EDITOR’S NOTE
IN THIS ISSUE:
Hey Novastreamers! Sorry we missed a month, we were enjoying our “off season” break with a few staff off jetsetting overseas and trying to get a hold of the latest movies, games and TV episodes to inform you about. This month we spoke with the director from sport doco film Tri as well as binging the first 6 episodes of Iron First, fighting our way through knights and samurais with For Honor and enjoying humming the Jurassc Park theme music while playing Horizon : Zero Dawn. and who can go past Logan. It has been a MASSIVE month and we hope you enjoy this issue that we have loved putting together for you.
LOGAN - Hugh Jackman returns as Wolvie for one last fight...
We are on our way to launching our YouTube channel very soon with some great video content both old and new and will have it embedded in the digital copy of the magazine soon! The Oscars! The nominees, the awards, the drama! It was all a bit too much to take and the now infamous snaff of Moonlight and La La Land made it a must watch. Moonlight was definitely the deserving winner and whil we enjoyed the very camp La La Land, Moonlight is a film that lingers. If you are looking at hibernating with the cooler weather settling in, Santa Clarita Diet was on our most watched list for month and the release of Marvel’s Iron First as well as a brand new season of Grace & Frankie it is a great time to have a Netflix account. New star studded series Big Little Lies continues on Foxtel while reality show The Real Housewives Of Sydney is our most snapchatted show in a long time. Make sure you check out our new website www. novastreamnetwork.com and give us a Like on Facey while you’re there
ALAISDAIR LEITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
HORIZON : ZERO DAWN Guerilla games latest IP does it deliver?
RIVERDALE - Jay dives deep into Archie comics
KONG : SKULL ISLAND
THE KING RETURNS Kong: Skull Island, the much-anticipated remake of the classic King Kong, delivers on all the action, adventure and comedy you would expect from an epic tale such as this one. This time, Jordan Vogt-Roberts is giving it a crack adding his own unique style to an old story.
It should be noted that the trailer for this film revealed far too much. It was nice going into the film having not seen any of them. Watching them in hindsight, they showed some of the funniest lines and best surprises. Consider this your warning.
One of the biggest draw factors is the phenomenal cast. The list of names you will recognise is endless; Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly are the bigger ones. However, there is an abundance of fresh faces that are equally as charming as their A-list counterparts.
Overall, Kong: Skull Island is a straight up bit of fun. If you are a fan of giant things fighting, fantastical creatures and a bit of maybe unintentional black comedy then you will love it.
The unadulterated, epic and slightly comical fights between the unbelievably cool creatures of the island and Kong are the other draw factor. If you are looking for a complex and intricate plot line you will be disappointed. However, we’ll let that slide because where it lacks in story it makes up for in action. The sadist who loves a genuine action film will surely love this movie. The nods to the original were dually noted and much appreciated to someone who loves the 1933 classic. Some of the better ones are the old Hollywood style zoom ups of Kong or a boat that is implied to be the actual boat from 1933.
Review by Jackie Jeanette
The DC animated universe continues with the first Matt Ryan returns as Constantine and really could not be movie of 2017 Justice League Dark, shifting away voiced by anyone else. Jason O’Mara returns as Batman for from the traditional JL to embrace the darker side the seventh time around and continues to grow and develp of superheroes sounded like an extremely risky Batman as one of the most interesting versions and here whil move, but fortunately through the introduction he is definitely a background character, he makes the most of intriguing new characters, beautiful animation sense to help assemble the Dark league and help achieve their and a well told story, Justice League Dark is a great mission. start to 2017 for animated films and ushers in these interesting and unique characters into DC’s best Animation wise it is hard to know where to start. The palette animated film to date. is dark and is balanced by different colours for different kinds of magic. Purple and red are evil colours of magic while Several incredibly disturbingly incidents around white is good. Interestingly enouch Constantine not being a the world that are intercepted by various members traditional magical being weilds a kind of orange glow with of the Justice League (Superman & Wonder Wom- his conjurings and this is a great addition to the character. an) have some humans hallucinating that demons Swamp Thing is definitely the most impressive character deare living among us and must be destroyed. Bos- sign wise in this movie. The colours are rich and his eyes are ton Brand aka Deadman intervenes with Batman intimidating. The fight sequences with Swamp Thing in the leading him to Zatanna and John Constantine to city are intense and well animated with a great soundtrack, it help track down the mystical forces creating the made me want to see more of this character and these charhavoc. To finish off the Dark League the above are acters. joined by Swamp Thing, Etrigan and Jason Blood. The film is not based on any particular story arc If you don’t know these characters or anything about the from the comics and this helps explain a series of magical side of the DC universe, don’t go into this expecting flashbacks from each character and tie it together ina big name Justice League film, instead meet some new ones a supernatural story combined with some pretty in- who open up a whole different side of the Justice League and tense action scenes that are a giant leap forward in will hopefully provide some fantastic stories in the future traditional animation styles. The unique character shared universe (come on WB animation you know you want style of John Constantine and Etrigan to the beauty to give us more!) You will get an entertaining romp through and detail of Zatanna and Swamp Thing stand out some great alternate DC characters that will make you want amongst the dark shades on screen. to delve into the comics. Deadman is a much needed comic relief in this movie, in scenes where it can get quite dark and disturbing, he provides some great relief. This is also offset by John Constantine’s dry sense of humour along with the i love him, i hate him dyamic. The biggest surprise was Zatanna, this is the first time I have geniuinely responded to the character and cared about her and this is helped by the performance from Camilla Luddington who brings a sweet and extremely strong persona to the role.
M t t D b d d c c fi t
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I p r s a s a w c i w k V a t o a u a a
THE GREAT WALL CAN MATT DAMON SURVIVE THE GREAT WALL?
Much can be said about the big spectacle action movies of the 80’s and 90’s and while some movies in recent years have tried and failed to recreate these type of films (Independence Day Resurgence) The Great Wall succeeds in making a big dumb action film fun and memorable with some great diversity and explosive action scenes and choreography that deserves to be seen on screen. The decision to have a majority case of Chinese actors with 2 caucasian males with one male caucasian lead and one chinese woman lead pays off as the film flicks between subtitles and English speaking dialogue that mixes it up. William (Matt Damon) and his Spanish friend Tovar (Pedro Pascal) are searching for the secret of black powder (gunpowder) and looking to trade when they are cornered by some Chinese warriors surprisingly at the base of the Great Wall. Their is a secret army called The Nameless Order who guard the wall from taotie, dragon like mythical creatures that attack once every 60 years to keep the emperor in check. Led by commander Lin Mae (Jing Tian) the well choreographed army must kill the Queen to stop the multiplying swarm from reaching the capital city and taking over the world.
on screen and works hand in hand with the breathtaking cinematography. Acting wise it was great to see alongside well known Matt Damon a ast of Chinese actors and the blend between english dialogue and chinese subtitles work together to please both audiences who will be watching this film. In particular Tian stands out as a strong female lead character who is both bold and vulnerable when she needs to be. Damon jumps in an out of some sort of Irish accent that doesn’t really work and ended up being a bit of a distraction. Also Willem Dafoe is in this movie without any real need to be there and barely an explanation of why his character really needs to be there.
Overall The Great Wall blew my expectations sky high, I was prepared to not enjoy this movie and moan and groan and surprisingly I did none of this. While the story was big and stupid, the action scenes, cinematography and choreography blew me away, the level of detail given to this was much better than it should be in a movie like this. Although Matt Damon is a bit plain in this film, the talented Tian more than makes up for it and keeping the relationship plutonic and respectful also won me over as well. The Great Wall may look I’m not going to sugar coat it, the story is ridiculous, their are ridiculous and pandering, but it instead excels at being a big plot holes and if you sit and think about it too much, it doesn’t dumb spectacle with some substance that makes it a film really make any sense. The good thing is that the top notch worth seeing (and worth seeing in 3D!) special effects, acting, choreography and cinematography are so astonishingly good, you completely forgive the Review by Alaisdair Leith shortcomings of the story. The movie starts out strong with a massive battle on the wall with choreographed female warriors in blue bungee jumping down the wall attacking the creatures, men with slinging blades slice the climbing taotie in the middle and although there are thousands of archers with bows, Matt Damon is apparently the only one who knows to aim for their eyes to actually kill them. Visually this film looks way better than it should. The creatures are beautifully detailed and the sheer scale of how they had to multiply them is impressive for a movie of this budget. Not only the creatures but also the wall itself and the detail of the armies fighting is beautifully detailed in both long and close up shots. The bungee jumping women warriors are miltant and the choregraphy is careful and beautiful to watch. This also goes for the army and drummer shots are a joy to watch
With so much to digest within the film Moonlight itself, it’s Unrelated, Chiron is assaulted for being gay made worse by even harder to digest all the hype, media and views surround- the fact that Kevin was the one to give him the bloody face. ing the film. On the outside you have a wonderful film about Out of revenge Chiron finds the ringleader who forced a young African American man growing up in the suburbs of Kevin and knocks him unconscious resulting in being takMiami. It’s a coming of age story where he struggles to find en into a detention facility. Which leads us to the final act his path in a world filled with drugs and having to constantly called Black where Chiron has managed to transform his look over his shoulder. And while he manages to escape a life body into muscle littered with tattoos. Dealing drugs to get that was almost mapped out for him, he finds himself stuck by he seems to live a comfortable life despite the circumbetween a better life and a life he can’t escape. On the other stances. Wearing a grill he goes to visit Kevin after some side of this film you have a story about the struggles of being years and the movie closes with Black’s head on Kevin’s gay, a broken family and finding beauty in an otherwise bleak shoulder. Moonlight is based on the play “In the Moonlight world. Black Boys Look Blue” written by Tarell McCraney, who also happens to be the writer of the screenplay along with This isn’t a film about the struggles of being an African Director Barry Jenkins. You can be excused if you didn’t American, when you watch the film you see past that. These know about the play, as it was never published. This adds characters interact with each other just like everyone else to the splendour of the films success as small film with does in this world. This film isn’t about being gay as it’s not little or no background to it. The film industry is filled with about sex or sexuality; it’s about love and finding someone sequels and prequels, remakes and reboots. Films telling that completes you. While Moonlight touches on so many the stories of real life people, so fare and between does the other aspects of growing up an African American and gay in silver screen have the chance to showcase an original idea. the suburbs of Miami, it’s these themes that stops you in your McCraney and Jenkins grew up in the suburbs of Miami tracks and leave you thinking about this story for weeks after. and returned to film Moonlight, adding authenticity to the Moonlight is broken into three stories, each sharing the life of film and the story. It’s a good moment to point out that JenChiron as a child, a teenager and a man. It shows him being kins himself isn’t gay. Another interesting angle to give this bullied by the other kids in the school and his battle living film substance in what might be perceived as being a story with his mother who is addicted to drugs. He struggles to about a gay man. make friends and keeps to himself out of fear. As a child nicknamed Little for obvious reasons, he meets Juan a local crack dealer who ends up taking him in to feed him up and keep him out of trouble. And in one of the most beautiful scenes in cinema, Juan teaches Little to swim in the ocean. The second WORDS BY act named Chiron, finds the teenager struggle with his mother as their relationship becomes more complicated. She starts to sell their homely possessions and even go as far as to take money from Chiron to buy drugs from Juan. Chiron has one close friend since childhood Kevin who he meets one night at the beach and they open up about their thoughts and feelings to each other, which ends in a passionate embrace.
JAY COOK
Barry Jenkins doesn’t have a long list of films he has Finally the only other mention from the performances is that directed, however he is well acclaimed in the industry al- of Ali Mahershala (Hunger Games, House of Cards, Hidden ready. Jenkins wrote and directed his debut film Medicine Figures). Mahershala has managed to gain a lot of recognition for Melancholy back in 2008 which received a number of from his performance as the friendly and kind drug dealer awards. Since Jenkins debut he has written a number of Juan. He is the only actor in Moonlight you might actually other screenplays which never made it into production. recognise from his previous work. Sadly it’s this which takes It is perhaps this reason of not having had a great deal of away from the authentic feel of Moonlight as for the most successes or experience that gave Moonlight its real and part everyone else has had a small career, if at all. Mahershal gritty nature. As Jenkins himself grew up in the suburbs is only in the film for such a small part compared to the three the film is based in, it gives authenticity but also a feeling Chiron actors but while it was a great performance it was not that Moonlight was made to tell the story not to win an necessarily an award winning one, not when Trevante Rhodes award. was outstanding. However with that aside, the scene where he is teaching young Chiron to swim in the ocean is a scene The performances of each of the actors playing Chiron is that will be remembered for time to come, as it was powerful, breathtaking in their approach. First there is Alex Hibbert beautiful and innocent all at the same time. As Juan or Chiron who aside from doing theatre at school had never graced deal their drugs the scenes are met, as you would expect with the screen. Hibbert portrays a lost, quiet little boy who an R&B sound. However another clever aspect of Moonlight to appears alone in the big wide world with no one to direct separate what is much deeper than the stereotyped R&B music him. There is this brutally honest and powerful moment as the score flips what it is you are seeing into a beautiful story when he is sitting at a table with Juan played by Ali Ma- hidden amongst a maze of confusion and a constant battle to hershala and asks what a “faggot” is and if he is one. The live. The score comes from Composer Nicholas Britell who has look in his eyes and his awkward head tilt as he navigates also worked on The Big Short, 12 Years a Slave, Whiplash and an adult world with no one to turn to is heartbreakingly soon to compose Ocean’s Eight. Britell is no stranger to telling beautiful to watch. To be able to portray most of a charac- a story through music and adds his talents to glue the visual ter through body language for the audience to understand masterpiece together. their emotion is not an easy feat. It’s Hibbert’s interaction with Mahershala as he is taught to swim in the ocean that Even before the release the audience was captured with the explodes with chemistry and pinpoints exactly what it is trailer and promotional material and it’s visual appeal. James they are feeling all the while figuring out how to float in Laxton is Director of Photography and manages to capture the ocean. what feels like the essence of the original play “In the MoonSecondly there is Chiron as a teenager played by Ashton light Black Boys Look Blue”. The contrast of colours between Sanders (Straight outta Compton, The Retrieval). Sanders Chiron’s life and capturing Miami and the suburbs is gritty and still maintains the lost and confused boy but with a whole real and full of emotion. The innocence and vulnerability of the lot more on his shoulders. You can see his thoughts as he intimacy between Chiron and Kevin at the beach is tasteful as struggles to convey his feelings. And finally there is Black well as frightening in that this was a new feeling for the characplayed by Trevante Rhodes (If Loving You Is Wrong, ters. It is as if while the characters were hiding their secrets the Westworld, The Night is Young), which is the standout camera was hiding it with them. And that’s what the entire film performance of Moonlight. Rhodes still maintains the felt like; the camera was sharing their emotions with them and lost and confused by the world persona, but adds anger only showing what the characters felt, an extension of themand resentment to the mix. He manages to capture this selves. aggressive dominant side as he deals drugs, but as soon as he steps in the diner to meet Kevin all the years later he slips right back to when he was a teenager vulnerable, lost and innocent. The power he gives this character is strong and you can feel and see the change as he navigates his emotions and feelings.
This is a unique film, not only in the subject of the movie but because it has won so many awards and is acclaimed by so many. But Moonlight opened to a very small screening making it possibly the most acclaimed picture to be seen by so few. To give you an idea, at the time of the 2017 Oscars Moonlight has only made about $30 million. But the movie, which it fought for that top spot at the Oscars for, La La Land, pulled in around $150 million. But with the title of Best Picture for 2017, Moonlight will easily surpass La La Land and win a great deal more viewers as it opens up to even more cinemas. Overall this film which doesn’t star a white person, tackles a life only few can relate to for not only being gay but also growing up in the suburbs of Miami. It’s a heart-warming coming of age story and captures this with brilliant performances tied together with stunning visuals and a superb score. There are times throughout the film where you think it’s trailing off, but what you end up with is a wonderful backstory as to why Chiron is the way he is and why he struggles the way he does. There are a number of aspects that make Moonlight what it is: the fresh Director, the almost unknown cast, the original idea and a subject almost untouched by the mainstream. But what makes this movie even better, is it’s the underdog. No one knew about it and so few had seen it, yet they came out on top. Take away the awards and all the media surrounding it and you still have a beautiful film that is worthy of being seen by all.
Hugh Jackman returns one more time in Logan, the 10th film in the X-Men universe and the final film in the Wolverine trilogy see’s Jackman bidding farewell (apparently?) to the franchise after 17 years and appearances in each film. This time around the dial is turned up to an MA rating inciting blood, so much blood, unrelenting violence, language and themes that the X-Men universe usually PG up, resulting in Logan becoming a dark and beautiful film that transcends the popcorn superhero flick into film territory that will be remembered as Jackman’s best performance as the Wolverine and bringing Patrick Stewart’s Professor X character to a thrilling conclusion that will have you saying “Why wasn’t Wolverine like this from the first movie” The year is 2029, Logan (Hugh Jackman) is an old man living in his private car that he uses to drive people around in Uber style, while Professor X (Patrick Stewart) is in his nineties and lives in an old water tower to shield his mind from the outside world. Suffering dementia and outbreaks that send out mental shockwaves rendering anyone in the immediate area with paralysis, Logan works to get medication on the side to help the Professor and stop the outbreaks, while also suffering breakdown with the adamantium poisoning his body. When the duo are discovered by a nurse Isabella seeking help from Wolverine for her patient Laura (newcomer Dafne Keen) they are being chased by hilariously named villain Donald (Boyd Holbrook) who wants to capture the “new mutants” and kill them all. Logan and Professor X agree to escort Laura to Eden, a place in North Dakota that is rumoured to be a safe haven for mutants. Laura turns out to be more of a miniature version of Wolverine claws and temper included which helps establish their relationship instead of being a direct clone of Jubilee or Rogue. The first thing that you notice about the movie is the definite change in tone and language. The first word out of Logan’s mouth is “Fuck” and even more shocking when the words flow out of Patrick Stewart’s mouth. There is a moment when Stewart spits and hisses at Jackman “What a disappointment you turned out to be” it is one of the most brutal and jaw dropping moments in the film that really hits home how different this time and these characters are. Each scene has a shades and tinges of grimy yellow and night scenes. This particularly stands out when the trio drive through Vegas and the scene transforms into colour. It’s a great transition and provides some relief when the tension in the movie gets too high. Performance wise Jackman has never been better as Wolverine, you can tell that this is the meaty role he has been waiting for. Similarly Stewart revels in the disheveled body of Professor X, the once positive and proud leader of the mutants, has now been reduced to a frail old man, becoming increasingly aware of his mortality and the effect that he has on the world. Keen comes onto the screen with no lines for the majority of the movie and her connection and banter with Jackman and Stewart feels organic. Her Wolverine style aggression and childlike timidness alternate beautifully and this film is a wonderful debut for Keen.
Performance wise Jackman has never been better as Wolverine, you can tell that this is the meaty role he has been waiting for. Similarly Stewart revels in the disheveled body of Professor X, the once positive and proud leader of the mutants, has now been reduced to a frail old man, becoming increasingly aware of his mortality and the effect that he has on the world. Keen comes onto the screen with no lines for the majority of the movie and her connection and banter with Jackman and Stewart feels organic. Her Wolverine style aggression and childlike timidness alternate beautifully and this film is a wonderful debut for Keen. In a time when franchise films, extended and cinematic universes are desperate to constantly wink at the audience, Logan takes the bold step of dismissing them as a “distant memory” with no cameo’s or callbacks, rather creating a completely standalone story with two characters who are deeply rooted in the Xmen 20th Century Fox universe. Director James Mangold delivers a bold story inspired by the “Old Man Logan” Mark Millar comics with thanks to the success of Deadpool, an MA rating gave this film the life it needed to exist.
Visually this is the least effects heavy Xmen or Wolverine film made to date. The height of the CG comes from the claws of the characters, with the action scenes being handled by stunt men that help evoke the organic nature of this film. The several scenes involving slow motion don’t look out of place or heavily CGI’ed to the point of ridiculousness. Overall Logan delivers the Wolverine story that fans have been begging for since the beginning. The simple addition of blood and the after effects of pus and cuts on Logan’s hands are details that should have been there from the first movie. By pushing forward the timeline and removing the characters foundations of hope, the story works as a beautiful drama even if you remove the superhero element from it. Time will tell if Jackman and Stewart are really done with these characters, however the box office success and critical acclaim may sway them back to the franchise should other projects not take off for the actors. The future of the X-Men universe looks bright if Fox continue down this path with the franchise and will stop an X-Men Apocalypse disaster from ever happening again. Logan is a triumph in superhero film-making and offers fan service to comic book and movie fans who have been there since the beginning, while still delivering a great story for new comers keen to see what all the fuss is about. Logan is showing in cinemas nationally now Review by Alaisdair Leith
The inspiration behind the making
Tackling a sporting film can either narrow-in on a niche audience, or spread its wings to include a wider audience with its intriguing story line. The movie Tri looks not only at introducing the world of Triathlons to a wider community, but also inspire and motivate with its powerful backstory. Something usually associated with group, not individual sports. It is just that which motivated writer and Producer of Tri, Theodore A. Adams III. Adams sporting career as a professional soccer player started to take a tole on his body. “I only found triathlon when I could no longer sustain the hits I was taking as a soccer player”, he said. But finding his place once again in the sporting world has not only furthered his sporting prowess now into Triathlons but also set the scene for his newest venture, writing a movie about a sport he knows all too well. “After completing my first triathlon back in 2011, I was hooked on the sport, so I went online and looked for another race”. This lead Adams to go on and complete four races with a program called “Team in Training” (TNT). But it wasn’t just the thrill of accomplishing such a feat, TNT meant much more to Adams. “TNT is a program that is organised by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society that raises money for cancer research. I found this to be an ideal motivator because I lost my father to multiple myeloma and this was a great way to not only honor his memory, but also support a terrific cause”, he said. Time working with TNT and his new T3 Honu Multisport Team, Adams was exposed to some remarkable people and inspirational stories. This included those battling cancer and the survivors with their health care providers, the bed stone for his script for Tri. “The tag line for TRI is, “When surviving cancer is not enough”. That can be interpreted in numerous ways. I originally came up with that line because it pays homage to my friends and athletes who are cancer survivors or who are currently undergoing cancer treatment, but still find the time and make the effort to help others or take on new challenges, like raising money for cancer research or by participating in triathlons”.
Director Jai Jamison also recognised this community full of motivation and inspiration. But prior to signing on with Tri, he had never even seen a Triathlon. And to this date, he is still yet to complete one. “Being in the crowd watching a triathlon definitely helped me appreciate the sport, and the community around the sport, much more. The positivity of the athletes, volunteers, and people supporting and cheering overwhelmed me. I left that triathlon with a big, goofy grin on my face. I knew at that moment, that I wanted the film to produce the same big, goofy grin for the audience”, said Jamison.
Sports films in general don’t dominate the market, but when a quality story is created in the sporting arena, it’s like wild fire. These films once about Baseball pulled some of the great superstars like Tom Hanks and Madonna in “A League of Their Own” and Kevin Costner in “Field of Dreams”. Now you’ll find an audience more interested in American Football with the likes of Denzel Washington in “Remember The Titans”, Sandra Bullock in “The Blindside” or Billy Bob Thornton in “Friday Night Lights”. Rare is it to see a sports film dedicated to any other discipline, especially something about Triathlons.
Not only is Tri an entertaining look at the inside and out of Triathlons, Jamison describes finding inspiration and setWhile these dominating films of American Football tell the ting goals are the major themes. “In this instance, the goal story of individual hardship and team comradely, you don’t is to finish a triathlon, but I believe that message can be applied to any goal or task one is attempting to complete. think of Triathlons as being a group effort, more individuals striving for greatness. Triathlons are about embracing We want people to see this film, and feel like they can go out and achieve their dreams, or help someone else achieve personal fears and overcoming challenges says Adams. theirs”, he said. “I would say 95 per cent of triathletes are not interested in winning the race or even their age group. They are looking Finding a way for the actor’s to channel the persona of their characters, or more to channel the emotional and to meet or exceed some personal goal or prove to themselves that they can push themselves beyond their comfort physical strain from training and completing a Triathlon, Jamison put the actors through the physical strain of live zone”. Adams describes Tri as about the celebration of Triathlons. He also filmed the events enabling him to get transitioning within the sport. But this also goes beyond the swim then bike then run, “each character’s story arc is the actor’s true reactions of being in amongst the race. dealing with or addressing a transition that is personal to them, much like we all deal with in our everyday lives”, said “Although we didn’t have them run the entire thing, we still had to make sure they were well prepared to take part Adams Tri revolves around Natalie, played by Jensen Jacobs. Natalie goes about her life tucked away in a dimly lit in the areas of the triathlon we did put them in. One thing room of a hospital as an Ultrasound technician. It isn’t un- that worked in our favor, though, is that our actors got til a patient confronts Natalie and inspires her to complete the familiar adrenaline rush and jitters that triathletes get before races, which aided in capturing authentic emotions a Triathlon. With some mediocre support of her partner, Natalie and her friend Skyler, played by Walker Hays, start during those sequences”, explained Jamison. their own journey and find a world of inspiration. To help capture the authentic emotion of the actors and the actual sporting events itself Director of Photography, “The film takes the viewer on a journey. In this case, Natalie is presented with a number of opportunities to learn Jendra Jarnagin, worked tirelessly to plan the events. and be inspired by others without seeing herself as being a “We had a whole separate unit dedicated to the planning source of inspiration. In the end, she finds inspiration in a and logistics of coordinating the climactic triathlon senes. cancer patient, only to see that the patient is also motivated We had five units and fourteen cameras to make sure we captured as much action as possible”, said Jamison. by her”, Adams explains. But like any project, in particular filming a live sport, there were a wealth of challenges putting Tri together though Jamison says they overcame the challenges pretty well. “Through the experience of doing it, we learned so much, that I feel like we could get even more great material if we had another crack at it”, he said.
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JAY COOK
dams explains that time is our most precious commodity. “To take someone’s time to watch a film or engage with them in any way, you should respect that they are giving you a part of their life that they can never get back” And it was Adams goal to tell the story to not only be engaging and entertaining but “one that would take the viewer on a journey that would have them walking out of the theater smarter and more inspired than when they arrived”. While Jamison feels another crack might give the film even more great material, the received awards could say otherwise. Adams has been deeply humbled by the awards but says the letters and messages they have received have touched him. “One of the most touching notes I received that literally choked me up was from a woman who told us her sister wears her TRI movie tee shirt every time she goes to her chemotherapy treatment” said Adams. What you find in Tri is not only a story of a young lady lost in her world looking for that next something. You also find a real representation of the courage and inspiration of what is perceived as a solo sport, but is greatly much more. Adams feels the message that resonated with the audience is to “step outside of yourself and follow your dreams to fruition”. Tri is now available in Australia world wide ready to motivate and inspire you to that next goal. Interview & Article by Jay Cook
SONS OF OBI WAN CHARITY WORDS BY Brittany interviews
Did you know that every one of your actions, say running to class or posting that precious selfie, is controlled by electrical impulses? From your brain cells and along your nerve cells, these impulses give you the spark for your everyday activities. But what if the impulses misfire? These misfires cause sudden electrical bursts of activity in the brain. This, in turn, causes seizures. 10% of Australia’s population are at risk of experiencing a seizure, and approximately 2% go on to be diagnosed with epilepsy: a brain disorder that causes recurring convulsive or non-convulsive seizures. Although there is medication that makes most people with epilepsy seizure free, it is hugely valuable for these people to be surrounded by those that understand the disorder. By having that support network, people with epilepsy have improved chances of reaching seizure control. And what better way to help better people’s understanding and raise awareness of epilepsy than using one of the greatest pop culture fandoms? Australia’s best saber school, The Sons of Obiwan, have been working hard to create a video that will both promote the incredible work they do and show support for Greg Grunberg’s charity, Talk About It For Epilepsy. Sons of Obiwan master, met Greg Greg Grunberg’s (Heroes, Heroes Reborn, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) passion for the charity comes from his personal experience with epilepsy through his son, Jake. It was while at a Brisbane Supernova that Luke, a Sons of Obiwan master, met Greg. I was lucky enough to interview Luke and find out just how this project started.
Howarth
I’ve been a big fan of Greg Grunberg for years (I have a Heroes tattoo on my arm) and I wanted to show my appreciation for his body of work by giving him a saber. We chatted about the charity work we both do and he told us about talkaboutit. org, a charity he helped create. It is dedicated to helping change the lives of those with Epilepsy.
He contacted us later to invite us to put together a video with a fight and to show what we can do to raise awareness for his charity. Being the fools that we are, we took this idea and ran with it. The Sons are lucky to have some amazingly talented people walk through our door. We banded together as a team to create the best possible production that would attract the maximum attention to Greg’s worthy cause.
We are making a short film with a small piece at the end about us, what we do, and showing our support of talkaboutit.org. The Star Wars universe covers a huge expanse. Could you tell us what planet your short film will be set? Let’s just say it is WAY closer than you think! Closer to home? You gotta tell me more? I can only say it is unlike any film from this fandom that has gone before. We might not know the planet the story is set on, but we do know who has the female lead role. Was there a long process before choosing Sheridyn Fisher as the female lead?
Sheridyn has known our director, Kerryn Williams, since they were in High School together. Yet another of those amazingly talented people who has walked through our doors. She is the most deliciously nerdy person I know, with a passion for the fandoms we all know and love! Throughout training, has Sheridyn picked up her own style? How much training is there? Our Choreographer and one of our Stars, Chad Bennett, has done an amazing job of putting together a fight that is fresh but also includes elements of the fights and moves we show our students at the (Sons of Obiwan) Temple. He wanted to show our students what their lessons look like on the Big Screen and show the calibre of work the Sons do in theatre combat!
How many more roles are there left to fill? Are there more surprise announcements to come? Primary filming is done, our full cast is: John Jarratt, Charlie Jarratt, Sheridyn Fisher, Chad Bennett and Justin Banks. Then the cast of lovely people who donated their time and skill to help us make this. We have gone from concept to primary filming completed in 5 weeks on a shoe string budget, funded by donations and cash out of our own pockets! The Sons of Obi Wan have certainly kept busy, not only by working on this project but also by producing new sabers for their fans to purchase. Expanding from the traditional silver hilts and colours, the Sons have created hilts with varying metals and leather grips. And these hilts are gorgeous, with no short cuts taken in their Australian made goodness. The range is incredible, and will add that professional touch to anyone’s cosplay, or even delight the padawan inside. It was the spitfire in weathered copper that caught my eye. But what was your favourite new design?
I’m loving the new Warthog. It’s in prototype stage at the moment. It is the best tricking saber we have made, with the weight sitting in the palm of your hand. I like keeping my work sabers natural aluminium. If I was going to plate it, I’d do it flat gunmetal with a camouflage leather wrap, (it) would look deadly! The wood saber range is the lightest saber I have ever held and is a dream to use for combat! You can check out their extensive range on the Sons of Obi Wan Facebook page and find what stars are already talking about Grunberg’s charity here: http://talkaboutit.org/ Be sure to keep May 6th, 2017 open for the Sons’ project premiere, and support them as they start the conversation to Talk About It For Epilepsy.
Watch the Sons’ short film here on May 6th Epilepsy Sites http://cbslocal.com/epilepsy
http://www.epilepsyaustralia.net/
Talk About it for Epilepsy
http://www.epilepsy.org.au/about-epilepsy
http://talkaboutit.org/ What is Epilepsy? http://talkaboutit.org/what-is-epilepsy-introduced-ron-rifkin Sons of Obiwan http://www.sonsofobiwan.com/
here are a few things that stop me from watching CW’s Finn Jones is our title hero and punctuates his performances The Flash and Marvel’s Iron Fist is one of them. with little nervous ticks or complete states of calm that show a deep respect and understanding of the character. There’s no Many feared that Netflix left the most underwhelming arguing that these are the B-listers of the Marvel lineup but still member of the upcoming Defenders crossover til last by the writers and actors are able to fashion hugely entertaining design, slipping in thirteen forgettable episodes with a stories that tackle problems faced by real people. Jones’ softness yawnish intellectual property before immediately apolo- and childish naivety make him far more accessible than DC’s gising with the crossover the audience have been froth- similar hero Green Arrow. ing for. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although Green Arrow is shipwrecked as an adult and suffered Iron Fist is a compelling standalone adventure and a an arguably crueller and survivalist exile. Semantics… though neat expansion to the Netflix street-level corner of the it’s worth noting that never while viewing the show will the auMarvel Cinematic Universe. Rosario Dawson and Carrie dience confuse the shows. The tones are wildly different – Iron Ann Moss are reliable throughlines akin to Nick Fury Fist is a wolf in sheep’s clothes while Arrow is a sheep in wolf ’s but it is the reappearance of the Hand from Daredevil clothes. There’s also some sparing doses of Netflix-Marvel gore that really connects. It’s bringing things full circle and to but nowhere near the overindulgence that Daredevil took. the forefront far quicker than anticipated in preparation for The Defenders. Like all previous Netflix-Marvel collaborations it takes a few episodes to get the wider arc rolling. A few breadcrumbs are The show is at a detriment there – most of those watch- scattered here and there but it’s more personal obstacles in Daning will be searching for clues for the hotly anticipated ny’s way upon his return to Earth that allow a thorough explacrossover and not enjoy what’s in front of them. Captain nation of a fairly damaged character. America: The First Avenger copped some unfair heat in the same way, and there’s more than a few tricks mirThat’s part and parcel of being a Defender. The adult tone of the rored in Iron Fist that suggest MCU Phase One’s penul- series allows the filmmakers to look darker and more complex timate instalment was an important touchstone for the emotions than a quick, profitable (but still quality) blockbuster. writers. The brighter tone of Iron Fist is cleverly disarming. To borrow a phrase from Marvel’s Doctor Strange, but it is as if the narrative has exploded to crossover proportions but delivered through the keyhole of Danny Rand’s point of view. It’s a personal story serving as a prologue to the epic teamup.
WORDS BY MARK HALYDAY
Danny still has the spirit of a young child as he tackles all the obstacles the Hand throws at him. It’s easy to see why the comic sold well. He approaches everything as the idealistic child that was sucked from the plane and not a rougher, tougher New Yorker. This is underscored in the parallels between Danny’s training and child abuse. There is much to be mined from that trauma yet. So instead of the meek disappointment most expected Marvel fans everywhere can rejoice. Iron Fist is another feather in the cap of the juggernaut that will only further fuel hype for The Defenders. Netflix has once more brought something brilliant to our screens. Marvel’s Iron Fist premieres on March 17 on Netflix Review by Mark Halyday
Not only is Queensland home to great stretches of sand, but it’s also home to some of Australia’s greatest theme parks. Warner Brother’s Movie World and Wet n’ Wild, both of which are run by Village Roadshow, are home to some of my favourite thrill seeking rides. There’s the Green Lantern, Arkham Asylum, and Superman Escape for Movie World, and the Tornado, Super 8, and Surfrider for Wet n’ Wild. All these rides are there to get your blood pumping, and the extent that Village Roadshow takes to keep you safe are beyond impressive. Following the report on ride precautions from Channel 9 news, Village Roadshow has released a video revealing what exactly goes into their safety and maintenance checks. And there’s no hiding just how extensive these checks are. The team are awake and reviewing the rides at 5:30, with this video following the crew of the Green Lantern Coaster. The list of checks includes: torque stripes, front and rear bumpers, the motor and gear box, the anti-roll back, magnets, track welds, chain sensors, gear box drive couplings, and a large variety of other ride features. The team are awake and reviewing the rides at 5:30, with this video following the crew of the Green Lantern Coaster. The list of checks includes: torque stripes, front and rear bumpers, the motor and gear box, the anti-roll back, magnets, track welds, chain sensors, gear box drive couplings, and a large variety of other ride features.
WORDS BY BRITTANY
HOWARTH
Each ride component grew more and more complex, but with the visual guide they’ve created you can see that nothing is taken to chance. But the maintenance checks don’t stop there. The operation staff arrive at 9:30, fresh in their Lantern greens and ready to rehearse their own safety precautions. Although that is where the video ends, I can account first hand that the checks don’t stop there. While attending Wet n’ Wild, I witnessed the meticulous checks that the Surfrider team had to go through in the case of a ride stall. Standing at the front of the queue, I watched as the operation staff guided the riders into the exit lane to wait. From there, they locked and fastened the harnesses, all of which were doubly checked by a second staff member, then returned to their stations as if they were putting the ride through its usual rotation. The staff unlatched then refastened the harnesses two to three more times before they were satisfied that the problem was fixed. Even with the pressure of an ever growing queue, the staff were regimented in their process and returned the ride to working order in good time. There is an incredible amount of work that happens at the Village Roadshow parks to keep their visitors safe. From complex air compressors and simple seatbelts, the crew work tirelessly to create the best journey possible for every thrill seeker. And with precautions like these, it’s hard not to enjoy even the scariest of rides. Which, in my opinion, is the Batwing Spaceshot.
After a worrisome crawl before its mid-season break, Ar- Chase) hasn’t really been rewarding. It’s a shame, however, row has come back with some of its old vigour. that Thea Queen is getting so little screen time. Mark Halyday, Prometheus has hit each team member hard. Diggle was a fellow writer at Novastream, has investigated our missing arrested, Kurt’s relationship with his husband is destroyed, Speedy and, thankfully, found that tahe writers still have plans and Felicity’s partner was killed by none other than Oliver. to grow the character. But, in the spirit of season-five-solving-issues-quickly (see Knowing that Thea hasn’t been forgotten is a relief, but there Felicity explaining Haven Rock to Rory), Felicity forgives has been a lack of a female force on the show. Season three had two Canarys, Felicity, Thea, and Nyssa, whereas season Oliver. The murder does, however, change her. In fact, Felicity and Diggle both start to tread the unforgiving line five has left me searching for a similar female force. Although of brutality Oliver has struggled with since his years away there has been the introduction of Dinah Drake, I want there to be more. Not more characters, but more substance for the from home. character. Dinah does seem to be heading down the right The mid-season finale was packed full of shocking mopath, but I am eager to see what they do with Artemis. ments. Arrests, murders, and separation. But nothing surpassed the surprising arrival of Laurel Lance, back from Mark my words: she might be out of the picture now, but Artemis will be back. Either asking for help or destroying the the dead. The Lance sisters do have a wonderful habit of competition, she will be back. coming back to life, but the trick this time was, instead, an Earth 2 doppelganger. Possibly the only outcome that Season five really is the season for characters. There has been would work for CW’s ‘grounded’ superhero show, the great progress with both Felicity and Diggle, and even Oliver’s writers actually succeed in creating a story that goes fur- flash backs have been dramatically improved. I am eager for ther than fan bait. Sparking off Black Siren’s appearance is more powerful, and compelling, female characters, and canFelicity’s sudden defiance toward Oliver’s judgment, or lack not wait to see how Thea will progress. thereof. In saying that, Prometheus hasn’t targeted her yet. Oh boy! These small rebellions against Oliver’s leadership helps her What has he got in store for her? character become more than just team Arrow’s techy. She is finally being given more character development, and the steps she is taking in her defiant streak are actually rational. All she needed was a young techy to remind her of the determination she had in her hacktivist days. You know, when she was goth. Meanwhile, Diggle is going down a similar, yet more violent, path. Since the midseason break, he has been freed from prison, hidden away, and arrested again all because of the corrupt General Walker. Diggle’s intensity in perusing Walker is that of a crazed man, which leads to the near death of one of Walker’s helpers. The crazed intensity definitely calls to attention David Ramsey’s acting ability. He really is perfect for the role, and it’s exciting to see how much further the writers will take this original character. Slowly, but surely, team Arrow is also dropping in numbers. It is a positive move, as the sudden increase of five to the main cast (Kurt, Ragman, Artemis, Wild Dog and Adrian
WORDS BY BRITTANY HOWARTH
WORDS BY
JAY COOK 2
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If you grew up with the Archie comics you might have Last chapter we met Archie and his clan while discovering there’s been a tad excited at the idea of Riverdale. But there’s no more to the death of Jason Blossom who was found in the river point dancing around the fact, it has very little connec- with a gunshot to his head. This chapter, the manhunt is on and tion to the comic series that has been around since the it’s all about eye candy. Archie is tossing and turning in his bed in 1940s. What you do get is a handful of characters with his underwear, then does a mid-night run to Ms Grundy’s house the same name and some of the central themes. But it’s shirtless. Betty, Veronica and Cheryl are strutting their stuff in the nice to see a modern adaptation or if you want to go as River Vixens in their little Cheerleading outfits. There also happens far as to say an update to the classic. While it’s a new to be some little gap fillers to the “who killed Jason Blossom” story. series to Netflix, you have to wait week by week for the This “chapter” isn’t a strong episode, there’s a couple of information next fix of redheads. Seriously, how many redheads can drops, but it’s really just about cementing the characters and where there be in one small town? This is one of those series they all fit together. No stand out performances, except if you are where you can switch off and still be able to follow the talking about Archie’s body. But what you will notice is Madelaine story line. You’ll connect with at least one or two of the Petsch who plays Cheryl Blossm still hasn’t quite stepped into her characters and just enjoy the drama that you only get character. She can act the Ice-Queen sassy redhead, but you can tell from these types of shows out of America. Is it worth she is acting this character. And when you see her standing next to watching? Well if you don’t you won’t know who killed Lili Reinhart, Betty, it’s really obvious how hard she is trying. Jason…
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If the story line or beautiful cast hasn’t kept you coming It has now been a week since the murder of Jason Blossom and back, you’ll enjoy all the cameos that keep popping up. you’d be excused to think this small town has more drama than a Spanish Novella. If you think you’vegot the characters down We’ve already met Archie’s Dad, Fred who is played by Luke Perry. For anyone who grew up with the original packed, the writers of Riverdale just go ahead and flip their world cast of Beverly Hills 90210 will enjoy seeing his face, as to keep you on your toes. This week we delve into the backstory dishevelled as it has become. And this week we meet Ethel of Jughead Jones, but only just enough to keep him secretive yet Mugs played by Shannon Purser, who you will remember bring you closer. We not only find out Jughead hasn’t been living as everyone’s Stranger Things favourite Barb. with his family, he’s been living in the projection booth of the local Drive-In. This explains why he’s always at the diner but never This week the show takes some real world issues with a seems to eat anything there. We also find out that his Dad, FP combination of “slut shaming” and “social media”. This is Jonesis the leader of the South Side Serpents biker gang, which all in addition to another piece of information about the just about everyone in town is afraid of.Th his was an interesting Jason Blossom murder case. But with information comes episode as some of the stories are starting to get closed. But as more questions, like what happened between Archie and one story ends another opens up. We are still no closer to findJughead, will we ever meet Betty’s sister Polly, how do par- ing out who killed Jason Blossom, but we do know the Sheriff is ents let their kids eat dinner at the diner alone and what’s getting closer as his house was invaded and his work on the case the deal with the 1970s decor for the city in a modern day destroyed. But while all the drama is going on and you’re still adtime? dicted to the show, you will close this chapter with nothing more than thinking about what you will eat for dinner.
For Honor is a fighting game that surprised me. The “Art Of Battle” as the game calls it is a throwback to battle Ubisoft have released a string of well to do open games of old where you block in different directions, attack in world fighters over the last few years with games different directions and pick up on what direction your oppolike Far Cry Primal and Watch Dogs 2, all of which nent is attacking from and reflect this with your maneuvers. embody a similar play style and controls. So it was This is also reflected in the pace of the game demanding your to my complete surprise that when I started For full attention, I found everytime I tried to reach for my phone Honor and tried to skip my way through the tuto- to check for those all important notifications, I would come rial gloating “I ain’t no noob” the control and battle under attack or miss a blocking instruction and as a result the system involve confronting your enemy face on game and my character suffered dearly. This sounds like it is and using a series of maneuvers block their attacks annoying for the modern day gamer, but I enjoyed that it took and carefully think out your strategy to defeat me out of my world and demanded my full attention while them without the safety of hiding behind a rock or I was playing, the only other game that has done this to me building. It was an intense and surreal experience was Uncharted 4 : A Thief ’s End. Visually this game does not combined with beautiful medieval era graphics disappoint, the full 1080p 60 FPS looks stunning and the detail and the choice of viking, knight or samurai which on each character and environments compliment each other sounds odd but they oddly all work together to to bring the game to life. A lot of medieval games are simple deliver a unique gaming experience. hack and slash’s with not much after thought about the level of detail in the design, this game delves deep into rich detail and The third person camera and melee weapons drew this helped relieve my “wtf are samurai’s doing there” thinking. a Ryse comparison but this all disappeared when the complexity of the battle system and controls set in. It is not a passive game in which you can roam around freely and confront enemies with a few clicks so expect to not be checking your phone or getting easily distracted when exploring this world. The single player campaign is as well as can be expected from a game of this caliber. It’s your standard nonsense backstory for your chosen warrior with not much thought being put into it and really you shouldn’t be expecting much from this. The game does shine in multiplayer mode and I found rarely any connection or lag issues when playing online.
WORDS BY ALAISDAIR LEITH
WORDS BY
ALAISDAIR LEITH Coming into this game a week after launch I found the wide range of tutorials with forgiving AI to be a relief to get my skill level up before taking on multiplayer against players who would otherwise completely destroy me. Every game mode is available in AI, which makes it easier to get a grip on before running out into the online community. Multiplayer mode is not something you can easily jump in and out of. The rewards for winning are distributed in a currency called Steel and are difficult to obtain. Outfits and ornaments range from 10-15,000 steel and you usually get 15-20 per kill so it can take a while to build this up for purchases. If you want to try and hurry this up a bit you can partake in daily and weekly contracts that will give you additional currency to help. For Honor is the medieval multiplayer game you have been waiting for. Delivering next gen graphics with an updated and not overly complex fighting system. While the single player campaign is largely forgettable it does give you a variety of different characters and types to play with in different game modes. The multiplayer is where this game exceeds, with a large range of different modes including daily and weekly contracts that vary, For Honor secures itself as one of Ubisoft’s best releases in the last 12 months. For Honor is available on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
LAUNCHED : NINTENDO SWITCH
A bunch of gamers gathered around EB Games last night starting at 11:00pm waiting in line for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch, formerly known as the NX with only a few games on launch including the highly anticipated Zelda : Breath Of The Wild, a lot of curiosity about the console and exactly how it works was discussed up and down the lines with discussions of did you get the neon or grey joy-con’s and wtf is HD rumble. We all waited eagerly for the launch of the console and with out stores allocation sold out, the line gradually grew and grew the closer we got to midnight.
On each side of the tablet are rails to slide the joy-cons on and off when transferring from portable to TV gaming. The JoyCon controllers include advanced motion sensors including a HD rumble that allows players to feel a range of subtle tactile sensations rather than just the standard vibrations. It also includes an IR camera that can detect movements and shapes as well as NFC reader for Amiibo figures. The JoyCon on the left has a capture button allowing for screenshots to be saved and added to the players album.
So what is the Nintendo Switch and after the disappointment of the Wii U, why should I shell out $469.95 for a new Nintendo console? Well put simply it is a culmination of all of Nintendo’s pre- The console converts seamlessly from portable console to vious consoles packed into one system that can be TV with the dock connected via HDMI. The tablet itself played at home on a TV while also on the go. The when taken on the go does work well in most situations, portable console tablet sits at 6.2 inches with 720p don’t expect to get much joy out of the screen in direct display touchscreen with discrete speakers. It also sunlight though. Apart from that the screen is bright and includes a headphone jack, MicroSD card slot, the graphics are astoundingly beautiful (tested on Zelda: game cartridge slot as well as a single USB-C port Breath Of The Wild) and the stereo speakers work much on the base. better than they should. The tablet also has a kickstand on the back and well as tabletop mode for gaming on the go
If you want to play multiplayer on the go, you can connect up to 8 JoyCons to the console. They also come with cute little Wii style straps that make the game style more comfortable for gentlemen like myself with man paws. The JoyCon turns sideways for multiplayer games like Mario Kart & Splatoon 2 and having the console in tabletop mode or tilted on the kickstand delivers a quality mobile multiplayer gaming experience.
The console converts seamlessly from portable When docked at the TV, the joycons connect to a wireless console to TV with the dock connected via HDMI. controller to enjoy a more traditional console experience, The tablet itself when taken on the go does work you also have the option to purchase a Pro controller. This well in most situations, don’t expect to get much controller incorporates larger buttons, a great ergonomic joy out of the screen in direct sunlight though. grip with incorporated HD rumble, motion controls, capApart from that the screen is bright and the graph- ture button and NFC reader for Amiibo scanning. It is a ics are astoundingly beautiful (tested on Zelda: much nicer feel for gaming at home. The other advantage Breath Of The Wild) and the stereo speakers work to the dock is the upgrade on the graphics to 1080p and much better than they should. The tablet also has deliver 5.1 sound. You can really see the difference in the a kickstand on the back and well as tabletop mode upscale and connected to the right home theatre system for gaming on the go or soundbar will show you the difference as well. If you want to switch between controllers, the smart and intuiIf you want to play multiplayer on the go, you can tive system will acknowledge if you pickup a new controlconnect up to 8 JoyCons to the console. They also ler and prompt to turn the old one off and use this one as come with cute little Wii style straps that make the the primary controller. game style more comfortable for gentlemen like myself with man paws. The JoyCon turns sideways Memory wise this could be the killer, so I would recomfor multiplayer games like Mario Kart & Splatoon mend getting an SD card to extend the memory out. The 2 and having the console in tabletop mode or tilted Kingston 64GB cards are recommended for best perforon the kickstand delivers a quality mobile multi- mance on the Switch system. player gaming experience.
The UI is simple and clean and the quick swipe menus to adjust screen brightness, volume and Airplane mode is similar to the Iphone. The only thing letting this system down is the games. We were excited for a large lineup launch but Zelda : Breath Of The Wild and 1,2 Switch aren’t appealing enough titles for everyone to want this console on launch. The impending release of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon 2 should help sell a few more consoles and full Switch fever should hit when Super Mario Odyssey hits the console later this year. A lot of big AAA franchises from 3rd parties haven’t been confirmed on the console yet apart from Skyrim. The ability to take this game on the go may usher gamers to want to pick this up again. Overall my first few days with the Nintendo Switch were positive. Zelda had me wowed at the beauty of this system (review coming soon!) 1,2 Switch is fun to play on multiplayer and I am looking forward to taking this to a gathering to watch non-gamer reactions to it. The smart and seamless transitions from TV to tablet are better than expected and having the controllers recognise and wake up when picked up is something out of a gamer’s dream. I personally have had a love affair with Nintendo since the original console and their top rating franchises to return in HD portable form over the next few years. The Nintendo Switch is available in stores now
WORDS BY ALAISDAIR
LEITH
Playstation have long held exclusives with high regardFollowing this the game is sprawled into a rather large map populatand with both critical and commercial success with ed with MANY quests and missions as well as discovering and winhits like Uncharted, The Last Of Us, Ratchet & Clank ning over other tribes in the area. The map is littered with mechanand Journey (just to name a few!) Playstation 4 has ical dinosaurs, relics of the now extinct mechanical age, they travel seen some new IP’s like Until Dawn, No Man’s Sky alone and in herds and are protected by Watchers, nasty viscous and The Witness to a mostly positive reception. It creatures who can see your every move. seems that Sony and Guerrilla Games have struck gold with Horizon : Zero Dawn. A lot of promises were given with this game and due to some rocky issues with past releases (cough No Man’s Sky cough) fans were skeptical about this release and if it would deliver on the intended promise of graphics and game-play. Fortunately skeptics can sleep easy as Horizon : Zero Dawn not only delivers on its jaw dropping graphics, but also a solid story and varied game-play with combat mechanics that Every machine has it’s own preferred territory across the map, as make this after Uncharted 4 : A Thief ’s End, the best well as their strengths and weaknesses which are revealed by using game I have played on Playstation 4 to date. Horizon the Focus function. You start out with a spear and bow and arrow : Zero Dawn follows the inauguration of a young girl and you learn which maneuver’s work for which species. For some named Aloy, who is cast out of her Nora tribe at birth an all out running assault works, while fire arrows from a distance and raised by a warrior. Rather than being an outsid- tend to work on larger enemies. My preferred technique was to hide er and running away from the quite cruel children in the long grass and override the machines to fight each other to of the tribe who taunt her, she trains her whole life the death and then you can ride one on to your next marker for a hunting and gathering to participate in a tribe event faster travel mode. It is a trial and error kind of game and reminiscalled The Proving, the winner can ask the tribe any- cent of Monster Hunter in that respect. thing they want and will automatically be accepted as a Brave. Aloy’s goal is to find out why she was outcast and try and find her parents.
WORDS BY ALAISDAIR LEITH
Collecting items along you journey is another vital part to Horizon, with crafting weapons, tools and items a necessity to surviving the harsh world. You can merge items and weapons together creating fire and ice shots, while learning to trap and kill flying enemies with the rope-caster, there is always a new and interesting way to take the machines on to get through to the next area. Similar to other open world character games, every kill and story point achievement gives you XP which upgrades your character level which you can also use to upgrade combat abilities, hunting techniques as well as upgraded storage for your items and more health. It is all pretty stock standard upgrades here and you have played Tomb Raider or a similar game it is all roughly the same thing. I was impressed at the diversity of characters in this game with many people of colour littered all throughout the lands in varying roles as tribal leaders, braves, heroes and villains. Having a female as the main protagonist seemed to be a topic worth talking about among the gaming community and Aloy feels organic and tangible, and while I may have called her Merida once or twice, she successfully cements herself as a lead character whose journey you join and can relate to and want to see succeed. Many of the games mechanics like speech and choice may draw comparisons to Mass Effect, and while this may be true, it helps with the replay value of the game. Similarly taking flying foxes across long distances is a trick straight out of Tomb Raider and exploring for relics from Uncharted, it all works together and never takes you out of the environment or feels unnatural. The only trope the game shatters that instead of climbing a tower to survey your surroundings from a high vantage point, you have to ride and scale a large dinosaur and this added challenge made doing this seem less tedious. Exploring the world feels organic as the tribes and especially Aloy herself do not know it. There are so many questions that are answered as you play and as you gather clues to Aloy’s past as well as discovering what happened with the machines and how this world came to be, I felt involved and informed the whole way through and I look forward to uncovering more as I no doubt will spend many more hours of my life on this game.
Graphically this game is everything a next-gen game should be. Every detail down to the individual bricks and tiles are meticulously detailed, resulting in an astonishingly beautiful game. I found myself wandering around in sheer awe of the level of detail in this world. From the varying scenes of mountains, canyons, fortresses, populated cities it all looks incredibly beautiful. In addition to this the random UI in this game is something to be noted about as well. I found moments I was hiding in the tall grass waiting to pounce on some human enemies, a Titan would drop from the sky and clean them up for me. Other warriors would fight the machines as I rode on past making an easier and quicker transition through the area (cheers guys!) and this level of detail is something that is rare to find in a game. From the start of the tear inducing tutorial, Horizon : Zero Dawn invites us into the journey of Aloy and her determination to be accepted in a world in which she has been unfairly discriminated against. It is a spectacular parallel to the story if many women in our world and the societal norms against them. Aloy’s journey of establishing her place in the world, while facing impossible odds is told through mechanical dinosaurs who not only look amazing but are a carrier for her acceptance in an otherwise unwelcoming time. Horizon : Zero Dawn was not expected from Guerrilla Games who have been the Killzone machine for Playstation over the last few years and allows the company to stretch their legs and deliver as astonishingly great game for the Playstation 4. Horizon : Zero Dawn is available exclusively on Playstation 4 now *All pictures were captured using PS4 Screenshot system and a copy of Horizon : Zero Dawn was provided by Playstation Australia for review purposes. Review by Alaisdair Leith
EDITOR IN-CHIEF
ALAISDAIR LEITH
GRAPHIC DESIGN & COVER
MARK HALYDAY
CONTRIBUTORS
BRITTANY HOWARTH
JACKIE JEANETTE
JAY COOK
MARK HALYDAY
VIEW OUR WEBSITE ONLINE HTTP://WWW.NOVASTREAMNETWORK.COM LIKE US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER @NOVASTREAMAU ORIGINAL MAGAZINE DESIGN BY ALANA YOUNG