Month: February 2020

Yakuza 5 Has One Of The Best Opening Chapters; Remaster Is Out Now On PS4

A couple years ago, I got drawn into Kazuma Kiryu’s world, the world of Yakuza games, being completely enamored by charismatic characters and the allure of rowdy city streets. The series’ pitch-perfect blend of gripping melodrama and absurdist humor is as consistent as kindhearted tough-guy Kazuma Kiryu getting suckered into his former gang’s illicit business. With Yakuza 5 Remastered out now, alongside the whole Yakuza Remastered Collection, the entire saga is now playable on PlayStation 4. Each entry was memorable in its own right, but Yakuza 5’s opening chapter is the one that will forever be burnt into my memory.

On a calm winter night in Fukuoka, about 700 miles from his home turf of Kamurocho in Tokyo, Kiryu’s chaotic life is shown to have seemingly settled down again. He’s a cab driver assuming a new identity under a different name, appearing to have put decades of his life involved in the yakuza in the past, for real this time. But it’s not just that Kiryu had to move far away to leave the criminal underworld behind, he had to leave everything behind: the kids at his orphanage who relied on him, the people who truly had his back, and even his adoptive daughter Haruka. All of it.

The very first scene shows some familiar yakuza business brewing in Fukuoka with Tojo Clan chairman Daigo Dojima involved, the man Kiryu mentored to take care of the gang. It just so happens that Kiryu picks up Daigo in his cab, followed by cryptic exchanges between the two. In true melodramatic fashion, Daigo acknowledges he knows it’s Kiryu driving, and refers to his undefined drop-off as a metaphor for Daigo having to run the clan himself.

Daigo Dojima is always in need of Kiryu's help.
Daigo Dojima is always in need of Kiryu’s help.

This opening also shows the series at its most cinematic, with the opening credits and a bittersweet tune over your introduction to Kiryu’s mundane life behind the wheel. He talks about his past life in vague terms to those around him in Fukuoka, yet they all understand and respect him. Though none of it is explicitly stated, it’s immediately understood where he’s at in his life.

The gameplay in the first chapter also leans heavily into that narrative core. You don’t necessarily need to go around beating the crap out of goons unless they really deserve it. You go out on a night of drinking with your carefree boss, work at a ramen stand, take people around town in your cab, and transfer funds to your orphanage at the corner store ATM. The kids send heartfelt messages after giving back, and as sad as it is, Kiryu is convinced that his presence only puts them in danger, especially with Haruka growing into a successful pop idol.

At least for the opening hours, you experience both the solace of Kiryu living a normal life and the pain that comes from being detached from those he loves. It’s not like he hasn’t tried something like this before–Yakuza 3 also has Kiryu trying to build a life outside of the seedy streets of Kamurocho, running an orphanage near a small beachfront town. However, gang life and the violence and drama attached to it followed him regardless.

After five whole games of him rarely turning a blind eye to injustice in the street, taking care of those in need, raising Haruka and other kids as his own, Kiryu shows the reluctance of cutting himself off. To the surprise of absolutely no one who plays these games, trouble finds Kiryu and ropes him back into the Tojo Clan’s messy drama, but you see that it’s the hardest he’s fought against the idea of coming back.

That’s just scratching the surface of Yakuza 5–it’s the longest entry in the series, spanning five playable characters across five different locations. You’ll play as Haruka who overcomes the struggles of working as a pop idol through rhythm-game mechanics, and continue the trials and tribulations of Taiga Saejima who has his own gripping arc in snow-covered Hokkaido. Yakuza is one of those series where you’ll want to play them all in sequential order to get the full picture, which you can now do, all on the PS4.

Pokemon Home Is Now Available On Nintendo Switch, iOS, And Android

Pokemon Home is now available to download on Nintendo Switch. The cloud-based subscription service, which allows you to transfer Pokemon from previous games into Pokemon Sword and Shield among other features, was previously announced for a February 2020 release window, but the specific date was not confirmed.

Like Pokemon Bank, Pokemon Home allows you to store Pokemon you’ve caught across various games. There are two versions of Pokemon Home: the Nintendo Switch app and the mobile app. The mobile version has distinct features, including trading, and is a companion app to the Switch one rather than an alternative. The Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS versions are all now available to download.

There are also two pricing plans for Pokemon Home overall. The free version includes most of the service’s features but in a limited capacity, while the paid version gives you perks like added storage. One month of Pokemon Home Premium costs $3, three months is $5, and 12 months is $16. See the full breakdown of both pricing plans for details.

To commemorate the launch of Pokemon Home, The Pokemon Company is offering a free month of Pokemon Bank, the storage service on 3DS–as well as the related Poke Transporter app, which is used to migrate Pokemon from DS games over to Bank. Pokemon Bank typically costs $5 USD per year, so this promotion means that players looking to transfer Pokemon from their 3DS games via Bank to Pokemon Home won’t have to pay for two (or any) subscription fees to do it.

Make sure to read our feature on everything we know about Pokemon Home, which includes pricing details, information on how to trade, and more all in one place.

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Disney Will Probably Censor Hamilton’s F-Bombs To Make A PG-13 Rating

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s popular Broadway musical Hamilton is coming to theatres in 2021, and it might feature some changes compared to the stage play. As we all know, Disney is a family friendly company, which poses a potential problem for Hamilton. The play features multiple instances of the F-word, which would presumably bump it up to an R-rating.

Miranda has now confirmed that the movie version of Hamilton might bleep or mute some words, and he’s OK with that.

“I think we’ll figure it out when we get there,” Miranda told The New York Times. “But we’re not going to cut any sections of the show. If we have to mute a word here or there to reach the largest audience possible, I’m OK with that, because your kids already have the original language memorized. I don’t think we’re depriving anyone of anything if we mute an f-bomb here or there to make our rating.”

NYT reporter Kyle Buchanan said in a tweet that one of the sticking points in the negotiations to sell the Hamilton movie rights came down to language. Bleeping or muting instances of “f**k” appears to be how Disney is tackling the matter.

The US movie ratings body, the Motion Picture Association of America, states that PG-13 movies can say the word “f**k” one time. Anything more and the rating increases to R. That’s something Disney would be keen to avoid, as it does not make R-rated movies (except for the Deadpool franchise, which it inherited from Fox as part of its acquisition).

Disney is said to have paid $75 million USD to buy Hamilton’s movie rights. Unlike Cats, Rent, or Mamma Mia, Hamilton’s movie is a film version of the play recorded during two productions with the original cast in 2016. The $75 million that Disney is said to have paid for the movie is reportedly the highest fee in history that a studio paid for a finished film.

The Hamilton movie comes to theatres in North America on October 15, 2021. Release dates for other parts of the world have not been announced.

The big-screen adaptation will bring back writer and star Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Daveed Diggs in a dual role as Maarquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr, Christopher Jackson as George Washington, Jonathan Groff as King George, Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton, and Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds, Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, and Anthony Ramos as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton.

Xbox Teases Collaboration With Famous Basketball Shoes

It appears that Microsoft is teaming up with Nike for some kind of Xbox/Air Jordan collaboration. The official Xbox Twitter account posted a cryptic teaser today that says, “Get ready to refine the game.” An 8-second video shows the Xbox and Air Jordan “Jumpman” logos, along with a date, February 13, which is presumably when more details will be divulged.

The entire teaser is overlayed on a red background, which is probably connected to the announcement in some manner that is a mystery for now.

Air Jordan is the very famous basketball shoe and clothing line that Nike produces in partnership with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Microsoft and Nike recently partnered for a special edition Xbox-branded Air Max 90 shoe featuring interchangeable laces and “snaps” that can be placed on different parts of the shoe. Before that, Microsoft created a Xbox-branded Air Jordan Xbox One console and a basketball shoe in partnership with Nike, so the companies have a long history of working together.

No matter what this reveal turns out to be, 2020 is a big year for Xbox. Microsoft will release the Xbox Series X (and potentially other next-gen consoles) this year, while Halo Infinite is also coming out this holiday, marking the first entry in the core series since 2015’s Halo 5.

Microsoft recently spoke about how it plans to launch a “bold” campaign for the Xbox Series X as it competes against Sony, which is releasing the PlayStation 5 this year.

Birds Of Prey Isn’t The Only Movie To Get A Post-Release Title Change

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a mouthful of a movie title, and recently, it’s had a not-so-great start at the box office. So Warner Bros. has decided to give the film a facelift, by way of a new title for it to be listed as at theaters, Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey.

While a movie getting a name change as it’s in theaters seems like an abnormality–whether it’s an official name change by the studio or movie theaters rebranding it–it’s something that has happened a few times in the past. Whether it be a way for the studio to try and get a boost out of the box office or just a way to categorize a movie, here are a few name changes from the history of cinema.

The most notable name change for a film is the 2014 Tom Cruise sci-fi blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow. While filming, the movie had the same title of the book it was based on, All You Need Is Kill. Warner Bros. famously changed it to Edge of Tomorrow after filming wrapped, and director Doug Liman wasn’t a fan of that, as he felt it didn’t fit the tone of the movie, according to an interview with Den of Geek. He wanted Live Die Repeat, and after Edge of Tomorrow had a rough start at the box office, the “Live Die Repeat” title was tagged onto the end.

“They started titling it the title I always thought it should have, which is Live Die Repeat,” explained Liman. “But they tiptoed around it, and when we make the sequel, it’ll be permanently titled Live Die Repeat.”

This one is a little bit of a cheat. 2016’s Ghostbusters always had the full title of Ghostbusters: Answer The Call, but the movie marketed the movie simply as “Ghostbusters.” Even the title at the beginning of the film lacks the “Answer the Call” tag. However, this tag was added on earlier simply for Sony to catalog its movie.

“It was basically the studio realizing for the video catalogs, and that kind of thing, [there would be] two Ghostbusters. And I didn’t want to make it like 2016,” director Paul Feig told io9. “That sounded like Airport ‘77. The next year, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s an old movie.’ I didn’t want to have to anchor with that, so they basically said they liked [Answer the Call].”

There have also been changes for movie titles years down the road. 1977’s Star Wars became Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Raiders of the Lost Ark became Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark for the obvious reasons of connecting the movies to its sequels.

Movie title changes are pretty common when it comes to pre-production of a film. For example, one of the most notable changes was the film $3000–which refers to the amount needed to buy a prostitute–which was retitled Pretty Woman. This was done because $3000 is a pretty terrible title for a movie. At times, films also get working titles while in production to throw people off. Director Christopher Nolan did this with his Batman followup The Dark Knight, filming under the guise of Rory’s First Kiss. Would fans rather stakeout the set for a movie about a first kiss or Batman punching people?

In GameSpot’s review of Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, Meg Downey gave the movie a 9 out of 10 and said, “It’s the sort of kinetic, high energy romp that comes with built-in replay value, and proves exactly why Harley Quinn has become such an endearing, beloved character in the pop-culture pantheon. If this is the direction the DCEU is headed, the future’s looking bright.”

Now Playing: Birds Of Prey – First Look

You Can Play The Last Of Us 2 This Month, Here’s When And How

The Last of Us: Part II is one of 2020’s most-anticipated games, and you have an opportunity to play it ahead of release in May. Developer Naughty Dog has announced that the long-awaited PlayStation 4 exclusive will be playable to the public for the very first time during PAX East in Boston later this month.

As you may recall, Ellie and Joel began their adventure in a fictional post-apocalyptic Boston in the original Last of Us, so this is sort of a homecoming for the franchise. Additionally, the first public hands-on for original Last of Us was held during PAX East in Boston in 2013.

“We thought it would only be fitting to return to the city that started it all to give fans the first-ever public hands-on with The Last of Us Part II,” Naughty Dog said.

PAX East attendees can line up or book an appointment to play a slice of The Last of Us: Part II called “Patrol.” This is an early section of the game during which Ellie and Dina (a new character voiced and performed by WestWorld’s Shannon Woodward) leave Jackson to find and eradicate infected. The demo contains about one hour of gameplay.

Tickets are still available for PAX East, and you can visit the event’s official website to learn more. You can book an appointment to play the demo through the Experience PlayStation mobile app for iOS and Android. PAX East runs February 27-March 1, and the Last of Us: Part II demo will be available each day.

Naughty Dog also confirmed that The Last of Us: Part II is now in the “final stretch” of development, as the studio works to put the “finishing touches” on the game.

“The end of development puts us one very large step closer to launch. We know all of you have been so patient over the last few years, so it’s been thrilling to see our game taking on its final shape and knowing that means it will be in your hands soon,” Naughty Dog said.

Naughty Dog made additional announcements about The Last of Us: Part II today. The studio released a free Last of Us: Part II dynamic PS4 theme and also announced that the game’s more-expensive Ellie Edition will be back in stock this week.

Now Playing: The Last of Us Part II – Inside the Demo Trailer

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The Hunt: Universal Sets New Release Date for Controversial Movie

The Hunt will release in theaters on Friday, March 13.

Universal made the announcement in a press release with a new tagline: The most talked about movie of the year is the one nobody has seen … yet. Check out the poster and watch the new trailer below.

The Hunt follows a group of rich liberals who hunt conservatives for sport. The movie’s release was originally canceled about a month before the film’s release after a summer of mass shootings and criticisms of the film’s premise from conservatives.

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Producer Jason Blum told Variety that it was not just the movie studio who wanted the movie delayed.

“There was this wild kind of tornado of events, and it just seemed like the right thing to do,” Blum said. “It was never our idea to have the movie be gone forever. We wanted to take it off the schedule so there could be time to process things and reintroduce the film to the world. That ended up taking three-to-four months.”

Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse, who previously worked on the HBO series Watchmen and The Leftovers, wrote the script for The Hunt. Lindelof feels better about the film after they’ve received more reactions from people who’ve actually seen it.

“…as more and more people start to see it, we’ve gained confidence in the fact that this is not a dangerous movie,” Linelof said. “This is not a provocative movie. This is not a divisive movie. I think the big shift between now and then is that more people have seen it and they’ve responded positively.”

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The Hunt stars Betty Gilpin, Ike Barinholtz, Emma Roberts, and Hilary Swank and is directed by Craig Zobel. It will release on the same day as the Vin Diesel action movie Bloodshot, the Britt Robertson drama I Still Believe, and the Dave Bautista comedy, My Spy.

Blumhouse will next release Fantasy Island on Friday and The Invisible Man on February 28. They have another Purge movie on the way but are doubtful about Happy Death Day 3.

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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.

New Red Dead Online Update Will Get You In The Romantic Spirit

For the romantic outlaws among us, Red Dead Online has something for you as part of its weekly update. Just make sure you have time to make the effort if you want to be rewarded.

The Lovers Collection reward is available from Madam Nazar, whose location regularly changes. If you cannot find her in person, you can also mail her the supplies via a post office. In order to complete the mission and receive your reward, you must give her the Chocolate Daisy, Yellow Gold Diamond Ring, and the Two of Cups Tarot Card.

Several new clothing items were also added in the update, including new permanent hats in the Wheeler, Rawson & Co. catalogue. Limited-time clothing is back, including several coats like the Morning Tail and Irwin.

Experience bonuses are available for Moonshiner, Bounty Hunter, Trader, and Collection activities. Missions and sales in these activities will earn 40% more experience and Role XP, and you can get started more quickly with five Gold Bars taken off the Bounty Hunter License, Butcher Table, and Collector’s Bag costs.

If you’re a PlayStation Plus member, you’ll get three free Mash Refills and Trader Resupplies and Twitch Prime members who have connected their accounts to Rockstar Social Club will get a Collector’s Bag and Polished Copper Moonshine Still for free.

Red Dead Online is included as part of Red Dead Redemption 2 for free. The game recently came to PC, including Steam, in late 2019. Just last week, the game gave away freebies like arrows and bolas to celebrate hitting a new player record.

Now Playing: Red Dead Redemption 2 – PC Launch Trailer

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