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PlayStation Plus Brings Back Long Awaited Retro Classics

Story Highlights
  • PlayStation Plus has expanded its retro game lineup to include the TimeSplitters trilogy, a first-person shooter game.
  • Arcade mode in TimeSplitters offers creative custom matches and bot play for solo and multiplayer fun.
  • Now PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members include older gaming titles like LEGO Star Wars, The Witcher 3, Ride 5, and many more.

As a lifelong gamer, there’s something incredibly nostalgic about firing up a retro game, especially those gems from the golden era of first-person shooters. PlayStation Plus, in all its wisdom, seems to have realized this, giving its subscribers a brilliant gift, three games that helped redefine an entire genre.

And when I say gems, I’m talking about the TimeSplitters trilogy. I couldn’t be more thrilled to see these offerings on the PlayStation Store. For those who might not know, the TimeSplitters series consists of TimeSplitters, TimeSplitters 2, and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect.

PlayStation Plus added TimeSplitteres
The Fight For Survival In TimeSplitteres 2 – Image Credit (Tech4Gamers)

These games aren’t just classic shooters; they’re quirky, inventive, and have a charm that stands the test of time. From the bizarre campaigns to the absolutely bonkers weaponry, these games defined my youth and introduced me to what first-person shooters could really be.

The Revolutionary Fun And Playing With Friends

What makes Timesplitters so memorable is how it embraced creativity over the typical grim-dark, hyper-macho shooters that became all the rage in the early 2000s. Sure, we had games like Goldeneye on Xbox Game Pass and Perfect Dark to entertain us, but TimeSplitters did something different.

The campaigns were absolutely wild. From ancient tombs to futuristic cities, there was always something new around every corner. The weapons were fun, too; you could even take down enemies with a brick, a staple in TimeSplitters alongside pistols and rifles.

What made it even better was that the series didn’t rely on ultra-realistic graphics or serious plots. Instead, it leaned into the absurd, giving us something that was genuinely fun to play.

I have many memories of gathering my friends, grabbing controllers, and spending hours in split-screen mode, battling each other in chaotic matches. We’d laugh at the absurdity of the weapons and argue over which game in the trilogy was the best.

TimeSplitters 2 holds a special place in my heart as the game I played most with friends, cementing the franchise as a classic. Then there’s Future Perfect, favored by many players over TimeSplitters 2, which transformed the experience by taking action online, allowing us to compete with players worldwide.

The Arcade Mode: Where The Real Magic Happened

While I loved the campaigns, TimeSplitters really came alive in its arcade mode, where you can create custom matches. This wasn’t your typical deathmatch or capture-the-bag, though those modes were in there, too.

PlayStation Plus Games
TimeSplitteres 2 Custom – Image Credit (Tech4Gamers)

No, TimeSplitters took things to a new level with imaginative twists on standard modes. I remember playing rounds where you’d have to deal with ridiculous weapons or quirky rules that made every match feel fresh.

One of my favorite things about the arcade mode was the ability to play with bots. Even if you didn’t have friends around to jump into a match with, the bots kept things lively.

In fact, I recently jumped back into TimeSplitters on PlayStation Plus and found myself setting up bot matches just like the old days. Sure, the AI is a little wonky, and the controls are definitely dated, but that’s part of what makes it fun. It’s nostalgic and silly, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What Else Is PlayStation Plus Offering?

While TimeSplitters is undoubtedly the highlight for me, PlayStation Plus has also been adding a variety of other older titles to its roster. Games like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Witcher 3, and Ride 5 are accessible to PS Plus Extra and Premium members.

Playstation plus added Witcher 3
The Open World Of Witcher 3 – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)

Although I haven’t delved deeply into them, they seem perfect for older gaming fans or anyone seeking a fun, light-hearted adventure. These games share a spirit similar to TimeSplitters, embracing a playful approach that lets players enjoy themselves.

I’m grateful PlayStation Plus lets us relive these classics. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the TimeSplitters series or a newcomer curious about the fuss, now is the perfect time to dive in. It’s more than just nostalgia. Though a little janky sometimes, these games still have much to offer.

Latest Updates

Thinking Of Upgrading To The New Mac Mini? Here’s My Take

Story Highlights
  • The upcoming Mac mini may offer a new design, better chips, and a lower price. 
  • The MacBook Pro outshines the Mac mini with its superior portability and convenience for home and on-the-go use.
  • Though cheaper, the Mac mini’s value is less compelling than the MacBook Pro’s flexibility and performance.

Apple is constantly innovating its products, such as the iPhone 15 Pro, which is considered one of the best gaming devices available. These innovations are significantly impacting the market and the gaming industry as a whole. But what about Apple’s upcoming Mac mini offerings?

With Apple rumoured to release a redesigned Mac mini, you might consider waiting for the new model before buying your next computer. I don’t blame you, as the upcoming Mac mini is expected to have a new design, upgraded chip options, and potentially a lower price. These factors could make it a very appealing choice.

But before you get too excited about the prospect of owning the latest version of Apple’s smallest desktop, let me share my perspective as someone who has juggled both the Mac mini and the MacBook Pro.

The Portability Factor: MacBook Pro Wins Every Time

The upcoming Mac mini redesign sounds intriguing. According to leaks and rumours, Apple is expected to give the Mac mini its first major makeover in over a decade, reducing its footprint to something akin to an Apple TV box while slightly increasing its height.

If you value a neat, minimalistic workspace, the prospect of this smaller design is appealing. However, despite its portability in terms of size, the Mac mini remains a stationary device.

New MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro With M2 Pro And M2 Max – Image Credit (Apple)

Using a Mac mini requires more than just the computer itself. You’ll need a power cord, a display, a keyboard, and a mouse or trackpad to make it functional. And while you could theoretically carry all of that with you, it’s nowhere near as convenient as having an all-in-one solution like the MacBook Pro.

For me, this is where the Mac mini falls short. While it’s small and portable, setting it up in different locations is a hassle. It’s not built for the on-the-go lifestyle, especially with remote work being so common. By contrast, the MacBook Pro provides effortless portability, so many users prefer it over the Mac mini.

The Power Of The New Mac Mini

The expected M4 and M4 Pro Apple silicon chips promise major performance boosts for video editing, gaming, and virtual machines. That’s a significant upgrade from the current M1 chip in the new Mac mini, and it’s likely to be a strong selling point for people who need a powerful desktop. 

MacBook Pro
16- And 14-Inch MacBook Pro Models – Image Credit (Apple)

But here’s the thing: the MacBook Pro already delivers more than enough power, as per users’ reviews. Further, upgrading to a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro chip completely transformed my workflow. It’s powerful enough to handle everything from video editing to gaming.

Even with a high-performance M4 chip, the new Mac mini may not convince me to switch. The MacBook Pro provides enough power with added mobility. It handles all my tasks, whether at home or on the go, something the Mac mini can’t match.

Is The Mac Mini Worth The Savings?

Now, I’ll admit that the price is one area where the Mac mini has a clear advantage. The current model starts at $599, making it far more affordable than the MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,999 or higher. So, the Mac mini is a great budget-friendly option.

Sure, the Mac mini is cheaper. However, the value proposition starts to look less attractive when you factor in the cost of a good monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Upgrade Mac Mini
Mac Accessories – Image Credit (Apple)

If you’re considering upgrading to the new Mac mini, I advise you to consider your needs carefully. If portability isn’t a concern and you’re seeking an affordable yet powerful desktop, the Mac mini could be a great option.

The MacBook Pro’s extra cost is worth it for its flexibility to me. It’s my go-to device, acting as a laptop and desktop replacement. Therefore, I’ll stick with my MacBook Pro. You might want to do the same if you value flexibility and portability without compromising performance.

Latest Updates

Stalker 2 Dethrones Black Ops 6 To Become #1 Best-Seller On Steam

Story Highlight
  • Stalker 2 is now the top-selling paid game on Steam.
  • It has beaten the likes of Black Ops 6 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 for this spot.
  • The first-person shooter will also be available on day one through Game Pass.

With just two days left before Stalker 2’s release, the excitement for this title is on the rise. Following a strong showing on the Steam best-sellers list last week, the game has continued to climb the rankings.

The first-person shooter has now left every other title on the platform in the dust, becoming Steam’s #1 best-seller.

Why it matters: GSC Game World has endured unimaginable hardships to ship its latest first-person shooter. The game’s position on Steam’s top seller list shows that these efforts will be rewarded very soon.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Steam Best Seller
Global Top Sellers List via SteamDB

Until recently, this list was dominated by Call of Duty Black Ops 6. Activision’s latest annual success stayed at the top of the charts for many weeks following an explosive launch, but Stalker 2 has ended the successful run. Both games also have something in common: their status as day-one Game Pas titles.

Stalker 2 is currently just behind Counter-Strike 2 on the list. Moreover, it has beaten various free-to-play titles, including PUBG and Warzone, to claim this spot. Regarding upcoming paid titles, the likes of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 have been left behind by GSC Game World’s latest offering.

This position on the list should lead to huge player counts for Stalker 2 on Steam. Moreover, the game will likely see plenty of interest on Game Pass, making the scenario an overall win for GSC Game World.

Stalker 2 arrives on November 20, and reviews should also go live soon. Are you among the many Steam users who have pre-ordered this survival horror shooter? Do you intend to give the game a go at some point?

Latest Updates

Let us know in the comments, and make sure to head over to the Tech4Gamers Forums for more discussions.

Resident Evil 9 Targeting FY26 Release Window, Hints Capcom

Story Highlight
  • Capcom has been silent about the next entry in the Resident Evil franchise for a long time. 
  • However, in a recent Q&A, the gaming giant hinted that it was targeting a release window in fiscal 2026. 
  •  The game is also rumored to make an appearance during The Game Awards 2024. 

Capcom has been quite silent about the next entry in the Resident Evil franchise. The Japanese publisher is currently focused on Monster Hunter Wilds, which will be released in early 2025. 

While the game’s hype is at an all-time high, fans wonder about Resident Evil 9 as its Metacritic page is already up. Capcom hasn’t given a direct update on the game, but the publisher has hinted that it is targeting a 2026 release window. 

Why it matters: The gaming giant has not given any update regarding the title, but a credible leaker has revealed that Resident Evil 9 will be the most ambitious Resident Evil game ever. 

Resident Evil 9 New featured
Resident Evil 9 Could Be Released In Late 2025 Or Early to Mid 2026

In a recent Q&A, Capcom revealed that it is considering launching more AAA titles next fiscal year, but it depends on Monster Hunter Wild’s sales. FY25 has already started, so Capcom is talking about releasing more AAA titles in FY26.

The gaming giant was asked, after releasing Monster Hunter Wilds, what measures will it take to continue achieving double-digit operating income growth for the fiscal year. 

Although it will depend on the sales status of Monster Hunter Wilds, we are also considering launching AAA titles next fiscal year.

-Capcom Replied

The Japanese publisher, for now, is betting on Monster Hunter Wilds to exceed expectations, and it likely will do so. However, if by any chance Capcom thinks the quota isn’t reached, it plans to release more AAA titles, supposedly Resident Evil 9. 

resident-evil-9
Capcom Is Reportedly Expecting The Game To Score Over 90

Now, the gaming giant didn’t explicitly say it aims to release this game, but other than that, it doesn’t have many upcoming AAA titles that will attract millions of sales. So, the game is likely to be revealed during The Game Awards 2024 and will have a release window in 2026.

Latest Updates

While Capcom has not revealed much information, some credible leakers have revealed that the upcoming Resident Evil game marks the return of Jill and Leon and features an open world.

What do you think of Capcom’s expectations of Monster Hunter Wilds? Do you believe RE9 will be released in 2026 or 2027? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers forums.

Sony Patents Using AI Accounts To Impersonate Gamers For Catching Malicious Players

Story Highlight
  • A new Sony patent wants to use AI accounts to imitate gamers to catch malicious players in games.
  • Any suspicious players, such as spammers, scammers, cheaters, and possible predators, can become targets.
  • The proposed system aims to prevent real gamers from getting hurt by catching malicious ones.

While innovating is Sony’s major priority, it is also focused on ensuring that players can always have a safe experience in games. So, the giant conglomerate is not shy about trying wild and controversial ideas that can improve the security of its player base. Its latest patent might take the cake, however.

We’ve stumbled upon a new Sony patent for using AI accounts that imitate player profiles to catch malicious users in games.

These ‘pseudo accounts’ can target suspicious players by having a natural interaction with them, luring them to break any rules by being from a targeted demographic, or siphoning out any other proof of their maliciousness given the context.

A decoy account or network is deployed to identify accounts of anti-social users such as spammers, scammers, computer game cheaters, and possible predators by subtly exposing some vulnerability acting as a lure for any such AS users.

Why it matters: Sony securing a patent for using AI accounts to impersonate gamers to catch malicious users raises some loud alarm bells. The system will lure these anti-social users into breaking rules before flagging their accounts.

The flowchart discusses how the AI-based system will catch malicious users in the act.
The flowchart discusses how the AI-based system will catch malicious users in games.

The patent dubbed ‘LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL POWERED SOCIAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM’ discusses using AI—such as trained generative neural networks—to find potentially malicious users, leading them into a trap and allowing them to mess up first. The AI-based system aims to flag potential malicious players and take action against them ahead of time.

Sony argues that the current system relies on a reactive approach, where malicious users violate rules and hurt victims before any action is taken. On the flip side, an exploiter can also ruin the gameplay for others for a while before any reports are made. 

The AS (anti-social) account may be flagged as suspicious, and the system can wait for the AS account to make an initial move on a legitimate account and report it before any undesirable communication takes place.

The image shows an example conversation between an impersonating AI account and a malicious user.
The image shows an example of a conversation between an impersonating AI account and a malicious user.

Sony will likely use these AI-based user profiles to suspend malicious players or flag their accounts in games for further human moderation. Therefore, the system could make games pretty secure, but the fear of AI targeting innocent users over misunderstandings is also always there. 

Latest Updates

All in all, Sony has also published many other unique patents over the years, such as securing an advanced system to automatically adjust game FPS, brightness, and other details based on real-life factors, and another one about a game rewind feature with a universal controller button.

Do you think Sony should use AI-based profiles to catch suspected players with malicious and predatory behavior in games online? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut Is Currently 2nd Top-Paid Game On Xbox Store

Story Highlight
  • Death Stranding Director’s Cut is currently the second most top-paid game on the Xbox Store.
  • Only Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has surpassed the five-year-old game in rankings.
  • The Death Stranding sequel is likely to be released sometime next year, possibly on other platforms and PS5.

Death Stranding slowly became associated with the PlayStation platform over the five years since its release. However, the entry made a surprising debut on the Xbox Store when its exclusivity period had ended. Many thought the AAA title would likely fail to make it big on the Microsoft platform, but new results suggest otherwise. 

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is currently the second most top-paid game on the Xbox Store. The game has surpassed many other giants popular in the gaming industry at the moment, with only Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 ahead of it.

Why it matters: Death Stranding Director’s Cut release on Xbox has proven to be a highly successful endeavor for the game and the platform despite rumors suggesting otherwise.

Death Stranding Director's Cut is dominating by hogging up the second place in the current top most paid games section on the Xbox Store.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is doing well on Xbox.

A major part of Death Stranding Director’s Cut’s success on the Xbox Store is the massive 50% off sale, allowing both new and old players to grab the game on the platform.

Even some who owned it already on other devices have bought it again for Xbox because of the tempting offer. Death Stranding will likely continue dominating the store—and might even hog the top spot—until the deal ends.

Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding Director’s Cut has a better draw distance on Xbox Series X|S than PS5.

The Death Stranding IP is owned by Kojima Productions now, suggesting we might see the sequel release on all platforms together next year besides only PS5.

Latest Updates

Do you think Death Stranding Director’s Cut debut on Xbox has been completely successful for the platform? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

ZOTAC, Manli & Inno3D Parent Company Moves Its Headquarters From Hong Kong to Singapore To Avoid US Restrictions

When it comes to choosing a new graphics card, there are plenty of brands available that offer models with all kinds of cooling systems. You can select from single-fan ITX versions if the GPU doesn’t have a high TDP, dual-fan versions, and the most common, triple-fan versions with large heatsinks.

Most brands make similar designs, and we often opt for a cheaper one. ZOTAC & Inno3D will sound familiar to you because it usually offers graphics cards closer to MSRP than other brands, and today, it is the star of the show because its parent company, PC Partner, is moving its headquarters from Hong Kong to Singapore while the US restrictions are still in effect.

Graphic cards are considered a fundamental component in PCs, especially if we want to play video games or use programs that use them. We are in the era of AI, and the vast majority of companies and countries are looking to take advantage of this new sector in the market.

Companies like NVIDIA have significantly benefited from this situation, and countries like the United States have taken advantage of this situation to remain leaders by finishing off one of their biggest rivals, China. A few years ago, they implemented a series of restrictions to prevent the Asian giant from accessing chips and machinery.

Zotac Gaming RTX 4080 16GB Trinity OC

Despite the restrictions, China and other countries, such as Russia, obtained thousands of chips through Hong Kong. Considering the situation between the two countries, this is a rather delicate issue, which is why PC Partner has decided to play it safe.

This company owns GPU brands such as ZOTAC, Manli or Inno3D, and it wants to avoid being involved in sanctions and restrictions to continue its business. To do so, PC Partner has moved its headquarters from Hong Kong to Singapore, directly affecting ZOTAC and the rest of the brands.

Move Out of Fear That Situation Between USA Vs. China Will Restrict It From Manufacturing Future RTX 50 Series GPUs

This decision will help them avoid further problems because the situation between the United States and China does not seem to change shortly. In addition, it is feared that the future RTX 50 cannot be sent to China, as the restrictions could affect these.

If this comes to pass, PC Partner will be widely affected and they are trying to avoid this situation at all costs. The other reason they decided to move the headquarters to Singapore is the expected tariffs imposed on hardware, which would raise prices even further.

Zotac GeForce RTX 5090 Leak Image
RTX 5090 from ZOTAC in a factory in Indonesia

Let’s remember that Trump was the one who had the idea of ​​​​imposing tariffs, and he will return to the presidency of the United States when Joe Biden leaves office in January, so it is better to prevent the worst.

We have seen several companies leave China aside since this situation began. Apple, for example, decided that India would be a better country to continue manufacturing its iPhones from now on.

Latest Updates

Now, NVIDIA needs to analyze the documentation to see if PC Partner has not violated the US Department of Commerce rules and thus can manufacture and market the RTX 50 without problems. The change of headquarters was already anticipated when we saw a month ago an alleged RTX 5090 from ZOTAC found in a factory in Indonesia. 

PlayStation 5 Pro Only Consumes As Much Power As The Slim Model

Story Highlight
  • Recent tests have found that the PlayStation 5 Pro only consumes as much power as the PS5 Slim model. 
  • The new model hogs less power to run but delivers significantly higher performance than the base PS5.
  • Multiple games were tested on the PS5 Pro and the Slim model to test and compare their power consumption.

The PlayStation 5 Pro refresh has been on everyone’s radar. While some were taken aback by its exorbitant price, others were more impressed by the power it promised to deliver. Sony eventually clarified that the Pro model is only meant for a few gamers who want the best from this generation. However, buying the console might not have been a bad choice. 

New testing has revealed that the PlayStation 5 Pro only consumes as much power as the Slim model. Another major—yet obvious—plus was that it simultaneously delivers significantly higher game performance. 

Why it matters: The PlayStation 5 Pro model takes only as much power as the Slim refresh while simultaneously outputting higher performance and visual quality in games.

In a new video, Digital Foundry compared the power consumption of the PS5 Pro model with other variants, the base and the slim versions. Multiple games were used to determine the results, including Elden Ring and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

Elden Ring does not take full advantage of the PS5 Pro features, while Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 utilizes all the resources offered by the mid-gen refresh. However, in both games using Quality mode, it was discovered that the Pro model only took as much power as the Slim version.

The PlayStation 5 Slim model used during the testing reportedly took more power than expected, suggesting it might have had some issues. However, the PS5 Pro’s power consumption remains quite impressive compared to the base PS5 model.

PS5 Pro Vs PS5 Slim
PS5 Slim Vs PS5 Pro

Latest Updates

Do you think it is commendable that the PS5 Pro delivers higher performance than the base model while using a similar amount of power? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.

Xbox Series X Reportedly Struggles To Run Stalker 2 On Performance Mode

Story Highlight
  • Stalker 2 struggles to run smoothly on the Xbox Series X in performance mode. 
  • The overall visuals also take a hit, and the textures still seem high-quality. 
  • The best way to experience the game in its current state is in quality mode with VRR.

Game optimization is one of the biggest issues in the gaming industry, and it is often neglected at the launch. We’ve seen brilliant titles like Cyberpunk 2077 fail miserably at launch, mostly because of bad optimizations. 

According to an early tester, Stalker 2 struggles to run at a smooth FPS on the Xbox Series X using the performance mode. 

Why it matters: Good optimization can either make or break a game. The audience automatically skips it if it struggles to run at smooth frame rates. 

Stalker 2
Stalker 2 reportedly struggles on the Xbox Series X

OrfeasDourvas on Reddit tested the game early and shared a few screenshots. When asked about the performance on the Series X, they defined it as ‘not smooth’ and not a great experience. 

Sad to say it’s not great. It’s definitely not smooth. Playing on Performance. Graphics look exactly like in the images OP posted.

-OrfeasDourvas

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
The visuals aren’t impressive in performance mode either

Orfeas also denoted that the graphics take a hit on the performance mode. It looks a ‘little dirty’ even though you can tell the textures are very high resolution. But the weather system and environmental details tell that it’s a next-gen game. 

The VRR performance is better but still not solid 60 FPS at all times. However, the best way to play Stalker 2in its current state is in quality mode at 30 FPS with VRR. It offers a stable frame rate with high fidelity. 

Latest Updates

Even the original Stalker had performance issues when it launched. The game was later fixed via updates. Since the sequel is still a couple of days away, the devs might have a day 1 patch ready for these improvements. 

What are your thoughts on Stalker 2 performance issues with the Xbox Series X? How do you think it will perform on PC and Series S? Let us know in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum. 

Gohan Has The Best What If Moment In Sparking Zero

Story Highlight
  • Dragon Ball Sparking Zero’s “What If” arc for Gohan finally gives him the redemption fans have long wanted.
  • With Gohan taking on Frieza in his Ultimate form and fighting alongside Trunks in the Zamasu arc, Sparking Zero reimagines him as the hero many hoped for in Dragon Ball Super.
  • Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is full of amazing What If scenarios like this, but the biggest drawback is the lack of cutscenes in the game.

While the same Dragon Ball stories have been retold various times in the video game adaptations over the past couple of decades, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero brings a twist to the formula.

By introducing the What If scenarios, fans can explore new storylines within the game related to each character. These what-if stories diverge from the main canon events of the manga and anime and explore new opportunities that fans have questioned for years.

As such, Gohan is one of the characters with episode battles. Without a doubt, Gohan’s episode battles are one of the best from Sparking Zero, and one specific What If scenario gives him the shine and redemption that the manga never could. It’s so good that many fans, including me, debate if it should have been canon. 

The Protagonist We Never Got

Gohan Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
Gohan In Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

When the Dragon Ball Z manga was still airing, author Akira Toriyama was gearing up to transition the protagonist role from Goku to Gohan. This became evident at the end of the cell saga, where Gohan beats up a cell, and Goku dies in the process.

However, Toriyama changed his mind in the Buu saga because of the high fan demand, and Goku remained the lead protagonist. In doing so, Gohan was sidetracked too much for him to even be considered one of the main characters in the following Dragon Ball Super anime.

This became quite hurtful with the return of the Frieza arc, where Gohan couldn’t even stand up against base Frieza form.

As a last-ditch effort, he put all his energy into transforming into base super Saiyan, which almost killed him in the process. It was truly disappointing how unjust Dragon Ball Super was with Gohan.

How Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Redeems Gohan

sparking zero gohan black what if
Sparking Zero’s Best What If Moments Are With Gohan

Most of Sparking Zero’s What Ifs involve completing tasks in a specific time, and the same is the case with Gohan’s fight against the Frieza army in his arc. If you do so, Gohan has a chance against Frieza, and he awakes in his Ultimate form and ends up defeating his golden form as well.

From then on, Gohan continued training to defend the earth and his family against future threats.

However, the best part is that the arc gives Gohan his own shine without him overshadowing Goku and Vegeta or vice versa. Gohan’s arc also alters the Zamasu arc, and honestly, it fits the entire future Trunks theme better.

Considering how Gohan was Trunk’s mentor in the future arc, Zamasu taking over Gohan’s body makes the arc deeper emotionally. This also birthed the first original game character, Gohan Black. With Vegeta and Goku alongside, Gohan accompanies Trunks to the future to fight against Zamasu and Gohan Black.

This also shows that Goku and Vegeta had their Super Saiyan God Blue form, which implies that they had their respective arcs alongside Gohan. Honestly, I’d love to see the original Dragon Ball Super go this route, as it fits the entire theme and narrative better.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Is Rich Of What If Moments Like This 

sparking zero what if
Goku Turns SSJ Against What If In A What If Scenario

Gohan’s What If story is just one of the few storylines in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. I love how Spike Chunsoft brought the What If concept to life with this game, as fans have wondered about it for years since we first saw the anime.

The game’s most notable What If scenario might be Goku defeating Raditz without dying, which makes him train and prepare for Vegeta’s arrival. In the same scenario, he becomes a Super Saiyan against Vegeta if you complete certain challenges.

Latest Updates

Future Trunks securing a place in the Universe survival arc is also noteworthy mention. In his episode battles, Frieza can also defeat Goku and Vegeta and, in doing so, become the leader of Universe 7 in the universe survival arc.

While I loved these What If storylines, my biggest complaint was the lack of cinematics in the game’s story mode. This ultimately removed the depth and potential of these storylines to be more expressive. I do hope the Dragon Ball franchise somehow adapts these What If moments into an anime or manga.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Proves That The Budokai Tenkaichi Formula Still Fresh After 2 Decades

Story Highlight
  • Dragon Ball Sparking Zero continues to thrive on its fan-service appeal. Spike Chunsoft captures the essence of the Budokai Tenkaichi series by keeping the core gameplay while updating visuals and features.
  • The arena fighter genre perfectly suits Dragon Ball, setting a bar that other anime games often struggle to reach.
  • With simple controls and a wide character roster Sparking Zero is accessible to newcomers while providing enough depth to engage long-time fans, proving why the Tenkaichi series remains timeless.

It’s a month from its release, and I still can’t have enough of Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. I’ve already mentioned that everything about this game is fan service, and developer Spike Chunsoft outdid themselves with this title.

However, the best part about this game, or rather the Budokai Tenkaichi series, is how it has managed to stay fresh and relevant, even almost two decades after its debut. Sure, Sparking Zero has several changes, but the base gameplay remains quite the same.

Why It Matters: With video game development advancing so fast and the industry rapidly shifting, many video game formulas prove themselves to be outdated. However, Tenkaichi games remain an exception in this regard despite being generations old.

Sparking Zero Proves That Arena Fighters Were Specifically Tailored For Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is one of the most visually impressive anime video games

Many anime video games seem to be chasing the arena fighter genre for their video game adaptations, and it hasn’t quite worked well for them. I’ve also mentioned how much I want them to move past this genre as it doesn’t work for them; rather, it never has.

Dragon Ball games are an exception in this regard. It’s been years since the last Dragon Ball game was truly an arena fighter. Dragon Ball Z Kakarot was an RPG, Fighter Z was a fighting game, and Xenoverse games were arena fighters but as a subgenre.

The original Budokai Tenkaichi game set the bar high for arena fighters, something that other developers seem to be chasing to date. Dragon Ball games just fit the arena fighter genre best compared to other franchises.

The entire franchise is over-the-top, with insanely high power levels. Ki attacks, flying combat, battle scale, ultimate attacks, and everything else perfectly complement arena fighters. Other games just can’t live up to this scale and features.

Dragon Ball’s well-regarded and widely known IP makes it easier for non-anime fans to get into those games than other anime video games.

The Tenkaichi Games Are Easy For New Comers 

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Features 184 playable characters at launch

To think about it, the base of Tenkaichi games is as simple as it gets. You have one button dedicated to ki blasts, one for melee combat and a power bar to charge up for bigger attacks.

Juggled along with movements, you can get insane combat variety from there. Yes, there are some combo attacks that you’ll need to master, but getting the hang of the game is quite easy. This is coming from a person who played Budokai Tenkiachi 3 when I was 8 years old.

Compared to other games like Naruto Ninja Storm, their combat feels bland and is movement-heavy, which can cancel out attacks as well. As someone who plays a lot of video games and is a Naruto fan, I found it took me some time to get into the Storm games and get used to the combat.

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The Tenkaichi game battles are just fun, even when losing to someone else. Plus, each character has different abilities and depth that can’t or can work against the other character helps as well.

However, staying true to the power scaling slightly dilutes the game’s competitive aspect. That means that you will have an edge in playing as Goku from Dragon Ball Super against Raditz from early Dragon Ball Z.

Even so, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero brings many new features to the table: What If stories, a new character roster, a visually stunning art style, and custom battles. All of these aspects, coupled with the original Tenkaichi formula, help retain the magic and speciality that the earlier games encapsulated. 

Cancelling The Division Heartlands Wasn’t The Best Decision By Ubisoft

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  • Ubisoft has canceled over eight games in three years, including The Division Heartland, despite being close to release, to focus on other titles like Rainbow Six Siege and Xdefiant.
  • Fans were disappointed with The Division Heartland’s cancellation, especially as Xdefiant has faced significant criticism for its lack of originality and technical issues.
  • Despite the cancellation, the future of The Division franchise remains active, with The Division 3 in production and Division Resurgence slated for release in 2024.

Ubisoft has been going through a really tough time. The publisher has canceled over eight games in the last three years, including AAA titles from their famous franchises that were close to completion. Their stock rates have also plummeted, and with each setback, it seems more difficult for them to get back on their feet.

Among the canceled titles was The Division Heartland, a live-service multiplayer co-op that is shaping up to be an exciting release for Ubisoft and another big multiplayer title in their catalog, adding to Rainbow Six Siege.

The title was so close to the competition but unfortunately canceled in favor of supporting other ongoing titles like Rainbow Six Siege and Xdefiant. From early gameplay footage, The Division: Heartland looked really promising. Judging by the current state of Xdefiant, maybe Ubisoft should’ve opted for The Division: Heartland instead.

Why It Matters: The Divisions Heartland was so close to being released, and canceling the game meant many resources were wasted. The Division is a more popular franchise and would’ve performed better than Xdefiant.

The Division Heartland Would’ve Surely Been Better Than Xdefiant

XDefiant
XDefiant Had So Much Wasted Potential

While The Division Heartland looked phenomenal in the gameplay overview by the developers, I adored the PvEvP gameplay with a survival theme and a brand new map that would explore more of the backstory of how the green poison spread and what happened to the unprotected areas, I will admit that the game had a lot of improvement and ground to cover before it should’ve been released.

There isn’t much information on the gameplay besides the official clip, but the people playing the closed beta signed an NDA to prevent them from leaking any information about the game. 

However, a few users on Reddit who had allegedly played the closed beta pointed out many weaponry changes and cosmetics that looked almost cartoonish and reminiscent of Fortnite. Still, a lot of feedback was implemented by the time the second beta came out.

The game was still exciting and hyped up, and it made sense that it wouldn’t be perfect since it was a beta session anyway. Now, I’m not implying that The Division Heartland would be an ideal game, but it would be at least a fun title and, with updates, could have a lot more to offer.

Ubisoft, which is short on staff, had to divert resources to Rainbow Six Siege and Xdefiant, and despite so many development times and delays, Xdefiant is a mess at this moment with no originality being detected and a lack of content combined with bugs and balancing issues that have made the game unplayable for me

Ubisoft even said that users complaining about the game should stop playing it, which surprised me because instead of focusing on the issues, they aren’t taking accountability.

Future Of Division Games

The Division 3
The Division 3 Has Started Production

The Division is still one of the most beloved and popular Ubisoft games, but fans were wondering if the franchise would be shelved like Watch Dogs. However, despite The Division Heartland being canceled, several Division games are still in the works and ready to be released soon.

Another Division title, Division Resurgence, a mobile title, is still under development and has been pushed multiple times from its original release but is still slated for a release sometime in 2024.

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Regarding Division 3, the title was announced in production under Massive Entertainment shortly after The Division Heartland was canceled. I speculate that a lot of The Division Heartland’s resources would’ve been diverted to The Division 3 since it would be the obvious choice to do so.

Who knows, maybe we’ll see Heartland’s game mode in The Division 3, and surely its production will have gotten somewhat of a boost. Still, if I were to guess, The Division 3 is far from release since the studio is currently prepping to release Star Wars: Outlaw, and other major Ubisoft titles are also in development, such as a potential For Honor sequel.

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