STACK #206 Dec 2021

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ISSUE 206 Dec ’21

STACK Issue 206 DECEMBER 2021 “Your very own tale of grand adventure is about to unfold”

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ISSUE 206 Dec ’21

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ISSUE 206

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INSIDE: HALO INFINITE • CRICKET 22

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 206 DEC 2021

CONTENTS

Merry Christmas from the team at STACK

GAMING 6 Take 5/Game Changers!

WELCOME Australian gamers were first introduced to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl way back in 2007 on the DS. 14 years later, these games have been remade for the Switch as Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl , both releasing this month. Two of the most anticipated games of the year, they’re joined in December by another gaming titan, Halo Infinite , while Cricket 22 is the perfect companion for a long Ashes summer. Keeping the kids entertained over Christmas will be much easier armed with fresh movie releases, Ron’s Gone Wrong and Paw Patrol: The Movie . Ridley Scott’s lavish medieval epic The Last Duel and the Guillermo del Toro produced horror-thriller Antlers round off December in film. Are you still stuck for a Christmas gift idea? Well, allow us to take the stress out of your decision-making. We’ve pulled together the 100 hottest tech gifts of 2021 across multiple categories: there’s something for everyone. Adele is our cover artist in our final issue of the year, and she’s joined by The Teskey Brothers and Orchestra Victoria’s excellent Live at Hamer Hall and Karnivool’s Decade of Sound Awake on Blu-ray. From the team at STACK , have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. See you in 2022! Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

7 Fast Forward/Q5 8 Pokémon Brilliant

Diamond/Shining Pearl 9 Jurassic Park Evolution 2 10 Halo Infinite 12 Cricket 22 14 Accessorise Now! 15 STACK Recommends 16 Out this month FILM & TV 22 Take 5 24 The Matrix Resurrections 26 Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City 28 Dune 30 Bob J – American Gangster 32 Dangerous 34 Doctor Who 36 New from Imprint Films

38 Out this month 40 New on 4K UHD

LIFE TECH 44 Life Tech intro 46-72 STACK ’s Christmas Gift Guide 74 Netgear’s XR 1000 Router 76 What’s new at JB FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4-6 The Music Room: Xmas belters and spotlight on Wham! 8 AlbumTales: Nirvana’s Nevermind (1991) 10-12 Cover feature: Adele’s 30 14 This month @ J 16-17 STACK Record Club 20-22 Album reviews MUSIC

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

Social Media Manager Imogene Lewis-Granland Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones, Gill Pringle Contributors

Anthony Horan, Glenn Cochrane, Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins,

Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15smust beaccommpaniedby a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2021 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

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GAMING FEATURE

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STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

BEST SELLERS at

What’s your all-time favourite game series?

The Legend of Zelda. Ocarina of Time remains my favourite game decades on from when I first played it, while games like Twilight Princess and The Wind Waker are also gems in my book. I haven’t finished Breath of the Wild , which is shameful I know, but I’m getting there!

NOVEMBER 2021

1 POKÉMON

DYLAN BLEREAU @ JB Hi-Fi Booragoon,WA

BRILLIANT DIAMOND

2 CALL OF DUTY: VANGUARD

What have you been playing lately?

3 BATTLEFIELD 2042

Despite not particularly liking golf in reality, I’m a huge fan of Everybody’s Golf on PS4. It’s the perfect relaxation game to play after a busy day. The gameplay is simplistic, but the sheer number of courses and customisation ensure it never feels stale. Otherwise, I’ve been making my way towards the platinum trophies in Crash Bandicoot 4 and Resident Evil Village , two very different but extremely enjoyable games.

What’s the best thing about working in games at JB?

4 POKÉMON

SHINING PEARL

Being able to share my gaming opinions and experiences with others is probably my favourite thing about working in games. The fact that I’m surrounded by products I’m passionate about makes it really easy and enjoyable to chat with customers. I can talk about games for hours, so to be able to do that for a job is awesome!

5 FIFA 22

6 JUST DANCE 2022

7 MARIO PARTY SUPERSTARS

What would be your desert island console?

What’s your earliest video gaming memory?

It would have to be the Nintendo GameCube. It was the first console that was truly my own and I’d happily spend my time on a desert island churning through the myriad quality titles. Why search for food when you can just play Super Mario Sunshine or Luigi’s Mansion ?!

8 NBA 2K22

Playing Crash Bandicoot on the original PlayStation is the earliest I can recall. I remember being instantly enamoured by it and playing it so much that my dad would constantly say, “If you sit in front of the TV much longer then you’ll go square- eyed!” 20 years on and I haven’t stopped gaming, nor have my eyes gone square!

9 FAR CRY 6

10 FORZA HORIZON 5

GAME CHANGERS! A YEAR IN GAMING The new consoles kept coming, with a focus on taking them on the go. Arcade machines got bigger and their games became more intricate, while the animation in a new home computer game made gamers gape in awe… 1989

Nintendo led the way in changing how we gamed, with the release of their handheld Game Boy. That it only had a monochrome screen with no backlighting didn’t slow sales

Atari boasted that their new racing game Hard Drivin’ was “The industry’s first real driving simulator”, and few took time to argue as they pumped machines the world over full of coins. The secret to the game’s realistic (for the time) graphics was the use of polygons, with the experience benefitting from a

Starting life on the Apple II computer, a game called Prince of Persia by Karateka creator Jordan Mechner first hit home,

down, as the machine – cannily sold with Russian puzzle addiction Tetris included – became the must-have accessory of the year. Later in 1989, Atari released their Lynx handheld unit. Despite boasting a

force feedback steering wheel, gearstick and three pedals. The first-person view was also quite novel, as players went for speed and

and set the jaws of the

backlit colour screen and a cool range of arcade hits, it never quite took off.

few who then saw

it dropping at its incredible rotoscoped animation. While story-wise it was pretty standard fare – unnamed protagonist must defeat a big bad and save the princess – once PoP made its way onto formats such as the PC word spread quickly, and it became a franchise that continues to this day.

pulling off successful stunts.

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WHAT’S COMING IN JANUARY?

TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX EXTRACTION They came from space in a meteor, and they sure ain’t friendly! They’re the Archaens, they’re parasites, and we need to obliterate them! Players will join the REACT team, assembling a one to three-player squad of operators from a pool of 18, and levelling them up to take on the icky scourge in 12 maps set in four different US regions. In a very cool move, Ubisoft promise full cross-play, cross-save and cross-progression between formats, too.

CRICKET 22 This “Official Game of The Ashes” is the follow-up to the Aussie- developed Cricket 19 , and is set to finally deliver a bunch of new things to Switch that are shinier than a brand-new Kookaburra ball. On top of playing the venerable Ashes series, face up at the crease to everything from the Big Bash to overseas competitions, featuring licensed teams from Australia, England, The West Indies, New Zealand and Ireland. Plus, both women’s and men’s competitions feature.

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SHOOTER

20/1/21

SPORTS

28/1/21

PlayStation Controller Shaped Mug

Super Mario 2022 Calendar

Far Cry 6 Antón & Diego Castillo Figurine

POKÉMON LEGENDS: ARCEUS The Pokémon world takeover continues apace, with this latest action meets RPG entry in the long-running franchise. A totally new game rather than an update of a classic, prepare for a blend of action and exploration in the early days of the Sinnoh region, with the RPG roots of the Pokémon series still shining through. There’s set to be plenty of classic Pokémon Poké Ball catching - and tossing your ally’s Poké Ball near wild Pokémon to join in the battle, too!

Halo Outline T-Shirt

Game Boy Heat Change Mug

Activision Pitfall! T-Shirt

MULTIPLAYER?

ACTION RPG

28/1/21

Minecraft 2022 Planner

1 What’s the first game that you remember playing? The first game I played was an arcade version of Pac-Man . The first game I ever owned was Gauntlet on the Commodore 64. 2 What was the last game that you finished? I really enjoyed playing through Psychonauts 2 recently! 3 What’s your favourite game of all time? Halo ! The first game launched when I was 16, so the original trilogy really spanned that formative late-teen-to-young-adult period. From dragging a TV and Xbox to a friend’s house for a LAN party to joining up with distant friends over Xbox Live in Halo 2 , some of my greatest gaming memories are of time spent in those games. Even today, some of my very best friends are people I met through Halo . 4 What do you think is the most underrated game of all time? X-Men Origins: Wolverine for PS3/ Xbox 360 was an absolute gem that was cruelly overlooked by almost everyone. 5 What’s the game that you most wish you’d worked on? I imagine working on Katamari Damacy would have felt like a joyous fever dream.

Creative director on Forza Horizon 5 at Playground Games. MIKE BROWN

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DIAMONDS AND PEARLS

The two newest Pokémon games on the block are Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl for Switch, enhanced remakes of the Nintendo DS games Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl .While they share many similarities, there are also some important differences between the two games. Let’s take a look at what they are, shall we? Words Bec Summer T he big differences between the two games come down to which Pokémon are exclusive to which version. Both Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl each feature 37 unique characters. So, if you’re desperate to catch Legendary cover star Dialga, go for Brilliant Diamond , and if you can’t live without the other Legendary cover star, Palkia, then Shining Pearl is the way to go. Don’t forget that you can always trade Pokémon with your Poképals who have the alternate version, too. Here are all 74 of the exclusive Pokémon, so that you can decide which version is right for you.

BRILLIANT DIAMOND Arbok Arcanine Butterfree

SHINING PEARL Articuno Bagon Bastiodon Beedrill Glameow

Caterpie Cranidos Dewgong Dialga Ekans Electabuzz Electivire Elekid Entei Gligar Gliscor Growlithe Honchkrow Ho-oh Nuzleaf Pupitar Raikou Rampardos Scizor Scyther Seedot Seel Shiftry Skuntank Solrock Stunky Suicune Tyranitar Zangoose Kecleon Larvitar Mawile Metapod Murkrow

Kakuna Lombre Lotad Ludicolo Lugia Lunatone Magby Magmar Magmortar Masmagius Misdreavus Moltres Ninetails Salamence Sandshrew Sandslash Seviper Shelgon Shieldon Slowbro Slowking Slowpoke Stantler Teddiursa Ursaring Vulpix Palkia Pinsir Purugly Sableye

Ludicolo

Cranidos

Magmortar

Electivire

Moltres

Gliscor

Metapod

Purugly

Slowbro

Skuntank

• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl are out now

Weedle Zapdos

Suicune

Bastiodon

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! That isn’t it for the new and exciting Pokémon in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl , oh no! After you defeat the Pokémon League and tick all the boxes on the Sinnoh region Pokédex, you’ll unlock a new area known as Ramanas Park, which features some exclusive Legendaries to discover. Are you up for the challenge?

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FEATURE GAMING

and Jurassic Park film franchise, letting players play through key moments of their favourite films. These ‘what if’ scenarios are each set across eras and locations from all five movies, allowing players to immerse themselves in the Jurassic World franchise and see how things turn out when

they’re put at the helm of managing new challenges with unpredictable outcomes.

How has the AI been improved since the first outing? Our prehistoric species feel more alive than ever as they preside over territory, displaying brand-new social behaviours when encountering one another, fighting for dominance and reacting intelligently to the world around them. The new dinosaur territory system provides players with a dynamic representation of the area they patrol, which will change and adapt over time based on dinosaur needs. Players must ensure they’ve placed the correct feeders, paleobotany plants or water sources in their enclosures to prevent their dinosaurs from looking elsewhere. These territories can overlap too, which is safe for species that can cohabit, but presents the potential for conflict for those that cannot. What’s your personal favourite in-game creature, and why? One of the new prehistoric species that we’ve added that I really love is the

Possibly the most dangerous business sim around, JurassicWorld Evolution 2 is now out and about. We consulted Rich Newbold, the game’s director at Frontier Developments, to find out more about it. Words Amy Flower

Amargasaurus. It’s a sauropod with tall neural spines along the

dinosaur's neck and upper back. These spines were bifurcated, meaning they form a double row. It’s such an incredible visual. What do you personally think is the coolest new feature? I really like the time control feature. With the touch of a button players can now pause the game or speed it up, giving them more control whilst managing these

COME OUT AND PLAY!

by Jeff Goldblum), Claire Dearing (voiced by Bryce Dallas Howard), and Owen Grady (voiced by AJ Locascio). In Chaos Theory mode, players will run their own

What sort of pressure comes with working on such a popular franchise? There’s always pressure being part of such an amazing universe. A great Jurassic game has to respect that universe and give players an authentic experience. We’ve worked closely with Universal to make sure that the game as a whole, and our original story, fit into the Jurassic canon. It’s a huge part of what makes Jurassic World Evolution 2 feel like a true extension of the movies. The campaign mode is set right after events of the last movie, Fallen Kingdom .Where have you taken the story? It’s been really exciting to create a story where dinosaurs are no longer confined to Isla Nublar. This allows players to experience being amongst dinosaurs in the wild, as they work to control, conserve and contain them. They’ll face exciting new challenges as they encounter the dangerous situations that freedom now creates. Which characters/actors that we know from the movies feature in this sequel? In Campaign mode, players will work alongside iconic characters including Dr Ian Malcolm (voiced

Jurassic World Evolution 2 features over 75 species, including both flying and marine reptiles. Players can watch the Maaradactylus or the Tapejara soar around the aviary, or observe the iconic Mosasaurus in its lagoon enclosure.

Jurassic World with the support of iconic characters such as Dr

Henry Wu (voiced by BD Wong) and Simon Masrani

(voiced by Aaron Neil) and realise the original dream of Jurassic Park with Dr John Hammond (Mackenzie Grey). They’ll be joined by both familiar and new faces exclusive to the Jurassic World Evolution games. Please tell us more about the ‘ChaosTheory’ mode… Chaos Theory mode offers a reimagined take on pivotal moments from the Jurassic World

huge dinosaur parks.

What’s your top tip for running a successful Jurassic Park orWorld in this

new iteration? For me, it’s making sure that your guests can see your dinosaurs. With territory being dynamic, players may find that their prehistoric species move away from their viewing galleries, meaning that although they were once visible, that they aren’t anymore.

• Jurassic World Evolution 2 is out now

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HaloWars

Obviously, Microsoft and Bungie severing their connection certainly wasn’t it for Halo. A new studio, 343 Industries, was set up to carry the mainline Halo torch onwards, and the “Reclaimer Trilogy” was eventually born. It kicked off with Halo 4 , which launched in November 2012. Continuing to hone the established formula, it also saw the drop of a post-release story-driven multiplayer campaign, entitled Spartan Ops , which rounded out the main campaign’s tale. The following year saw the release of another spinoff game, delivering a whole bunch of arcade-influenced twin-stick shooting fun in Halo: Spartan Assault . It initially released on Windows and Windows Phone, before lobbing on Xbox early in 2014. Come October 2015, it was time for the first native Xbox One Halo to shine, in the form of Halo 5: Guardians . It saw Master Chief go AWOL with his team, with the player switching between he and his charges as they search for Cortana, and Fireteam Osiris.

After a long wait, it’s finally time to say “hello Halo!” again this month with the arrival of Halo Infinite . 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the franchise that launched the original Xbox, so let’s take a look back at some of the milestones along the way. Words Amy Flower W ith Microsoft joining the home console fray in 2001, there was a need to make a big splash with a Covenant scourge. Popular new additions to the gameplay included the ability to duel-wield weaponry, and full support for online multiplayer. In late 2007, Halo 3 rounded out the story of the initial trilogy, adding “killer app”. That killer app was Halo: Combat Evolved from developers Bungie, and none of the wildest dreams of anybody involved could have visualised how big their Xbox launch game would become. At the centre of the franchise is the story

After the success of Halo Wars years earlier, it was no surprise

that another RTS Halo was announced, in 2017’s sequel Halo Wars 2 . It aimed to adhere closer to the ongoing story of the current trilogy than the previous release did, which was accomplished by jumping forward some 28 years, bang into the middle of the mainline series goings-on. And now we’re up to date, with Halo Infinite set to complete the Reclaimer Trilogy, and stretch the limits of new-gen Xbox Series X|S consoles. With Microsoft promising the most expansive Master Chief campaign yet, there’s a lot for Halo fans to get excited about.

a selection of new weapons and vehicles, as well as a popular map editor, allowing players to tweak existing multiplayer maps. A real-time strategy spinoff, Halo Wars , emerged for the Xbox 360 in 2009. From a different

of Master Chief John-17, a super-soldier member of a group codenamed Spartans, as well as his AI companion – a name that will be familiar to Windows users – Cortana. The Spartans are on one side of an interstellar war between humans and an alien alliance known as The Covenant. Following its initial success,

Halo: Combat Evolved

development team, it was set 21 years before events of Halo:

TO INFINITE AND BEYOND! As of early 2021, the Halo franchise had sold 81 million units. That’s a whole lot of Master Chief!

Combat Evolved , and delivered satisfying military combat for

Halo: Combat Evolved became the first of a trio of games from Bungie, now known simply as the “Original Trilogy”. It laid the template for what was to come, delivering a gameplay combination of first-person shooting via an ever-expanding arsenal of wild sci-fi inspired weaponry and third-person driving, in vehicles named after animals that range from the Kestrel and Mongoose through to the now legendary Warthog series. 2004 saw the release of Halo 2 , a continuation of Master Chief’s fight against The

those with less of a penchant for all-out action. Meanwhile, shooter fans got to play with Halo 3: ODST from Bungie, putting them into the boots of the United Nations Space Command, or Orbital Drop Ship Troopers. FPS Halo: Reach then launched in 2010,

Halo Infinite

which ended up being Bungie’s Halo swansong. This was also a prequel to the original game, still involving the fight against The Covenant as our heroes battle to protect the human world.

• Halo Infinite is out Dec 9

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AVAILABLE 9 DECEMBER, 2021

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FACING UP! Given the pandemic, Big Ant had to find a way to keep the real-world player likenesses in Cricket 22 bang up-to-date. Says Merren: “We worked hard at developing ways to capture likenesses that didn’t involve having people physically present for our artists to take photos of them, including having players take thousands of photos of themselves to make sure they’re current. We’ve always cared about authenticity within the licenses, so getting this right has been a priority for us.”

It’s summer, which means it’s cricket time!With Cricket 22 hot off the press, we bowled some questions at Michael Merren, the game’s development manager at Melbourne’s Big Ant Studio Words Paul Jones ASHES TO BASHES!

(BIG)

Cricket 22 , and we then extrapolated from that the commentary that you hear in-game – this is how we ensured that the commentary is authentic and responsive to the situations in the game. Bowling has always been the hardest aspect of a cricket game to attract players.What steps have been made in Cricket 22 to make more players want to bowl? One of the key things that we’ve done is implement “arcade” bowling controls, which involve placing a marker on the screen to determine where the ball is going to go. This highly accessible option helps players get into the game immediately and get a feel for how the bowling system works in the game. Once you’re more comfortable with bowling, you can switch to our more traditional control options for a more granular and simulation-like bowling experience, much like a “pro-mode”. What’s the studio’s proudest Cricket 22 moment? We’re just thrilled that, with this being our fifth cricket simulation, we’ve been able to continue taking on the feedback from our amazing community to build a truly authentic and fully- featured simulation of the great sport. We’re fans of cricket ourselves, and we’ve always been driven by what the players that spend hundreds, if not thousands, of hours playing our games tell us. We believe Cricket 22 delivers on that feedback.

What’s involved in chasing down all the relevant licenses for the game? A lot of work! We’re constantly talking to cricket bodies and expanding the breadth of licenses within our game. We’ll continue to do so, too, with more licenses to come after release – so stay tuned! The commentary in any sports game is almost the 12th player when it comes to adding realism. How did you record the commentary for Cricket 22 ? We did build the commentary for Cricket 22 from scratch, and for the first time you can enjoy an all-woman commentary team – we believe it’s important to support the women’s game. To create the commentary, we actually had people commentate entire matches of

Before you started on Cricket 22 , what did you outline as the key features that you wanted to work on? As we knew Cricket 22 was to be the first cricket game for the next generation of consoles, we wanted to make sure that we delivered an experience that matched “new generation” expectations. We’ve completely overhauled the visual engine – the power of these machines has allowed us to support 4K resolution for the first time, and add more detail to the game in almost every way. What are the significant changes in Cricket 22 ? We’ve worked hard to bring more licenses than ever before to Cricket 22 , so now you can play with New Zealand, the West Indies and Ireland, as well as Australia and England, and you’ll also experience the thrills of the short form Big Bash, The Hundred and the CPL. The career mode has also been greatly enhanced, featuring a narrative and stronger focus on the off-field experience, so that you can be even more immersed within your rise to superstardom.

What are your predictions for the Ashes series?

Cricket fans have a lot to look forward to this summer! We’re looking forward to a closely fought contest between two excellent teams but, barring some Stokes brilliance, we think it might be the Aussies at home in a close one.

• Cricket 22 is out Dec 2

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Whether it’s feeling good, looking good or a bit of both, there are plenty of accessories available to add to your gaming experience.We take a look at some of the cool gaming things that you can get your hands on at JB Hi-Fi this month. ACCESSORISE NOW!

LEAN, BLACK AND GREEN SOUND MACHINE Xbox Stereo Headset 20th Anniversary Special Edition If you’re picking up the 20th Anniversary Xbox controller, why not complete the look with this natty Special Edition headset? The look carries over with translucent black plastic and wild Xbox green highlights – how cool does that boom mic look? It’s not just about the looks though, as the Xbox Stereo headset delivers in the most important department, sound. Plus, it’s lightweight with soft, plush cushioning, making it perfect for extended gaming sessions.

A CLEAR WINNER Xbox Wireless Controller 20th Anniversary Special Edition Xbox are rightfully celebrating 20 years since their first console graced our gaming centres with a slick mix of black and green, and this limited-edition controller is just a part of the party. It’s come a long way from the much maligned, occasionally loved, Duke controller, with grips in all the right places and everything needed to score well. This special number also adds a smoky black, transparent case with silver internals, and highlights in, of course, classic Xbox green.

IT’S ZELDA TIME! Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda

Retro gaming nostalgia is huge nowadays, and this new release manages to tick several nostalgic boxes. While physically it’s an ode to the classic Nintendo Game & Watch line that kicked off with Ball way back in 1980, the internals are another story altogether. The clunky (but lovable) black LCD blobs are gone, in favour of a full colour screen that delivers super-portable versions of NES classics The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link , plus the Game Boy’s The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening .

A WRIST BED DEVELOPMENT! Razer Ergonomic Wrist Rest for Mini Keyboards Keyboards that don’t take up a whole heap of desk real estate are great, but many of us would rather they took up a little more space by coming with a wrist rest. Razer have come to our rescue by releasing this top-notch wrist rest that's been made specifically for smaller keyboards – in other words, it’s shorter! It’s ergonomically designed for maximum support, and comfy-as because it’s made from memory foam covered in plush leatherette.

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FORZA HORIZON 5

RACING MULTIPLAYER

OUT NOW

Having already made what’s arguably the greatest game for car lovers ever in Forza Horizon 4 , how do you follow it up? Cry “Bigger! Harder! Faster! More!” and unleash Forza Horizon 5 ! You fang about the Mexican countryside at the sort of speed that would see your license permanently revoked in any form of real world, taking in wondrous graphics all the way.

Developer Playground’s explanation for choosing Mexico makes sense; it offered scope for everything from extremes of weather to extremes of scenery, and by far the biggest Forza Horizon map yet. There’s that old saying “variety is the spice of life”, and Forza Horizon 5 certainly brings the spiciness. One place where Forza Horizon 5 really lifts its game is in tackling its various tasks. Once again there’s an almost overwhelming array of challenges, the majority of which are unlocked fairly quickly via ‘Adventure’ modes, which open up via in-game ‘Accolades’. Basically, whether you collect stuff, take on racing challenges or just organically uncover

MOVING FORD A WRC Hoonigan RS Escort Cosworth – the “Cossie V2” - is unlocked early on, and we highly recommend it for all of your fanging about workhorse needs. It’s a hoot to handle, great on or off the roads, and perfect for driving “as the crow flies” from event to event or collectible to collectible.

things from exploring, you’ll accrue Accolade points, eventually unlocking six festival sites. These new tasks are joined by fun story adventures, plus

the classic impromptu racing that we know and love. If you get bored in your first 100 hours then you’re not doing it right – there’s just so much content! This, naturally, includes cars and plenty of ’em - 526, with a lot more promised. We’ve only touched upon what to expect, but there’s heaps more to enjoy, from streamlined menu systems to magnificent accessibility options, vastly improved engine sounds to a bunch of multiplayer options and beyond. We could go on but we won’t - we want to get back to playing! Forza Horizon 5 delivers on everything that a car nut could want in an open world racer. AF

MARVEL’S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER

OUT NOW

This is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy , but in slightly different ways than you might expect… There’s a rich story, an incredible soundtrack, laughs aplenty, snappy dialogue, and fast, frenetic combat. You can really see the heavy dose of the MCU character personalities here, but as you learn over the lengthy story, their origins and

experiences are different, making them stand out in unique ways. Guardians of the Galaxy rewards intrepid detectives by providing a fascinating multiverse to dive into. This is an action-adventure with a strong focus on story. You take control and fight as Star-Lord, but the other Guardians will always be fighting by your side, and will prompt you if you haven’t used their special abilities. Huddle-up time is a special superpower that’s available when you’ve been fighting long enough. It plays out like a halftime pep talk, with Star-Lord psyching up the team to fight harder and faster, to a randomly selected fight tune ( Tainted Love and Wake

A LITTLE MORE CONVERSATION

Me Up Before You Go-Go are favourites). It can really change the mood, especially during some of the pivotal story battles, which are often quite serious. On quality of music alone, Guardians of the Galaxy stands head and shoulders above other action-

Conversation options are plentiful, and make you feel like you’ve had some say in the direction of the game. They can make situations infinitely more difficult or easy depending on your choices, and it’s incredibly satisfying when it works in your favour.

adventure games. Puzzles in-between the combat sequences are fun, often combining two or more elements of your party’s special abilities to allow you to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Usually these feel like more of a staging area to give you a momentary break from the action, but allow you to be doing something while listening to the dialogue. The deep, rich lore and interesting stories of Guardians of the Galaxy combine well with colourful characters and fun combat play to provide a movie-like experience that’s truly fun to play. DN

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GAMING PREVIEWS

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DECEMBER

BIG BRAIN ACADEMY: BRAIN VS. BRAIN Reckon you’re pretty smart? Well, you’ll get to show off your big brain in the latest in this fun series from Nintendo. You’ll take on a selection of brain-bending activities that test your mental mettle, as you play activities such as memorising a series of numbers, identifying an

GRAND THEFT AUTO: THE TRILOGY – THE DEFINITIVE EDITION Not surprisingly, Grand Theft Auto III is partying for its 20th birthday, and we get the pressies as, along with GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas , it’s back in updated form. These upgrades include new lighting and environmental boosts, high-res textures, increased draw distances,

animal as it slowly comes into focus, or helping guide a train to its goal. You can even compete with friends and family in four-player matches to see who can boast brainiac superiority!

GTA V -style controls and targeting, and more. With GTA V still going great guns eight years after release, it’s a chance for fans to revisit three classics – or to discover them for the first time.

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ACTION ADVENTURE

3/12/21

7/12/21

HALO INFINITE It’s 20 years since Halo: Combat Evolved hit the original Xbox, and what better way to celebrate than with a brand-new entry in the series? Yes, the Master Chief returns to our screens, primed and ready to face the most ruthless foe that he’s ever encountered. Get immersed in the most

CHORUS Step into the shoes of ace pilot Nara, who was once the Circle’s deadliest warrior but is now their most wanted fugitive. Your quest in this new space shooter? Unlock devastating weapons and mind- bending abilities, and use your sentient starfighter Forsaken as you seek out the dark cult

expansive Halo campaign yet, complete with ground- breaking free-to-play multiplayer and enhanced for the latest Xbox consoles to deliver stunning 4K graphics at up to 120fps.

known as the Circle and destroy them before their leader, calling himself the Great Prophet, succeeds in his evil plan of dominating the entire universe.

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SPACE COMBAT

SHOOTER

3/12/21

9/12/21

DISNEY MAGICAL WORLD 2: ENCHANTED EDITION The wonderful world of Disney comes alive inside your Switch! Create your own in-game character, then set off on a big adventure with Mickey Mouse and friends as you settle into Castleton, making your very own home, playing fun minigames and meeting colourful personalities. As you get friendlier with the residents you’ll gain access to

MONOPOLY MADNESS The classic board game collides with The Amazing Race in a competition to become Mr. Monopoly’s stand-in! It seems that the real estate bigwig is off on a rare holiday, so somebody has to wield the cane in his absence – will it be you? The treasured features of the original game

experience head into arena- based play as you take to the classic Monopoly streets and compete to take out local or online opponents and claim the crown… well, the top hat at least!

mysterious portals, which lead to unique new worlds – and even more classic characters to befriend!

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SOCIAL SIMULATOR

PARTY

10/12/21

9/12/21

BEYOND A STEEL SKY Back in 1994, Beneath a Steel Sky , from the minds of Broken Sword creator Charles Cecil and legendary comic book artist Dave Gibbons ( Watchmen ), earned cult classic status as it captivated us with its cyberpunk adventure aesthetic. It’s taken quite some time, but finally

AMONG US: CREWMATE EDITION It’s time to revisit the multiplayer online sensation of teamwork and betrayal with the game and all of its DLC bundled together in one wonderfully neat little package. Remember, watch out for impostors who are actively working against your returning to civilisation – top deduction

now comes the sequel. Once again players will step into the shoes of Robert Foster, this time intent upon saving an abducted child and bringing them home safely.

skills are a must! This special edition is super- collectible, complete with lenticular case, sticker sheet, a special Mira HQ holographic access card, Skeld map poster and more.

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ADVENTURE

PARTY

17/12/21

14/12/21

16 DECEMBER 2021

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GAME WITHOUT LIMITS Cronus Zen’s powerful scripting engine gives millions of possible MOD combinations on your controller of choice. Our library contains 1000s of scripts for all the latest games to take your gaming experience to the highest level. Zen supports Every Major Platform including XB™/PS™/Switch™/PC and supports most popular brands of controllers – both wired & wireless. Learn more at: www.cronusmax.com

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FILM & TV

ISSUE 206 Dec ’21

YOUR MONTHLY FILM & TV GUIDE TO WHAT’S

IN-STORE AT

hot

STRICTLY WHILE STOCKS LAST

NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY ™ AT

DECEMBER 8

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ALSO AVAILABLE SEASONS 1-3 DVD BOXSET

Strong science fiction themes and comedic animated violence

Created by Mike McMahan, writer and executive producer of Rick and Morty

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DECEMBER 8

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SEASON ONE

Strong themes, violence and autopsy procedures

Strong themes and violence

SEASON THREE

Strong themes, violence and surgical procedures

Strong surgical procedures

Mild themes, violence, sex, drug references and coarse language

Strong violence

Strong themes, violence, sex, sexual violence and coarse language

NEW TO DVD AT

DECEMBER 8

© 2021 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

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STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

DVD BEST-SELLERS in NOVEMBER 2021

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why?

Stand by Me changed my life as a boy and introduced me to the amazing talent of River Phoenix.

NICK SHARP @ JB Queen Adelaide Building, Brisbane, QLD

1 The Suicide Squad (2021) 2 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 3 The Crown: S4 4 Respect 5 Jungle Cruise 6 Don’t Breathe 2 7 NCIS New Orleans: S7 8 Candyman (2021) 9 Black Widow 10 Old

What’s the best thing about working at JB?

What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why?

Deadwood . I have a thing for old cowboys – I’d like to be one! I also love The Wonder Years .

The great minds of the people you work with and meeting lifelong friends.

What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend?

What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you?

Mr Inbetween was pure Aussie greatness, also The Leftovers and The Americans were two recent good ones. Current watch is Yellowstone , which I’m enjoying – especially Kevin Costner as a grizzled old cowboy.

BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS

The Warriors . I watched it with my dad at six years of age. I still watch it regularly now 40 years later, and it’s still magic.

for NOVEMBER 2021

MERCH MONTH of the

1 The Suicide Squad (2021) 2 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 3 Doctor Who: The Evil of the Daleks 4 Candyman (2021) 5 Black Widow 6 Jungle Cruise 7 Old 8 AFL Premiers 2021 Melbourne

9 Don’t Breathe 2 10 Fast & Furious 9

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CINEMA FEATURE

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RESURRECTING THE MATRIX

and how that inspired her to make this film. I shared with her about how I lived in San Francisco while I did Looking, and how this was the show that helped me come to terms with my sexuality. [That] it was like a public statement of who I was. And I was tearful telling her about this, and we had a very soulful exchange. I left the audition feeling like, ‘Wow, I have no idea if I’m going to get this movie,’ but I was so moved by how personal and human she is. “She’s magical, like a completely brilliant unicorn creative genius, and yet, at the same time, is so open,” he says. He adds that Lana FaceTimed him two weeks later, inviting him to join the movie along with new cast members Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Christina Ricci and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who is taking over Laurence Fishburne’s original role as Morpheus. “I still can’t quite believe it's real,” he says. But then the slog would begin, working with a personal trainer in NewYork for two months followed by a further two months of fight training in San Francisco, before relocating to Germany in February 2020 for the actual shoot, which was promptly halted a month later due to Covid-19. Wachowski toyed with the possibility of shelving the project and leaving the film unfinished, but the cast pressured her to complete it, and filming was resumed in August 2020. Inspired by the example set by Reeves and Moss, Groff says, “Keanu is incredibly humble and leads by example. He doesn’t bring his cell phone to set and he’s there to work, trying just as hard – even harder – than everyone else.” He believes Matrix fans will be more than satisfied. “Keanu and Carrie-Anne are recreating characters which became so iconic. They were in their 30s back then and now they’re in their 50s, so watching them take those roles on again was very beautiful, mostly because of the people they are: real people, very salt of the earth. They’re not sliding into the Matrix to cash a paycheck; they’re here to challenge themselves and say something creatively, and to fulfill Lana’s vision. It was very moving to watch them inhabit those characters again."

Actor Jonathan Groff gives STACK a tantalising glimpse into working on the fourth chapter of the mind-bending sci-fi saga. Words Gill Pringle

N obody could accuse Jonathan Groff of having a dull or predictable career. From his breakthrough roles in hit shows Glee and Looking to voicing Kristoff in Disney’s Frozen , and portraying an FBI agent in the series Mindhunter , his new role in the hugely anticipated The Matrix Resurrections is just the latest twist in a fascinating CV. Along with all the cast of director Lana Wachowski’s fourth installment in The Matrix franchise, Groff has been sworn to secrecy, although he does offer STACK some tantalising details. “I can tell you that my character is a business partner to Thomas Anderson (Neo),” he teases when we sit down to talk to him. “And I will add that my whole experience of working on this movie could be a whole movie in itself.” Has it been tough holding onto the secrets of the new Matrix for more than two years? Groff laughs, “Having been in the closet until I was 23 has made me very good at keeping secrets. For better or worse, it comes naturally." Just 14 when he first watched the original Matrix, the actor's experience of this latest iteration has been nothing short of surreal. “I remember renting the VHS for the first Matrix at Blockbuster with my friends, and being amazed. Nothing has been the same ever since,” he says. He immediately bonded with Lana Wachowski, who returns as director (this time without her sister Lilly); meanwhile, Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Jada Pinkett

Jonathan Groff in The Matrix Resurrections

Smith reprised their roles as Neo, Trinity and Niobe, respectively. “I was rehearsing for a play when casting director Carmen Cuba, who I had worked with before, called and asked me to audition for ‘a very exciting movie with a very exciting director’,” recalls Groff. “It was very secretive. I flew to San Francisco and met Lana and her wife Karen and their dog, Itchy. We did a lot of work trying the scenes, but beyond the audition, there was a deep, profound, creative conversation. “Lana talked about the death of her parents

The Matrix Resurrections opens in cinemas on Dec 26.

BEFORE YOU GO CHECK THESE OUT

24 DECEMBER 2021

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CINEMA FEATURE

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FUN FACTS • Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City ’s release coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original Resident Evil video game. • James Wan was set to produce the Resident Evil reboot but left the project in 2018 to work on Mortal Kombat (2021). • Ali Larter played Claire Redfield in Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016). • Hannah John-Kamen stars as Jill Valentine in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City , the character played by Sienna Guillory in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) and Resident Evil: Retribution (2012).

Raccoon City . “I learned practically

everything on this movie. We had an amazing armourer who taught me how to handle all the weapons, which is such an important part of the games and also an important part of her, especially Claire’s iconic shotgun. I wanted to make sure I looked really natural, moving around with it and also so I could just physically hold it for 12 hours a day for three months.” Admittedly, she is not as fearless in real life as her character. “I’m quite a nervous and jumpy

Returning to the origins of the massively popular Resident Evil franchise, filmmaker Johannes Roberts today reintroduces the universe for a whole new generation of fans in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City . Words Gill Pringle EVIL BEGINS

person, so I don’t do well in the cinema with horror movies. I got kicked out of watching The Village because I screamed so loudly and I was removed from the cinema – and it wasn’t even that scary. So I personally wouldn’t do very well in a zombie apocalypse.”

F irst adapted for the screen by writer- director Paul W.S. Anderson in 2002, Resident Evil was a massive box office hit. Starring Milla Jovovich, the film spawned five sequels before the franchise was laid to rest with 2016’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter . While the series featured several characters from the game, the six films were always very loose adaptations. Picking up the reins for a fresh take on the franchise, writer-director Johannes Roberts ( 47 Meters Down ) recalls the landmark Resident Evil video game, declaring, “25 years ago, I walked the dread-filled corridors of the Spencer mansion, then experienced the rain-soaked night surrounding the Raccoon police station.” With his new film, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City , he draws on that early passion. “I come from that generation of the first PlayStation gamers who grew up with the game. I’ve always been a horror freak, so watching other people play it, almost like a movie, was a big part of my student years; the specific sounds the zombies made are indelibly seared onto my soul. “Over the last ten years I’ve become a big gamer, obsessed with Resident Evil. The remake of the second game became a major turning point for me in just how cinematic these games have become.” Understanding that nobody could replace Jovovich’s iconic character of Alice, Constantin Film co-president Robert Kulzer saw a way to reboot the franchise by revisiting the game’s roots.

“The idea was to look at the mythology of the games and go deeper into the events of what happened in them,” he says. “We’d never really done a deep dive into what happened in Raccoon City in 1998, and why the Umbrella Corporation picked it as the place to do these experiments.” All the main characters of the early Resident Evil games would come together at this pivotal moment in Raccoon’s history, as Umbrella plans to level Raccoon City to cover up its sinister deeds. This new spin would rule out the daunting prospect of replacing Jovovich, although the filmmakers wished to repeat magic by introducing a new heroine, casting Kaya Scodelario as the kick-ass protagonist, Claire Redfield. Having played as Teresa in the Maze Runner trilogy, Scodelario had already proven her action chops, and she tells STACK she would never even pretend to emulate Jovovich’s original role. “She’s definitely inspirational, especially when you take into account the amount of times she’s played that character and how she managed to keep physically in shape enough to film those movies – and have a family. “I watched the Resident Evil movies as a teenager,” she continues. “I loved them because they were so of their time with the soundtrack and the colours and the costumes. Everything was very millennium and futuristic and cool.” Despite her action pedigree, she had rarely held a gun before Resident Evil: Welcome to

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City opens in cinemas Dec 9

26 DECEMBER 2021

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