Azurephile27

Joined 02/23/2012
  Super Member

đź’™

329 Posts

Marvel Snap Coming to PC and mobile 10/18/22
At this year’s D23 expo (https://d23.com/), a new game called Marvel Snap was announced for PC and mobile. You can pre-register on the website (https://www.marvelsnap.com/pre-register) or within the Apple store and Google Play. It’s coming to PC, too, but I wasn’t able to find a link for it, so I visited Google Play on my phone.

Marvel Snap is the debut from Second Dinner, which is an indie studio composed of Blizzard veterans who worked on Hearthstone. It doesn’t sound like a Marvel variant (keyword there if you’re following the MCU). It’s hard to describe what I’ve just read and I think the best thing to do is to point you towards the links below to read for yourself. You’ll probably understand it better than I do.

I got into CCGs w/ Magic the Gathering and the Star Trek: Next Generation CCG. I still have cards from both. My son has a nice collection from the Pokemon CCG. My problem with Hearthstone is simply that I do not enjoy PVP. I’d rather play against an AI. I did enjoy it to a point and I do believe it’s a good and popular game, but there was little for a single lone player to do when I played, so I stopped.

I’ve never had a great phone nor have I had a ridiculously expensive iPhone nor have I had the interest in them. So, I’ve never really gotten into mobile gaming when it applies to cell phones. I hate cellphones, most especially due to stupid touch screens. I’m only glad now that there’s a Windows Phone Link app that lets me use my PC to text and call. Texting is far superior with a full keyboard to type on!

I’m Marvel-ously obsessed (Dad joke, check!), so I’ll probably at least check this out for a bit. Let me know what you think about this and if it’s something you’re interested in.

Sources:

Announcement: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvel-snap-releasing-on-pc-and-mobile-october-18/1100-6507228/

In-depth interview with Ben Brode: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-marvel-snap-puts-a-new-spin-on-the-card-game-formula/1100-6503598/

Everything New in Terraria 1.4.4!
Greetings Terrarians! Terraria's State of the Game for August is up and it brings some great new about the "Labor of Love" update. First, what is it? Well, this came about when a few years ago Terraria won the "Labor of Love" award on Steam. This was a category in one of the "Game of the Year" polls they do. The "Labor of Love" category was for games that have been out for a while, but continue to receive new content. So, it was decided to give an update to version 1.4.4.

I know, right, we thought we saw the last content update for Terraria that gave us Journey mode. But we're always delightfully surprised (except with the cancellation of Terraria: Otherworld). So, when is this update coming? Well the date hasn't been announced yet, but that announcement is coming soon (and I wouldn't be surprised to see it in next month's SotG). The code is now "frozen," which means it will get no more additional content. It will get bug fixes and balance changes and such, of course. But the code has been released for the other developers (like for consoles). It is intended that this version will be released at the same time for all platforms.

So what's in this update? Well, for that I give to you ChippyGaming's video on "Everything New in Terraria 1.4.4" (embedded) and I strongly recommend you go watch it!

You can read the "State of the Game" for August here: https://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/terraria-state-of-the-game-august-2022.114276/

Let me know what you think of this! Are you ready to jump back into Terraria? I am! I haven't played since our server for Journey mode. I'd love to do that again! I've had the game installed, being aware of this update coming, so that I'll know right away when Steam downloads the update. Especially thanks to ChippyGaming's video, I think I'm going to dive right in ASAP!

Orders For Terraria Graphic Novels Are Open Now!
One of our favorite games, Terraria, now has a graphic novel series and orders are open now! You can begin ordering them at 50 Amp Productions website. You can order the first one here: https://www.50ampproductions.com/collections/comic-issue-01 You may notice that there are tiers. You can get the graphic novel itself for pretty much $5 or you can spend $50 and get a whole bunch of goodies!

Here's a good tidbit from the news report: "Overall, the plan is to roll out Issues 1-4 (Book One) over the next few months, followed by a full Book One release to book sellers/retailers as well as available online some time in Q1 2023. Book One will contain all of the first four issues along with a few other goodies (still TBD, but think concept art and other "making of" work, stuff like that). All orders can be placed on the 50 Amp Productions Website - click the cover above to check it out!" You can find more details here: https://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/terraria-graphic-novel-book-one-issue-one-orders-now-open.114075/

Speaking of Terraria news, I've been aware of the "Labor of Love Update" and I want to make sure our community is, too. It seems to be nearing completion. ChippyGaming has described some of the new features and changes as being "game changing." He's really good at being up to date with Terraria news. You can check out his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChippyGaming

News of the update is often seen in the "State of the Game" posts. You can see the latest one for July here: https://forums.terraria.org/index.php?threads/terraria-state-of-the-game-july-2022.113499/

Are you interested in the graphic novel series? I am, but I think I'd like to wait to get "Book One." What do you think about all this? Are you planning to pick this up? Also, have you been keeping up w/ the Labor of Love news? Are you going to jump back in the game to check it out?

Tactics Ogre Gets Reborn on November 11th
I just found this piece of news, which I fell in love with once I saw the YouTube video (embedded). I haven’t played any Tactics Ogre game, but I believe they are popular. According to the article, “Tactics Ogre: Reborn is based on 2011's Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together on the PSP, which itself was a port of the original 1995 release for Super Nintendo.” If you know more about these games, please feel free to let me know what you think of them!

The reason I fell in love with the video was because it looks just like the Final Fantasy Tactics games I’ve loved so very much. I got introduced to Final Fantasy in college (I will forever love FF8 the most). FF Tactics was something I really enjoyed on the Playstation. I got FF Tactics Advance when it came out along with my first Gameboy Advance SP. Later, I got to play FFTA2 and what came to the PSP. I really loved those games, so I don’t think I can pass up the chance to play this new similar game in November.

Let me know if you’re interested in this! Are you familiar with the games I’ve mentioned? Are you planning to pick this up? I’ve already added it to my wish list and I think I’ll get at release.

Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tactics-ogre-reborn-officially-revealed-by-square-enix-coming-november-11/1100-6506152/

Pre-order Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered by Aug 12 for Bonuses
Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered is available for pre-order on Steam. Pre-order and get bonuses including, “the Iron Spider Suit, Velocity Suit, Spider-Punk Suit, Spider-Drone Gadget, and 5 additional skill points.”

I don’t know much about this game and one of my purposes for this post is that I hope to get some feedback by people who’ve played it. So, please chime in if you have! I believe it’s popular and am looking forward to it.

I seem to be aware of a Miles Morales DLC or something, which also has me excited. I really like Miles, although all I know about him is from the Spider-Verse animated movie. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the next Spider-Verse movie and wish he’d come to to the live-action MCU. I love that he got mentioned in a Spider-Man Homecoming deleted scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JK94pbx8c). I also love how Electro said something like, “there’s gotta be a black Spider-Man out there some where.”

The embedded video mentions that it’s made by Insomniac, the same company that gave us those really great Batman games, so I think this is exciting! I recommend watching the video, of course.

Let me know what you think about this! Have you played it before? What would you like to say about it? Are you going to get this?

News source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marvels-spider-man-remastered-for-pc-gets-big-preorder-discount/1100-6505889/

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Coming November 11
We'll get to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in November, making it the next MCU movie. I've seen this trailer three times now and I think it's pretty emotional, keeping the loss of Chadwick Boseman in mind. It appears Wakanda is in mourning, too, but there's also a war brewing with Namor. He's butted heads with Wakanda before, although he's considered more of an "anti-hero."

Let me know what you think about this! Are you going to go see it, too?

I Am Groot on Disney+ Aug 10
Comic-con is going on this weekend, so you can probably expect to see many more announcements like this one.

I Am Groot is another MCU show coming to Disney+ on Aug. 10th. It's just 5 shorts and all will be released at the same time. It looks funny, but that's just how the character of Groot is (IMO and along w/ the other GotG). James Gunn said that's it's kind of in it's own canon, or when it comes to canon, don't worry about it.

What do you think? Is this something you're interested in?

House of the Dragon Premieres Aug 21 on HBO Max
There's an awesome trailer for House of the Dragon and I wanted to share it with you. The show premieres on HBO Max on Aug. 21st and I'm very much looking forward to it. It's a Game of Thrones prequel, set 200 years before. It has Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen and a few others I seem to recognize. There are dragons, too!

I read the Song of and Ice saga books that are out now, but it's been a while. I really enjoyed the GoT show we got years ago, although I think like many, I was disappointed by the end. I still very much enjoyed the show.

Are you interested in this? Let me know!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is Radical!
Azurephile gives this an astounding "Must Play" on the Ghost Scale
This achieves something special, and it would be a shame to miss it.
Azurephile gives this a "Must Play" on the Ghost Scale
This achieves something special, and it would be a shame to miss it.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge does a great job of capturing the essence of the TMNT arcade game from 1990, which later came to the NES. At the time there was already a TMNT game on the NES, so this was given the title of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game.” It allowed up to four players to take on the Foot Clan as each of the TMNT. You can check out the Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_(arcade_game) It also very much reminds me of the Simpsons arcade game, which was popular.

This version allows up to six players online and offline. If you’re playing on Steam, you’ll have the chance to link to your Epic Games account. I haven’t played multiplayer yet, but it seems like a great game to play with both family and friends.

I think those of us who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s as TMNT fans will get the most out of this. I don’t know how someone who grew up outside of that time will see the game. I’ve enjoyed it although I wish it was longer. The game only has 16 levels and my average time of completing each one seems to be about 6 minutes.

One of my favorite things in many of these similar classic video games is breakable environments. This game has them. There are many boxes and parts of the environment you can break which will sometimes hide things like pizza that restores your health or a variety of other helpful items. Sometimes you’ll also uncover a “cameo.” These are characters such as Irma, Vernon, and others. They’ll have a quest which is that they’re looking for certain items hidden throughout the levels in these breakable things. Irma, for instance, is looking for pieces of her diary. Completing one of these quests will give the power points

Power points are like experience points used to increase your power level. Doing so increases your health and Ninja Power Gauge. As for the latter, it will increase as you attack enemies. Once it reaches a certain point, you can use it for a special move ("Y" by default for XBox One controller). With this special move, you can attack many enemies all around you at once. You can also use it in other forms.

There are levels to the Ninja Power Gauge. You reach a new level of this by not using it when it fills up. So, once you fill up one, the next starts filling up. Once you reach three, you can activate Radical Mode. Once activated, it gives you a damage boost, but it drains the Ninja Power Gauge. It’s great to use against bosses.

There are some achievements, which you can see and keep track of in-game. Some of them have to do with seeing every story ending and finding all cameos. I’ve only played through the game with Leo and Don. Pro tip: If you don’t skip the very end cut scene, you can see what your character is up to after the story is over.

The world map reminds me a lot of the first TMNT NES game. It’s been so long since I’ve played it. It’s the same kind of map you see in Mario games.

I’ve seen that there may be more content coming.

If you were a TMNT fan growing up like me, you’ll probably love and appreciate this as much as I do or more. If you have kids, this is a great game to play with them and introduce them to your era of gaming.

Let me know what you think about this! Did you enjoy the original TMNT arcade game?

Marvel’s Midnight Suns Coming 10/7/22 (Now delayed to 12/2)
The quick news
Here are two extra trailers to check out:

“Master of Puppets” trailer: https://youtu.be/WVZTsTXO3Nk
“Official Gameplay Reveal” with a March release date: https://youtu.be/8eeGFDDU3Hg

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is coming 10/7/22 and the embedded trailer is awesome! The embedded one has a nice cover of “Enter Sandman” in it. Playable characters include Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Venom, Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Blade, Ghost Rider, Magik, and Nico Minoru. The Wikipedia entry calls the game a “tactical” RPG. “Combat will be turn-based similar to Firaxis Games' XCOM series,” according to the entry.

The Midnight Sons
The game appears to actually be a play on words, since many of these characters are from the Midnight Sons. Moon Knight star Oscaar Isaac mentioned the group in an article about the show (see: https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/moon-knight-star-oscar-isaac-teases-midnight-sons-mcu.html/). Here’s a helpful piece from it:

“In Marvel Comics, the Midnight Sons are like the Avengers, but the team consists of supernatural heroes, including Moon Knight. Other group members include Ghost Rider, Punisher, Blade, Werewolf by Night, Doctor Strange, Morbius, Iron Fist, Black Cat, and more.”

Wikipedia (linked below) has a different list, “including Hellstrom, Jennifer Kale, Morbius, Werewolf by Night, Doctor Strange, and Ghost Riders Danny Ketch and Johnny Blaze.”

A key phrase is “supernatural heroes.” This is one of the many groups of heroes that the MCU seems to be getting into. There are currently Blade movies portrayed by Wesley Snipes. A Blade movie for the MCU is coming and he’ll be portrayed by Mahershala Ali. You heard him if you saw the Dane Whitman post-credits scene for The Eternals.

It’s interesting that Mahershala Ali portrayed Cottonmouth in Luke Cage (remember?). He isn’t the first actor to portray at least two characters even within the MCU. You can check out a cool list of 10 others here: https://screenrant.com/mcu-actors-previously-starred-other-marvel-movies-chris-evans-jon-favreau/

Even though Sony owns Spider Man, Venom, and Morbius they still have to work very closely with Marvel (and accept a cut to give to Marvel). The multiverse got broken in Loki’s season one and characters have been able to travel to other universes. Recent Sony movies have show this happening. Venom left something behind some “goo” in the MCU during Venom 2’s post-credits scene. What happened in the Mobius post-credits scene is still confusing. We’ve also seen this occur during Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The reason I’m even just slightly aware of the Midnight Sons, is because MT has mentioned them multiple times in New Rockstars videos (NR channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NewRockstars/videos). I’ve been obsessively following this channel for probably a couple of years now. They’ve really fed the Hellstrom fire of my Marvel obsession (see what I did there?). Just like I do for Gmail and Cheerful Ghost, I keep an open tab for them that I refresh daily multiple times, so I don’t miss a video (unless it’s something I’m not interested which isn’t too often actually).

What do you think about this? Are you interested? Are you a New Rockstars fan? Let me know!

Marvel’s Midnight Suns on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel%27s_Midnight_Suns

Midnight Sons on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Sons