Is Hellboy III about to "poof" into being?

From hell

I thought hell would freeze over before we got another Hellboy film, but it looks like the big red monkey might just be getting another shot at the big screen. At least, if this new message from the movie's star, Ron Perlman, is to believed: 

"Lurking...
Waiting...
And then, poof...
One more Roman numeral after the name...
As if by magic..........."

Sure sounds like confirmation to me. Of course, this could all be an attempt by Perlman t to gauge interest and drum up a little excitement for a possible new Hellboy film. Either way, it offers a glimmer, a brief slither of hope, that we might finally get to see the final part of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy trilogy. 

Speaking to Empire magazine last year, del Toro revealed that the film was already written and more or less ready to roll. Despite this, studios were unwilling to provide him with any financing, leading many of us to believe Hellboy 3 was officially dead in the water.

I'm not going to hold my breath until we hear something more official, but this is still a very exciting development, especially when you take into account the fact del Toro walked away from his film adaptation of Justice League Dark. Did he jump ship to start work on Hellboy?

All New, All Different Marvel gets creative

Suited and rebooted

In the wake of Secret Wars --the latest in a long line of mega-crossover events designed to bleed comic-book fan's bank accounts dry-- Marvel is planning a publisher-wide reboot. Histories will be retconned, continuity reshuffled and new characters brought into the merry Marvel mix. This will allow Marvel to trim the fat, streamline their stories and, of course, release a whole raft of new number one issues.

So far, notable announcements include Southern Bastard's Jason Aaron on a new ongoing Doctor Strange series, Jeff Lemire's Storm-fronted Extraordinary X-men, Al Ewing's New Avengers, A Peter Parker starring new Spidey ongoing that looks a helluva lot like Batman Incorporated, and Daredevil going full-on Mr. Miyagi under new writer Charles Soule.

Here's what's been revealed so far:

All New, All Different Avengers - Mark Waid, Mahmud Asrar, and Adam Kubert
Invincible Iron Man - Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez
Spider-Man (Miles) - Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli
Dr. Strange - Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo
Captain Marvel - Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas
Spider-Gwen - Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez, and Rico Renzi
Squadron Supreme - James Robinson and Leonard Kirk
A-Force - G. Willow Wilson
Totally Awesome Hulk - Greg Pak and Frank Cho
Ant-Man - Nick Spencer and Mark Brooks
Contest of Champions - Al Ewing and Paco Medina
Old Man Logan - Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino
Wolverine (Weapon X) - Tom Taylor and David Lopez
Deadpool - Geeey Duggan and Mike Hawthorne
Extraordinary X-Men - Jeff Lemire and Humberto Ramos
All New X-Men -Dennis Hopeless and Mark Bagley
Angela - Marguerite Bennett, Kim Jacinto and Stephanie Hans
Karnak - Warren Ellis and Gerardo Zaffino
Howling Commandos Of S.H.I.E.L.D - Frank Barbieri and Brent Schoonover
Venom Spaceknight - Robbie Thompson and Ariel Olivetti
Daredevil - Charles Soule and Ron Garney
Web Warriors - Mike Costa and David Baldeon
Vision - Tom King and Gabriel H Walta
The Illuminati - Josh Williamson and Shawn Crystal
Spider-Woman - Dennis Hopeless and Javier Rodriguez
The Ultimates - Al Ewing and Kenneth Rocafort
Carnage - Gerry Conway and Mike Perkins
Scarlet Witch - James Robinson and Kevin Wada
Silk - Robbie Thompson and Stacey Lee
Uncanny Avengers - Gerry Duggan and Ryan Stegman
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D - Marc Guggenheim and Mike Norton
New Avengers - Al Ewing and Gerardo Sandoval
Sam Wilson, Captain America - Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuna
Hawkeye (Kate and old Clint) - Jeff Lemire and Ramon Perez
Uncanny X-Men - Cullen Bunn and Greg Land
Guardians of the Galaxy - Brian Michael Bendis and Valerio Schiti
Star-Lord - Sam Humphries
The Mighty Thor - Jason Aaron and Russell Dauternan
Ms. Marvel - G Willow Wilson, Takeshi Miyazawa and Adrian Alphon
Nova - Sean Ryan and Cory Smith
Drax - CM Punk and Ed McGuinness
Howard the Duck - Chip Zdarsky and Joe Quinones
Spider-Man 2099 - Peter David and Will Sliney
The Amazing Spider-Man - Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli

There are more announcements on the way, so if your favourite character hasn't made the cut don't give up hope just yet. In the meantime, let me know what you think of the announcements.

Who will be the villain in the new Spider-Man film?

Kevin Feige promises new adversary for Spidey to tangle with

No good superhero movie is complete without a good villain, and now that the latest Spider-Man movie has a star and a director, everyone is wondering which one of ol' web-head's many antagonists will step into the role. So far, we've seen versions of Green Goblin, Venom, Doc Ock, Sandman, The Lizard, Rhino and Electro on-screen, but a new take on the character really calls for a new villain.

Luckily for us, Marvel's Kevin Feige is on the same page. Speaking to Birth Movies Death, Feige revealed that the new movie wouldn't reuse any villains from the previous movies. Instead, the film's creators will reach into Spidey's extensive rogue's gallery and dust off a new threat for the wall crawler to face. Feige remained tight-lipped on the identity of the new super-baddie, but there are plenty of candidates to choose from, including Carnage, Mysterio, Morbius, and Kraven the Hunter.

Aside from villains, the tone of the new film also came under discussion, with Feige likening it to the work of noted film-maker John Hughes. From what we're hearing, the movie will be significantly lower-key than some of Marvel's more recent outings, placing a greater focus on Peter Parker's struggle to balance his superheroic exploits with his everyday life, as opposed to the epic, world-ending action of films like Age of Ultron.

"What we wanted was a movie where the stakes could be as high as ‘This bad person is going to do this bad thing, and a lot of people could die’ OR ‘You don’t get home in time and your aunt is going to figure this out, and your whole life is going to change.’" said Feige. "Particularly at that age, in high school, everything feels like life or death. The tests feel like life or death. Coming home from being out with your friends seemed like life or death."

Finally, Feige was quizzed about the possibility of Spider-Man appearing in one of the studio's Netlifx series. According to him, there's no deal in place at the moment, but Marvel and Sony haven't completely ruled out the idea. Who knows? If the movie's successful, perhaps we'll finally get the small-screen Daredevil and Spidey team-up we'll all been waiting for.

Review round-up: Yoshi's Woolly World

A proper stitch-up

While Yoshi's Woolly World may not be the best reviewed game of the year, it is without a doubt the most adorable. Seriously, this game is so cute it should probably come with some sort of government health warning. Developed by Good-Feel, the team behind Kirby's Epic Yarn, and overseen by Yoshi's Island producer Takushi Tezuka, Yoshi's Woolly World is the latest platforming game to land on the Wii U. Question is, is the finished game any good, or is Nintendo trying to pull the wool over our eyes?

So far, the game's been picking up some pretty solid reviews, with Nintendo-lovers and platform junkies in particular, singing its praises.  Hobby Consolas dished out the highest score, awarding Yoshi's  newest outing a score of 92/100. They loved the game's graphics, as well as its ability to surprise the player, saying it was far above your average platforming game.

Nintendo Life gave the game a 9/10, as did XGN, and Vandal Online, all of which singled out the game's singular presentation and diversity of content. 

IGN were less impressed, calling Yoshi's latest a 'fragmented and forgettable experience'. While they acknowledged that the game throws plenty of interesting mechanics at the player, they didn't feel as if they were being used to their full potential. 

All in all, the game's reviews have been pretty positive, and the chatter surrounding the title from players in the EU who have already got their hands on a copy is glowing . Suffice it to say, if you're an avowed Ninty or platforming fan, this one's for you. Also, did we mention how cute it looks?

Knightwear: Batman's best ever costumes

The clothes make the (Bat)man

While he's best known for being the World’s Greatest Detective, the Caped Crusader can also lay claim to one of the world’s greatest wardrobes. Since he first flapped onto the scene back in the late 1930s, Batman’s iconic uniform has undergone so many redesigns it’s hard to keep track of them all. Some have been nothing more than subtle tweaks to the classic cape and cowl, while others have recast the character in a completely new light. By and large, however, all of these designs have one thing in common: they’re all instantly recognisable as belonging to the Batman.

Batman's latest costume is a bit different.

Earlier this month, Bats got one of his most radical redesigns to date, appearing in the pages of the latest issue of Batman clad in a mechanised, robotic get-up that owes more to Japanese mecha-design than it does men in tights.

Inspired by Bat’s new look, I’ve decided to trawl through the archives and drag some of my favourite ever Batman designs into the spotlight. From the classic, to the iconic, to the downright bizarre, read on for a look at some of the Dark Knight’s most dazzling ensembles.

First appearance

Purple reign

The undies-over-the-tights-combo that started it all, Batman’s original costume is a lot more bat-like than later iterations, and lends the Caped Crusader a slightly more gothic, theatrical air. Although the purple mitts were quickly ditched and the cowl streamlined, with its slitted white eyes, utility belt and prominent bat symbol, this costume is surprisingly close to the one we all know and love today.

Proving that the classics never really go out of style, Scott Synder and Greg Capullo recently used this iconic costume as the inspiration for Batman’s look in their Zero Year story arc.

The Dark Knight Returns

The Dark Knight Returns ushered in a new era of Batman comics and redefined the character for a whole new generation of comic-book fans. Since the ‘70s Batman had been moving in a darker, more mature direction, but it was Miller’s take on the character that finally put some of the hero’s campier excesses to rest, recasting Batman in a much grimmer, grittier mould. In keeping with the story’s despairing, dystopian tone, Miller’s version of the Caped Crusader looks like a lycra-clad wrecking ball: brutal, compact and intimidating.

Flashpoint Batman

Batman’s look is so iconic, so ingrained in our public consciousness, that even the subtlest tweaks can have a major impact on how we perceive the character. Take Flashpoint Batman for instance, the simple addition of a pair of peaked shoulders pads and glowing red peepers are enough to transform the character into something markedly more demonic and threatening. One look at this Batman and you know he’s out for blood.

Interestingly, the Wayne behind this particular cowl isn’t Bruce, but his dad, Thomas. This novel twist on the Batman formula came about as part of DC’s Flashpoint crossover event, which saw The Flash awaken to find himself in a very different DC Universe, one in which Bruce Wayne was the sole victim, not survivor, of the attack on his family. With his son dead, Thomas Wayne takes on the mantle of the bat and becomes the Knight of Vengeance. Unlike his son, Thomas Wayne isn’t averse to a little murder and mayhem, gleefully pitching criminals off of rooftops and skewering super villains with his sword. 

In keeping with his bloodthirsty nature, Flashbat’s costume is wilder, with a touch of otherworldliness; definitely not your friendly neighbourhood Batman.

Pirate Batman

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if Batman was a pirate you should a) probably stop listening to Alestorm records whilst flicking through back issues of Detective Comics, and b) know that you’re not alone. To date, Batman has taken to the high seas twice, the first time as part of DC’s Elseworld comics line, the second during his trip through a series of alternate realities after tangling with Darkseid and getting a faceful of the Omega Sanction.

Batman’s first stab at swashbuckling saw him assume the form of Leatherwing, a British freebooter with a taste for plunder, silk scarves and outrageous parachute pants. There’s a definite whiff of Errol Flynn about this design, and the end result is definitely more matinee idol than scourge of the seven seas.

Luckily, Batman would get a second shot at the pirating game as part of the Return of Bruce Wayne storyline. Hatched from the mind of comic book auteur Grant Morrison, this time-hopping epic saw the displaced millionaire set adrift through time, becoming a caveman, puritan, cowboy and, yup, a pirate. Well, almost - in truth, the issue follows Bruce as he butts heads with legendary seadog Blackbeard; the grizzled, cutlass-waving Batman featured on the cover is a complete no-show. Still, Andy Kubert’s design is a memorable one, and much more in line with what modern audiences imagine when they hear the word ‘pirate’.

Arkham Asylum

It’s no secret that licensed videogames tend to suck the big one, which is why the gaming public was so shocked when Arkham Asylum turned out to not only be a great Batman game, but a great videogame full stop. Fledging game studio Rocksteady went above and beyond in their first attempt to bring the Dark Knight’s world to life, expertly blending the colourful excess of the character’s animated and comic-book adventures with the brooding, gothic atmosphere of the Tim Burton movies.

This melding of styles is best embodied in Batman’s outfit, which draws inspiration from many different iterations of the character. Those bulging biceps and ‘rioded physique immediately bring to mind Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns, while the midnight blue cowl, with its furrowed brow and elongated ears, is reminiscent of Tim Sale’s work on The Long Halloween.The suit even seems to presage Batman’s New 52 outfit, featuring that same padded, slightly utilitarian look. The result is perhaps one of the most balanced Bat costumes ever, one that preserves the classic look of the character while giving it a modern lick of paint.

Tengu Batman

Following the events of Knightfall -- which left Bruce Wayne unable to continue in his role as Gotham’s protector and in dire need of a chiropractor -- hyper-violent maniac Jean-Paul Valley became Batman. Despite his sadistic tendencies, Jean-Paul actually made a pretty good Bats. During his brief tenure, he managed to round up some of Gotham’s most notorious ne'er-do-wells and even put a stop to uber-baddie Bane’s reign of terror.

With Gotham seemingly safe in Jean-Paul’s hands, Bruce Wayne starts looking forward to his retirement. Before he can swap his cape and tights for a pipe and slippers, however, he gets word from Robin that Jean-Paul has blood on his hands, namely that of the serial killer Abattoir and one of his intended victims. Armed with this new information, Bruce vows to take Jean-Paul out of the game and take back his rightful place as Batman. As one would expect from a man who’s just had his back broken, ol’ Brucie isn’t in very good shape, so he seeks out Lady Shiva to help him sharpen up his skills. Shiva helps Bruce rediscover his crime fighting mojo and even gives him the use of a shadowy, ninja-inspired ensemble, the main feature of which is a demonic looking mask carved to resemble the head of a bat.

Batman Noël

For most people, Christmas is a time for gaudy knitted jumpers and novelty reindeer antlers. Not so for Batman, who greets the festive season much like any other: in full-body kevlar, boots and a cape. Still, what Batman’s Noël outfit lacks in festive cheer it makes up for in sheer badassery, offering up a chunky, sculpted look that’s highly reminiscent of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight films.

One of the best things about this design is the way the cape flows into the emblem, making it look almost as if Batman is wearing an old-fashioned cloak - a nod to the Dickensian tale from which the Noël graphic novel takes its inspiration, perhaps? The rest of the design is much more functional, festooned with armour plating, buckles, seams and pouches, all of which give it a distinct militaristic vibe. Batman may not be faster than a speeding bullet, but he could probably survive getting hit by one or two while encased in this get-up.

Batman Beyond

Everything looks cooler in the future, including Batman. Conceived as a continuation of Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond follows 17-year-old Terry McGinnis, a troubled athlete who stumbles across Wayne Manor while trying to fight off the Jokerz Gang. With the aid of an elderly, even crotchetier Bruce Wayne --one whose bum ticker has forced him to hang up the cowl and go into retirement-- Terry manages to repel the attack.

Defeated, the Jokerz Gang retaliate by snuffing out Terry’s pa. At least, that’s what it looks like; Terry soon discovers that his dad was in possession of some top-secret information, information that the shadowy Wayne-Powers Corporation was willing to kill for to keep out of the public's hands. Knowing that he can’t take down such a high-profile target without a little help, Terry goes to Bruce for aid. Suffice it to say, the former-Batman isn’t happy about handing his legacy off to some snot-nosed kid, and tells Terry to take a hike. Intent on avenging his dear old dad’s death, Terry steals a Batsuit and manages to save the day. Despite his prior reservations, Bruce offers Terry an opportunity to take up the mantle, and Batman Beyond is born.

Gotham by Gaslight

DC has published some fantastic Elseworlds tales during its long history, but few have stood the test of time half as well as Gotham by Gaslight. Proving that Batman can work just as well in the fog-wreathed streets of the Victorian-era as he can in the towering, urban sprawl of modern-day Gotham, this 52-page one-shot feels a bit like Batman: Year One by way of Alan Moore’s From Hell.

Featuring artwork by a pre-Hellboy Mike Mignola, this macabre tale is an exquisitely rendered trawl through a seamy, scabrous version of Gotham, one that owes a sizeable debt to the cobbled byways and cramped alleyways of Victorian-era London.

In this version, Bruce Wayne is an affluent gent whose alter-ego, Batman, stands accused of a series of heinous murders. A quick search of Bruce’s manor turns up a bloodied knife and lands him in gaol. Instead of rotting in his cell, Bruce goes on the run and attempts to clear his name by bringing the real Ripper to justice.

Despite the fact this costume has only been aired a couple of times, it’s still one of the most beloved versions of Batman ever, appearing in countless pieces of fanart as well as the videogame Arkham Origins as an unlockable character-skin. Given how popular Steampunk has become in recent years, I’m surprised DC hasn’t resurrected the character. After all, who wouldn’t want to see a few new series based on these cracking alternate-covers released last year?

Arkham Knight's PC requirements raised; Warner Bros. having trouble getting game to run on AMD cards

Knight terrors

Less than a day before Arkham Knight is due to release, a representative for Warner Bros. has admitted that the game is experiencing troubling performance issues on AMD cards. As a result, they have revised the game's minimum requirements, claiming AMD users will need at least a 7950 to run the game.

Quite why the company waited until the eve of the game's release to furnish PC gamers with this information is unknown, but AMD users --myself being one of them-- are sure to greet the news with no small amount of consternation.

The issue first came to light yesterday evening, when Warner admin Yorick announced that the game's minimum specs had been revised. The admin then went on to admit the game is experiencing issues with AMD cards. AMD are aware of the issue and are apparently working alongside the Arkham team to get them fixed.

While, I'm glad Warners spilled the beans, I can't believe these issues are only coming to light now. Plus, why has this information been stealthily posted on a message board instead of officially announced via a press release? Surely an announcement like this, which could affect the experience of potentially thousands of PC gamers, deserves a more public airing. If it wasn't for someone posting this on Steam, I would have had no idea this issue even existed.

Batman: Arkham Knight: Review round-up

Neon Knights

Warner Bros. must be feeling confident about Arkham Knight's chances because they decided to lift the review embargo for the game a whole 4 days prior to its release. Nowadays, the big publishers usually wait until the last minute before they release the hounds, but in rare cases --usually when they suspect a game's going to knock the journos out of the park-- they'll allow reviewers to post their opinions ahead of time.

It seems that confidence was well placed as Arkham Knight, the final game in the Rocksteady's Batman trilogy, seems to be striking a chord with the gaming media, earning amazing scores across the board. Well, almost.

To date, the game has received 4 perfect scores, with Polygon going so far as to call it "the best game of this console generation." Strong words, especially in a year that's already given us instant classics like Splatoon, Bloodborne and The Witcher 3. Ausgamers were equally effusive in their praise of the game, giving it the crown for best-looking game across all three next-gen platforms. Videogamer and God is a Geek also gave Batman's latest outing top marks, calling it "a masterpiece" and "one of the best comic-book games ever made" respectively.

So far, the main point of contention seems to be the Batmobile, with some reviewers claiming it adds another dimension to the game, wit others decrying its inclusion completely. The four-wheeled fantasicar's biggest detractor is Gamespot's Kevin Van Ord, who felt that the forced Batmobile sections hurt the game. "Arkham Knight is constantly trying to justify the Batmobile's presence, forcing it upon you at nearly every opportunity," he said, before going on to award the game a still-respectable score of 7 out of 10. 

While Gamespot felt the Batmobile to be a waste of time, Hobby Consolas called its integration "perfect", feeling it added some unique new touches to the Arkham formula. Likewise, IGN seemed to enjoy whipping around Gotham's thug-filled streets in the Batmobile, praising the new gameplay opportunities it brought to the table. 

Gamesradar also enjoyed the game overall, awarding it a 4 out of 5, but felt that a superior story, as well as less Batmobile, would have just pushed it over the edge and into must-have territory. 

So, all in all, it looks like the final chapter in the Arkham series is yet another must-have Rocksteady game. The mixed reactions to the Batmobile are interesting, to say the least - I know some people have been bemoaning its inclusion since day-one, but I'm determined to give it the benefit of the doubt. My review probably won't be here for a while, but I've got some Batman-related goodies on the way to tide you over in the meantime. 

Next generation of Fallout blows away spectators at E3

What a wonderful world

The apocalypse is coming and it looks glorious. Fallout 4 game director Todd Howard clambered on stage at E3 to give the world its first in-depth look at the latest game in the series. Unlike the slightly underwhelming reveal trailer that came out over a week ago, this demo fizzled like a freshly opened bottle of Nuka Cola, showing off the game's gorgeous new graphics engine, improved character models and, in a first for a Bethesda game, a fully-voiced player character.

As many speculated, the game has been in development since work wrapped up on Fallout 3 way back in 2009. Beginning on a picture perfect Saturday morning, the game opens before the fateful day the bombs fell and the USA became an irradiated ruin.

You play as one half of a happy couple living an idyllic life in '50s suburbia. After picking if you want to start your adventure as a male or female, you can customise your character. This is done in real-time as your character admires their reflection in the mirror - no sliders, or values, you literally just pull and prod your protag's face until you've moulded a character to your liking.

Once that's done, the player character is summoned to the front door by the tinkling of the doorbell. Standing on the doorstep is a Vault-Tec representative who collects the player's information --stats, name, etc.-- before our character unceremoniously slams the door in his face.

With that out of the way, our character swings by the kitchen for a quick tête-à-tête with robo-butler Codsworth. Surprisingly, the shiny robo-servant calls out our character's name - that's right, Bethesda Game Studios actually recorded dialogue for the world's 1000 most popular names.

To avoid spoiling the remainder of the game's opening chapters, the demo spool's ahead at this point, rejoining the action as our hero emerges from the Vault 200 years after the bombs have fallen. The world is very much changed, with spindly trees and twisted wreckage stretching off in every direction. The nuke hasn't erased every trace of our hero's past, though, as he quickly spots Codsworth hovering among the wreckage. As you'd expect after spending 200 years in hiberation, the player character is little confused. Luckily Codsworth is on hand to fill him in on what's been happening while he was tucked up underground.

Different dialogue options are assigned to different face buttons. According to Howard, if you get tired of chatting you can simply walk away or, if you're feeling particularly murderous, pull a pistol and start shooting. Your character may be voiced this time around, but Howard was keen to stress that player choice is still paramount.

The trailer goes on to show off a new canine companion who players can issue orders to, as well as a brief slice of combat. We see the player character employ VATs to splatter some unsuspecting mole rats as well as a brief bit of real-time gunplay. The footage ends with a quick montage of different environments, showing off some of the gruesome sights players will be able to explore during their travels through Fallout 4's version of Boston.

If that wasn't enough, Howard also lifted the lid on the game's ludicrously in-depth suite of customisation tools. Players will be able to bolt together their own tools of destruction, build shacks and even fine tune their own Power Armour.

The game's slated to hit consoles and PC this November. Start counting down the days now.

Videos courtesy of Eurogamer.net.

Handheld version of Hyrule Warriors to wage war on the 3DS

Wind Waker's Tetra and King of Red Lions join the fight

A 3DS rendition of Wii U exclusive Hyrule Warriors is on the way. The existence of the port was uncovered yesterday after a Japanese trailer for the game leaked on Youtube. Sadly, the trailer has been pulled, but there are still plenty of screens floating around, all of which confirm that the Zelda-flavoured hack 'n' slash game is being squeezed down to fit onto Ninty's handheld.

The footage from the game also revealed the existence of two new characters, Princess Zelda's piratical alter-ego Tetra, and the King of Red Lions himself,  King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. The trailer includes brief snippets of both characters in action. At one point, King Daphnes is shown performing an attack that causes him to turn into his boat form, a sight familiar to anyone who's played Zelda: Wind Waker.

If the ability to get your Zelda-musou fix on-the-go wasn't incentive enough, players who pick up the handheld version of Hyrule Warriors will also be able to unlock both new characters for use in the Wii U version of the game.

One of the better musou games to arrive on consoles in the last few years, Hyrule Warriors offers a veritable treasure trove of content for die-hard Zelda fans. In addition to the new characters, hopefully the 3DS version will include all the previously released content from the console version, which received several, substantial DLC updates, including new maps, characters and story content. 

Even if it doesn't, Hyrule Warriors still provides a sizeable chunk of game for players to chew on, and will make a great addition to the 3DS' already amazing library of games. Provided the port is solid, I won't hesitate to double-dip. 

Ratchet and Clank PS4 gets a jaw-dropping new trailer

Crate Expectations

A trailer for the re-imagining-cum-remake of Rachet and Clank has just been released into the wild. According to the trailer, we're looking at footage of a game based on a movie, which is, in turn, based on a game. Phew.

As you can see, the game is looking luvverly, sporting some sumptuous character models and glittering vistas. In fact, it's warm, cartoony look could almost pass for a CGI feature film. Speaking of CGI films, the game will release alongside the Ratchet and Clank movie coming to cinemas next year.

Although it started life as a remake of the original 2002 Ratchet and Clank game, this re-imagined version of the duo's debut adventure will feature plenty of new bells and whistles. From the trailer alone, I spotted several new gameplay sections as well as a handful of new tools of destruction, including The Pixelizer, a weapon that turns foes into miserable piles of pixels.

Insomiac's community chief James Stevenson also gave us some insight into the game via the Playsation blog, revealing that while the new Ratchet and Clank may have started out as a simple remake it quickly grew in scope and took on an identity all its own.

"We ended up with a new game, with elements based on the original - but now with modern controls, several new planets, new and updated gameplay segments, all-new Clank gameplay, all new boss fights, new flight sequences, and more, all constructed to take advantage of the PS4's graphical prowess," said Stevenson.

Aside from the trailer, another video showcasing eight-minutes of gameplay was also released. Check it out below. 

John Bernthal cast as The Punisher in Daredevil season 2

Mob rules

Another day, another round of Daredevil series 2 casting stories. This newsy nugget is a little more substantial than the usual round of rumours and speculation, however, as it confirms that a long-awaited character will finally make his debut in the post-Avengers version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That character being The Punisher, a vengeful vigilante who dresses like a teenage Marilyn Manson fan and dispenses justice from the barrel of a gun. The man who will be donning the iconic skull-faced tee will be none other than John Bernthal, who most audiences will know from his captivating turns in The Walking Dead and Wolf on Wall Street.

Bernthal's a great fit for the role; not only is he a dead ringer for the comic book character, but his previous roles show that he can nail that hardboiled intensity a character like The Punisher needs. In the comics, Daredevil and The Punisher frequently butt heads and have quite a chequered history. Their goals may be the same, but their methods couldn't be more different. While DD isn't afraid to draw a little blood to get what he wants, he always stops just short of actually, y'know, wasting people. The Punisher, on the other hand, has no such compunctions, believing the only way to stop crime is with bullets. Lots and lots of bullets.

I imagine their relationship in the TV show will be grudgingly antagonistic, with Frank Castle representing the more extreme side of the vigilante coin, a vision of what Matt Murdock could become if he goes too far in his pursuit of justice. No word yet on how big Bernthal's role will be, but I, for one, expect him to play a big role in the continuing adventures of everyone's favourite blind, crime fighting attorney. After all, with Wilson Fisk on the sidelines we're going to need another violent sadist with dreams of making Hell's Kitchen a better place to root for, and The Punisher fits that bill to a tee.

Speaking about the casting, Marvel's head of television Jeph Loeb said: “Jon Bernthal brings an unmatched intensity to every role he takes on, with a potent blend of power, motivation and vulnerability that will connect with audiences. Castle’s appearance will bring dramatic changes to the world of Matt Murdock and nothing will be the same.”

For more characters I'd like to see pull on their tights and jump into the Daredevil TV series, including The Punisher, be sure to check out my Daredevil: Most Wanted article from April. 

Rumour: The Last Guardian set to appear at E3

Elusive first-party Sony exclusive The Last Guardian last reared its head in 2009, delighting audiences at that year's E3 with a heart-melting, Ghibli-esque gameplay trailer. It quickly shot to the top of many gamer's most wanted lists, becoming one of Sony's most talked about exclusive titles. Since then information on the game has been harder to come by than hen's teeth, leading many to speculate that the project had been quietly cancelled.

Despite Sony's insistence that The Last Guardian was still very much alive, many fans, myself included, had given up hope of ever playing the game. According to The Guardian, however, the game is very much alive and will put in an appearance at this year's E3.

The title was featured in an article spotlighting this E3's most anticipated games on the Guardian website. According to the article, The Guardian 'have it on very good authority' that the game is still in development and will appear, in some shape of form, during Sony's E3 conference.

That's not the only Last Guardian rumour doing the rounds, either. There are whispers that PS4 architect and game developer, Mark Cerny, is lending his and his team's expertise to Team Ico in order to finally get the game out of the door. This one's a little easier to believe - after all, there are few big, Japanese Sony exclusives Cerny and Japan Studio haven't had a hand in.

Luckily we won't have to wait long to find out if there's any truth to these rumours as E3 is only days away.

Personally, I'm taking this one with a pinch of salt. I've lost count of the amount of rumours that have surfaced concerning this game over the years and, as The Guardian are the only website claiming the game will show up at E3, this particular rumour doesn't carry a whole lot of weight. Still, I'd love for Sony to prove me wrong.

What say you, humble reader, will The Last Guardian be resurrected at this year's conference, or is this one game we'll never see?

Mega Man Legacy Collection coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One and 3DS

Blue Bomba

Capcom has just announced that Mega Man will make his way to current-gen consoles this summer, courtesy of the Legacy Collection. 3DS owners hoping to enjoy some classic, 8-bit platforming during their summer commute are out of luck, though - the collection won't be available on Ninty's handheld until winter. 

This tasty package brings together the blue bomber's first 6 console outings, all of which have been restored and retooled for modern 1080p displays. Digital Eclipse, who are handling the conversion, ensure us that the games' original, chunky 8-bit aesthetic will remain completely untouched, so worry not, pixel purists. 

In addition to the six original games, the collection will also include a treasure trove of Mega Man data, a Museum replete with all manner of artwork, sketches and other visual goodies, and Challenge and Practice Modes. 

Practice mode pits players against one of the series' many bosses, while Challenge Mode remixes various stages, creating new gauntlets for seasoned vets to conquer. They will also be able to post their best times to a global, online leaderboard. So, better get practising. 

While it's nice to see Capcom giving the Blue Bomber an airing on current-gen platforms, this collection is pretty sparse, especially when compared to previous Mega Man compilations, which offered a lot more bang for your buck. The exclusion of Mega Man 7, 8 and 9 is particularly jarring, making this more of a Legacy-ish Collection, in truth. 

While I'm piling on the cynicism, I'd also point out that this collection is releasing suspiciously close to Mighty No, 9, further cementing my opinion that this is more quick cash-grab than an honest attempt to do right by long-suffering Mega Man fans. 

Still, while I bemoan Capcpom's money-grubbing ways, I'll probably still plonk down the cash and buy this on Steam when it hits. Yes, I'm part of the problem, but who knows, if this rakes in enough capital maybe Capcom will finally start making new Mega Man titles. A man can dream...

If you want to see the Legacy Collection in action, check out the trailer below. 

A Year in Film: Jurassic World

Jurassic Parks and Recreation

A Year in Film is a series of ongoing articles that take a closer look at some of the most anticipated films coming to cinemas this year. First on the docket is Jurassic World, the fourth instalment in the Jurassic Park series, starring Chris Pratt as some kind of rootin' tootin, raptor wranglin' park ranger.

Now, I understand that the sight of Burt Macklin tearing it up with a posse of clawed killing machines is pretty exciting, but in order to succeed Jurassic World is going to need to offer more than mere spectacle. Luckily, the films's plot sounds pretty interesting, revolving as it does around the meta-sounding idea that humans, fickle creatures that we are, no longer feel awe at the sight of dinosaurs. Obviously, this feeds into real world audiences' desires for bigger, better, busier CGI - a mere two decades ago, the sight of a scaly-CGI raptor was enough to get us all hot under the collar, now we barely lift an eyebrow when presented with scenes of earth-shaking spectacle that would have been unimaginable a few decades past.

Much like us, the visitors to Jurassic World have become inured to the sight of these living, breathing prehistoric marvels; dinosaurs are played out, a fad that's passed, sort of like the hula hoop or jeans with pockets in the knees. To combat peoples' waning attention spans, the genetic tinkerers who breathed new life into the dinosaur decide to use their scientific know-how to engineer bigger, badder more dangerous specimens. This culminates in the creation of the Idominus Rex, a beastie that looks a bit like the unholy offspring of a T-Rex and a Rancor.

Like the original film in the series, World takes a look at what happens when human hubris meets the chaos and unpredictability of nature. This time round, however, we didn't just bring back the tools of our destruction, we engineered them to be even deadlier and more dangerous than before! Judging by the trailer, the only one who thinks this is a bad idea is security guard Owen (Pratt). Sadly, the powers-that-be don't share Owen's concerns --what's a few dead bodies when there's money to be made?-- and go ahead and grow their very own Indominus Rex. Predictably, ol' Rex springs the coop and starts wreaking havoc.

The plot will be familiar to anyone who has ever had the misfortune of watching schlocky ITV CGI-fest Primeval, whose first season also ended with a storyline in which genetically engineered creatures duked it out with a group of ragtag dino hunters. Unlike Primeval, though, Jurassic World is being helmed by Colin Trevorrow, whose charmingly eccentric debut film Safety Not Guaranteed was the first rom-com I've seen in the last decade that didn't make me want to poke out my own eyes.

Admittedly, he's a bit of an odd choice for a tentpole franchise like this, but evidently Spielberg and the rest of the execs that make up the Jurassic Park brain-trust liked what Trevorrow was putting down. Going by the trailers, Jurassic World doesn't bear much resemblance to the director's previous work, looking more like the kind of precision-engineered, slightly vacuous popcorn flick any number of directors-for-hire could have churned out rather than the work of a fledgling indie film maker. Still a trailer does not a film make, and I have high hopes that in-between the bouts of computer-generated carnage and pithy one-liners, Trevorrow's penchant for building rounded, sympathetic characters will come to the fore.

A scant few days ago, the final trailer for the film hit the web. This teaser is very different in tone, showcasing a more sombre side of Isla Nubar. If anything, it's strangely redolent of Predator, showing as it does various sweaty, distressed people traipsing through leafy jungles, trying not to get brutally splattered. There's also a shot of Bryce Dallas Howard holding a flare that practically screams Aliens.

We'll see how well Jurassic World fares at the multiplexes, and with the critics, next week, but for now I'm cautiously optimistic about the film's chances. I certainly don't think we're looking at another Fury Road-sized critical smash, but it won't have far to go to top the previous Park sequels and, for me, at least, watching these prehistoric bruisers run amok, snuffling screaming humans never gets old. And, hey, it can't be worse than Lost World, right?

Dragon Ball Super's new logo, end credits teased

Return of the (Monkey) King

Amidst all the manufactured outrage, celebrity meltdowns and selfies, Twitter does occasionally turns up something worthwhile. Such was this case this past weekend, when the account for Dragon Ball Super posted a preview of the new TV show's end credits. It's not much, admittedly, but any reminder that brand-spanking new Dragon Ball is right round the corner is cause enough for celebration.

For those of you who have been too busy raising your power levels or taking part in martial arts tournaments to pay attention to the news, Dragon Ball Super is the much anticipated sequel to Dragon Ball Z, one of, if not the most popular anime series of all-time. The new chapter in the storied fighting series will be overseen original creator Akira Toriyama.

A bit like the new, Blomkamp-led Alien sequel, Goku's return to television will discard large parts of the animated series' continuity, snubbing the entirety of Dragon Ball GT. As anyone's who's had the misfortune of seeing Dragon Ball GT can tell you, this is a very good thing.

If that little titbit wasn't juicy enough, during the broadcast of the Dragon Ball Kai's latest episode in Japan, viewers were treated to the sight of the new Dragon Ball Super logo. No word yet on whether or not this will be actual logo used in the final show, but for now it's a nifty looking place-holder.

In the meantime, North American fans fiending for a Dragon Ball fix can catch the English-language version of Resurrection 'F' in cinemas this summer.

Knights of Sidonia: Battle for Planet Nine gets new English trailer and release date

Now you've gauna done it

"It's nice to meet you everyone. My name is Tsumugi Shiraui."

One of my favourite anime and manga series of the last few years, Knights of Sidonia is an old-school space opera brimming with action, adventure, romance and giant transforming biological monsters. It finds vaunted manga creator Tsutomu Nihei leave behind the rambling, widescreen cyberpunk that fuelled his earlier creations Blame! and Biomega, for something altogether more palatable. While I miss that sense of ambiguity and Cyclopean scope that fuelled Blame!, Knights of Sidonia's focus on characterisation and plotting helps it stand apart from Nihei's other works, showing an unexpected willingness to experiment with form, structure and storytelling techniques.

With its romantic sub-plots, straightforward storytelling, and pulpy '70s/'80s sci-fi aesthetic, KoS is inarguably Nihei's most mainstream series to date, but, true to form, he has enlivened this familiar formula with a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue, as well as elements of body horror and hard science fiction. I caught the series on Netflix last year and was instantly hooked. Luckily, I won't have long to wait for my next fix, as Netflix has just released a new English (sort of) trailer that confirms the series will soon return.

Knights of Sidonia's second series, dubbed Battle for Planet Nine, will hit the streaming service on July 3, which gives those of you who have yet to see the first series ample time to get all caught up.

Fallout 4 trailer released; IGN's Ryan McCaffrey confident it will release later this year

Dog days

As promised, Bethesda have spilled the beans on Fallout 4. They released a trailer earlier today, which you can admire below.

The trailer, which Bethesda proudly pointed out, was cut together from in-engine footage, shows that there was some truth to the infamous Kotaku leak, after all. The game will take players on a journey through a post-apocalyptic version of Boston, Massachusetts. During the trailer, polygonal recreations of some of the areas most famous landmarks, including the Bunker Hill Monument and the statue of Paul Revere can be seen.

Perhaps the Witcher 3's lush, lively visuals have spoiled me, but I was hoping for a more striking graphical overhaul. The game is clearly running on the same tech that powered Skyrim, itself a souped-up version of the engine that gave us Oblivion and the prior Fallout games, and it shows. It's not an ugly game by any means, boasting a surprisingly fresh colour palette, but anyone hoping for a graphical powerhouse is going to be disappointed.

Still, I don't play Fallout for its eye-candy, I play it for the unique atmosphere, the great writing and the thrill of roaming a wasteland populated with shambling horrors and mewling mutants in search of some shiny new loot. 

Interestingly, IGN's Ryan McCaffrey has taken to Twitter to tell the world that Fallout 4 is no spring chicken, having been in development for nigh on four years. This means we might not have to wait long to get our fill of Fallout - McCaffrey reckons the game will be us by the end of the year. It all sounds a little too good to be true, but I've got my fingers crossed.

Can Fallout 4 possibly live up to the hype? Anyone else hoping the dog's a playable character? Let us know below. 

It's happening: Fallout 4 to be revealed later today

Countdown to the apocalypse

It's finally happening, folks: Fallout 4 is upon us! Bethesda began teasing the fourth game in their splatter-filled, post-apocalyptic series yesterday, posting a countdown clock on the Fallout website emblazoned with the words 'Please stand by'. The countdown will end at 3pm here in the UK.

We all knew Fallout 4 was coming - after all, rumours about the follow-up to New Vegas have been swirling away for years, but this will be our first proper glimpse at this elusive new entry. What form the reveal will take is unknown at this point. I'm entertaining the vain hope that we'll be treated to some in-engine footage, maybe even a smidgen of gameplay, but it'll probably be a CGI trailer, or, if Bethesda are feeling really bathetic, a teaser for their E3 conference taking place in a little under a fortnight.

Before Bethesda open the vault doors and let Fallout 4 loose on the world, though, I've decided to travel back in time and pick apart some of the rumours surrounding the game, of which there have been many. The earliest indication we had that Fallout was in development came way back in 2013 when the studio gave us word they were closing up shop in Skyrim and moving onto a new project. A lot of us, myself included, took this to mean the studio was finally ready to start working on Fallout 4 in earnest.

Around about the same time, a leaked document going under the codename The Institute found its way into hands of Kotaku. This tantalising missive, which Kotaku claimed was the real McCoy, revealed that Fallout 4 would take place in Boston, Massachusetts. In the Fallout 'verse this stretch of irradiated wasteland is known as The Commonwealth, and is home to the crumbling remnants of MIT, now known as The Institute.

One of the more interesting titbits in the leaked document relates to the player character, who, for the first time, will have a voice. Historically, Fallout protagonists have been mute, so, if true, this will be quite a (welcome) departure for the series.

Since then, there have been sporadic rumours relating to Fallout 4 - last January the voice actor for Three Dog, one of Fallout 3's major players, teased his involvement in the game - but concrete info on the game has been harder to come by than Nuka Cola bottle caps. Some hardcore Fallout fans, so desperate for a peek at the new instalment, even created an elaborate teaser with the aim of forcing Bethesda to reveal their hand and lift the lid on Fallout 4 early. Sadly, this didn't work.

I'll be back after the announcement airs to share my thoughts. Till then, please stand by.

24 spin-off gets the greenlight

Cult series will Live Another Day, this time without Jack Bauer in the lead

You're replacing me?

It would seem Jack Bauer's days of torturing terrorists are coming to an end. Word around the internet suggests 20th Century Fox Television is hard at work developing a 24 spin-off. The plan is to shift the focus off of Kiefer Sutherland's beleaguered, torture-happy hero and onto a newer, younger protagonist. Like recent 24 mini Live Another Day, the spin-off will be a limited series. If, however, audiences react positively to this new flavour of 24, we imagine there's a good chance it'll return for a full season.

TV Line had a word with series co-creator, Howard Gordon, about the potential spin-off and learned that though the series will see a new special agent take the reins, it will still stick closely to the spirit of the original series. Presumably this means lots of plots within plots, nerve-racking cliffhangers, casual torture and people barking the word "dammit" into their mobile phones.

For those 24 fans already mourning the loss of Jack Bauer, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. From what I'm hearing, Jack will still be a part of the CTU-verse, appearing from time to time to give our new hero tips on how to extract a confession from a suspect using nothing but a towel, presumably.

Whatever happens, you have to feel bad for whoever Fox cast in the lead role: Jack Bauer is a tough act to follow and the actor replacing him is bound to be the object of close scrutiny. At the end of the day, though, 24 is in desperate need of a shake up and this could be just what the series needs to get back on track.

Godzilla granted Japanese citizenship

Papers, please

Proving once again that there are few places on Earth quite as eccentric as Japan, the island nation has made Godzilla an official resident of their country. You'd think a creature whose main preoccupation is laying waste to civilisation would be the last thing you'd want to invite onto your home turf, but Godzilla's status as an icon of Japanese cinema clearly supersedes his penchant for gross property damage. 

After being issued his papers, Godzilla became an official resident of Tokyo, as well as a ambassador for tourism. Maybe it's just me, but a skyscraper-sized, atomic fire breathing engine of destruction is the last thing I want to see as soon as I get out of a plane. Still, the Big G does look awfully dashing in that sash. 

Below you can take a peek at Godzilla's papers along with an English translation of what's written on the page. 

Name: Godzilla

Address: Shinjuku-ku, Kabuki-cho, 1-19-1

Date of birth: April 9, 1954 (the year of the release of the very first Godzilla film)

Date of becoming a Shinjuku resident: April 9, 2015

Reason for special residency: Promoting the entertainment of and watching over the Kabuki-cho neighbourhood and drawing visitors from around the globe in the form of the Godzilla head built atop the Shinjuku TOHO Building.

Previous visits to Shinjuku Ward: 3 times; Godzilla (1984), Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Godzilla 2000 Millennium (1999)

So, next time you're in Tokyo be sure to swing by the Big G's place for a quick visit. If he hasn't already smashed them all, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to show you the sights.