Considering all the nostalgic strings the hit Netflix series Stranger Things pulls, the series is not as present in the video game sphere as I expected it to be. There are a few games and some DLC, but where are the big AAA affairs making use of all the great characters and creepy creatures?
It’s slow going, but at least two new Stranger Things games were announced this week, according to Superhero Hype. One is a standard mobile puzzle game, while the other is a virtual reality affair from Tempest and Tendar developer Tender Claws.
Those with an active Netflix subscription can only play the puzzle game. It is currently available for iOS and on Google Play. From what I can see in the video below, Puzzle Tales is a mixture of Bejeweled and collectible card/character games. Do you know what that tells me? Lots of in-app purchases. Sigh. Mobile gaming never changes, does it?
Players must recruit a team of Stranger Things characters, each with unique attributes. The characters can be leveled up with “gear and tools.” Think Puzzle Fighter but with RPG elements. While I may not think this is worth playing, the current ratings on Google Play put it at 4.6/5.
Battle the Demogorgon, embark on mysterious quests, collect characters and discover new storylines in this Hawkins-inspired stylized adventure game. Join Eleven and the gang in this match-3 puzzle RPG adventure that reimagines the Stranger Things universe in the style of an ’80s Saturday morning cartoon.
The VR game is a totally different affair. In this title, you’ll take on the role of Vecna and rampage through the void while seeking a way to get your revenge on the series’ heroes. It is scheduled for sometime in late 2023. Specific devices were not listed, but Tender Claws says it will be on “major” platforms. So, probably every VR device that’s currently on the market.
Super7‘s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimates Wave 9 brings back Splinter, but this time he is flocked and comes with an alternate head featuring pupils! The whole white-eyed Splinter always creeped me out. Another change I’ve noticed is that Spinter no longer comes with a weapon tree. I’m guessing this was excluded to make up for the cost of the flocking and new head.
The new characters for Wave 9 include Slam Dunkin’ Don, Wingnut, Scumbug, and Zak. Wingnut is one of the larger figures in the line, mainly due to his wingspan. Oh, and he’ll cost you more, too. Wingnut & Screwloose will cost $75, while the others are $55 each. All five figures can be pre-ordered for $305.
With a Neutrino making an appearance in the Ultimates line, this makes me wonder if we’ll see an in-scale hover hot rod. This probably won’t happen until Kala and Dask figures are released, though. Or maybe not, depending on how well that $450 Party Wagon sold.
Pre-orders for Wave 9 will be open untiled December 2nd. Expect these figures to ship during Fall 2023.
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Featuring a peacenik teen from Dimension X, a hoopster in a half-shell, a dynamic alien duo, a mutant cockroach, and a certain fuzzy ninja master, it’s the latest wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ULTIMATES! The made-to-order 7” scale TMNT ULTIMATES! Figures of Zak, the Neutrino, Slam Dunkin’ Don, Wingnut & Screwloose, Scumbug, and Splinter, all with interchangeable heads & hands and a variety of accessories, are ready to teleport in to take the top-shelf tier in your display with their deafening dominance and dashing detail!
Super7 has been slowly integrating some of the later series Turtles into the mix. How many waves can go on until we see “Toon Turtles” or Troll Turtles? I think the Ultimates line is officially over once we see the clown Mikey figure. What do you think? Let us know below.
On October 27th, HasLab launched its newest crowdfunding campaign. Can the Decepticon, Deathsaurus, succeed where Ghost Rider failed? So far, this Generations figure already has 5,887 backers out of the 11k needed to make it into production. The initial push was positive, but Deathsaurus appears to have stalled less than two weeks in.
This may not spell doom for the $179.99 Takara Tomy toy. Other crowdfunding efforts from HasLab have met their goals even with an early dip in growth. The big mistake Hasbro is making here is presenting Deathsaurus without a single spec of color. The original figure was a mixture of gray, blue, purple, and gold. Had I only been shown a picture of the figure, I would have never guessed this was an updated version of the pricey Japanese Decepticon from ’89. The other issue is that Deathsaurus comes with almost no accessories. Unfortunately, those are all locked behind very lengthy stretch goals.
One of the most feared beings in the known universe, Deathsaurus has spread his reign of terror and destruction for eons. The only force stopping him from achieving ultimate power has been that annoyance of an Autobot, Star Saber. But his brilliant mind has thought up a new plan, and this time, nothing can stop the Emperor of Destruction.
The base figure will come with the following:
Premium 11-inch Deathsaurus converting figure inspired by the Japanese anime, Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory
Converting Tigerchest and Eaglechest Micromaster figures
Death Tailer shield accessory
Sword and arrow accessories
You’re right if you think very few accessories are included with Deathsaurus. The remaining goods have been reserved for the two stretch goal tiers. If the campaign teachers 14k backers, Hasbro would consist of the following:
The Living-Metal-Destroying Cannon is perhaps one of the most destructive weapons in the Transformers universe. A fully-charged blast from its barrel can erode any metal material, including the living cells of Cybertronian lifeforms. This Deathsaurus figure comes with this signature weapon accessory and his classic spiked flail accessory! Fans can also plug the 6 included blast effects onto the Deathsaurus figure and his weapon accessories.
Want the Decepticon throne or bases that allow Deathsaurus to display some of his dynamic poses? Well, ya won’t see those until 17k people back the project:
The Transformers team has sculpted an imposing throne for Deathsaurus that reflects his awesome power. This 11-inch accessory features premium deco and details inspired by the throne as seen in the anime. Additionally, we know you want to show off Deathsaurus in the most epic poses imagineable. We’re including 2 stand pieces to allow Transformers fans to showcase Deathsaurus in his most powerful stances.
Over the years, several companies have created various versions of this prop. Some shot pellets, some were just for show, and some were so crappy that they had a sticker in place of an illuminated ammo counter. Regardless of quality, none of these official replicas were easy on the wallet. Last year Hasbro Pulse announced that NERF would be creating a replica of the Colonial Marines M41-A Pulse Rifle, which was only $94.99. The drawback was the choice of decor based on the Power Loader’s color scheme.
This week, after a year of waiting and a delay, the NERF Pulse Rifle finally arrived. Does it deliver on the experience of being a xenomorph blasting marine? Let’s find out.
The presentation Hasbro/NERF went with for the rifle’s box is perfect. This is a limited edition collectible, so everything included should live up to that name. While the shades of green are a bit brighter than what we see the Colonial Marines wear in ALIENS, the box does feel like it is from that universe. “Acid damage” is present on the case, giving us a tiny view of what’s inside.
Photo Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike Phalin
Opening the box does not immediately give us a full view of the M41-A. The U.S. Colonial Marines’ insignia protects a large part of the rifle’s frame. Whether this is for show or serves some other purpose is not clear. A schematic of the Pulse Rifle appears on the underside of the box’s lid, complete with wear, patches, and the ARMAT and Weyland-Yutani Corporation branding. My biggest gripe is that the NERF logo keeps showing up.
Photo Credit: Mike Phalin
Photo Credit: Mike Phalin
Once the M41-A is revealed, we can see that it certainly cannot be mistaken for any real weapon. Bright yellow and white make up most of the frame, while the business end and triggers are the traditional NERF orange. However, the size of this thing is impressive, measuring 28″ long. The stock is not extendable, sadly. Although I’m not a big fan of the Power Loader colors on the weapon, it’s a better alternative than going with the blue, pink, and red palettes we see on other NERF items.
Photo Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike Phalin
If you’ve loaded up the required (4) “C” batteries, you’ll take full advantage of all the M41-A’s gimmicks. A great feature NERF managed to implement is a functional clip. It may only hold ten “Elite” darts, but it adds to the immersion. Once the clip is loaded into the M41-A, the ammo counter defaults to ’10.’ This can be changed on the fly thanks to the two gray buttons immediately next to the illuminated counter.
Photo Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike Phalin
First, you must squeeze the motor ignition button below the trigger to fire the darts. This will start the internal motor, which is surprisingly loud. While the motor is spinning, pulling the trigger will allow you to fire one round, but if you keep it pulled back, you’ll dump the entire clip. As a result, the ammo counter will keep going down even if there are no darts left in the clip.
I first didn’t notice the sound effects due to the motor’s volume. The speaker is hidden by a bolt near the rear of the M41-A. As a result, it isn’t precisely movie accurate to my ears, but that is probably due to the small speaker trying to compete with the much louder motor noise. However, there is a grenade-launching sound effect when you squeeze the secondary trigger in front of the clip housing.
Photo Credit: Mike PhalinPhoto Credit: Mike Phalin
That brings us to the “Mega” dart launcher. Like the film, you’ll need to engage the pump-action feature to fire this dart. Unlike the film version, this action won’t reveal the loading chamber for the grenades. However, the action is satisfying to do. The sound effect that follows the trigger pull is kind of like two metal trashcan lids being smashed together but is not followed by any explosion sound effects.
For less than $100, it’s hard to find faults with the NERF Pulse Rifle. I’ve seen a few videos of owners easily disassembling the toy and painting it to be more screen-accurate. Once the cosmetic issues are solved, you’ll end up with one of the least expensive replicas on the market outside of printing your own with ABS or resin.
Now, if you’re looking for something much closer to the original prop, check out Matrix’s limited edition airsoft Pulse Rifle. It has all the features you’re looking for, including a working ammo counter, extending stock, and a pump-action grenade launcher (just for show). The Matrix models are around $400, but from the reviews I’ve seen, they’re well worth the money.
Did you pre-order a NERF Pulse Rifle? Let us know your experience with the ALIENS toy in the comments section below.
‘Tales of Symphonia: The Animation’ is an eleven-episode anime series based on the 2007 fantasy video game from Namco Tales Studio. The 2007 show was developed by the Japanese animation studio Ufotable, directed by Haruo Sotozaki, and written by Ryunosuke Kingetsu.
Discotek Media announced that they will be releasing all episodes on Blu-Ray with the original Japanese language and English subtitles. It has a planned release date of November 29, 2022 and it is available for pre-order on the Right Stuf Anime website.
You can watch the opening theme song “Canary in the Sky” below:
The cast of the show includes:
Katsuyuki Konishi as Lloyd Irving
Nana Mizuki as Collet Brunel (Colette Brunel)
Ai Orikasa as Genius Sage (Genis Sage)
Akemi Okamura as Shinha Fujibayashi (Sheena Fujibayashi)
Fumihiko Tachiki as Kratos Aurion
Masaya Onosaka as Zelos Wilder
Yumi Touma as Refill Sage (Raine Sage)
Akemi Satō as Anna Irving
Ayumi Fujimura as Female student
Haruka Tomatsu as Girl
Kanako Tateno as Corrine
Kazuki Ogawa as Priest B
Masaharu Satō as Dike
Shigeru Ushiyama as Kvar
Shinji Kawada as Magnius
Takahiro Yoshimizu as Forcystus
Takaya Kuroda as Botta
Takayuki Kondō as Student
Taketora as Desian B
Tetsuo Sakaguchi as Remiel
Toshiyuki Morikawa as Yuan
Tsuguo Mogami as Priest A
The Aselia Wiki describes the synopsis as follows,
“Two worlds exist, both unaware of the existence of the other. In order for one world to flourish, the other will have to perish. On the perishing world, a Chosen one is send on a journey to restore that world’s mana by awakening the Spirits and becoming an angel. Colette Brunel, the Chosen of Sylvarant, sets out on her journey, accompanied by her best friends Lloyd Irving and Genis Sage. As they travel further, they meet more friends and even more enemies, as they learn more and more about the truth behind the Journey of World Regeneration.”
The music for the show was composed by ZIZZ Studio.
‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ is a sequel anime based on the manga by Tite Kubo. Airing on Hulu and Disney Plus in North America, it originally premiered with the original Japanese cast with multiple subtitles, but it is now being reported that Viz Media is developing an English dub.
Johnny Yong Bosch, who voiced the hero Ichigo Kurosaki in the original anime, will be returning to the role for the English version.
“Was it all just a coincidence, or was it inevitable? Ichigo Kurosaki gained the powers of a Soul Reaper through a chance encounter. As a Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo became caught in the turmoil of the Soul Society, a place where deceased souls gather. But with help from his friends, Ichigo overcame every challenge to become even stronger.
When new Soul Reapers and a new enemy appear in his hometown of Karakura, Ichigo jumps back into the battlefield with his Zanpakuto to help those in need. Meanwhile, the Soul Society is observing a sudden surge in the number of Hollows being destroyed in the World of the Living. They also receive separate reports of residents in the Rukon District having gone missing. Finally, the Seireitei, home of the Soul Reapers, comes under attack by a group calling themselves the Wandenreich.
Led by Yhwach, the father of all Quincies, the Wandenreich declare war against the Soul Reapers with the following message: “Five days from now, the Soul Society will be annihilated by the Wandenreich.”
The history and truth kept hidden by the Soul Reapers for a thousand long years is finally brought to light. All things must come to an end—as Ichigo Kurosaki’s final battle begins!”
The original ‘Bleach’ series ran for 366 episodes between October 2004 to March 2012.
Recently it was announced that the Netflix, live action, ‘Fate of the Winx Saga’ show was getting cancelled after two seasons. Now franchise creator Iginio Straffi, has posted on Instagram that a new animated reboot was coming as well as a movie.
“I am working on many exciting Winx projects in the near future, some of which I take so much joy in sharing with you. First off – a brand new CG Winx animated series reboot is going into production. Yes, a reboot that I promise to sweep you back to the Winx world. For all the love you have given to Winx, I am working hard hoping to bring you a top-quality movie you can experience the Winx world, embracing once again all the core values of what this iconic brand has meant to you.”
In regards to the cancelation of ‘Fate of the Winx Saga’ Straffi posted on Instagram:
You rarely hear from me as I am not very active on social media, but I feel the need to reach out to the global Winx family to reassure you that it is for a bigger reason that Fate: The Winx Saga will not return to Netflix. The news that there will be no season three should not have been delivered in such an abrupt way, disregarding of our involvement and your feelings, by someone who was only part of the Winx Club journey for a few years, after being appointed by Netflix to work on the Fate series. Therefore, unable to grasp the emotional attachment of the fan community and Rainbow’s care of the Winx World.”
The news was met with people asking the creator for more of the live-action show on Netflix, to which he responded that he has no control over that.
“Thank you for all your messages that I can’t stop reading, but I must clarify a little misunderstanding that my post has generated: the final decision to produce or not season 3 of Fate is up to Netflix only. I just took this chance to share some positive news with you regarding my next plans for Winx club, because no matter what: Winx Club Forever!”
‘Fate of the Winx Saga’ had it’s fans and was rated at 40% critical and 82% audience on Rotten Tomatoes. But there were only a few critical reviews. The show might not have been performing well enough given that it was cancelled after two seasons. Netflix is known for being swift and brutal when it comes to cancellation on properties that don’t perform to their expectations.
For those who enjoyed the animated show it seems they are going back to their roots with the new CG series and film. However it is a reboot so that could mean some big changes.
The 2021 musical anime ‘Inu-Oh’ was a huge hit at the Japanese box office, winning the Satoshi Kon Award for Best Animated Feature at the Fantasia International Film Festival. GKids is now bringing it to home video in North America with a dub.
They said on their website, “INU-OH, the incredible new anime film from acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa (Ride Your Wave, Mind Game, Night Is Short, Walk On Girl) will be arriving on all major digital platforms on December 20 and on Blu-Ray™ + DVD on January 24 from GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory. “
GKids added, “Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes, INU-OH is a soaring glam-rock opera set in fourteenth-century Japan from visionary director Masaaki Yuasa, that is an ode to the power of music and a forceful statement on artistic freedom. Featuring character creation from manga artist Taiyo Matsumoto (Tekkonkinkreet), who previously collaborated with Yuasa on the anime adaptation of Matsumoto’s series Ping Pong the Animation, INU-OH features original rock songs by the lead voice actors Avu-chan and Mirai Moriyama, which will have viewers dancing along in their seats.”
They also revealed the dub cast:
Inu-oh: Joshua Waters
Tomona: Sena Bryer
Lord Yoshimitsu Ashikaga: Cory Yee
Inu-oh (Teen): Holden Thomas
Tomona (Young): Carter Young
Tomona (Teen): Jonathan Leon
You can watch the trailer below:
GKids describes the synopsis as follows,
“Born to an esteemed family, Inu-oh is afflicted with an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts.”
The original voice cast includes Avu-chan as Inu-oh, Mirai Moriyama as Tomona, Tasuku Emoto as Lord Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, Kenjiro Tsuda as Inu-oh’s Father, and Yutaka Matsushige as Tomona’s Father.
John Krasinski returns to the world of espionage with the trailer for the third season of Jack Ryan, where he plays the titular CIA Analyst. In the teaser, we see Ryan getting framed for helping a criminal conspiracy. Desperate to stop the plot, he encounters allies, enemies, and new foes to fight.
Besides Krasinski returning, Wendell Pierce will be reprising their roles as CIA Officer James Greer and Michael Kelly as former CIA Officer Mike November. Amazon says in a press release that “Nina Hoss as Czech President Alena Kovac and Betty Gabriel as CIA Rome Station Chief Elizabeth Wright” will be joining the cast.
The third season is set to stream all eight episodes via Prime Video on December 21, 2022.
You can watch the trailer below:
Amazon describes the season synopsis as follows,
“In the third season of the action-thriller series, Jack Ryan is working as a CIA case officer in Rome, when he is tipped off that the Sokol Project, a secret plan to restore the Soviet Empire, is being resurrected more than 50 years after it was thought to have been shut down. Jack embarks on a mission to confirm the intelligence, but things quickly go awry, and he is wrongly implicated in a larger conspiracy. Accused of treason, with a Red Notice out for his arrest, Jack is forced to run from his own government, if he has any hope of uncovering the rogue faction before it’s too late. Crisscrossing Europe as he is hunted by former allies and new enemies alike, Jack races against the clock to stop the cascade of destabilizing conflicts from leading to global catastrophe.”
The series is based on a character created by novelist Tom Clancy. His debut was in the1987 novel ‘Patriot Games’ which was adapted into a film starring Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan.
The streaming wars make for strange bedfellows with cable competitors Comcast and Charter announcing that they are bringing their streaming apps together under the Xumo branding.
A press release revealed that the “entire entertainment ecosystem inclusive of streaming devices, content, and a platform for partners to reach audiences at scale.”
Xumo is a free, ad-based streaming founded in 2011 that features several news and entertainment channels for streaming. They were acquired by Comcast in 2020 with the conglomerate announcing that it will shift to their new deal with Charter.
Deadline reports that Xumo president Marcien Jenckes explained, “Since 2011, the Xumo brand has connected with millions of customers across the country, establishing itself as a leader in the free ad-supported TV industry for the innovative ways it delivers content to its users.”
“The new Xumo will bring industry leading streaming and aggregation technology nationwide through its expanding content, product line up, and retailer relationships,” he added.
Xumo’s channel service is similar to Pluto TV which also uses ad-based programming and channels.
“By redeploying the Xumo name for the new venture, the owners answered a question looming over the 2020 acquisition by Comcast, which puzzled many in the industry given the company’s investment in Peacock and the growth of Flex,” Deadline said in a report.
Comcast’s streaming service Flex will be rebranded as Xumo Stream Box with XClass TV being retitled Xumo TV. Xumo will also be renamed Xumo Play and will now have a device similar to a Roku or Amazon Firestick available in retail stores in 2023.
“Xumo’s own free streaming service will continue to exist, but under the new name Xumo Play. Customers will be able to keep watching free content on Xumo devices and through a standalone app,” CNET notes.
Xumo currently features over 200 entertainment, news, and sports channels. The new devices will be voice-activated and will be able to stream in 4K.
