. That’s what a toddler does (although they probably do less damage when they throw tantrums). Another thing that a toddler does is regret its loss of control. But that’s understandable for someone who still soils themselves. They are still learning about the world. They are still learning how to exercise control over themselves. It’s not acceptable behaviour of someone old enough to play video games. And yet, right at the end of the video, there’s Albert, showing the same blushing regret one would see from a toddler who just realised that he made a big bad boo-boo. No game is that important. No. Game. Ever. And if you cannot control yourself to not trash everything around you because you got mad at a game (a GAME) then the medication you should be on would probably prevent you from ever being lucid enough to play games. If you react like Albert, you shouldn’t be spending money on the next big triple A… you should be spending it on a therapist. g
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