POWET.TV: Games, Comics, TV, Movies, and Toys

Rest In Power: Chadwick Boseman

William Talley — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 06:13:03 +0000

Wakanda Forever

It is with great sadness that we report that actor Chadwick Boseman (21 Bridges, Black Panther) passed away at 43 years old, ending a 4 year battle with colon cancer. Although he is known for bring king T’Challa to the big screen via the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Boseman also bought various black historical figures to the big screen. Among these figures were baseball player Jackie Robinson (42), singer James Brown (Get On Up), and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (Marshall). His most recent effort, Da 5 Bloods is currently streaming on Netflix, and he was gearing up to play Yasuke, a black samurai in 16th century Japan. His final film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will be released on Netflix later this year. Based on the play by August Wilson, the film stars Viola Davis as legendary blues singer Ma Rainey, with Boseman playing as her trumpeter Levee. As you can see, every time he appeared on the screen, Boseman portrayed Black excellence. What makes this real wild is that Boseman had been shooting these roles in between bouts of surgery and chemotherapy. Without a doubt he will be missed, both as an actor, and as a human being. There was never a man like Chadwick, and there will never be one again.

The Return of Tony Hawk

William Talley — Wed, 13 May 2020 01:12:38 +0000

#THPS is back! Original maps, original skaters, and songs from the original soundtrack… plus new features. Thanks to all the fans of our series for keeping this dream alive. https://t.co/uqEeD0kjWc

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) May 12, 2020

On his 52nd birthday, Skateboarding Pro Tony Hawk announced on twitter that Tony Hawk 1 and 2 will be receiving remasters. Said remaster will be released on Xbox One, PS4, and PC (via the Epic game store) on September 4th later this year. With it will be all the original skaters, all the original skate parks, all the original tricks, and most of the original sounds (because, licensing issues). There will be some new tricks, a revamped create-a-park editor, local/online multiplayer, and enhanced graphics.

When it originally launched in 1999, the Neversoft developed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater set a new standard with it’s style of skateboarding. THPS 2, released a year later, further upped the ante with new content, and a park creator. The series would span several installments throughout the 00s with high sport such as Tony Hawk’s Underground 1 & 2, and American Skateland. However the series would peter out by the end of the decade, as EA’s Skate would achieve dominance in the video game skating field. Moreover, publisher Activision would turn its focus toward then then-popular Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises. The series would hit rock-bottom when developer Neversoft was dissolved and replaced by Robomodo. Robomodo’s games included 2009’s Ride and it’s follow up Shred, both of which utilized a skateboard controller. They would also produce 2015’s Tony Hawk pro skater 5, released well after everyone moved on from the series. It should be noted that 1, the game rushed to market only because the license was going to expire that year and Activison wanted to cash in one last time before they did, and number 2, the game shipped needing an 8 gig download. This downloaded included the rest of the game. What was on disc was only the tutorial. You can learn all about it from Larry Bundy jr. The upcoming remaster wouldn’t be the first time Activison made a remake of Tony Hawk. Tony Hawk HD hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2012. The game contained a mixture of levels from TH 1, 2, and 3. Unfortunately it would be delisted in 2017.

The Skating game genre has been making somewhat of a resurgence these past few months. The kickstarter funded Session by Crea-ture studios is currently on Steam early access and is coming soon to Xbox One later this year. Similarly Skater XL, also in Steam early access is also making waves. Of course, fans are waiting on EA to announce Skate 4 any day now (in the meantime, Skate 3 is backwardly compatible on Xbox One). Can tony Hawk HD become the king of the skatepark once again? We’ll find out later this fall. The game will cost $39.99 for the regular digital version, $49.99 for a deluxe edition, and $99.99 for a collector’s edition. Activison promises post-launch support down the line. Now I’m a little concerned about Activison’s reliance on monetization these past several years, and we’ve already seen at least two cases of the company adding microstransactions to re-mastered games whose previous versions didn’t have them. Hopefully that won’t be the case this time around.

Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath Coming May 26th.

William Talley — Thu, 07 May 2020 01:13:37 +0000

Looks like more content is on the way for MK 11. Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is releasing later this month, bringing new features, new single player content, and new characters. The trailer is above, and you can see details on what’s coming below. Spoiler Alert: The above takes place after the end of MK 11’s story mode, so if you haven’t completed it yet, you might want to do so now before going any further.

Aftermath features all new story content taking place after the end of MK11. Just before using the hourglass to reshape the timeline, Shang Tsung comes forward with a dire warning. The game’s story seems to center around the DLC characters, such as Shang, Nightwolf, and Sindel. There are also three new characters coming, Fujin, Sheeva, and Robocop. Fujin is Raiden’s fellow elder god who made his debut in Mortal Kombat 4, although the last time he’s been playable in a fighting game was 2006’s Mortal Kombat Armageddon. Sheeva, the female Shokan, made her debut in Mortal Kombat 3. The last time she was playable in a Mortal Kombat Game was the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot, although she does make an appearance in MK11’s story. Peter Weller returns to lend his voice and likeness to Mortal Kombat, and players will make use of his pistol, flamethrower, and other weapons. Of course players will want to put him against Terminator for the long awaited rematch to their original encounter back in 1993.

All Kidding aside, the expansion will cost $49.99 for those who only have the base game and will include the Kombat Pack, which has all the dlc characters released so far. For those who do have the Kombat Pack, it will only cost $39.99 for the new content. Finally, if you haven’t already got MK11, you can shell out $59.99 for Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath Edition, a complete package which contains the base game, the Kombat pack, and the new content. In the meantime, here’s some additional footage from the story to tide you over.

Along with the new characters and story content, Aftermath will be releasing alongside a free content update that includes the return of friendships and stage fatalities, along with two classic stages, the Dead Pool and the Soul Chamber. Despite some excessive monetization and live service elements, MK11 is an excellent game, especially if you’re a fan of the franchise. More MK11 can only be a good thing, and this is only 3 weeks away.

WWE 2K1 Canceled, New Game Coming? Update: New Game On The Way

William Talley — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 04:52:38 +0000

Update: Looks like there is indeed a new WWE game coming. Click below the jump for details.

Last year’s WWE 2k20 was rife with bugs and missing features. Is it any wonder we won’t be seeing a follow-up?

As of now, WWE and 2K games has confirmed that there will be no new installment of the WWE 2k franchise this year. This is no surprise as the future of the series was in the air even before the COVID-19 outbreak. WWE 2k20, the most recent installment, was the first developed solely by Visual Concepts, as opposed to co-developing alongside longtime franchise developer Yukes. As such, it launched with sub par graphics, several bugs, and missing features. Things got so bad that at one point Sony issued refunds to anyone who bought the digital version of the game from the PlayStation Network Store, and a bug caused the game to be unplayable on New Years day of this year. Even now, several months later, and after several patches, the game still has unresolved issues that have yet to be addressed. The rumor floating around was that WWE 2k21 will be canceled in favor of a new non-simulation WWE title. At least half of this rumor is true. As for the other half, WWE CFO Frank Riddick announced that they will be sharing details of the franchise’s future this coming Monday at 10 am EST. For now, we’ll see what this will entail. This rumor was confirmed this morning by WWE and 2K games. So while WWE2k will get a year off, we will be getting a new WWE game this year. For now, if 2k wishes to continue working with the WWE license, it’s clear that they will have to go back to the drawing board if and when they produce the next entry in the WWE 2k franchise. In the meantime, fans looking for some non-WWE squared circle gaming can check out Fire Pro Wrestling World on Steam and PS4, Chikara Action Arcade on Steam, and the upcoming Retromania Wrestling coming to Switch, Steam, PS4, and Xbox One this July.

This morning, 2k Games revealed WWE Battlegrounds, an arcade-style grappler on track for this year. Battlegrounds is developed by Saber Interactive, who also developed NBA Playgrounds, an arcade-style basketball game with a similar graphical style. Not much has been revealed about the game, but no doubt we’ll learn more about it throughout the year. I know this wasn’t the No Mercy /Here Comes The Pain remaster people were hoping for, but if the gameplay is on-point, then it will help tide people over until next year, when they hopefully improve the product. Maybe a back to basics approach is what WWE games need at the moment. Last time WWE attempted a non-simulation game was 2011’s WWE All-Stars. A similar style game, WWE Brawl, was in development, but canceled.

As for the main WWE 2k Series, while it will be skipping this year, Visual Concepts and 2k Games have indicated that they plan to go back to the drawing board for next year’s possible installment. To that end, they hired industry veteran Patrick Gilmore to direct the project. Gilmore brings with him over 25 years of experience, beginning with the 16-bit era Disney games Aladdin, Jungle Book, and The Lion King. He has also worked on the games Killer Instinct, Medal of Honor, and the Amazon MMORPG New World. What he can contribute to 2k games and the WWE product remains to be seen. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

NY Toy Fair 2020: GI Joe Classified – new 6 inch action figure line revealed

Crazy — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 21:48:50 +0000

A new 6 inch scale action figure line for GI Joe was announced at New York Toy Fair; GI Joe Classified. This follows the popularity of Marvel Legends and Star Wars The Black Series lines of 6 inch scale figures. Starting in the 1960s as a 12 inch scale line of toys, the franchise pivoted in the 1980s to a 3 3/4 inch scale that it has largely stuck to until today. While other lines, including Marvel Universe and Star Wars, have experimented at the smaller scale, this is the first time the franchise is trying out the 6 inch scale for its main line, though there was an attempt at a 7 inch scale for Sigma 6 (2005-2007).

The line up for the first wave includes the following:
Duke
Scarlett
Roadblock
Snake Eyes (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)

Attendees at the NYTF panel also received an exclusive poster promoting the line with character art of the first wave and beyond.

Preorders are available below:

Snake Eyes on Hasbro Pulse

Phantom Dust HD Remaster Released On Xbox One and PC Today…For FREE!

William Talley — Wed, 17 May 2017 05:37:15 +0000

Phantom Dust was an Xbox game that merged card-collecting with arena combat. Although it was fairly well received (especially in Japan), it never took off, becoming a cult classic of sorts. Microsoft had announced a reboot at 2014’s e3, but it ended up being cancelled. Fortunately Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer and lead developer Yukio Futatsugi still had love for the series, and therefore an HD remaster of the game for Xbox One and PC was announced at last year’s E3. While information about the re-release was scarce, Microsoft Game Studios guaranteed that the game would be released before e3, and lo and behold, MS stayed true to its word. Not only that, Phantom Dust is free! The game contains a single player story mode, Xbox Live Anywhere, and a starter deck for multiplayer, so fans can jump into multiplayer right from the get-go (rather than having to unlock cards like in the original Xbox game). Hopefully a second lease on life for this game will allow it to gain the audience it deserves, or better yet, lead to another attempt at a reboot. Expect to see more about the game on an upcoming $20 Game of the Week.

You Have Until Monday to Get Alan Wake Before It’s Gone (For Now)

William Talley — Sun, 14 May 2017 00:29:19 +0000

Remedy has recently announced that they are pulling down Alan Wake from Xbox Live, Steam, and all other digital stormfronts and recalling it from storeshelves on Monday May 15 due to licensing issues. If you played the game you already know the game contains music from David Bowe, Depeche Mode, and Old Gods of Asgard (Poets of the Fall). Because music is such an integral part to the experience, Remedy can’t simply remove the songs from the game. Remedy is looking into re-licensing the songs, however it’s unknown when of if it will be possible. If you haven’t played this classic yet, Steam has it, its DLC, and the side game American Nightmare on sale with the entire collection available for $4. It should be noted that this does not affect American Nightmare, as it will still remain on the storefront. Also, if you already own the digital copy of the game, be it on Steam or Xbox Live, you can still download it after next Monday. If you haven’t played this game, now is the perfect time to do so. It’s a highly underrated game that didn’t get the attention that it deserved.

Injustice 2 Premier Skins Leak and First 3 DLC Characters Revealed

William Talley — Fri, 12 May 2017 08:27:40 +0000

With Injustice set to hit stores next week, new details have come out concerning new Premier Skins and DLC. As you can see, the first 3 DLC characters will consist of Teen Titan Starfire, Batman ally Red Hood, and Mortal Kombat’s Sub-Zero. You can check out the DLC trailer above, and you can see details about the some of the game’s Premier skins after the jump.

Premier Skins
Injustice 2 will be shipping with over 28 characters, and will feature 9 DLC characters. With the Pre-order bonus of Darkseid, this makes 39. However, while that’s an impressive amount of characters on it’s own accord, Netherrealm is using Premier skins in order to expand the cast ever further. Twitter user Bruno del Villar got his copy of Injustice 2 early, and discovered 6 of these Premier skins as seen below.

Super Girl – Power Girl

The Flash – Reverse Flash

The Flash – Jay Garrick

Cheetah – Vixen

Green Lantern – John Stewart

Captain Cold – Mr. Freeze

A Premium skin is more than just a new costume for a character, it turns them into a completely new character. Although they have the same moveset as the character they replace, they have new dialogue.

Injustice 2 launches on May 16th, and is available in 3 flavors: A standard $60 edition, an $80 Digital Deluxe Edition (which contains the first 3 DLC fighters, a gear shader, and a premier skin for Supergirl), and a $100 Ultimate Edition which contains all 9 DLC fighters, 2 gear shaders, and premier skins for Green lantern, Supergirl, and The Flash. Pre-ordering the game gives you day one access to Darkseid.

Deadpool Animated Series Coming to FXX Courtesy of…..Donald Glover?

William Talley — Fri, 12 May 2017 07:44:00 +0000

Variety recently reported that the Merc-With-A-Mouth will star in an animated series that will debut on FXX in 2008. The Donald Glover (Atlanta) and his brother Stephen Glover will serve as show-runners, writes, and executive producers for the series. Coincidentally, Donald’s Atlanta co-star, Zazie Beetz, will be cast in the upcoming movie sequel as Domino. The show is being co-produced by Marvel Television, ABC Signature Studios, and FX.

Defenders Trailer, Inhumans Teaser, Runaways Promo Image

William Talley — Fri, 05 May 2017 17:07:58 +0000

With Guardians of the Galaxy in theaters this weekend and Freeform’s TV lineup well, coming into form, the MCU is rolling along. This week Marvel showed off three teasers for upcoming series. First up is a trailer to this summer’s Defender’s Netflix show, debuting on August 18. After the jump you can see a teaser image for Marvel’s Runaways series and a teaser for ABC’s Inhumans, debuting this fall.

Marvel released this teaser poster for it’s upcoming Runaways series that debuts next year on HULU. As you can see, it’s an obvious homage to the cover of the original comic. There is an online teaser, but so far it consists of footage that’s been recorded at Hulu’s Upfronts presentation, and hasn’t officially been release online yet.

Finally, ABC released this trailer for its upcoming Inhumans series, featuring Maximus plotting and scheming against his brother. Marvel’s Inhumans series debuts this fall, with the first two episodes premiering in Imax theaters.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite Story Trailer

William Talley — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 17:11:29 +0000

Ever since MVC Infinite was revealed late last year, information about the game has been scarce. However, yesterday Capcom revealed part of the game’s story in the trailer above. Ultron and Sigma use the Infinity Stones to merge and create a new world. Surprising, as the story is all but nonexistent in most Capcom fighters, including MVC. The trailer also reveals several characters being a part of the game’s cast: The Hulk, Strider, Chun-li, Chris Redfield, Rocket Raccoon, Hawkeye, and Thor. Still an alarming lack of mutants however, and we’ve yet to see anyone completely new to MVC besides Captain Marvel, Ultron, and Sigma. No doubt we’ll see more in the coming months. For now, check out the trailer, and tell us what you think. MvC Infinite hits Xbox One, PS4, and PC on September 19th.

Cloak and Dagger Trailer plus New Warriors Details

William Talley — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 05:49:51 +0000

This past week Marvel gave us a first look at its upcoming Cloak and Dagger series on ABC Freeform. It’s a teen drama set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Olivia Holt (Kickin It, Girl vs Monster) and Aubrey Joseph (Run All Night, The Night Of) as Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson respectively. In the comics, Cloak and Dagger are two teen runaways who were exposed to drugs that gave them access to their mutant powers, with Cloak able to surround himself in a ‘cloak’ of darkness and Dagger able to create daggers of hard light. The duo made their debut in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64, and have shown up in Runaways, X-Men, and the ‘Marvel Knights’. The show will air its 10-episode season next-year. For news on Marvel’s other Freeform series, check after the link.

Marvel and Freeform also revealed its lineup for its upcoming New Warriors live action sitcom. It seems to be based upon Vol 3 of the comic as it has a similar lineup.

Doreen Green (Squirrel Girl) has squirrel powers — she can talk to the bushy-tailed rodents, and she’s strong and acrobatic. She’s also an energetic and optimistic leader whose greatest power is getting others to believe in themselves.

Craig Hollis (Mister Immortal) says he can’t die. He also won’t prove it. He has all the time in the world to learn how to be a superhero, so right now he’d rather just hang out. He’s the charming and cocky ladies’ man of the group.

Dwayne Taylor (Night Thrasher) doesn’t have any superpowers other than his own abnormally strong human mind and body. His wealthy parents died when he was young, but he worries his fortune will hurt his street cred. He’s a local celebrity with a YouTube channel documenting his pursuit of justice — a brilliant guy, but he’s also maybe a little full of himself.

Robbie Baldwin (Speedball) can shoot balls of energy out of his hands; he just can’t control them. He’s immature and impulsive, but he means well.

Zack Smith (Microbe) can communicate (get it?) with germs, which gives him semi-telepathic abilities. He’s not reading your mind, he’s talking to your guts. He’s a very shy guy, though, and he leans on the team for his confidence.

Deborah Fields (Debrii) is a low-level telekinetic trickster who’s also an out lesbian. Her confident and outgoing personality masks deep pain — she’s lost loved ones as the result of superheroics gone wrong.

Not only does the lineup feature Squirrel Girl, it also features Mr. Immortal from the Great Lakes Avengers series. Longtime fans may scoff at the focus on comedy and the lack of longtime members such as Darkhawk, Turbo, and Nova. Still, this is an interesting look for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

First Star Wars Episode VIII Trailer

William Talley — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 19:40:45 +0000

The first trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi hit the web today. Check it out and tell us what you think.

Episode VIII hits theaters this Christmas.

King Of Fighters XIV Version 2 – 4 New Characters, 2 New Stages Available Now

William Talley — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 04:32:00 +0000

King of Fighters XIV ver. 2 has been released today. It’s an update that includes 4 characters (3 returning characters and 1 debuting character) and 2 new stages: a remake of Monaco from KOF 97 and a remake of Terry Bogard’s iconic Fatal Fury train stage. The new stages, along with the balance updates are available free on Playstation Network Store, and the characters can be bought for $5.99 each or in a 4 pack for $19.99. Check out the new character trailers after the jump.

1. Making her debut in KOF 99 as part of the Ikari Warriors Team, Whip makes her way back to King of Fighters. In KOF 99 Whip was in search of her brother, who was revealed to be the mysterious K’ and is sometimes a member of his team in subsequent entries of KOF.

2. The female boxer Vanessa debuted in KOF 99 Evolution as a striker character. In KOF 2000, she joined up with K’, MAxima, and Ramon to form, a new version of the heroes team.

3. The Psychopathic Ryuji Yamazaki originally debuted in Fatal FUry 3 and became part of the KOF universe in KOF 97, along with Billy Kane and Blue Mary. In the KOF series, he is a member of the Orochi klan, although he want’s nothing to do with the power.

4. Fan Favorite Rock Howard is set to make his mainstream KOF debut (he was in the Maximum Impact Spinoff previously). The son of Fatal Fury villain Geese Howard, Rock Howard instead looks up to Geese’s enemy, Terry Bogard.

Anyone else you’re hoping to see return to KOF XIV? Personally I’n holding out for Elizabeth, Ash, The Orochi New Faces Team, Chizuru, and any of the folks from the GBA spinoff games.

$20 Game of the Week: Pro Wrestling X (PC)

William Talley — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 03:04:49 +0000

Are you sick of sim heavy games like WWE 2k and Fire Pro? Are you wishing for a return to the simple, yet fun era of wrestling games? Do you still play on your N64 emulator? Well, check out Pro Wrestling X, a title that has been in development for over a decade, and is now on Steam early access, meaning that while you can purchase the game, It’s not complete, but you can submit feedback and suggestions on the game’s development. More often No Mercy than not, developers abuse this practice to ship half-assed games they have no intention of completing. However, Wrestling Gamers United, PWX’s developer is dedicated to delivering their game, informing fans of new updates almost on a weekly basis. As for the game itself, it looks impressive so far. Although animations are lacking, the characters are large and well detailed, and there is a nice variety of moves available along with a rudimentary create-a-wrestler. Hopefully it won’t be much longer before this leaves early access.

Spider-Man Homecoming Second Trailer Along With Venom and Silver Sable News

William Talley — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 02:42:28 +0000

Today Sony and Marvel released the second trailer for Spider-Man Homecoming. The movie shows scenes of Spidey interacting with Tony Stark along with scenes of Michael Keaton’s Vulture. Check it out above. Also check after the jump to see some news on Sony’s additional Spidey-related films.

Venom has late 2018 Release Date, May be R-Rated

We know that Sony had been wanting to do a Venom movie for some time. Recently it has been confirmed that the movie now has an October 5th 2018 release date. Although no director nor star has been announced, shooting is said to begin later this year. It’s likely that the film will not be related to the MCU even as Sony and Marvel work together with Spider-Man Homecoming, instead being the kick off for an all new universe featuring Spider-Man related Marvel characters that Sony has the rights too. The movie is described as a Sci-fi/Horror/Action film which will likely receive an R-rating, following in lead with Deadpool and Logan.

Silver Sable and Black Cat To Team up on the Big Screen

Along with the Venom film, Sony had also expressed interest in doing a Spider-Man related film featuring a female protagonist. Now it looks like we may be getting a film featuring two of Spidey’s leading ladies; Silver Sable and Black Cat, with a script being written by Thor Ragnarok writer Chris Yost. While the movie doesn’t have a solid release date, shooting is said to begin later this year. For the uninitiated, Silver Sable is a resident of the European nation of Symkaria whose father ran a Nazi-Hunting group known as the Wild Pack. She later takes over the group and becomes a mercenary. Sable has been both enemy and ally to Spider-Man. The Black Cat is a cat burglar known as Felicia Hardy. After her father, himself a famous cat burglar and con man, was arrested, Black Cat took up the family business to break him out of prison. Like Sable, she has been both an ally and enemy to Spider-man, at one point gaining ‘bad luck’ powers.

Both of these movies are scheduled to hit theaters in 2018, and neither film will feature SPider-Man nor will they be connected to the mainstream Marvel Cionematic Universe. Along with these two films, there is also an animated SPider-man film starring Miles Morales

StarCraft Remastered announced for Summer 2017 release

Crazy — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 15:21:32 +0000

Activision Blizzard will be releasing a remastered version of the original StarCraft game this summer.

The release reportedly features:

updated and enhanced graphics
Battle.net support
cloud saves
widescreen support up to 4K resolution
localization in 13 languages

The campaign will include all of the missions from the original release and the expansion pack, Brood War. The video above shows that this really is a facelift of the original game and not just a shoehorning of the old story into the StarCraft 2 game engine.

If you missed out on StarCraft 2, a new Battle Chest version is being released on March 31 (just a few days away!) containing all 3 campaigns (Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, Legacy of the Void).

You can check out the press release for StarCraft Remastered after the jump.

Press Release

Evolution Complete! Blizzard Entertainment Announces StarCraft®: Remastered

The groundbreaking sci-fi real-time strategy game remastered in 4K Ultra High Definition, to include all content from the original award-winning game and its renowned expansion, StarCraft: Brood War®.

StarCraft: Remastered maintains the gameplay and balance that set the standard for the RTS genre, while updating graphics and audio, and adding matchmaking, ladder, social features, and more!

IRVINE, California—March 27, 2017—One of the highest rated, most celebrated games of all time has evolved. Blizzard Entertainment today unveiled StarCraft®: Remastered, a reverently crafted modernization of the original award-winning real-time strategy game. StarCraft: Remastered will offer a full graphical overhaul of the original StarCraft and the StarCraft: Brood War® expansion, while preserving the sublime gameplay that captivated millions of gamers around the world and served as the foundation for professional global esports.

“StarCraft is a pure distillation of Blizzard’s DNA—its story, its balance, and all the little details reflect our long-running commitment to epic entertainment, and it’s been a staple in competitive gaming and esports for almost 20 years,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “With StarCraft: Remastered, we’re modernizing the original game’s visuals, audio, and online support to ensure that players can enjoy StarCraft for another 20 years and beyond.”

The remastered graphics and audio will bring a modern look and feel to the timeless classic, with widescreen UHD support for up to 4K resolution. Other updates will include new illustrations to enhance storytelling in the StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War campaign missions; advanced matchmaking; full connectivity to Blizzard’s gaming network for social features and updates; cloud saving for campaign progress, custom maps, replays, and keybinds; support for eight new languages in addition to the original five; and more. While these improvements will bring StarCraft to the modern era, gameplay and balance have been precisely preserved, for an experience that will feel identical to veteran players.

Blizzard is developing StarCraft: Remastered for release on Windows® and Mac® PCs, with an anticipated release date this summer. Pricing and related information on StarCraft: Remastered will be announced at a later date. Prepare to venture once again onto the planetary battlefields of the war-torn Koprulu Sector; command the forces of the zerg, protoss, and terrans in their struggle for galactic domination; relive the epic saga of Marshal Jim Raynor, Kerrigan, and Praetor Fenix; or just vie for the GG against fellow players in this rejuvenated version of the online competitive RTS that set the bar for an entire genre.

Learn more at www.starcraft.com.

The Disney Afternoon Collection Brings Home Nostalga This April

William Talley — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 04:54:20 +0000

Older poweteers remember that during the 8 and 16 bit years, Capcom released several NES and SNES adaptations of various Disney properties of varying quality. The most well known of these games are a series of titles based upon Disney’s Weekday Afternoon cartoon block. This April, Capcom, along with Digital Eclipse, who released 2015’s Mega Man Legacy Collection, will release The Disney Afternoon Collection, a compilation of 6 NES games. The games include Duck Tales 1 and 2, Chip and Dale’s Rescue Rangers 1 and 2, Darkwing Duck, and Talespin. The games will feature a rewind button, concept art, boss rush, and time attack modes along with the original games. The compilation will be available on April 18th for $19.99 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. No doubt this is going to bring back memories of after-school homework and cartoons for many a gamer.

Fox’s X-Men Show has Tentative Title

William Talley — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 05:29:01 +0000

Cast reading of "Gifted" #Gifted pic.twitter.com/fQGgfoqZrl

— Lauren Shuler Donner (@ShuDonner) March 11, 2017

Fox’s X-Men Live action show has a title, although it may be changed by the time it airs. The show’s tentative title is called “Gifted”. Producer Lauren Shuler-Donner tweeted this photo of the show’s cast while revealing the title. The show follows a family that joins up with a mutant underground after discovering that the family’s children have mutant powers. The show seeks to tie into the larder X-men movieverse, as several familiar names from the comics have been cast such as Thunderbird, Blink and Polaris. As of now, there is no primere date set for the show.

Reservoir Dogs Video Game Take 2?

William Talley — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 04:07:09 +0000

The original Reservoir Dogs was a heist movie that was also the first feature length film by Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Django Unchained). The
last time there was a digital release of the film was a little over a decade ago in a forgettable Playstation 2 title. Later this year, Big Star Games (Fist of Jesus) will be releasing Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days, a top down shooter for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The game looks like it will take some inspiration from Devolver’s Hotline Miami with its top=down shooting and gory violence. A feature called ‘Time Back’ hopes to set it apart from the competition. Players will control a team of up to 3 robbers, one after another. Once one person makes their move, the game will rewind, and players will take control of the second robber while the first carries out the previous actions. It’s reminiscent to games like Super Time Force and Frozen Synapse. While the game will feature none of the actor’s voices, distributor Lionsgate (who holds the rights to the film) is working closely with the game’s developer and is working with Tarantino to ensure he approves of the game. Later this year we’ll see if Big Fish can do the film justice. At the least it can’t be worse than the last time Reservoir Dogs hit gaming systems.

Patrick Stewart announces retirement from X-Men franchise

Crazy — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 12:26:51 +0000

Source: Patrick Stewart’s Twitter

Patrick Stewart has announced that Logan will be the last X-Men movie he will appear as Professor Charles Xavier.

EW.com reports that the actor made the announcement on an SiriusXM Radio Town Hall, in which he appeared with the director of the film James Mangold and Wolverine actor, Hugh Jackman, who has repeatedly said that this will be his last film for the franchise as well.

Stewart is quoted as saying:

“A week ago, Friday night in Berlin, the three of us sat, watching the movie,” said Stewart. “And I was so moved by it, much more moved than I had been the first time of seeing it. Maybe it was the company of these two guys, but the movie ended and — this is an admission — but at one point [Hugh] reached out, and he took my hand in those last few minutes, and I saw him go [mimes wiping a tear from his eye] like this, and then I realized I had just done the same thing. Then, the movie ended… and we were going to be taken up on stage, but not until the credits were over. So, we had some time to sit there and, as I sat there I realized there will never be a better, a more perfect, a more sensitive, emotional, and beautiful way of saying au revoir to Charles Xavier than this movie. So, I told [Hugh] that same evening, ‘I’m done too. It’s all over.’”

$20 Game of the Week: Project X Zone 2 (Nintendo 3DS)

William Talley — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 05:47:52 +0000

I love crossovers. Whether it’s Super Smash Brothers, Capcom vs SNk, King of Fighters, Warriors Orochi, Marvel vs Capcom, Tatsunoko vs Capcom, or really, anything vs Capcom, there is just something special about taking players from one company and either putting them against or teaming them up with characters from another company. Thus, when Project X Zone hit the Nintendo 3ds in 2012, bringing together characters from Capcom, Sega, and Namco, I had to check it out. I was not disappointed. Of course in 2015 when a sequel was announced with a 2016 release date, that became an instant must-watch game for 2016. Again, I was not disappointed.

Project X Zone is a Strategy RPG that’s easy to pick up and play. ‘Easy to pick up and play’ isn’t a word you hear associated with most strategy RPGS, but that describes Project X Zone 2. Characters are grouped into teams of 2 with an optional 3rd person able to provide support attacks. A character’s turn doesn’t end until they end it manually or attack an enemy, leaving them free to use items, break barriers, and open treasure chests as long as they are withing walking range. When you do go into battle, your objective is to use your team’s special moves to inflict as much damage as possible. That’s not to say the game isn’t challenging, but the challenge comes form places other than battling enemies most of the time. This time around players can visit a shop in between levels and upgrade their abilities. While the game does get challenging in the later levels, it’s not as overwhelming and frustrating as it got toward the end of the previous title.

Like its predecessor, there is a plot, but it’s little more than an excuse to have characters from Resident Evil and Tales of Vesperia team up with characters from Virtua Fighter and Resonance of Fate to take on enemies from Legend of Valkyrie and Devil May Cry. PXZ2 has a different selection of characters than its predecessor. While .Hack’s Blackrose, Rival School’s Batsu, and the Valkyria Chronicles gang among others are sitting this one out, Leon Kennedy, Yakuza Kiryu Kazama, and Phoenix Wright make up for it. Of course I miss John Mcclaine…er… Bruno Dellinger, the game does have SEGATA FUCKING SANSHIRO!!! This time around it’s not just Sega, Capcom, and Namco that’s been invited to the party. Characters from Nintendo’s Fire Emblem and Xenoblade Chronicles also join the team. The in-game ‘crosspedia’ does a great job of explaining the characters, concepts, and enemies that you encounter in the game.

Once again, you might only recognize a third of the people in this game, but you’ll enjoy the sheer crossover insanity. The game also has the added effect of making players check out the original games that the characters come from, such as God Eater and Resonance of Fate. Bandai/Namco producer Kensuke Tsukanaka has expressed interest in continuing the series. Maybe we’ll see characters from Splatterhouse, Final Fight, or even Golden Axe. Maybe characters from American publishers like Ubi Soft’s Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell. Who wouldn’t love to see Devil May Cry’s Dante team up with Sam Fisher and Ezio? A Guy can dream can’t he?

Toy Fair 2017: Transformers Titans Return

Crazy — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 03:12:30 +0000

Hasbro showed up to Toy Fair 2017 with quite a few surprises, in addition to some expected Transformers lineup annoucements.
We finally got to see Leader Class Overlord, Voyagers Blitzwing and Octane and Deluxes Top Spin and Twin Twist. We also found out we are getting a new Seaspray and a new Ramhorn!

In addition to the normal line up reveals, Hasbro dropped two new exclusive box sets; Siege on Cybertron and Chaos on Velocitron.

It should be noted that some of the official renders seem to show different colors and paint apps than what was on display on Toy Fair. The versions on display are likely the more correct schemes that we will see on store shelves.

Siege on Cybertron (BigBadToyStore Exclusive)
Rodimus Prime (Titan Master w/ Diecast chest)
Clone Fastlane
Nautica (Deluxe retool of Titans Return Blurr)
Voyager Laser Prime
Quickswitch (Leader repaint of Sixshot w/ new Titan Master head)

Chaos on Velocitron (Toys R Us Exclusive)
Thunderwing (Titan Master w/ Diecast chest)
Clone Pounce
Metalhawk (Deluxe repaint of Titans Return Triggerhappy)
Tidal Wave (Voyager repaint of Titans Return Broadside w/ new Titan Master head)
Ginrai (Leader class domestic release of Japanese tooling for Powermaster Optimus Prime)

Titan Masters
Ramhorn

Legends
Roadburn (Throttlebot Chase)
Seaspray
Cosmos (reissue of 2013 figure)

Deluxes
Deluxe Topspin w/ Freezeout
Deluxe Twin Twist w/ Flameout
Deluxe Krok w/ Gatorface
Deluxe Quake w/ Chasm
Deluxe Windblade w/ Scorchfire

Voyagers
Voyager Blitzwing w/ Hazard
Voyager Octone w/ Murk

Leaders
Overlord w/ Dreadnaught

Titan
Trypticon

Toy Fair 2017: Tranformers Titans Return Trypticon

Crazy — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 19:57:59 +0000

The centerpiece of Hasbro’s Titans Return display at this year’s Toy Fair was the newly revealed Titans Return Trypticon.
Trypticon won a fan poll last year for the next titan class Transformers figure against the likes of Scopronok and Omega Supreme. This was the first time the full prototype has been on display and lots of news surrounding it has come out.

Full Tilt, the smaller Transformer that came with the original Trypticon, is included.
Full Tilt has a Titan Master. The Titan Master’s name is Necro.
Necro appears to be based on Wipe Out, an obscure character that appeared with Trypticon at one point.
No Electronics (the choice was to include Full Tilt instead of electronics).
Base mode can connect to the other bases in the line.
Opening the mouth reveals a ‘throat’ which will funnel a Titan Master down to Trypticon’s chest compartment.

Unicron.com got a great video interview with Hasbro designer, John Warden.

For additional images of the Toy Fair display, check out tfw2005.

Here are the official renders of the figure from Hasbro:

Top Ten Games To Watch Out For in the First Half of 2017

William Talley — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 04:22:19 +0000

Tales of Breseria was released in the U.S. this past week. Introducing new changes to Namco’s ‘Tales of’ franchise, Tales of Breseria is one of many games that no doubt make an impact this year.

Yeah, 2016 sucked. Lets not mince words about it. Many of our favorite celebrities died (including Harambe the Gorilla), the election ended in the worst possible manner, and Batman vs Superman wasn’t as successful as people wanted it to be. However, it wasn’t all bad. The Cubs won their first title in nearly a century, the Cavs bought Cleveland its first major sports title in over 52 years, Civil War, Dr. Strange, and Deadpool were all awesome, Netflix rolled right along with flicks like Stranger Things, the Get Down, and Luke Cage, and best of all, there were a boatload of awesome games that were released throughout the year. Doom and Mafia III were unexpectedly awesome, X-Com 2 and Civilization 6 both set new standards in the strategy genre, Final Fantasy XV made the rpg franchise relevant again, Titanfall 2 and Watch Dogs 2 surpassed their predecessors, Stardew Valley, Mother Russia Bleeds, Hyper Light Valley, and The Witness held it down for the indie scene, while Overwatch became this year’s big new IP and multiplayer sensation. 2016 also laid the foundation for 2017 and beyond. Check out after the jump to learn about 10 games hitting consoles, handhelds, and pc, most of which hitting before the summer, one of which is already in stores now.

1. Resident Evil 7 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Release Date: Available Now
What It Is: The latest entry in the Resident Evil franchise. Like RE4 over a decade ago, RE7 brings Capcom’s survival horror franchise back to its roots while at the same time taking it in a different direction. Although the first person perspective and atmosphere evokes thoughts of Outlast and Alien Isolation, the game has bits and pieces of the traditional Resident Evil gameplay; the claustrophobic hallways, limited inventory space, limited ammo, and disturbing enemies that stalk you all over the place. Playing as Ethan Winters, you explore a derelict Louisiana Mansion in search of your wife who has been missing for 3 years. You’ll have to contend with the mansion’s disgusting and haunting interior while having to contend with its owners, the Demonic and grotesque Baker family. The PS4 version contains day one VR gameplay while the Xbox One versions contains play anywhere functionality with Windows 10, where buying the game on Xbox One nets you the Windows 10 version for free.
My Thoughts: You seen the trailers, played through the demo, and even solved the puzzle with the dummy finger. Now it’s go time. Like FFXV, Resident Evil is a make it or break it title for the series. Although if the early impressions are to be believed, RE7 will succeed in making the survival horror franchise scary again.

2. Halo Wars 2 (Xbox One, PC)
Release Date: February 21

What It Is: The sequel to 2008’s Halo RTS Spinoff, Halo Wars 2 takes place 28 years after the original Halo Wars and shortly after the events of Halo 5. The game follows the conflict between the crew of the UNSC ship The SPirit of Fire and group of ex-covenant aliens known as the Banished. The game will include a simplified combat system based on paper-rock-scissors gameplay as well as multiplayer modes for up to 6 players. An Ultimate Edition of the game contains a season pass an a remastered version of the Original Halo Wars.
My Thoughts: This is certainly a surprise, as the original Halo Wars was released almost a decade ago, and Real time strategy game usually don’t do well on consoles. However, with Creative Assembly (Total War) co-developing the game, and with the recent resurgence of old-school style RTS games (Grey Goo, Act of Aggression), Halo Wars 2’s success could lead the way for an all new wave of strategy titles, and it could inspire 343 and Microsoft to try more new directions with the franchise.

3. Double Dragon 4 (PC, PS4)
Release Date: January 30

What It Is: The first numbered installment of the Double Dragon franchise since 1995’s Double Dragon 5. Being developed by Arc Systems Works, Double Dragon 4 looks to take a Mega Man 9/10-esque route, using spirites lifted from the NES original. The game is a follow up to the NES DOuble Dragon II (according to the Arc Systems Website, the series’ chronology is I > III > II > IV), and it will feature local co-op. Players can also play through a tower challenge mode and unlock new characters to be used in story and duel modes.
My Thoughts: At one time, Double Dragon was part of teh holy trinity of classic beat-em-ups, along with FInal Fight and Streets of Rage. While 2012’s DOuble Dragon Neon is nice, Arc System’s entry will no doubt bring back memories of my youth. If you check out the game’s website, you’ll see some interesting details.

4. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U, Switch)
Release Date: March 3

What It Is: The latest entry in the Zelda franchise. Playing as Link, you explore a gigantic open world in which you are free to explore. For the first time in the series, the game contains voice acting. The game will be both the last first-party to hit the Wii U, and a Nintendo Switch Launch title.
My Thoughts: No matter what platform its on, A Legend of Zelda game is a sure fire system seller, and Breath of the Wild will be no different. Nintendo is taking some risks in the game’s new direction, but the franchise has never failed us yet.

5. Mass Effect Andromeda (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Release Date: March 21

What It Is: The follow up to 2012’s Mass Effect 3. Taking place in a new galaxy 600 years after the original trilogy, players control one of two siblings, Sara or Scott Ryder, two members of a team tasked to find a new home for humanity in a mission that began during the events of Mass Effect 2. Players can customize the appearance of their chosen Ryder sibling. Also instead of classes, players can enhance whatever abilities they choose, ranging from weapons to biotics, and can even reassign points as random so players can tailor their characters to a specific playstyle. Players will be joined by members of other familiar Mass Effect races, such as the Asari and Salarians, along with newer species that reside in Andromeda.
My Thoughts: Ever since players decided to control, synthesize with, or destroy the Reapers at the end of ME3, gamers were eagerly awaiting the direction in which Bioware was gonna take the franchise next. Regardless, we knew that Bioware’s next entry into the franchise was gonna take us to a new area of the galaxy that we haven’t seen before, and it looks like Andromeda won’t disappoint. Hopefully Bioware won’t drop the ball with the endings this time.

6. Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)
Release Date: February 28

What It Is: Developed by Guerrilla Games(Killzone), Horizon takes place in a post apocalyptic world warped back to the prehistoric ages, only this time Robots have taken the place of the dinosaurs. Taking control of a woman called Aloy, you set out to learn the true nature of the world. Featuring an open world divided into tribes, a day and night cycle, and no loading screens, Horizon Zero Dawn looks to make an impact as one of Sony’s newest franchises.
My Thoughts: Horizon Dawn has an interesting premise, and if the gameplay is on point, this could introduce another original franchise to Playstation 4.

7. Injustice 2 (PS4, PC, Xbox One)
Release Date: May 5th

What It Is: The sequel to 2013’s hit fighter, Injustice 2 features an all new storyline and all new characters such as Supergirl, Deadshot, and Brainiac. The game’s storyline involves a secret organization who wishes to restore Superman’s rule while Batman and his allies try to repair things after the original game. The game will feature a customization in which players can unlock and equip various pieces of armor that will enhance their abilities.
My Thoughts: Injustice was one of the best DC interactive products that wasn’t centered around Batman, and it set a new standard for fighting games. With new characters and features, Netherrealm looks to repeat its success, and it looks like Ed Boon and company are on track to do so.

8. Tekken 7 (Xbox One, PS4)
Release Date: June 2

What It Is: The long awaited home version of Namco’s latest entry in its fighting franchise. Based on the ‘Fated Retribution’ arcade version, the game will feature over 30 characters, including Street Fighter’s Akuma. Unlike other ‘guest’ characters, Akuma is actually a part of the game’s storyline. Customers who pre-purchase the game gain access to Eliza, the female vampire who debuted in the Free-To_Play Tekken revolution. Purchasing the game on Xbox One gets you a free copy of the Xbox 360 version of Tekken 6 which is backwards compatible on Xbox One. Purchasing it on PS$ gains you access to Jukebox mode, where players can listen to old school Tekken music. Tekken 7 had been delayed for so long because Harada wanted to make as much content available at launch, avoiding what happened with last year’s Street Fighter 5.
My Thoughts: It’s about time, and its good that the team is focused on adding new content. Now that Tekken 7 is here, maybe we can finally get a new Soulcalibur game. Or better yet, maybe we can finally see Tekken vs Street Fighter. At any rate, I reckon I better take these next several months to put in some practice work on Tekken Tag Tournament 2 so I can get ready for the summer. Between this, Injustice 2, Marvel vs Capcom Infinite, and Ultra Street Fighter 2, it’s going to be a good year for fighting game fans.

9. Torment: Tides of Numenera (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Linux, OS X)
Release Date: February 28

What It Is: One of the most successful kickstarter projects. Marketed as a successor to the classic PC hit Planescape: Torment, Torment takes place in a future world that has been regressed to medieval society. You play as a character known as the Last Castoff, a vessel for an ancient consciousness. Unfortunately, you have no memory of your past, and worse, you are hunted by an entity known as ‘The Sorrow’, a force out to punish you for the actions of your master.
My Thoughts: Planescape: Torment is widely known as one of the best PC RPGS. For a game like Tides of Numernera to claim to be its spiritual successor, it has some big shoes to fill, and having been funded as much as it is, players will no doubt have huge expectations of it. However, the developers are putting serious work into creating the game’s universe. As seen in the video above, the game will feature some interesting gameplay mechanics, so soon we’ll see how well they mesh together.

10. Ghost Recon: Wildlands (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Release Date: March 7th

What It Is: The latest entry in the tactical shooter franchise. Rather than taking place in the futuristic environments of the last several games, Ghost Recon takes place in modern-day Bolivia as a division of the U.S. military known as the Ghosts attempt to liberate the country from the Santa Blanca drug cartel. The game features an open world in which players can choose to take missions at day or night. Also the game features 4-player online co-op, RPG list stat progression, and customization.
My Thoughts: No doubt this is one of the more ambitious Tom Clancy projects since The Division, and hopefully, Ghost Recon can succeed. However if UbiSoft wishes to do so, it need to offer quality content out the gate instead of having to wait a few months for game-fixing updates like we had to do with The Division and Rainbow Six Siege. However, the material that I’ve seen so far about the game looks good, and hopefully Ubi Soft has learned from its shortcomings on prior titles.

2017 has a lot in store for gamers, and this is just the first half of the year. The games listed here aren’t the only good games being released in the first six months of the year either. Do you have thoughts on anything in this list? Is there something coming that I didn’t include that you think we should watch for? Let us know in the comments below.