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Fighting My Way Through Rogue Spirit

Kids With Sticks & 505 Games
Early Access Preview
Available on Steam for the PC

Rogue Spirit is an action game set in an ancient Eastern nation of Midra that’s being taken over by demonic forces. It presents itself with a gorgeous Asian-inspired art style with a feel of shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender. You play as the ghostly spirit of a young prince who has been summoned to help save the land from an ancient evil that has been taking control of the people.

To fight against the demons and the possessed townsfolk, you have the ability to possess any of the human opponents that you can incapacitate. From knife-throwing dancers to hulking tribesmen who use claws, you take control of these fighters and turn their abilities on their allies.

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All Work and No Play in Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild

No knowledge of the Monster Hunter franchise is required as this story is a classic hero’s journey in disguise.

Image gallery for Monster Hunter: Legends of The Guild - FilmAffinity Available to view on Netflix

Not everyone can be a Monster Hunter, and if Legends of the Guildis any indication, this animated take makes for a better introduction than the dry live-action one from last year. Not everyone has to know the video game world, and this film does a better job at introducing the basics. Ever since its release in 2004, this franchise created by Capcom has its loyal cult following.

By going full CGI, this film has a lot more to like. The world is a lot more alive when compared to the live-action and the bringing together of characters from the games will certainly be a draw for those who know the IP in and out.

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Genre Picks of the 37th L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival

Runs Sept 23 to Oct 2, 2021
Tickets are available to purchase starting Sept 13, 2021 at 12:00pm PT.

The 37th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is back as both an online and in-person event! Some films will be available across the nation to view and others geo-locked to this municipality.

One work to take note of is the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary Wuhan Wuhan. This film examines the global health issue as it unfolded from February and March of last year and instead of a dire warning, Yung Chang’s (Up the Yangtze) direction offers a humanitarian message. Anyone wanting a fresh look at the situation may well want to consider this documentary as part of their viewing schedule.

Although much of the California state is not under lockdown, attendees are asked to still observe safety protocols. The in person events are likely to be attendance capped, and no matter what happens as the world enters the Autumn season, the organizers are committed to recognizing talents who are making an impact in the community as, so the saying goes, “navigate strange times.”

On that note, the genre picks for this year include:

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When Worlds Collide: Groo Meets Tarzan #2

The first issue of Groo Meets Tarzan ends with them at a local zoo, and the second is about Aragonés stuck in that environment, attempting to survive.

Dark Horse Comics
Available Now

Spoiler Alert

I’m fairly sure Sergio Aragonés‘ latest comic book should be renamed I Dream of Groo and Tarzan after reading issue #2. His teammates Mark Evanier and Thomas Yeates are also in for the ride in this wonderful satire on comic conventions which frames the secondary narrative, and puts the creator in the jungle, the mighty jungle where a certain lion is sleeping. But in the village, the peaceful village, two heroes from different worlds are being set up to encounter one another. By the second issue, the equal amounts of humour and adventure that’s spread across three tales makes picking up this series a must!

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When is a MMO not an MMO When We Have to Free Guy?

Reynolds is a charmer in the same style as Chris Reeve’s Superman, but only done in reverse in Free Guy.

Spoiler Alert

Part of the success to Free Guy is due to the writing team of Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn. Both would’ve known about Disney’s TRON and they may have been influenced by its deeper narrative. The world Guy (Ryan Reynolds) lives in is familiar enough. I wondered if a few concepts were taken from the classic.

Our dorky hero in this movie is an artificial intelligence who is becoming self-aware. He knows there’s more to life and his job as a bank teller. He’s the target in robberies and for once, decides to fight back. I recognized elements of the beloved cult film more so in how smart Guy becomes as the film develops. Director Shawn Levy helps add even more hints by saying we need a tank here and a Recognizer (a helicopter) crash and we have a story which I’ll gladly watch repeatedly.

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You’re a Dreamscaper! Nintendo Switch Review

This RPG Rogue type game mixes in the brawlers, top-down shooters, and dungeon crawlers into a well-formed randomized swords and sorcery style product.

Dreamscaper for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details Now Available for the Nintendo Switch and also available on the PC (Steam)

Sometimes it’s impossible to alter the course of a dream.The reason is in the fact there’s something in the waking world that’s causing that sleeping element to be steadfast, but when you can conquer it, more power to you! Fortunately, there is more control inAfterburner Studios‘Dreamscaperwhich is now available for the Nintendo Switch. The avatar is not necessarily yourself. Instead, you’re this young woman, Cassidy, facing challenges in the waking and sleeping worlds.

More often than not, you’rein battles in the Dreamscape rather than engage in conversation with a talking cow. Thankfully, you’re dealing with people than animals. Along the way, you earn a form of currency togain power ups in that sleeping world. In the early part of the game, they don’t come up fast enough and nor can you spend real money to get ahead faster. I like this aspect of the game’s design because it forces players tobe skilled in combat. Dodging swings of the blade and spitballs of energy must become second nature to last longer in the realm of dreams. As you navigate the cells in this realm, a few narrative beats will reveal itself.

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