Search This Blog

29 Apr 2015

Will Ben Affleck's Batman take on the Suicide Squad?

Wayne's World


It certainly seems that way, at least if these paparazzi pics snapped on the Toronto-based set of Suicide Squad are to be believed.



The shots show Ben Affleck on the set of the film dressed as Batman's alter ego Bruce Wayne, lending credence to the theory that Suicide Squad will be based on the DC comics original movie Assault on Arkham, in which the Caped Crusader is seen butting heads with Amanda Waller (How to Get Away with Murder star Viola Davis) over the Suicide Squad initiative.

Quite how this fits in with the forthcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie remains to be seen. At present, we know the two films take place in the same universe, we just don't know which film comes first, chronologically speaking.

At the very least, it looks like Warner Bros. is finally taking this whole shared universe thing seriously. Now, we just need a Secret Six movie subtitled Catman vs Batman and the circle will be complete.

The final trailer for Mad Max: Fury Road barrels in

Wizard of Oz


The jury may still be out on George Miller's latest foray into the dust-choked world of Mad Max, but if the finished film is even half as good as the trailers released so far, we are all going to be in for a real treat. In development for well over a decade, Fury Road is a film a lot of us thought would never see light of day, but, as you can see from the trailer, the return of Max Rockatansky is most definitely upon us, and it looks like the Aussie enforcer hasn't missed a step.



Interestingly, this latest look at Fury Road contains a few nods to previous films in the franchise, giving us a quick glimpse of a music box fans of The Road Warrior will recognise, as well as a snippet of dialogue that alludes to Max's turbulent, tragic past. From Miller's previous comments, we know that this film is neither reboot nor remake but something in between, so there is a good chance we could see characters from previous films make a reappearance in one form or another. 

We will find out for sure when the film hits theatres on May 14. 

28 Apr 2015

Our first official look at X-men: Age of Apocalypse's Nightcrawler fails to impress

Adam and the X-men




I'm going to come straight out and say it: the first shots of Kodi Smit-McPhee as bamfing blue X-man Nightcrawler are incredibly underwhelming. The first one in particular carries more than whiff of photoshop and looks more like a rough concept than a finished piece of promotional artwork.

Still, these erzsatz, digitally despoiled glamour shots do show a design that's a lot more faithful to the comic book character, and we daresay it will look a heck of a lot better in action. At least we hope so.

In keeping with the eighties theme, this 'crawler is sporting a lopsided, new romantic 'do and a big-collared blazer. There's even a spy shot in which he's rocking a Thriller-esque red leather number that makes him look a bit like a blue zombie Michael Jackson. These hastily snapped spy shots also give us our first look at fellow X-men Cyclops, Jean Grey and Jubilee.


Boasting a stellar cast that includes Michael Fassbender and Oscar Isaac, Age of Apocalypse is due to arrive next May.

Magic returns to England in new trailer for Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Might & magic


It may have been a long time coming, but the first trailer for the Beeb's adaptation of door-stopping fantasy novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell has finally surfaced online. 



Clocking in at just 1 minute, the trailer doesn't give much away, but it does allow us to get a good look at principal cast, including the fantastic Eddie Marsan as stuffy magician Gilbert Norrell, and
Bertie Carvel as his protege/nemesis, the devil-may-care Jonathan Strange.

A release date for the series has yet to be confirmed, but it should be on our screens before the end of the year. In the meantime, I heartily recommend swinging by your favourite bookshop and snagging a copy of Susannah Clarke's novel for yourself; it's a witty, wonderful fantasy epic that's quite unlike anything else out there. 

27 Apr 2015

Batman news round up: First look at Joker, Frank Miller's Master Race, and new Arkham gameplay (Updated)

There was a bunch of exciting Batman-related announcements this weekend, so rather than parcel them out as individual posts, we decided to wrangle them all in one place and give our readers a quick run-down of all the latest gossip from Gotham. So without further ado, we present our first (possibly, only) Batman news round-up.

The world gets its first look at Jared Leto's Joker

Our first newsy nugget centres not on the Batman, but his arch nemesis, The Joker. To commemorate the Clown Prince of Crime's 75th anniversary, David Ayer took to twitter to give the world its first official glimpse of Leto's take on the iconic character.



Sporting an expression that makes him look like he's just been told all the tickets for the latest Vampires Everywhere tour have sold out, this version of Joker looks as though he would be more at home haunting the aisles of Hot Topic than robbing banks.

The biggest talking point will undoubtedly be the tattoos scrawled all over his body. While we think this is a nice idea, the tattoos used are way too on the nose, and look more like the type of ink a Joker-obsessed fan would choose to decorate their body with than something the Joker would pick for himself. 

Of course, unless this version of the Joker, commits his acts of heinousness in the buff, we won't see much of these tats in the finished film. As a result, it is hard to get too upset. Aside from the body art, though, this Joker does seem more in keeping with his comic book counterpart than previous on-screen incarnations of the character. 

Frank Miller strikes again

The most interesting piece of Bat-themed news to surface this weekend was that comic book auteur Frank Miller would be teaming up with DC to deliver a sequel to Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, titled Dark Knight III: The Master Race.  



Although the superstar comic book writer doesn't command the same respect he used to (the less said about All-Star Batman and The Holy Terror, the better), Miller's hard line, revisionist take on the character in the eighties redefined Batman for a whole new generation. 

Sure, his post Strikes Again output has been shaky, but this is still the man who gave the world Sin City, three indispensable Daredevil runs, Year One and The Dark Knight Returns, so we think he has earned the benefit of the doubt. 

Anyone still convinced Miller is a lost cause, will be happy to hear that he won't be alone in bringing Master Race to the page. Fellow DC writer Brian Azzarello, who has penned stories for everyone from Wonder Woman to Constantine, will be Miller's writing partner on the series.

How involved he will be in the writing process remains to be seen, but hopefully he will be on hand to curb some of Miller's more, shall we say, eccentric (read: offensive) ideas. 

Still, regardless of how it turns out, we can't wait to wrap our peepers around Master Race. If anything, it's sure to be an interesting read. 

The Bat Family comes to Arkham

Update: As we suspected, the new feature being shown off in the trailer isn't a full blown co-op mode, but a 'dual play' mechanic that allows players to tag in another member of the Bat Family to deliver a brutal beatdown during combat. It is a shame that Rocksteady are leaving co-op on the table, but, hey, at least it looks cool.

For about a week now, the producer behind the Arkham videogames, Sefton Hill, has been teasing a new gameplay mechanic for the long-running series. Today, we got our grubby mitts on a fresh trailer that seems to showcase this new addition to the formula, one that could open up whole new possibilities for the franchise. 



In the trailer we see Bats taking on bad guys alongside Catwoman, Robin and Nightwing, in what appears to be some kind of coop mode. Of course, there's no official confirmation that coop is in, and what we are seeing could just be Bats fighting alongside an AI-controller partner, so don't start making plans for a LAN-party just yet. 

Still, the thought of tearing through a pack of goons with a buddy by your side, is an exciting one, and we hope co-op is coming to Arkham Knight in one form or another. As soon as we get official confirmation either way, we will be sure to give you an update. 

Take a look at the trailer for yourselves, and let us know what you think - is coop coming to Arkham

24 Apr 2015

Starz tease Ash vs Evil Dead with new poster

Return of the King





When we first heard that splatterpunk epic Evil Dead was getting a Starz-fuelled TV spin-off, our reaction was one of weary resignation as opposed to fanboyish elation. After all, Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi have been teasing the return of Evil Dead in one form or another since Army of Darkness appeared all the way back in '92.  So, after years of empty promises, the deal with cable network Starz to produce 10 half-hour episodes of Evil Dead for TV seemed too good to be true.

Well, sometimes miracles do happen, and despite our cynicism it looks Sam Raimi's beloved series is finally returning from the dead. Filming for the show began in New Zealand recently, and to commemorate the occasion, Starz has released an Ash vs Evil Dead poster that depicts chin-wielding anti-hero Ash surrounded by spooky forest, trademark chainsaw held aloft. 

They have also put out a slick motion poster, which, if you're into that kind of thing, you can check out here


Just how big is The Witcher 3's map?

Are we nearly there yet?


Extremely big, it turns out. There are a lot of open world games on the market, but very few of them cram as much land mass onto their discs as The Witcher 3. If you don't believe us, check out this cannily edited fan video, which splices together shots of the game's world map and some recent footage from Gamespot to give us our best look at the Witcher's world yet.



The real kicker comes right at the end, when the already gargantuan map pulls back to reveal another generously proportioned chunk of real estate for players to explore. Thank the gods for fast travel.  

The developer of the games, CD Projekt Red, has promised there will be plenty of things to keep players occupied during their travels, so hopefully this will be a rare case of both quantity and quality. We'll find out for sure when the game drops next month.  

23 Apr 2015

Lego Movie directors commit to animated Spider-Man movie

Cloudy with a chance of Spiders



Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the prodigious pair behind the Jump Street franchise, Cloudy with a Chance of MeatballsThe Lego Movie, and Warner's upcoming Flash film, are making quite a name for themselves in Hollywood. Now, the writer/producer/director duo will lend their talents to Sony's animated Spider-Man reboot, an idea first mooted back in January when a summit to determine the future direction of Sony's Spidey franchise was held. 

Their involvement was announced during Sony's recent CinemaCon presentation. Reportedly, the dynamic duo is hard at work assembling a treatment for the film, and will be given a shot at directing, provided Sony are happy with what they hand in.

Presumably, this 'toon will occupy its own little corner of the Spiderverse and won't interfere with the deal struck by Sony and Marvel to include Spider-Man in the upcoming Captain America threequel, Civil War

Then there is the small matter of Drew Goddard's rumoured Spider-Man reboot, pegged to arrive in 2017. From what we have gathered, both films will be separate entities, and will arrive roughly a year apart. The Lord/Miller version will be played mostly for laughs, utilising the pair's comedic talents to showcase the funnier side of our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man

Sony have already set a date for the film, so if everything goes according to plan, the CGI Spider-Man should be swinging into cinemas on July 20, 2018. 


22 Apr 2015

New Witcher 3 video invites us to watch Game of Thrones star Charles Dance in action

A Dance with Dragons




Veteran British actor Charles Dance, who modern audiences will be most familiar with as imperious Lannister patriarch Tywin in Game of Thrones, is lending his dulcet tones to the world of The Witcher.


In the video below, Dance gives us a little insight into his character, the remarkably Tywin-esque Emhyr var Emreis, emperor of the naughty Nilfgaardians and all-round bad dude. We get to see Dance in the recording booth, scowling into a microphone, as well as a brief look at his virtual counterpart in action. 




Unlike most videos of this ilk, which normally carry more than a whiff of PR-fluff, Dance seems genuinely impressed with what he's seen of The Witcher 3, claiming the world of videogames has come a long way since he last checked in almost a decade ago. 




From what we've seen so far, the latest entry in CD Projekt Red's risque, mature fantasy roleplaying series is shaping up very nicely indeed, and we can't wait to sink our teeth into the full game when it lands on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on May 19. 




Daredevil gets second series, new showrunner

Born Again




The words dark and gritty get thrown around a lot these days, but Netflix's recent foray into the world of comics with Daredevil injected a welcome dose of darkness into the Marvel formula, shining a light on a corner of the MCU that's a world away from the colourful heroics of The Avengers and Iron Man.

Luckily, Daredevil had the dramatic and cinematic chops to resonate with critics, delivering what many people are calling the finest superhero TV series to date. All that praise didn't fall on deaf ears, it seems, as Marvel and Netflix have just revealed they are already hard at work on a second season of Daredevil, due to drop in 2016.

This is great news for fans of the Man Without Fear, especially as a lot of people were worried DD wouldn't get another crack at the small screen until the Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Defenders TV adaptations finished airing. Clearly, Daredevil was a big enough hit for Marvel and Netflix to scrap their master plan and move ahead with a second series. 

Sadly, this seconds series won't include showrunner Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus), who is stepping away from the Marvel-verse to pursue an as-yet unknown feature film project. DeKnight is passing the baton onto fellow Buffy alum Doug Petrie and Sons of Anarchy's Marco Ramirez, both of whom worked closely with him on the show's first season. 

“While previous commitments unfortunately prevent me from continuing on with Daredevil into its second season, I could not be happier that Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez are carrying the torch,” said DeKnight. “They were invaluable collaborators during our first season, and I for one can’t wait to see what they do with the show moving forward.”

21 Apr 2015

Studio Ghibli came close to making a Parasyte movie



Radio host Genki Kawamura recently invited retired Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki into the TokyoFM studios to record a podcast. During their chat the former Ghibli man revealed that at one point the legendary anime studio came close to adapting Hitoshi Iwaaki's classic sci-fi/horror manga.

At first blush, Parasyte, with its frequent bouts of blood, guts and shounen-style monster mash-ups, might not seem like a good fit for a studio like Ghibli, but beyond its patina of gore, Parasyte is actually quite a thoughtful series, one that raises serious questions about the nature of mankind and its place in the environment. According to Suzuki, this made Parasyte an enticing prospect for the studio, which often tackles projects with environmental themes. Even Hayao Miyazaki was a fan.

This isn't the first Parasyte movie adaptation to stall during the planning phase. In 1999 plans were in place for a live action version from Jim Henson studios. Scripts were written and a director drafted, but for whatever reason, the US version of Parasyte never materialised.

After spending the best part of of a decade in development limbo, the rights for the series reverted to Japan, where it was quickly snapped up and resurrected as an anime series and set of feature films.

While it's a shame that we will never get to see the Ghibli version of Parasyte, it's good to see the series finally getting the respect it deserves, and animation fans can still scratch their anime itch by checking out the recent series from Madhouse Studios.

Fresh Mad Max screenshots surface

Avalanche Studios, the development house behind gymnastic open-world shooter Just Cause, has returned from the wasteland to bring us a handful of new screens from their forthcoming Mad Max videogame.

The game, which has nothing to do with the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road film starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, was originally slated to release on Xbox 360 and PS3 as well as current-gen consoles, but is now a PS4, Xbox One and PC exclusive.

Judging by these screengrabs, the game certainly looks the part, with plenty of dust-whipped panoramas, manic-looking mutants and bloodthirsty bandits for players to tangle with.


17 Apr 2015

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer spills onto the net



With the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer released just yesterday, the fires of nerd hype are burning bright. Less than a day later, that fiery conflagration is going to turn into a full on inferno, as the world gets its first peek at Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Fair warning, this leaked footage isn't of the best quality, featuring the usual auto-focus blur and shaky-hand shenanigans, but it gets the job done.

Opening with a moody, night time shot of a city (Gotham? Metropolis? we know not), accompanied by a series of voiceovers, the beginning of the trailer paints Superman as some kind of godlike menace; a creature humanity should fear, rather than be thankful for. The parallels with Jesus, alluded to in Man of Steel, continue, as we see soldiers genuflecting before Supes. It's interesting stuff, and poses a few tantalising questions? Is Supes going to be more dictator than do-gooder? Is he being controlled by Lex Luthor? Is this another case of a trailer totally misleading its audience and none of this will be in the final film? Who knows?

The second half of the trailer is more Bat-focussed, giving us a (blurry) look at Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, before showing off some of the Caped Crusader's arsenal, including the Batwing and Batmobile. We get a few brief glimpses of Affleck suited up, looking very reminiscent of the beefed-up, bestial Batman in The Dark Night Returns by Frank Miller, as well as the robotic exo-suit, which, we presume, Batman needs so he doesn't get squished in three seconds flat when he and Superman inevitably go toe-to-toe.

At one point in the trailer, Batman asks Superman, "Tell me, do you bleed? ...you will." in a heavily modulated voice that makes him sound a bit like Tobin Bell in Saw. If that doesn't get your little fanboy hearts all aflutter, we don't know what will.

Of Jesse Eisenberg's chrome domed crime-lord Lex Luthor, there is no sign, and it's still unknown how heavily he will feature in the final film.  Despite that, our first look at BvS is an encouraging one, and we eagerly await a higher quality version so we can dissect what we've seen in more detail.




14 Apr 2015

Will Sony finally open the door to the Dark Tower for Ron Howard?



Much like the Dark Tower itself, the on screen adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling fantasy series always seems just out of reach. Ron Howard, along with production partners Brian Grazer, and Akiva Goldsman, have been trying to get there for years, seeking deals with everyone from HBO to Warner Bros. Their plans to bring the series to life via a series of connected movies and television series proved a mite too ambitious (read: expensive) for most studios, however, and the project was shelved multiple times.

Now, a new contender is throwing its battered cowboy hat into the ring: Sony Pictures. Along with MRC, Sony has committed to a pared-down Dark Tower, comprised of a lone film and TV series. Reportedly, Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner have redrawn their original script, and are now on the lookout for a potential director.

Speaking about the project, Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures' new chairman, said: “There are few projects out there that compare with the scope, vision, complex characters and fully drawn world that Stephen King has created with The Dark Tower. I am a giant fan. And, as Stephen himself does, we love the direction that Akiva and Jeff have taken. This is a great opportunity for a director to put his or her stamp on a cool global franchise."

The first entry in the Dark Tower saga, titled The Gunslinger, is the most straightforward of the bunch, focussing on a lone gunfighter struggling through a warped fantasy world that's part Sergio Leone and part Lord of the Rings. 

The books' author, Stephen King, couldn't be happier with this latest development, stating: "I’m excited that The Dark Tower is finally going to appear on the screen. Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books."

In honour of this great news, we'll be putting together an article exploring which actors and actresses we'd like to see strap on their ponchos and step into Midworld. If you've got any suggestions, let us know in the comments below.

13 Apr 2015

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - does the soul still burn?

One of the more interesting remasters to make its way to current-gen platforms, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin rejigs, remixes and reinvigorates the original DSII. Like Resident Evil’s director’s cut, or Zelda’s Master Quest, this is less of a fully-fledged remake and more of an experimental cover version; instead of simply repackaging the game for new consoles, the sadists at From Software have taken this opportunity to revamp enemy placements, chuck in a few new npcs, and rebalance the game. Whether or not you view Scholar of the First Sin as the definitive version of the game will largely depend on how you react to these changes, but with almost three dozen hours of game time under our belts, we can safely say this is now our preferred way to play this excellent RPG.




The first thing returning players will notice are the subtle (and, in some cases, not so subtle) nips and tucks made to enemy configurations, and item locations. A quick visit to The Forest of Fallen Giants will be enough for most seasoned Souls vets to realise From Software aren’t messing around. Whereas this area was populated with mobs of shambling undead soldiers originally, players are now greeted by an ogre, happily waddling through the churning waters and making quick work of anyone foolhardy enough to cross its path.


Indeed, the early areas of the game seem more like a warning than a welcoming, introducing tougher enemies, and in greater numbers, a lot earlier than in the vanilla version. It’s a good way of putting the fear back into those Souls players who feel like they have seen it all, and will certainly test the resolve of anyone new to the series. Of course, all these changes risk making the difficulty curve too steep, and early on the game can indeed feel more frustrating than fun. Luckily, From hasn’t just concentrated on making the game more brutal, but more balanced, as well. Certain areas --Sinner’s Rise and Earthen Peak, in particular-- feel like much less of a chore than before, and on the whole, SotFS is a smoother, more satisfying experience.  





Sadly, not much has been done to spice up the boss battles, which still feel oddly lacking when compared to those found in the first game. Having sliced our way through every boss in the kingdom of Drangleic, we’re sad to report that not a one matches the grisly splendour of Gaping Dragon, or the epic one-one-one showdown against Artorias the Abysswalker. That’s not to say every boss battle is a write-off  --Smelter Demon, the Ruin Sentinels, and Duke’s Dear Freja, being our pick of the ugly bunch-- but the focus in Dark Souls II is on quantity, not quality, and this remastered edition does little, if anything, to change that. Murmurs from the ‘net suggest that some of the game’s better bosses are tucked away in the game’s three generous DLC areas, which could well be the case, but we’ve yet to dip our toes into downloadable waters.


Still, while they may not be any more fun to fight, thanks to the bump in resolution up to 1080p on both Xbox One and PS4, these gruesome guardians do look better than ever before. Players used to the PC version won’t notice much of a difference, but for anyone who slogged through the murky, chug-prone world of Drangleic on PS3 and 360, the change is night and day. No one will mistake SotFS for a current gen title, but the added pixel density, sharpened texture work, and revamped lighting all paint a much prettier picture.




The PS4 and Xbox One’s additional horsepower have also allowed From Software to unshackle Dark Souls II’s frame rate, bumping the game from 30 to 60 frames per second. According to Digital Foundry, the Xbox One version of the game fares a little worse than its PS4 counterpart in its attempts to maintain a constant 60fps. Still, despite the odd hiccup, both versions of the game are considerably more responsive than their last gen forebears, and the game feels much smoother, and enjoyable to play, as a result.


For all its faults, Dark Souls II was still a fierce, fantastic game, and SotFS polishes this rough gem to a blinding shine. The remixed enemy and item placements will delight and despair returning players, while first time visitors can rest easy in the knowledge that they’re getting the best version of the game. What’s more, this generously appointed package also includes three weighty DLC expansions, meaning there’s plenty of content to keep you coming back.  


9 Apr 2015

Seeing red: Netflix reveal classic Daredevil costume

With the full series primed for launch this Friday, the internet is currently abuzz with all things Daredevil. Comic book fans have been crying out for a peek at our main character's trademark red duds ever since the first trailer landed a few months back, but Netflix has been keeping that card close to their chest. Now, on the eve of the series' debut, the streaming provider has finally unveiled ol' hornhead's classic crime fighting ensemble, and it looks pretty awesome.

The motion poster below shows us the many faces of Matt Murdock: bespectacled barrister, ninja-in-training, and crimson coloured crimefighter. Hit play for an eyeful of the finished costume, or point your browser in the other direction if you don't want to spoil the surprise.



Most wanted: The Daredevil villains we’d like to see onscreen

Although he doesn’t have quite as impressive a rogue’s gallery as Spidey or Batman, Daredevil has battled more than his fair share of iconic baddies over the years. From also-rans like Mysterio and The Spot, to heavy-hitters like Bullseye and Elektra, there’s no shortage of evildoers for The Man Without Fear to lock horns with should Marvel and Netflix decide to return to Hell’s Kitchen for a second series.
Below, we shine the spotlight on a variety of villains we’d love to see test themselves against Daredevil’s billy club in live action-- some serious and some not-so serious. Read on for our most wanted, and then let us know what other Marvel malcontents you’d like to see tear up the MCU:




Bullseye



He may look like a cross between a gimp and a crash test dummy, but Bullseye is no joke. One of the Marvel universe’s most unhinged cape killers, this tightly wound ball of neuroses, paranoia and good old fashioned psychopathy, is the kind of guy you cross the street, charter an airplane and go into witness protection to avoid. Although he has no actual superpowers, Bullseye never misses his mark, and can just as easily kill someone with a potato peeler as an M16. If there’s any villain who’s almost guaranteed to appear should Daredevil get a second series, it’s Bullseye.




Stilt-Man



One of the most impractical villains ever to grace the printed page, Wilbur Day, AKA Stilt-Man, commits acts of petty villainy with the help of his robotic battlesuit. Unlike Tony Stark, who outfits his shiny steel pajamas with cool things like jet boots, repulsor rays and uni-beams, Day’s suit’s main attraction is a pair of giant, retractable hydraulic stilts. Despite his joke status, Stilt-Man has wobbled his way through battles with everyone from Thor to Spiderman through the years, but is best remembered for his appearances in the pages of Daredevil. Whether or not a villain of this ilk would work in Netflix’s gritty take on Daredevil is up for debate, but we’d love to find out.




Ikari



Almost every hero comes up against an evil version of themselves at some point in their crime fighting career. Spiderman has Venom, Batman has The Wrath (Google it), and ol’ Hornhead has Ikari. A relatively recent addition to Daredevil’s roster of villains, Ikari shares Matt Murdock’s enhanced senses, and peerless grasp of martial arts. Garbed in a costume that evokes The Man Without Fear’s original rhubarb and custard-coloured get up, Ikari would look great on the small screen, and his ninja skills would provide the kind of brutal, intricate chop-socky showdowns that make martial arts fans brains melt.



Mr. Fear



Another old-school Daredevil villain that’s just begging for a live-action makeover is Mr. Fear. Sort of a mix of Scarecrow and Mysterio, this skull-faced supervillain employed illusions and psychotropic drugs to make poor old Matt Murdock’s life a misery. Oh, and he’s accomplished wax sculptor -- who said supervillains can’t have hobbies? Like Scarecrow in Batman Begins, Mr. Fear’s penchant for mind-altering substances could lead to some trippy, visually arresting set pieces




The Hand



There ain’t no ninja like an undead ninja, and if there's one thing The Hand doesn't lack, it's undead ninjas. This shady organisation has been dogging Daredevil’s heels for decades, and is usually called upon whenever a writer needs a big flashy fight scene depicting our hero engaged in an epic beatdown. What they lack in quality, they more than make up for in quantity.




Punisher



Depending on which side of the fence you stand on, Punisher is either an avenging angel, or a gun-toting whackjob every bit as bad as the criminals he’s so devoted to filling full of holes. When it comes to dispensing justice, Frank Castle and Matt Murdock rarely see eye to eye, and our budding attorney at law would sooner have Punisher behind bars than at his back. Castle fans have been crying out for a Netflix-powered Punisher TV series ever since Marvel announced their partnership with the streaming provider, and an appearance on Daredevil could be just the thing to start the ball rolling.

7 Apr 2015

Adam Jensen will return in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided



Deus Ex: Human Revolution took a lot of people by surprise when it released in 2011. A sort-of prequel to one of the most respected games of all-time, Human Revolution saw developer Eidos Montreal successfully reboot the Deus Ex series for the modern age. Combining stealth, action and cyberpunk into one sleek, satisfying roleplaying package, it still stands as one of last-gen's greatest games. Other than mobile game The Fall, things have been quiet on the Deus Ex front of late, but that all changed today with a leak revealing that the next instalment in the series, subtitled Mankind Divided, is coming to Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

As the title suggests, the game sees humankind splintered into two opposing groups: ordinary humans, and their augmented, cybernetically-enhanced cousins. Adam Jensen, the original game's gruff, bespectacled protagonist, will take centre stage once again in an adventure that promises plenty of globe-hopping action. The rest of the plot remains shrouded in secrecy, but we hope to learn more when Square reveals the game's release date later this year. We do know that players won't be able to migrate their previous saves, meaning that the choices you made in Human Revolution won't carry through to Mankind Divided.



In true Deus Ex style, the game will offer players various ways to play: stealthy and silent or fast and loud. As always, players can adapt their tactics on the fly, so if you get bored of creeping through air vents you can always unhook a grenade launcher and bring the noise.

According to the developers, the AI enemies will also receive a serious upgrade; they will now hunt the player in groups, use teamwork, and generally make life much more difficult. Along with new weapons, gadgets and gizmos, Jensen will also have access to a whole new suite of augs, one of which allows him to remotely hack turrets and pull information from passing enemies.



Interestingly, one of the screenshots Square released shows a Crysis-style weapon management system, one that seems to let players customise their weapons on the fly. We always loved this system in Crysis, and are surprised it's taken this long to appear in another game.

We'll have more info on Deus Ex: Mankind Divided as and when we get it.

David Lynch turns his back on Twin Peaks revival



When the news that Twin Peaks was making a comeback first reached our ears, we wept tears of joy into our damn fine cups of coffee. Today, however, we're crying tears of a very different sort, and our coffee tastes cold, bitter and damn disgusting. 

Yesterday, series' creator David Lynch took to Twitter to let the world know that he would be turning his back on Twin Peaks after negotiations with cable network Showtime broke down. There were hints of unrest behind the scenes a few weeks ago, with Lynch voicing concerns over contracts, so this doesn't come as a huge surprise. Just a very unwelcome one. 

“After 1 year and 4 months of negotiations, I left because not enough money was offered to do the script the way I felt it needed to be done,” Lynch said. “This weekend I started to call actors to let them know I would not be directing. Twin Peaks may still be very much alive at Showtime. I love the world of Twin Peaks and wish things could have worked out differently.”

Although Lynch has left, Showtime still seem committed to making Twin Peaks happen. According to a statement released shortly after the controversial auteur announced his departure, they are also open to the possibility of Lynch's return: “We were saddened to read David Lynch‘s statement today since we believed we were working towards solutions with David and his reps on the few remaining deal points. Showtime also loves the world of Twin Peaks and we continue to hold out hope that we can bring it back in all its glory with both of its extraordinary creators, David Lynch and Mark Frost, at its helm.”   

There's still a chance Lynch could take Showtime up on their offer, but the signs aren't exactly encouraging. Of course, there's always a chance that Lynch could be stalling, holding out for a better deal, but it doesn't seem likely. Whether or not Showtime will find another director to fill Lynch's shoes is still up in the air. Either way, it will be very interesting to see where Twin Peaks goes from here. 

A beginner's guide to Bloodborne



It may sound like a cliche, but if you're playing Bloodborne for the first time, prepare to die. A lot. This is a game filled with traps designed to trick the unwary, punishing level design, and enemies that can whittle your health bar down to nothing in just a few hits. On the surface, Bloodborne may look like just another Souls game, but the mechanics underpinning it are very, very different. So much so, even series veterans may find themselves struggling at first. This may be the same old song and dance, but it’s faster, meaner, and if you can't keep up, Bloodborne will leave you behind, broken, bleeding, and begging for more.


If you’re a new player, about to join the hunt for the first time, keep yourself alive with our handy beginner's guide to Bloodborne. These indispensable tips will turn you from mewling milquetoast to lord of the hunt in no time:


Death is its own reward


Death has always been an important part of the Souls series, and Bloodborne is no exception. You will die. Over and over, in a variety of nasty, horrible ways. In most games, this would be cause for an extended bout of teeth gnashing, but in Bloodborne it’s par for the course. Instead of viewing death as a failure, it should be viewed as a learning experience. That pitchfork wielding boogeyman that burst out of a stack of crates may have killed you the first time, but now you know where he is, you can take him out with ease. So, go forth, die, and learn from your mistakes. In Bloodborne, knowledge is power, and that knowledge almost always comes at the expense of your life.





Pick your fights


The early areas of Bloodborne throw a lot of enemies at you, and if you don’t pick your fights carefully, you’ll soon find yourself staring at a game over screen. Instead of wading into large groups of baddies, try to lure out one or two at a time. If you do find yourself hounded by a large group of enemies, take the fight to an area that gives you an advantage, such as a staircase or doorway. This forces them to come at you one at a time, and (as any good Spartan knows) makes them easier to deal with.


The reverse is true for larger enemies; most of these have far-reaching, crippling attacks that are hard to avoid in cramped areas. When facing off against one of these, try to do it in an area with plenty of room to manoeuvre. This will make it easier to strafe, dodge, and, if need be, turn tail and run.


Later on, you’ll find yourself in possession of some pebbles. Lobbing one of these at an enemy will draw its attention and bring it scampering your way. This makes them ideal for whittling down packs of powerful enemies --the werewolves on the bridge at the beginning of the game, for example-- as you can draw them away and take them down one at a time.


Lastly, if you find yourself facing overwhelming odds, don’t be afraid to run away; most enemies will only pursue you so far, before drifting back to their original positions. This is handy if you find yourself needing to heal, or get caught unawares by a horde of enemies.


Lust for Blood


If you ever need a quick pick-me-up during Bloodborne, hitting the triangle button will cause your hunter to crush a blood vial in their fist and recover a chunk of health. If you’re anything like us, your initial instinct will be to hoard these vials away, using them only in the direst situations. The truth is, blood vials are so plentiful you can pop them like Pringles and still have plenty to spare. Your Hunter can tote around a maximum of twenty vials at a time (more if you equip certain runes), and keep an extra ninety-nine in storage. This means you will very rarely find yourself up the creek without a vial, so don’t be stingy, especially against bosses.


If you ever do run out --a very real possibility should you run up against a troublesome boss-- here’s a route that will net you ten-plus vials in just a few minutes: from the first Central Yarnham lantern, hang a left and head down the stairs. There will be a black coated enemy at the bottom who will sometimes leave behind a vial upon death. From here, head through the door in front of you; take care of the two enemies on the bottom floor, hoovering up the bullets and any vials in the process, and then head back outside. Descend the staircase on the left, and vanquish the two ogre-like enemies patrolling the courtyard. These lumbering brutes normally drop two vials apiece. With them out of the way, head back upstairs, and find the staircase leading up to the bridge. The two wolves here will drop three vials each when killed, and the ogre surrounded by crows at the other end will drop another two. Run back to the lantern on the bridge where you fought Cleric Beast, rinse and repeat. Stronger characters will be able to complete this loop 2-3 times in roughly ten minutes. We found that doing a few reps every few play sessions was enough to keep our blood supply in the pink right up until the end of the game, preventing the need for any heavy-duty vial farming.




Shortcut to success


Nearly every area in Bloodborne has a shortcut or two to waiting to be discovered. These handy ‘cuts make getting to and from boss fights significantly easier, so be sure to poke your Hunter’s nose into every nook and cranny to find them. Normally, they will be close to boss areas, and usually take the form of elevators, doorways and ladders. If you find yourself having to struggle through massive amounts of enemies on the way to a boss over and over again, chances are there’s a shortcut you've missed.


Like a boss


Unlike Dark Souls, boss areas in Bloodborne aren't obscured by swirling gates of fog. This means it can be all too easy to blunder into a boss area, get stomped and lose all your precious blood echoes. Luckily, boss areas are easy to identify thanks to their large, open, arena-like structures, so keep your eyes peeled and don’t go traipsing in unprepared.  


Before you face a boss for the first time, we recommend hightailing it to the nearest lantern --which shouldn't be too far away provided you’ve opened up some shortcuts-- and banking all your blood echoes. This way, you won’t have the added stress of losing all your echoes, and can focus all your attention on cutting the boss down to size.




Keep calm and parry on


In Bloodborne your character lugs around a gun instead of a shield. This frivolous firearm isn't much when it comes to dealing out damage, but it does have one indispensable use: parrying. Pulling off a parry is as simple as squeezing R2 when an enemy is just about to swing a piece of steel into your face. If you time it right, you’ll hear a special sound effect and your enemy will slump forward, leaving themselves open to a devastating counterattack. These counters deal huge amounts of damage, and can make short work of even the most difficult boss encounters. The timing can be tricky, and varies from enemy to enemy, but learning how to parry correctly is crucial to beating the game. It’ll seem hard at first, but with a little bit of practice you’ll be parrying like a pro in no time.  


Born to run


There will come a time in Bloodborne when you find yourself facing insurmountable odds, particularly towards the end of your adventure when the environment becomes just as much of an obstacle as your enemies. To avoid a lot of cheap deaths (here’s looking at you, Nightmare of Mensis), and unnecessary frustration, simply take to your virtual heels and run to the next Lantern. That’s right, many of Bloodborne’s trickiest areas can be conquered by a spot of gentle jogging. Of course, unless you fancy running out of puff in the middle of a mob of angry monsters, you’ll need to keep a careful eye on your stamina. Otherwise, this cowardly strategy is surprisingly effective.  




Community service


Your greatest ally in the fight to retake Yharnam is the community itself. Like the Souls series before it, Bloodborne has already spawned hundreds of wiki entries, tips, guides, and tutorials to help players. So, if you find yourself lost, or are struggling to take down a stubborn boss, don't be afraid to head online in search of a helping hand. There’s the in-game community, too, which allows you to summon another hunter to your aid. Two hunters are better than one, especially if you’re in an area, or facing a boss, that’s giving you a lot of grief.


A little light reading


There’s one obstacle in Bloodborne that no player, no matter how skilled, will be able to overcome: the load times. A few days before its release, the internet was rife with angry web warriors threatening to cancel preorders because of it, and while it’s definitely not as bad as all that, there’s no denying that load times in Bloodborne are long and, given the difficult nature of the game, something you will see very often. With that in mind, we recommend sitting down to play Bloodborne with something to distract yourself with during these lengthy loads. Why not flick through your favourite magazine? Annoy your favourite celebrity on Twitter? Put the kettle on? Post a message on the internet about how annoying the load times are? The possibilities are endless.


Got any of your own tips to share with us? If you can tear yourself away from the game for a few minutes, let us know in the comments section below!