Words by Brittany Howarth
Ant-Man and the Wasp has exceeded expectations and even out did its original film. This sequel begins with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) who is dealing with the consequences of Captain America: Civil War. Since Civil War, Scott has been under house arrest and is days away from being released when he gets a vision of Hope Van Dyne’s (Evangeline Lilly’s) mother stuck in the quantum realm. He is then thrust back into the shoes of Ant-man, alongside Hope’s new persona, the Wasp, to bring back her mother (Michelle Pfeiffer). Ant-man and the Wasp holds a ‘do you get it?’ sort of humour, one that at times can seem forced. However, it carries the beats from the original film with a new flair that keeps the audience engaged. It’s not clever humour, but it’s certainly something that points fun at itself and some Marvel tropes that have come before. A great source of the film’s humour is Luis (Michael Peña) who brings with him the never-ending onslaught of nonsense. He brings a wild buzz to every scene he’s in, and even makes himself a valuable member of the super team. Which is an amazing slice of this film: everyone
gets to be a hero. It’s a theme that isn’t slapped across the audience’s face, but shows that a hero can’t always do everything. It realistically looks at each character and strategically slots them into a helpful role. For example, Hope goes from being sidelined by her protective father in the first movie, to being cleverly used to the best of her abilities. And it creates some incredible fight scenes. Of course, it is her name in the title; we would expect more from her character. But it’s exciting to see Marvel further develop another heroine. Giving the Wasp such a remarkable role also helps reflect her importance from the comics. Until recently, I only knew the Wasp from glancing at the animated series The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. But to my delight, I found out that this brilliant mind and skilled fighter was not only a founding member of the Avengers in the comics, but also the one who named it. Albeit Janet van Dyne’s iteration of the Wasp, it is still great to know she was a part of the Avengers even back in the 60s. It is interesting how Marvel has built this story, because in order for everyone to have a piece of the hero pie, Ant-man did have to shrink back.
But it is a necessary step, and it doesn’t mean he didn’t get his time to shine. In fact, the writers have used Scott’s step back in a clever way, and used it to grow his character. So, less kicking arse, but more emotional magic. Beyond the fun banter and great characters is a new aesthetic to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although not overt, Ant-man and the Wasp has incorporated visuals that seem to pay homage to old sci-fi films, with a touch of Men in Black. That last one came from the working ants looking like the M.I.B. worms. The visuals create half the fun, especially when the film takes the audience down into the quantum realm. The biggest win Marvel has with this film is how they’ve managed to turn the clock back with their veteran actors. I know, this trick has been done since RDJ and his wonderful guy liner, but before this film, the audience’s eye would catch the strange digital fingerprints that removed the wrinkles and greys. In Ant-man and the Wasp Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne, and Michelle Pfeiffer were all successfully and wonderfully made younger. I couldn’t see any faults and was blown away by the impeccable visual effects. The biggest loss in this film is its flat, two-di-
mensional villain. The Ghost, a.k.a Ava (Hannah John-Kamen), is the second Marvel female villain and comes only two films after her predecessor Hela. Unfortunately, the same problems arise where little depth is given to their monologues. Ava is a touch more relatable with an empathetic past, but it’s not enough to pull her out of the Marvel villain slump (which I hoped was over after Killmonger and Thanos). That isn’t to say Ant-man and the Wasp is a poor film. It actually holds up well in the MCU with incredible action scenes, fun comedy, and a heart-warming father/ daughter relationship. Although it doesn’t reach the standard of Marvel’s best, it certainly holds a fun, comedic journey that’s easy to enjoy. Before seeing this film, I do recommend that viewers scrub up on their understanding of quantum science (if that’s even the right term). It certainly helped me understand a little more of the science gibberish, and it’s also a very interesting subject! With is predictable humour but brilliant action, Ant-man and the Wasp is a film you don’t want to miss this winder.
Article by Alyce Christiansen
Christopher Larkin from the
With Oz Comic-Con headed to Melbourne in June, actors from
waves so when inspiration strikes, it’s important to drop everything and just pick up a guitar and start writing, because it’s not always guaranteed to come your favourite films and series will be flocking in back again,” Christopher said. “I am always trying, from all over the world. It’s your chance to meet your and usually failing, but I guess that’s the process for faves from Riverdale, The Flash, and even Deadpool any genre and artwork.” 2! We had a chance to have a chat with Christopher Larkin, most known for his role as Monty Green in Turning to The 100, a lot has changed since season The 100, to discuss his music, his acting career, and four, with a six year time jump taking place prior of course, The 100, before he makes the long trip to the start of season five. Comparing the earlier seasons to now, Christopher commented, “When over here for June 9-10. we first meet Monty, he’s 15 years old – I think Keeping himself busy during the hiatus from The everyone’s ages were never fully determined, we 100, Christopher has immersed himself within the were just a bunch of teenage, juvenile delinquents, play, Nomad Motel, enjoying the different challenge but in my head I decided Monty was 15 in season theatre offers compared to TV. “For me I think it is one. Meaning at this point in time, depending on his important to keep changing mediums, just to keep birthday, he is now twenty-one, twenty-two. That things fresh,” Christopher said. “I think the beautiful is a huge change from adolescence into adulthood thing about TV is you’re shooting something and a huge change of circumstance, as well.” new everyday, which automatically helps you stay inspired and helps keep you on your toes. I look at TV as sprinting – you shoot and then you sit and wait around for hours, and then you have to shoot and then you sit and wait around for hours. Theatre is more like a marathon, it really is an endurance test and it’s a whole different set of muscles.” A man of many talents, Christopher, has also released his second solo album under the name Carry Hatchet, titled ‘The Happiest Album Ever Made.’ Often remarked on for its expressive nature, the album was released in late 2017. Speaking of his inspiration behind his music, Christopher commented, “I have always been a huge fan of female singer-songwriters somewhere in the folk vein, often entirely acoustic. There is nothing more captivating, to me, than a performer, male or female, solo on stage with nothing but a guitar and a vocal Heading into season five, Monty’s circumstances have changed greatly, losing the two most mic.” important people in his life while other major Also a founding member of the band, d’Artagnan, events were happening – A.L.I.E and Praimfaya. He Christopher remains modest about his skills within has now had time to digest everything and attempt the world of music, preferring to keep things as raw as to reconcile the past with the present. However, possible. “I think there is a tendency to overproduce he has to head back down to earth and face these music these days and I always find myself drawn to painful memories again. “I think Monty’s loss of his a low-fi, homemade, rough recordings,” said Larkin. mother, and of Jasper, are 100 percent the cause of “So I try to capture that as best I can with my very his apprehension [to go back to earth],” Christopher said. “He has been living a very peaceful existence in limited knowledge of the music world.” the vacuum of space for six years with absolutely no With his music a constant project, he added, “I feel threats to him or his friends, and why after having like I am always writing or at least thinking of writing gone through such a nightmarish, hellish scenario in some capacity. Motivation comes and goes in would you want to back to the ground?”
Catch Christopher at #Ozcomicon18 in Melbourne June 9-10 Heading into season five, Monty’s circumstances have changed greatly, losing the two most important people in his life while other major events were happening – A.L.I.E and Praimfaya. He has now had time to digest everything and attempt to reconcile the past with the present. However, he has to head back down to earth and face these painful memories again. “I think Monty’s loss of his mother, and of Jasper, are 100 percent the cause of his apprehension [to go back to earth],” Christopher said. “He has been living a very peaceful existence in the vacuum of space for six years with absolutely no threats to him or his friends, and why after having gone through such a nightmarish, hellish scenario would you want to back to the ground?”
absolutely insane and to have broken up long before we see them six years later,” Christopher pointed out.
Sympathising heavily with Monty, Christopher reiterated, “I think he has had a lot of time to reflect, and a lot of time to heal. Which brings me back to… why would you want to go back down and re-live some of the horrors that they first experienced and I think that is going to be his struggle throughout season five – finding the rationale about going back down.”
Keeping tight-lipped on what is to come for season five, Christopher told us we will have to wait until the end of the season for the excitement to go down; “Episode thirteen – it’s the end, it’s always the end and I feel like that’s when everything comes to a head. It’s not so much the boiling point, it is the fully prepared meal. Everything has been boiled and seasoned and plated and a lot of questions will be answered.”
Whilst Monty will look to move on from his past, he will also ensure he has Harper by his side. At the beginning of season five, we will see some relationships survive the six-year time jump, while some will not make it. Living for six years with just six other people in space is bound to cause a few problems. “It could have gone two ways, right. Given how little there is, for lack of a better word, space, that they have on the ring, there was a lot of potential to have driven each other
Attempting to hold on to all they have left, Christopher said, “I feel like Monty and Harper stood the test of time because they were, in my mind, all that each other had. Monty was the only person in Harper’s world left caring about and vice-versa – Harper was the only person in Monty’s world, right after losing Jasper. So, when you forge that kind of connection and choose to live for each other, and only for each other, that is going to forge a bond that is hopefully unbreakable.” If Monty and Harper weren’t your favourite ship before, we bet they are now!
Where can you find Christopher in the future? With a love for TV and theatre, and recognising the value of diversifying his skills, Christopher said, “I think the perfect schedule for me throughout the year would be to have some kind of consistent work in TV and film and then be able to do a play during a hiatus.” And of course, you can find him at Oz Comic-Con June 9-10 in Melbourne – make sure you go and say hi!
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard sequel the reboot Words by Jay Cook. In one of the most adventurous action packed starts to a film, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom by no means fails to entertain. But don’t expect anything different from Jurassic World, Fallen Kingdom is ultimately the same story line just done slightly differently. It has free roaming dinosaurs, romance, children and a new hybrid dino ready to dominate them all.
them to a newer safer home. They soon discover their time is almost out as a volcano is about to explode on the island. Forcing the Army to take what they have already captured and escape the island, Claire and Owen and their team are left to fend for themselves until they make a daring escape onto the barge. Back on the mainland the story unfolds that the dinosaurs were never going to get to the new safer island. The dinosaurs were going to be sold to the highest bidder without any hesitation to the many issues around that of dinosaurs in suburbia. But with that thought in mind, Claire, Owen and their little team end up saving the dinosaurs and releasing them into the world.
Jurassic World is no longer an operational tourist dinosaur park and after billions of dollars in payouts the island is just sitting there with no one really knowing what exactly is happening. There’s an ongoing court battle about the welfare of the dinosaurs which doesn’t end well. To save them, Ex-Park Manager Claire Dearing is called in to help out, or at least she thinks so. There’s one Dinosaur they can’t seem to handle however and only one person who can help Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ends with the and that’s Dinosaur Researcher Owen Grady. dinosaurs being left free to roam the world. But this is a true Hollywood blockbuster style ending, opening With a Claire and Owen’s small team and an army to it wide up for the third instalment which is due out in help, they set to retrieve the dinosaurs and transport 2021.
All Hollywood film making and money grabbing techniques aside, Fallen Kingdom is very much what has come to be expected from this franchise. And that’s what makes it completely worth every second. Immersing in a lifetime long gone where only the modern world knows as bones, is really remarkable. Not only that, the use of CGI has come leaps and bounds in making every little detail of the dinosaur so realistic it’s almost hard to believe they aren’t actually there.
connection to the saving of the animals that her tears are believable.
Bruce Dallas Howard (The Twilight Saga, The Help, Black Mirror) takes the lead once again as Claire, this time not in heels. Running around the park in heels in the first film had such controversy as it was so unrealistic that they even made a point to show her more appropriate attire. Dallas Howard is easily one of the most underrated actresses and brings so much more to her performances than everyone around her. She manages to show this deep love and
Overall Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is yet another adventure that just transports you to another world. It’s by no means a new story, you could almost predict how it will all pan out as soon as the film starts. But there is just something about Jurassic Park and World that makes it so darn epic and fun to watch. But the catch with Fallen Kingdom is, it’s only been made to set up the next Jurassic World installment.
Chris Pratt on the other hand plays his role as buff funny guy to a T. He knows his role in the film offers no major addition to the story line other than to save the damsel in distress. In fairness to him, he does manage to show this loving fatherly big brother vibe rather well. Making you wish he would wrap his arms around you for a good old hug.
Article by Jay Cook
FIVE JURASSIC PARK FACTS & CURIOS
With the latest Jurassic Park movie, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, due out this month I got lost in reading about the now five films. And gosh darn it there’s some interesting facts floating around. From the behind the scenes romance of Jeoff Goldblum and Laura Dern. To the alternative casting options for Chris Pratt’s role of Owen Grady by way of Jason Statham, John Krasinski, Jason Sudeikis, Josh Brolin, Henry Cavill or even Armie Hammer. So let’s chomp down into some Jurassic Park fact in my Top 5 interesting and curious Jurrasic Park facts you probably had no idea about.
#1 #2
RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH In the first adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel, Jurassic Park, Richard Attenborough returned to the screens some 15 years after his retirement to play John Hammond. And fun fact part two, he’s the older brother to the much-loved David Attenborough known for his nature documentary series on the BBC.
SEX SFX
While none of us would have any idea what a dinosaur would really sound like, the sound team lead by Gary Rydstrom managed to come up with some pretty unique sounds. In Jurassic Park where the Velociraptor’s are talking to each other, they used the sounds of tortoises having sex. Rydstrom managed to win himself some Academy awards for his efforts.
#3
DILOPHOSAUR DO-OVER
There were a lot of liberties taken with how some of the dinosaur’s looked like across the films. To give that real Hollywood feeling in some of the scenes of Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton and Director Steven Spielberg added some flair. The Dilophosaurs, those little lizards that stalked Dennis Nedry (Newman from Seinfeld) didn’t actually have big frills or even spit venom. But where would the fun be if they just tickled him to death.
#4 #5 HEAVY
ORIGINAL CAST MEMBER In Jurassic World T-Rex makes appearance fighting the mighty Indominus Rex. You’d be excused if you thought it looked familiar as it’s actually the same dinosaur from the original Jurassic Park movie. But you’ll notice it now comes with some scars after the raptor battle.
T-Rex and Indominus Rex who seem to have gotten off on a bad foot were not a light addition to Jurassic World. Each of the two dinosaurs weight over 8000kg. So heavy in fact they ended up building the set around the dinosaurs rather than have to move them around.
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With a cast full of high profile badass women, Warner Brothers
hardly needs any help building anticipation for Ocean’s 8. The excitement level was already through the roof when the trailer dropped but as any good marketing team does, they boldly raised the stakes by claiming ‘having this much fun is a crime’. We were all lead to believe that this would be the glitziest, most thrilling heist ever to grace No need to worry though, there is definitely our screens. So now that it’s here, does Ocean’s 8 enough to satisfy you for the moment and leave you wanting more. We will no doubt see each stack up? character again in countless squeals to come. Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), master thief and sister of infamous criminal Danny Ocean, makes a plan to steal a $150 Million necklace at the Met Gala after a 5-year stint in jail. Of course, she can’t do it alone. She enlists the help of old pal Lou (Cate Blanchett), designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), jeweller Amita (Mindy Kaling), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), pick pocket Constance (Awkwafina) and naïve actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hatheway) to bring in the jewels.
What was particularly great about the film was that its male predecessor didn’t become a 9th lead. There were hints and references to the other Ocean’s movies (even a few familiar faces). But overall, Debbie Ocean carried the film independent of Frank and George. Fans of the old films will be satisfied and new ones certainly won’t feel left out. The films major let down is that it falls to the trap of anticipation syndrome. Warner Brothers have been smart in their advertising, giving us a little bit but not too much. They are a tease and we’re hopeless fans eager to see some badass ladies. It’s also undeniable that these ladies have chemistry. If you’ve tuned into any talk show over the past 2 weeks you might have seen any combination of the cast bantering away. They’re charming and endearing and they certainly know how to sell a movie. So with our expectations high, it is easy to come out of Ocean’s 8 a little disappointed.
Any film with a giant cast full of excellent actors is bound to struggle at least a little bit displaying them in the way we want. The line between indepth characters and actual plot is thin and difficult to do well. But when you’ve got this many fabulous ladies in one film, the balance becomes even harder. For the most part, Gary Ross (Director/Writer) and Olivia Milch (Writer) pull it off decently well. Each character (and countless real life Met Gala faves) is given their time to shine, even if they are a touch surface level. Largely the lack of depth is due to the film spending a good portion setting up intricate plot details to make the twists and turns even sweeter. In many ways I was expecting much more. More drama, more glitz, more glam, more action, more suspense. Certainly, no one will be locked away for having too much fun after viewing it. But that’s not any fault of the film. Ocean’s 8 is overall an enjoyable movie. It has a cohesive plotline, a touch of humour, a sneak peak into the glamour of the fashion world and twists and turns that genuinely make sense. If you lower your expectations just a little bit, you’ll be sure to have a good time.
It may have taken 14 years to get a sequel, but boy has Disney and Pixar delivered something worth the wait!
The Incredibles 2 is a superb sequel that proves franchises can create a story just as enticing as the first. Disney and Pixar have succeeded in keeping the story fresh and humorous, all the while focusing on the family values we all loved from the original film.
This time around, every family member of the Taking off where the first Incredibles finished, we Incredibles was freer to use their powers. The freedom find the Parr family facing the evil Underminer in the allowed for more hilarity, especially with the family’s Incredibles 2. The family is arrested after the unsuccessful use of their powers in everyday life. But, of course, it’s endeavour and forced to go back into hiding. That is, while fighting the bad guys that the heroes really get to until they receive an irresistible invitation to help make push their powers to the limit. Especially Jack-Jack. super heroes legal once more. All they have to do is overcome a new villain who wants nothing more than Now, at the end of the first film, I was under the impression that the family knew that Jack-Jack had to keep all the heroes in the shadows.
PIXAR does it again!
Words by Brittany Howarth powers. However, this isn’t the case. It takes a very funny raccoon for Mr Incredible to actually find out. These scenes could have easily been written predictably with forced moments of laughter, but Disney/ Pixar have managed to make Jack-Jack genuinely funny. Before watching the film, he was actually the character I was most concerned about. But he quickly revealed himself to be the top source of humour. The powers certainly make this film visually spectacular (including the new heroes), but it’s the family that makes the story so captivating. Bob and Helen Parr have been in the superhero business for years, and now with Violet becoming older, the audience is given a glimpse into the process of keeping secret identities and the downfalls that come with it. A troublesome process that tests Bob in his role as father.
In fact, there are many everyday moments that test this family, but the translation into the world of supers makes it a very funny watch. The film is also a pleasure to watch because of it’s incredible (look, I couldn’t avoid the word) animation and music. Back in 2004, the first Incredibles won Pixar an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, and with this in mind, the visuals and music for the sequel did not disappoint. The accompanying score emulates that of classic hero entertainment, matched perfectly by its stylised animation. The Incredibles 2 has succeeded to reach and surpass expectations. It stirred the audience with its humour and wowed them with its impeccable animation. Definitely a film for all ages, I cannot recommend it more.
Solo : A Star Wars Story
is the latest film in the Disney Star Wars universe. The film is an origin tale following the life of Hans Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) as he falls into becoming a pilot, meeting his best friend Chewbecca the wookie (Joonas Suotamo) and how he comes to be in the possession of the Millenium Falcon, the infamous ship for the latest films. It’s not that the film is bad, it’s actually quite interesting if you are a die hard Star Wars fan. If you are a fan of movies in general then it just comes across as a bit bland all round. Where the story falls short it makes up for with its characters, in particular Lando (Donald Glover) steals every bit of charisma and charm the movie oozes and his drone L3 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) save this from being a total disaster. The film follows Solo as his name is established in the most laughable moment in film history, escapes his imprisonment with love interest Qi’Ra (Emilia Clarke) getting separated Solo must become a pilot, obtain a ship and come back and rescue her. Of course this doesn’t go to plan and he joins a gang led by Beckett (Woody Harrelson) as they attempt a heist for criminal mastermind Crimson Dawn (Paul Bettany). Along the way they run into famous characters Chewie and Lando. The premise sounds simple and it is, the biggest problem this movie has is its story. A lot of this is being credited to having 2 set of directors going through the film as the story does reach some high points to only plummet back down seconds later causing a lot of head scratching. The action scenes are great and in particular the train sequence is the highlight of the film. There is a breakout scene that flips between comedic and serious and while it tries its best to “classic Star Wars” it just comes off as confusing. The final BIG action scene is extremely underwhelming and some of the effects quality are questionable.
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While this may sound extremely negative, the thing that ultimately saves this film is its characters. The actors all bring their A game here and while Glover is the clear stand out, special mention has to be given to Ehrenreich for taking on a role of this magnitude. He does ooze the wit and charm that Solo is known for, it is however his bond with Chewbacca and their chemistry that cements this as a successful origin story, despite the awful plot.
Leith
Head out to the biggest screen you can find with the best Dolby Atmos sound with your Star Wars buddies as fans of the long running series will love every minute of this. Despite its flaws, it does deliver a band of Star Wars characters re-invented for a new generation. While the run time is a bit too much and could easily have 45 minutes shaved off it, it is a good time. While it may not reach the heights of The Force Awakens, it does cement itself in Star Wars canon as a solid installment with endearing characters audiences
A formidable cast delivers a fun enough prequel not nearly as bad as the fanboys lamented.
Words by Jaclyn McTaggart
Gone are the times when photographs
Kodachrome, written by Jonathan Tropper (This were only instant in the form of a Polaroid, and Is Where I Leave You) and directed by Mark Raso photographers weren’t simply anyone with an (Copenhagen), was a decent film. It was funny iPhone. It’s a strange progression of technology and endearing enough not to bore. However, that has taken this art form once solely reserved it wasn’t funny and endearing enough to be for a photographer, to something accessible to anything more than that. the general public. It’s a progression that writer Jonathan Tropper (This is Where I leave You) The markers of a new scriptwriter were all there. has recognised and investigated in his latest film It was decently predictable and clichéd. The story of a young, pretty millennial working with Kodchrome. an old bastard is something that has been done Matt Ryder (Jason Sudeikis), a failing Record before. Likewise, the disgruntled employee doing Producer, certainly knows this as the son of a something they don’t want to do in order to not famous war Photographer, Benjamin Ryder (Ed be fired has seen the light of day. However, the Harris). Estranged from his dying father, he takes exploration of a complicated family dynamic a rather unexpected road trip with his Father’s and a dying art form carried the story and made Nurse Zoey (Elizabeth Olsen) to produce his it enjoyable to watch. The overall context of an father’s last Kodachrome film before Kodak stops old technology not existing anymore is not a story often done with many films focusing on the developing it forever. future of tech.
Ed Harris, Elizabeth Olsen and Jason Sudekis make an unlikely trio.
With a small ensemble of familiar faces, Elizabeth Olsen was as good as ever as was her co-star Ed Harris. However, Jason Sudeikis was an interesting choice as someone still strongly associated as a comedy actor (despite amassing an impressive CV of indie dramas in the last few years). However, he holds his own and proves his capabilities beyond comedy films. He wasn’t always completely convincing but carried the role well enough.
the past as far from perfect. Life is more nuanced than purely existing in black and white, something Tropper and Raso clearly understand well.
It was very reminiscent of Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise trilogy. Just as those films are kind of about nothing, Kodachrome is also kind of about nothing but in the best possible way. Linklater perfectly developed the aimless walk and talk to create conversations and ask What was great about the movie was that interesting questions. it didn’t preach to the choir about how new technology sucks. The movie wasn’t Overall, Kodachrome was an enjoyable completely negative about the future of watch but mostly forgettable. It’s well worth technology and glorifying the old days. watching on a Sunday afternoon when there’s Rather, it portrayed the sadness of a piece nothing else to do but not one you must go see. of technology dying whilst acknowledging Kodachrome is playing in cinemas nationally.
Amid the thousands of convention goers at this year’s Supernova Sydney, I spotted some amazing examples of cosplay that showed off the hard work and dedication that goes into this craft. From TV and film characters to anime and games (and even some bizarre genre mashups – Bob Ross Deadpool anyone?), the variety and quality of costumes was impressive. However, one cosplayer in particular seemed to demand a premium in attention from the fans. Decked out in a pitch perfect Captain Nomad costume, I had a chance to speak with Chris Stanley (known to his fans as Cosplay Chris) about fitness, Mickey Rourke and making the jump to becoming an international convention guest. Chris’ popularity with his fans was plain to see as we stopped to chat in a quiet corner of the convention. A father approached with his young son also dressed as Cap as we were starting to chat and asked, “Can little Captain America have a photo
with big Captain America?” Chris’ enthusiasm to drop what he was doing and accommodate the wishes of fans was indicative of his respect for his position as an ambassador within the Australian cosplay community. I asked him how he felt about this impromptu role. “You definitely have to have a sense of integrity with what you do, but it’s not something I try to think about too much. It more comes down to respecting people in general and treating others as you would like to be treated. And there are always people who disregard that and want to do things a different way, but you try not to associate too much with those kinds of people.” One demographic that Chris does associate with extensively is his Youtube subscribers, of which there are almost 300k. He appeared at the Influencers Initiative panel at this year’s convention,
discussing social media presence and the balance of quality versus quantity with his content. “One thing I’ve found is that you have to learn to listen as a Youtube content creator. Even though the comment section can get a bit nasty at times, there are alot of people making great suggestions for projects or also just small technical details that make you say, wow I wouldn’t have thought of it that way, so it’s definitely somewhat of a collaborative process,” he said. “I usually try to put out one video per week, but especially with the custom collectible videos there is a lot of work and planning to be put into them and you definitely put yourself at risk of burnout. I don’t have a camera crew or really much of a production budget either so I need to think hard about how to space out the ideas I have for videos so that is a steady stream of content for fans to enjoy.” One of his most ambitious new ideas is a project to recreate Mickey Rourke’s villain Whiplash from Iron Man 2. Fans of Chris’ channel have gotten an inside look into the complicated process that is accurately recreating the unique armour associated with the character. “Initially I assumed I’d be doing the whole thing myself, so it has been really good to get Myles (also known as Flux Electronics) to come in with his electrical engineering experience and basically make a render of my chest and 3D print the reactor. We’re also doing all the of the tubing and wiring as accurately as possible so it’s a pretty involved process,” he said.
“I’m shooting to be finished by September, and obviously I’ll have a lot of other work to do at the same time to get in the right shape by then as well, in addition to the hair, which is growing out slowly, and the eye colour, scars and tattoos. I’d put us at about 20% completion at the moment. I know of two other guys working on the same costume at the moment and they are nowhere near that so that’s encouraging.” Film goers these days have become used to the impressive physiques of their onscreen heroes, and Chris’ personal fitness journey has become an important aspect of his cosplaying. He recently showcased the fruits of his work in an article with Men’s Health magazine, and I asked him if there was any awkwardness bringing his creative work to an audience outside the regular convention fan base. “Not so much. I guess the whole superhero genre is so popular now, people are used to seeing Chris Hemsworth and the like and their crazy physiques that they achieve for the movies so it’s pretty expected. The difference is that we don’t have any of the resources that they have, we dont have the chefs or personal trainers. And I’m not in the gym everyday. This week I’ve been on what we call the con diet, so its been mostly pizza and beers.” “I think they were excited to see someone who was sort of working to inhabit those sorts of characters on a more amateur level, and seeing what results they can get through more unconventional means and whilst trying to juggle the commitments of a normal
life. Also some of this gear we wear is really heavy and uncomfortable at times, and you have to wear it all day so you definitely need to be in shape. There’s no one behind the camera yelling cut, and then you get to take a break. But I’ve got until September to reach the place where I’d like to be so that should be enough time hopefully.” Speaking of superstars, it’s clear that Chris’ dedication to his craft and popularity with his fans is paying off, with a trip to San Diego, Louisiana and New York Comic Cons on the horizon. We chatted about reaching this next tier of professional cosplaying overseas, and if that meant he needed to step back and reevaluate his goals and expec-
tations. “It’s more of a taking out and dusting off of some old goals. I’d been interested for a long time in moving to L.A and doing some work there in special effects. The Youtube channel can be an inconsistent source of income sometimes.” “I love the fans and really cherish their support, so the ideal would be for me to be able to keep the Youtube channel no matter what happens. The majority of my fanbase is actually from the US and the UK, based on the Youtube demographics that I can see. So realistically I’m really excited to get over there again and spend some time with my fans over there and see what might come out of it.”
G N I W O NOW SH
E H T R O “FUN F ” Y L I M A F E L O H W LAISDAIR -A
Words by Mark Halyday
Of all the Marvel-Netflix collaborations, Luke Cage has always
movies so often do, most recently Jessica Jones season 2 - but for now it seems he’s just there to be an opposition of ideals.
had the most to say. The most virtuous of New York’s undergrad heroes wrestles with rightness Speaking of Jessica Jones, the future bride of his whole series and somehow makes it interesting. Luke Cage is nowhere to be seen. This is in part to the fact that the first season of Luke Cage The first three episodes do a lot to expand the cast went out of its way to paint Rosario Dawson’s - adding a new police captain, a new detective, crossover character Claire as a perfect partner. another gangster to contrast Shades and to The inevitable breakup was executed well and contrast Shades to Mariah, as well as series villain surprisingly avoided the girlfriend-in-the-fridge Bushmaster, a shady broker named Pirahna and cliche most recently seen in Deadpool 2. Mariah’s daughter Tilda. Luke Cage subverts. Not only by telling a fairly As a result, some of the old guard are shuffled out. original crime story from both sides of the law The likable but ultimately fruitless Bobby Fish but by shifting and moving the players on the is trader for a greyer character in Luke’s father board without hesitation. By the half way point of (played wonderfully by House of Cards legend the season half the players are off the board and Reg E Cathy). At first appearance it seemed like it’s back to the core group that fans know and love more familial disputes - as many comic book - Luke, Misty, Mariah and Shades.
Luke Cage
Each one of the characters vie for MVP of the series - from phoenix arc Misty grounds in hard, gritty realism to Mariah’s cool rage in the face of her most significant challenge to date, the shifting sides of shades and Luke’s unshakable and unbreakable being both shaken and broken.
As with all byproducts of Marvel not owned by Fox, the question of continuity is raised. If it is in fact part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Netflix insists, then each series will have to deal with half the universe being wiped (and eventually, inevitably) returned to existence. While that would be laborous for each show, a One elemented that showed a marked quick Defenders miniseries would wave away improvement to the show was the realism of all these problems and give fans the crossover the Bushmaster’s crimes. His hit-and-run style, narrative juice that keeps them going. knocking down Luke in the street, burning Mariah’s house and severing the heads of his In the meantime, everyone is just pretending this victims was terrifying. But it didn’t go too far. is a prequel before the big snap. It went far enough, causing the audience to get squeamish and to know these villains mean business. Decapitation is an instant shorthand for terror (especially in the days of ISIS) but it did not go the extremes of some of television sickest and sadistic (13 Reasons Why, for example).
Luke Cage is a wonderful addition to television and a great chapter of the bigger Defenders and Marvel story, even if doesn’t really care about either. Luke Cage lives in Luke Cage’s world, fanboys be damned, and it’s a stronger show for it.
Season 2 Review Words by Alaisdair Leith How do you top an incredible first season? This is the question that constantly plagued me in the lead up to watching the second season of Netflix’s reboot of the 90’s sensation Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. Simply titled Queer Eye, the reboot threw out the old formula of making over straight guys to helping anyone regardless of gender, race, religion or sexuality. The first season gave us straight and gay guys, season 2 opens with a makeover of their first woman and a church and community centre in Gay, Georgia. This episode had such a profound impact on myself personally, coming from a similar background and experience with the judgement from the church when I came out, this episode is ground-breaking and
heart shattering. I don’t think I have ever cried so much in 43 minutes of television possibly ever, and while Queer Eye does always bring a tear to my eye, it is through the discussions between the principal cast, particularly Antoni and Bobby with the hero Tammye and her gay son that just completely shook me. It is a very real conversation that needed to happen and was done in such a respectful manner that it truly delivered the finest episode that both seasons have delivered so far. In particular the finale scenes of the episode in which Tammye is going around telling each of the Fab 5 what they mean to her and to the world. The entire cast is weeping and there is so much love and emotion felt between this whole cast and the
hero Tammye and her son it is just incredibly overwhelming. If only the rest of the season could live up to this incredibly high standard. . .regrettably the rest of the season feels like it is coasting along with straight men young and old with no real particular stand outs until we reach the episode where the first trans man is made over. Speaking again on a personal note I don’t know much about the trans community or their struggles and this episode addresses this and delivers some touching moments with Tan and Karamo. The season finale tries to go for a political punch but just falls a bit flat due to its bland and average heroes. It could be that the first episode with Tammye is so profound and spectacular that nothing more in the season could possibly live up to it, while the humour
and renovations are great for the rest of the season the awe and wonder moments don’t really hit hard for the rest of the second season. This definitely feels like the off-cuts of a very short season 1 (Tammye and trans episode aside) thrown together to keep momentum going before they film a brand new batch of episodes. The good news is that even on an average episode it is still miles above any other reality show out there. There is love, there is light, there is positivity and authenticity in each one of these extraordinary men who are role models just not in the gay community, but in the world in general in these times where we won’t talk to each other. Queer Eye Season 2 is streaming exclusive on Netflix right now.
The Comic-Con of Gaming hit Las Vegas earlier this month.
The comprehensive breakdown.
By Matt Russel Dragon Quest XI‘s western release got a well-deserved promo. Square-Enix’s other huge RPG franchise has never really caught on in the West the way it has in Japan where its popularity far exceeds Final Fantasy. Square-Enix really want it to do well outside of its native market and have The showcase kicked off with some extended gameplay footage taken a long time localising it. Hopefully it of the next Tomb Raider game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This does well when it hits our shores on the 4th game had already been briefly shown during Microsoft’s press of September. conference but we got a more detailed look at it here with Lara Croft taking down a gang of soldiers in a jungle setting. There The next trailer was for something called was also a new camouflage mechanic that looked pretty fun. Babylon’s Fall by Platinum games for PS4 The recent Tomb Raider games have been great and I’m looking and PC. I still have no idea what this was about but it looked pleasantly bonkers forward to this one. which can only be a good thing. Next up was a patch for Final Fantasy XIV which may seem like an odd thing to include in a showcase, but FFXIV has a huge Nier Automata is finally getting an Xbox following and is actually a pretty great MMO, especially if you’re release which isn’t really big news, but the a Final Fantasy fan. An upcoming content update will include a more people that get to play this, the better. Octopath Traveller was also briefly shown crossover with Monster Hunter World. for Nintendo Switch and it’s still looking The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit has a ridiculous name fine in all its 16 bit-esque old school JRPG but is a spin-off of Life is Strange and is being released entirely glory. This is coming in only a few short for free. Not much else was revealed about this other than some weeks on July 13th. of the characters and settings from it will lead into the highly Just Cause 4 was shown off and looks like anticipated Life is Strange 2. a Just Cause game, only bigger, with the series’ regular huge open world taken to a ridiculous extreme complete with cyclones and other deadly weather systems. This was followed by a short teaser for The Quiet Man, yet another trailer that didn’t really give anything away and ended with the promise of more information to come. I’m not exactly sure what I expected from Square-Enix’s E3 showcase but I was still slightly disappointed by it. One thing I will say about it is that it certainly was a thing that happened and it was short. And, to be positive, there was still some exciting stuff shown in a scant 30 minutes which took the form of a clip show as opposed to a regular E3 conference.
The showcase closed with Kingdom Hearts 3 but at this point, it feels like SquareEnix have been previewing this game for years. The trailer showed off new worlds related to Frozen, Wreck-it-Ralph and Tangled, among others. Kingdom Hearts has a famously baffling storyline and the rather long trailer did little to dispel this or explain itself to newcomers. Still, this game will do well thanks to its huge number of fans and the new Disney tie ins.
Bethesda made its E3 press conference debut back in 2015 by
debuting Fallout 4 and while none of their conferences since then have had reveals of that magnitude, they have consistently delivered solid E3 showings that make them a pleasure to watch. This year was no different: a solid, entertaining conference, albeit with a couple of big surprises this time around.
By Matt Russel about this other than the promo video they showed did slightly tempt me to finally get around to playing this.
The conference opened with an announcement and footage of Rage 2 by Avalanche Software. Amusingly, the announcement was introduced via a musical performance from Andrew WK that didn’t appear to go over too well with the audience in the hall but was actually really entertaining. The original Rage was one of those games that was massively hyped but seemed to disappear on release. Rage 2 looks to be a pretty decent open world FPS with more than a touch of Mad Max about it.
Next up was a sequel to 2016’s Doom reboot called Doom Eternal. No gameplay shown for this but I loved the reveal video for this. Doom was an awesome reboot so even more of the same would be great. There was also some news related to Quake Champions, a title I had completely forgotten existed, despite being an old A few announcements for Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls school Quake player. The game is now open as a freespin off games followed. A graphical overhaul was to-play trial ahead of release, but even with the footage announced for The Elder Scrolls Legends as well as shown I found it a little hard to get excited by this. new of an upcoming release on Switch, XBone and Ps4. Legends is actually a pretty great card game currently A free update was announced for Prey as well as DLC available on PC and mobile that I would recommend titled Mooncrash that offers an “infinitely replayable giving a shot if you’re burnt out on Hearthstone. I’m experience”. This appeared to be a Groundhog Dayreally looking forward to playing this on console. esque simulation of an escape from a moonbase overrun with aliens. I went from disinterested to totally The Elder Scrolls Online got its regular E3 hype of excited to play this in about five seconds because the upcoming DLC and expansions. Not really a lot to say gameplay trailer looked amazing.
a fairly small population size of dozens of players as opposed to hundreds. The game features base building and your progression stays with you no matter how many times you die or if you move to other servers. It looks absolutely stunning and I can’t wait to play it. The collector’s edition also comes with a glow in the dark map and a power amour helmet with voice modulation. Fallout 76 is out on 14th November 2018. As a quick aside, Fallout Shelter was also announced for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. Machine Games announced Wolfenstein: The New Colossus for Nintendo Switch, releasing on June 29th. Doom turned out really well on Switch so this should be a sure thing. Wolfenstein Youngblood was also announced, a follow up to The New Colossus. Set in the 80s with a co-op focus, this looked to have a really cool 80s sci-fi movie vibe. Pete Hines took to the stage again to quickly rattle off a new Wolfenstein VR game, Wolfenstein Cyberpilot as well some VR options in the upcoming Prey DLC. And then he finally introduced Bethesda’s VP of development, Todd Howard to talk us through the good stuff. Howard took his time, first showing a very amusing parody video about Skyrim coming to Amazon Alexa and Etch-a-sketch amongst other things before moving onto what we’d all been waiting for: Fallout 76.
Next up was The Elder Scrolls Blades on mobile. A fully fledged Elder Scrolls game built entirely for mobile. The game features both procedurally generated and hand-crafted dungeons, as well as the ability to build and customize the town that serves as the game’s hubworld. The combat and movement is very touch screen orientated with swiping movements and it looks really good for a mobile game. Bethesda closed out the show with their two biggest announcements, but also their least detailed, simply because they both seem to be quite a few years away yet. First up was a wholly original Sci-Fi game called Starfield. Not much was given away here but given its pedigree, I’m really looking forward to finding out more.
Finally, The Elder Scrolls VI. This was something I didn’t expect to be announced for a long, long time will be a prequel to all other Fallout but as a hardcore Elder scrolls fan from way back, games and set in West Virginia. In quite a big departure it made me very happy to see it there on screen. Of from Bethesda’s main Fallout games, this will actually course, there was nothing more to the trailer than the be an online multiplayer survival game. You’re still title and a landscape that will no doubt have people on able to play the game solo, however the game has been the internet speculating for a long time to come. The mostly designed around multiplayer, with the concept Elder Scrolls VI is still quite a few years away but it’s being a huge open world where the other characters great to know that it’s at least being worked on. in the world being real people. The world will have
Fallout 76
All up, a great conference from the ever reliable Bethesda Softworks. Some huge games coming this year, in particular Fallout 76, and a taste of some great things coming in the years ahead.
By Dylan Cook
Sony showcased
their latest upcoming software at E3 this evening, with a bevy of new footage and game announcements revealed. The conference represented somewhat of a holding pattern for the company. Whilst the hosts literally stalled for time whilst ushering attendees between a number of locations and presenting some admittedly entertaining musical interludes, the presentation itself didn’t contain much in the way of previously unannounced games. A remake of Resident Evil 2 was finally confirmed with a cinematic trailer, as well as a short teaser for Nioh 2, Team Ninja’s sequel to last year’s excellent samurai action game. With the majority of their first party studios hard at work on already revealed titles, Sony was content to tease the audience with gameplay for upcoming AAA releases such as The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima and Death Stranding.
Punch, with dynamic weather and lighting creating a beautiful backdrop to the fast-paced swordplay. The trailer showcased the main character travelling by horse to rescue a monk from Mongolian invaders, emphasising stealth gameplay, before engaging in a one on one katana duel. The game has no release date at this stage. Next up was a trailer for a previously unannounced title called Control, from a developer with an excellent pedigree in third person action games, Remedy. Despite it taking place in a mysterious indoor setting featuring dynamically changing architecture and incorporating psychic abilities into combat, not many details were revealed. However, the game does seem to share at least some aesthetic similarities with the company’s previous title, Quantum Break. After this, yet another compilation of Kingdom Hearts gameplay featuring the Pirates of the Caribbean world, followed by a longer Death Stranding trailer which again left the audience with more questions than answers regarding Hideo Kojima’s strange new IP. As well as slightly fleshing out the backstory of main protagonist Sam and his profession as some kind of porter, two new female characters and a beautifully rendered setting, which was evocative of Scandinavian geography, were revealed. There was also what appeared to be some intercut stealthy gameplay, though everything in this engine looks so good that its honestly hard to tell. The game still has no release date, so I think it’s safe to say that Kojima fans shouldn’t hold their breath to play this in 2019.
The conference kicked off in an unusual repurposed church-like setting, with a beautiful six-string banjo performance by The Last of Us composer Gustavo Santaolalla. This led into a new extended cinematic and gameplay trailer for The Last of Us Part II. The presentation showcased both the amazing facial animations and storytelling which Naughty Dog is known for, as well as an extended gameplay sequence featuring a grown-up Ellie. I honestly had a hard time believing that this was not a scripted sequence, as the enemy AI and fluidity and detail of the combat animations was above the quality of anything else we’ve seen before, but if anyone can deliver on the promise of a next-gen gaming experience, it’s this developer. The game also seems to possess an even darker tone than its predecessor (if that was possible), with some Following a short reveal of Nioh 2, the conference ended with another new look at Insomniac’s open extremely gory death animations being shown. world Spiderman game. The trailer showcased Following that, the open world samurai game Ghost Spidey attempting to quell a riot at a prison, while of Tsushima received an extended gameplay reveal. his most deadly nemeses the Sinister Six, broke out The setting of 13th century Japan seems to have been and wreaked havoc. As an end of credits bonus, Dark rendered in loving detail by Infamous developer Sucker Souls developer From Software showcased a trailer for a beautiful and mysterious looking VR title, Dèracinè.
Dead or Alive fans all over the world are relieved with this iconic game’s announcement after a bittersweet goodbye to Dead or Alive 5 at the Dead or Alive 5 Battle Royale tournament held at NEC 2018. The sixth Dead or Alive is set to be released early 2019. In regards to the fighters in this installment, the first set have already been released. The owner of the By Ainslie Waterford DOATEC, Helena Douglas, is the most notable among the rest of the fighters. Others include Hayate and past around Dead or Alive tournament winners like Kasumi, Ryu E3, it’s no wonder everyone is getting excited for 2019. Hayabusa, Zack, and the most recent tournament Along with Anthem and Jedi: Fallen Order, fans are winner, Jann Lee. celebrating the annoucenment of Dead or Alive 6.
With all of the commotion
As a long time gamer, Dead or Alive has always just seemed to be a staple. Considering it’s initial Playstation release in 1998, it’s known for being a classic. Now, 20 years later, they have announced their latest update of the much loved game with higher quality graphics, new in-game mechanics, and the game directors have made a point to make the characters less sexualized.
These fighters are set to duke it out in two settings, one being the DOA Colosseum that is decorated with three statues depicting well known fighting stances, and the other being The Throwdown. The Throwdown is a rough back street in which the most brutal and raw fights happen with fans becoming too rowdy and pushing fighters back in the ring. In this the fighters are able to use their environment for their attacks.
If you are new to the Devil May Cry series then let me introduce you. Our main character is Dante, the son of a demon, known as the Legendary Dark Knight, and a human woman named Eva. This family drama observes the battle between good and evil as Dante, now a demon hunter, goes out to avenge his murdered mother and corrupted brother. In this new game, however, many years have passed and the demonic power that everyone thought had ceased has risen again. The invasion starts with a demonic tree growing in Red Grave City which draws the attention to many, including a young demon hunter named Nero. Nero, an ally of Dante, is now without I tend his demonic arm which was the source of his power. to prefer more story oriented games, which is why I As he journeys to Red Grave City with his friend and partner Nico, he looks back on how it all began. He couldn’t be more ecstatic for Devil May Cry 5. remembers the demon invasions, the loss of his arm, It has been 10 years since Devil May Cry 4 and fans and how Dante’s pretty much MIA. Nero plans to put have been patiently waiting for it’s return. Hideaki an end to the madness once and for all. Itsuno and his team have reassembled to finish this long running adventure which is set to be released in Both of these games are highly anticipated and I know spring 2019, with a couple new characters. There are I’m definitely not going to be seeing sunlight any time three playable characters all with their own combat after their releases! and play style in this incredibly realistic game.
Although DoA6 is exciting,
Words by Alaisdair Leith In the 25 years that its been since Jurassic Park first roared its way into cinemas, we have had many, many game iterations flood the marketplace trying to cash in on the craze. From RPG’s to first person shooters to battle royale showdowns, it is really varied how much developers have tried to create a winning formula and failed everytime. It is with this hesitation that I dove head first into Jurassic World Evolution, excited to see it was a sim in the style of Skyline just with dinosaurs. The game allows you to create your very own park with dinosaurs, attractions, it also includes power management, staff management, inventory while also battling storms that come through and devastate your park and disturbing the dinos. I was not prepared for just how much there is to do in this game and after spending a ridiculous amount of hours playing it. I am pleased to see it is the best Jurassic Park game I have ever played.
The game drops you right into your first island with the voice of Dr Ian Malcolm (and yes it is Jeff Goldblum) warning you of the dangers of what you are about to do. After a quick tutorial (and not a very in depth one) you need to send out missions to dig for new dinosaur fossils to add new dinos to your park. In addition to this managing your current dinosaur comfort levels and making sure you don’t mix too many species together as their comfort level may decrease and they will do crazy things like headbutt fences and break them or start a fight with another dinosaur and only one will survive. Making sure that guests are entertained is also integral to your rating and income. You can add and manage restaurants, gift and clothes shops and really drill down into what items they sell and for how much, finding that sweet balance between guest satisfaction and profitability (or greed in my case!) I found
myself often revisiting these options when guest satisfaction was down to try and push it back up. Your island rating unlocks the other islands as well as research for more items and things to unlock. Graphically this game is drop dead beautiful. I played on the Xbox One X, which it is enhanced for and spectacular on the 4K screen. This was particularly noticeable when you release your dinosaurs from the Hammond Research Centre and you watch them enter the park. Although it is a little repetitive if you spend a long session playing, the level of detail is quite simply spectacular every time you see it. The final island you unlock is home of Jurassic World and has some recognisable buildings and locations that really play into the movie aspects of the game. The increasing level of difficulty as you progress through each island was also extremely noticeable. What I enjoyed most about this progression was that it was voluntary. Once you unlock the next island there is no obligation to head straight there, you can
stay on your current island and keep playing and unlocking items. You can also access island maintenance at anytime and switch islands with no penalty. You can tell that so much love, time and effort went into this game. From using the voice of Jeff Goldblum to the individual and unique detail on every dinosaur, it is easy to get swept up if you are a fan of the series. Even taking the Jurassic World stuff out of it, it is still a spectacular sim game with incredible mechanics and unlock system that kept me coming back time and time again. Overall Jurassic World : Evolution is the perfect accompaniment to the new Jurassic World film that has recently been released in theatres. Upgrading your dinosaurs with genetic alterations often give surprising results. The game has just received an update with more dinosaurs from Fallen Kingdom and will keep me coming back for more as there is so much more to do and explore. Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom is available on PS4, Xbox One and PC right now.
5 Games To Watch Out For Post E3 Words by Jeremy McConnachie E3 2018 just wrapped up and there is plenty to talk about and too much to keep track of so I’ve taken the time-honoured duty of picking five games I think you should keep your eyes on. Ghost of Tsushima A new Playstation 4 exclusive, Ghost of Tsushima is a creative retelling of the first Mongol Invasion of Japan. The story is situated on Tsushima Island and revolves around Jin Sakai, the last samurai remaining from his clan. The game world Sucker Punch studios (developers of Infamous and Sly Cooper series) have crafted is stunningly beautiful and the open world design that they promise will allow for the freedom to explore the authentic Japanese landscape. The game promises a degree of realism that is a breath of freshness in a genre so often taken into surreal fantasy territory. Sable This beautiful little indie game developed by Shed-
works looks straight from a Mike Mignola comic book with ever frame a stunning cell-shaded cacophony of contrasting colours. Described as a “deeply personal journey”, Sable calls immediate comparisons to the legendary game of the same name “Journey (2012)” released by ThatGameCompany. In Sable, you will be tasked with exploring the desert on your hoverbike as you help the people of your clan and learn the values of way of life. Cyberpunk 2077 The new game by the creators of the massive hit Witcher 3; Cyberpunk 2077 is an immense, futuristic shooter in a world where every corner and alley will have a story. Developers CD Projekt Red is known for their giant, open world games with gameplay and story that gives genuine player choice. Based off the Cyberpunk tabletop role player games and novels the snippets release so far paint a beautifully release world of high-gloss neon and hidden grime that defines the cyberpunk genre.
Metro Exodus
dungeons and solving ever more elaborate puzzles.
The Metro shooter series is developed by 4A games and set in Russia after a nuclear apocalypse blanketed the world in snow and ash. The series follows protagonist Artyom as he explores the Russian metro system a hugely sprawling series of reinforce subway tunnels that lie beneath most of Moscow. A hugely underappreciated series the Metro games are a through back to when shooters were more like Half-life and Deus Ex and less like the Modern Warfare series or Farcry.
A one man project by developer Andrew Shouldice this loving homage to the Legend of Zelda franchise is a beautiful little isometric action/adventure game. With a stunning low-poly artstyle, the player will control a cute anthropomorphic fox through the dangerous temples and forests all the way to frozen peaks and ancient towers. With its roots in the Zelda series you can expect to be fighting monsters, exploring dungeons and solving ever more elaborate puzzles.
TUNIC
Its combat offers punchy, real time swordplay that still manages to look adorable. However the games bosses threaten to be a genuine challenge and the enemy design hints at a greater mystery behind the world and story than appears at first glance. TUNIC promises to live up to expectations set by its famous predecessors; which is reason enough to watch out for this game.
A one man project by developer Andrew Shouldice this loving homage to the Legend of Zelda franchise is a beautiful little isometric action/adventure game. With a stunning low-poly artstyle, the player will control a cute anthropomorphic fox through the dangerous temples and forests all the way to frozen peaks and ancient towers. With its roots in the Zelda series you can expect to be fighting monsters, exploring
This classic throwback can be expected to launch in 2019 on Windows and Xbox One.