STACK #223 May 2023

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 223 MAY ’23

Fantasy themes and violence STACK Issue 223 MAY 2023 “There’s a fine line between courage and recklessness.”

12 th MAY 2023

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MOVIES & TV

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ISSUE 223 MAY ’23

INSIDE:

ISSUE 223 MAY ’23

MUSIC

IT’S SPECKY TIMEWITH AFL 23 VAMPING IT UP IN REDFALL

LEWIS CAPALDI Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent

IN-STORE AT

hot

YOUR MONTHLY MOVIES & TV GUIDE TO WHAT’S

IN-STORE AT

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YOUR MONTHLY MUSIC GUIDE TO WHAT’S

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 223 MAY 2023

GAMING 6 Take 5/Game changers! 8 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 10 AFL 23 12 Redfall 14 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor 15 STACK recommends 16 Out this month 18 Accessorise now!/Wham, bam, game exam! 20 Fast forward/Q5 MOVIE & TV 24 Take 5 and charts 26 Nic and Nick discuss Renfield 28 Stepping into the ring for Creed III 30 Big props to the little guy in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 32 Magic Mike’s Last Dance 34 Cate Blanchett faces her toughest critics in Tár 36 Mia Goth has the X Factor in Pearl 37 Out this month 38 New from Imprint Films 40 New on 4K Ultra HD MUSIC 42-49 The Music Room: chats with Kate Ceberano, The Barnestormers, and more 50 Heavenly Voice, Humble Vision: The Plight of Lewis Capaldi 74 This Month at JB 52-53 Vital Vinyl: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and more 54 Lifting the Lid: Arlo Parks’ Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021) 55 This month @ JB 56-58 Album reviews TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 Take 5/Tech tips 8-12 The smart guide to buying a newTV 14 OLED & Mini LEDTV tech explained 16 Pro tips to get the best from a smart TV 18 Five reasons why big TVs are better 20 What’s new in TV tech for 2023 22-32 The hottest newTVs for 2023 34 Time to play with TV gaming 36 2023’s best TVs for gamers 38 Safe TV installation via JB Hi-Fi 39 Accessories to enhance your TV 40 What you need from a soundbar 42 Soundbars to match 2023’s TVs 44 Experience sound all around with the Sonos Era 300 smart speaker 46 Create like a pro with ASUS ProArt displays

WELCOME

It’s that time of year again, when the latest smart TVs begin to arrive at JB. If you’re in the market for a new television, look no further than our big tech feature this month. We break down all the key features to look for, the latest tech innovations and TVs for 2023, the best ones for gaming, and explain why, when it’s time to buy a smart TV, bigger is better. From purchase to installation and calibration, we’ve got you covered. When you think of Nintendo’s video game heritage, the Mario and Zelda franchises are the pinnacle of the company’s success, and Zelda returns this May in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – undoubtedly the most anticipated Switch release of 2023. Footy lovers will be eager to mark AFL 23 , and Bethesda’s Redfall brings vampire slaying to Xbox X|S and PC. Incisive chats with Kate Ceberano and Barnesy-led supergroup The Barnestormers; a peek into Lewis Capaldi’s journey towards his sophomore album; and a fresh batch of Vital Vinyl classics head up music. And in movies, knockout sequel Creed III continues the Rocky legacy; horror prequel Pearl adds backstory to last year’s cult hit, X ; Ant-Man experiences Quantumania; and the Star Trek: The Next Generation movies get a sparkling 4K upgrade. Clear your diary - there’s a lot of entertainment coming your way. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins,

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando

Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone

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, 2023 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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©2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. “PlayStation Family Mark”, “PS5”, “PlayStation Studios Logo” and “Play Has No Limits” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. ©2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. God of War™ Ragnarök ©2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. © 2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. Created and developed by Insomniac Games, Inc. Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. Horizon Forbidden West™© 2023 Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. Developed by Guerrilla. All rights reserved.

THIS MONTH at

GAMING FEATURE

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STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s your all-time favourite game series?

BEST SELLERS at

It’s got to be Punch-Out!! from the early days of NES through to the Wii version. It’s both exciting and calming. Learning to read patterns and execute counters, I felt like Punch-Out!! prepared me to be able to react quickly to any game.

APRIL 2023

JOSE SERMENO @ JB Hi-Fi Home Pakenham, VIC

What have you been playing lately?

1 STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR

I’ve been hitting Monster Hunter Rise recently, I tell you what, with the bonus content drops and updates from the creators, I can’t help being excited to see new monsters and new strategies implemented. I just started using new weapons after playing 400 hours and it’s like a brand-new game again!

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

2 DEAD ISLAND 2

It’s got to be the customers! From young to old, there’s nothing better than seeing a face light up with excitement, whether they’re eight or 80, everyone gets personal when describing something that they’re passionate about. Sharing an interest with them or simply allowing them to share their experiences always brings a smile to my face.

3 MARIO KART 8 DELUXE

You can only have one games console from any era – what would it be and why?

4 FIFA 23

Super Nintendo, hands down. Super Mario World , the Donkey Kong Country series, the wide variety of RPGs, Super Punch Out!!, Mega Man X, Street Fighter II, and the list goes on. I don’t ‘fan boy’ at the best of times, but I think if we didn’t evolve gaming past the Super Nintendo, or if I had to live in a perpetual time loop before the N64 existed, I’d still be filled with contentment and power... Nintendo power!

5 RESIDENT EVIL 4

What’s your earliest video gaming memory?

6 HOGWARTS LEGACY

Hmm, probably Jr. Pac-Man on Atari. I remember playing nonstop or watching my parents play it while sitting next to them on the couch, thinking how cool that Jr. Pac Man could scroll the screen. It blew my tiny mind!

7 CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE II

MERCH MONTH of the Show your love of these gaming icons by putting their posters up in pride of place on your wall!

8 NINTENDO SWITCH SPORTS

9 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD

10 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. U DELUXE

Pokémon Scarlet + Violet Poster

Sonic the Hedgehog Comic Characters Poster

Super Mario Run Poster

Hatsune Miku Projection Poster

2006

GAME CHANGERS! A YEAR IN GAMING Hot fresh hardware from Nintendo and PlayStation arrived to tempt us, while a selection of top new franchises joined the continuing barrage of sequels, including one that you’d think was inoffensive, but still managed to ruffle some feathers…

While the GameCube had many fans, it didn’t perform nearly as well as Nintendo had hoped. The innards were strong though, so with the odd tweak and a bit of a power boost, and a change of case from appealingly toylike to plain boxy OEM chic, the Wii was born. Nintendo’s desire was to appeal to a broader audience, bringing online connectivity and motion controls to the system that allowed pretty much anybody to pick up and play. Add a killer pack-in game in Wii Sports , where people “played” the

2006 was huge for landmark new franchises for those into war, shooting, and assorted other violent

How to follow a success story like the PlayStation 2? With the PlayStation 3, of course! But the name was the easy part. Launching in the US and Japan in November (Australia had to wait until March of 2007), the PS3 was an impressive behemoth of a machine, complete with evolved DualShock controller, the now wireless SixAxis. Using Blu-ray storage, and introducing the PlayStation Network, it also cleverly played PS2 games, offering a handy upgrade path. It wasn’t all smooth sailing though, for it was expensive, and developers found it challenging to harness the incredible

escapades with Gears of War, Company of Heroes, Just Cause, Saints Row , and Dead Rising all launching. But what about more peaceful endeavours? Well, 2006 also saw the arrival of formidable kitchen wiz Cooking Mama, in a self-titled game for Nintendo DS. A selection of minigames themed around kitchen pursuits, it soon proved extremely popular – except with PETA, who turned their noses up at included meat dishes – and led to many spinoffs, including Gardening Mama and Babysitting Mama (complete with a plushie bub in which you jammed a Wii Remote).

likes of tennis, bowling, and boxing by waggling the Wii Remote controller about, and a star was born. Over 100 million units were eventually sold. Hey, we own three!

abilities of its Cell processor. Still, after a slow start, the PS3 eventually outsold its main rival, the Xbox 360.

MAY 2023

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6

PLAY LIKE A PRO

GAMING FEATURE

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A

IN TIME

LINK

Nintendo’s intrepid sword-wielding hero Link has rocked more looks than Madonna since the ‘80s – well, almost.With the keenly awaited The Legend of Zelda:Tears of the Kingdom landing this month for Nintendo Switch, we take a trip through the Link fashion archives. Words Amy Flower

1986 The Legend of Zelda (NES) Blocky beginnings.

1991 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Super Nintendo) Looking more resolute.

1993 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy) Classic black and whi- erm, green!

1998 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64) Oh pointy ears, oh pointy, pointy!

2006 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) A new resolution.

2004 The Legend of Zelda:The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance) Looking smooth!

2002 The Legend of Zelda:The WindWaker (GameCube) What big eyes you have!

2001 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons (Game Boy Color) Step back in time.

2007 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) A bit of a retro thing going on.

2013 The Legend of Zelda: A Link BetweenWorlds (3DS) Simply glowing!

2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of theWild (Wii U) Now we’re (s)talking.

2019 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch) Aww, an ever so cute makeover!

A SWORD FOR THE WISE It may have been known as Breath of theWild II while in development, but there’s a raft of new and improved stuff to look forward to in The Legend of Zelda:Tears of the Kingdom that takes it far beyond being merely more of the same.

The game’s developers prefer to describe the vast lands to explore as “open air” rather than “open world”. DYK?

If you thought that Breath of the Wild had a vast world then the one in store in Tears of the Kingdom will possibly blow your mind, as it’s even larger and introduces a whole new level of play via floating sky islands to explore. One way that

we can reach them is via a new 'Recall' function, which allows Link to reverse the direction of objects, ranging from fallen rocks to enemy weapons. There’s also an updated HUD, all manner of new enemies to

encounter, and the capacity to call upon exciting fresh abilities such as weapon fusing, vehicle crafting, and ‘Ascend’, which allows Link to pass through ceilings. And that’s really only scratching the surface of the exciting new things to discover.

• The Legend of Zelda:Tears of the Kingdom is out on May 12

MAY 2023

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LIVE THE UNWRITTEN

5 MAY 2023

HOGWARTS LEGACY software © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by Avalanche. WIZARDING WORLD and HARRY POTTER Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling. PORTKEY GAMES, HOGWARTS LEGACY, WIZARDING WORLD AND

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia © and TM Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WARNER BROS. GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s23)

GAMING FEATURE

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Footy season is in full swing, and if you just can’t get enough of that wonderful stuff then great news – the AFL 23 game is here!We had a chat with Big Ant Studios CEO Ross Symons about their take on Australia’s favourite sport. Words Amy Flower IF YOU DON’T MIND, UMPIRE!

LEGENDS! Further great news for AFL fans is that we can expect future updates, including legends of the game. Symons tells us more… “We’ve signed a number of high profile legends from the greatest teams of the 1970s through to the 2010s. These players will be introduced into the game over the next year as regular content drops. We think people are going to really enjoy playing as their childhood heroes!”

development, building a dynasty by taking them from cellar-dwellers through to being a multigenerational powerhouse.” The commentary in any sports game adds a load of atmosphere, and Symons tells us that Big Ant have put much effort into assembling a crack team for AFL 23 . “Commentary definitely adds to the experience, and we believe we’ve chosen the best in the business, with a broad representation from 7, Foxtel and radio. A focus for the team this time around is banter between the panel, recalling and recording classic calls of the past, what we may see in the future, and a nice stuff, with Big Ant working with the official club cheer squads to add extra gameday realism. “It’s been great to work with the clubs and their cheer squads to bring to life such an iconic and unique part of Aussie rules – the run on, team song and banners,” Symons tells us. “There’s no sport in the world that does it as well. The authentic slogans on the banners have been such a joy to bring to life, stirring memories of great games past and stirring up the ever-present rivalries of the AFL.” As they’re all fervent footy fans at Big Ant, we wondered whether they’ve been tempted to twiddle with a few stats to give their preferred side a little advantage… “It’s definitely been done in past AFL games,” says Symons with a grin, “and there are some at Big Ant who’d love to give their teams and favourite players a boost, but the QA team are very vigilant and on the lookout for anyone trying to get an unfair advantage.” splash of adlibbing to spice it all up.” AFL 23 is going beyond just the basic

F or a sport that’s basically limited to popularity in one country, we’ve seen several AFL games over the years. So, how have Big Ant gone about tackling it? “We’re massive AFL fans – we were one of the first major sponsors of the AFLW, from game one, and have had a box at the MCG for a number of years now – and all this before we even began our partnership with the AFL,” enthuses Symons. “This is a passion project for the team at Big Ant, and that’s what drives the development of AFL 23 .” The budget for AFL 23 was greater than that for any previous Aussie-made sports game, and naturally that had its benefits. “The major difference that a large budget brings to sports games,

Australia over the past year, capturing the 3D likeness of every registered AFL and AFLW player, and the upcoming draftees. While we would have loved to motion capture every player, that isn't really feasible, so the next best thing we found we could do was to get great players that could come into our Southbank offices and mimic others.”

• AFL 23 is out on May 4

including AFL 23 , is the ability for us to procure best of breed, world class technology,

AFL 23 uses official Champion Data stats, and Symons tells us that they’re set to evolve with the game. “Champion Data have provided AFL 23 with official statistics for all players in the AFL and AFLW, and these will be updated as those seasons progress.” For those who wish to dive deeper into the AFL 23 experience, there’s a dedicated career mode. “The AFL 23 career mode not only allows you to totally control the on-field playing group for your favourite AFL or AFLW club on game day,” explains

for realistic photogrammetry and motion capture.” With all the teams represented – both AFL

and AFLW – recreating so many players is a massive undertaking. “It has involved travel, indeed millions of frequent flyer miles,” Symons laughs. “We’ve taken our equipment to all corners of

The first AFL video game, Aussie Rules Footy , was released on the NES back in 1992. DYK?

Symons, “but also allows you to oversee drafting and player

10 MAY 2023

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IT’S TIME TO FLY!!

Very mild coarse language, online interactivity, in-game purchases and chat.

Big Ant Studios ® and its logo are property of Big Ant Studios Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of NACON ® , all rights of reproduction are reserved. Australian Football League (AFL) logos on this product are trademarks of Australian Football League used under license, all rights of reproduction are reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and their rights of reproduction are reserved.

GAMING FEATURE

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RISING VAMP Harvey kindly shared the following insider tips for players of Redfall … “Explore everywhere, study the environmental storytelling, and experiment with your powers. And don’t forget to stake the vampires! Otherwise, they come back.”

It’s time to go vampire hunting with the arrival this month of open world shooter Redfall .We took a stab at finding out more about it fromArkane Austin studio director Harvey Smith. Words Amy Flower STAKE IT UP!

speak lines of dialogue if alone, but then chat with each if you’re playing in co-op. Each and every combination of hero characters works together dynamically. And further there’s a system called ‘Trust’ that causes their dialogue to grow more intimate as friends over time. As two or more heroes grow closer, they gain mechanical benefits fromTrust as well. Are there any weapons that you’re particularly proud of and would like to highlight? Redfall ’s guns feel great. Favourite military weapons can be found at different ‘levels’ of quality, with different traits that alter your tactical experience. But the thing to discuss here is our set of vampire-killing weapons. The flare gun feels like a fireball, because our vampires immolate. The stake launcher uses found ammo like fireplace pokers, mop handles,

• Redfall is out on May 2

Please give us a quick summary of the story that awaits us in Redfall … If you like Arkane’s games, and know our history, we’re all about exploring richly conceived worlds, where the characters and locations feel like they have history. And as you weave your way through those locations, we allow you to solve your problems creatively. So, we’ve worked for years on a spooky version of New England, an island town called Redfall, which has suffered an insidious takeover by science-based vampires. Do you feel that you’ve added anything new and exciting to the classic vampire tale? Monsters are metaphors, and Redfall ’s vampires represent people who were already craven bloodsuckers in a figurative sense. We use modern science – specifically the quest for ‘longevity as a product for the rich’ - as a way to imagine vampires walking the earth, lording over the rest of us. How open is the world?Will we have freedom to go wherever whenever or will more open up as we progress through the story? Redfall is truly open world, go in any direction. That’s new for us, and pairs well with our world building. We divided the game into two separate open world maps so we could change things up. The first district

Can you please outline any differences between playing Redfall solo and hitting it in co-op? Mostly the pace changes. In single player, you explore, observing things along the way, following narrative threads, and absorbing environmental storytelling scenes. And solo you sometimes employ stealth in combat. Adding other players speeds the game up, making it more fun and social, like a party. But there are additional emergent effects when players use their powers in a group. Will there be any big differences in how things play out, depending upon which of the four lead characters the player opts for?

or broken pool cues – you can stake vamps from a distance. Lastly, we have a cool system for UV lights, where anytime a vampire enters ultraviolet light, they begin to petrify. The UV Beam gun gives you a portable version of that. What are you most hoping that players will take away from their time playing Redfall ? The most important thing is that they have their own experience. Their path, their powers, their tactical situations and how they get out of it, it all interweaves to mean that your time in Redfall is different than mine.

Each of our four initial heroes has a different set of skills and powers, which change the tactical gameplay quite a bit. Further, they’re all voiced by amazing actors. The heroes

Redfall features Arkane’s largest game world yet. DYK?

has a smalltown feel, with the docks, neighbourhoods, and tourist areas. The second has a haunted New England feeling, centred around rural farmland.

12 MAY 2023

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TWO SCREENS. ZERO BOUNDARIES.

Tame the beast with Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU, combined with an impressive 28.5mm AAS Plus 2.0 air intake.

Enthusiast gaming performance is yours with up to an AMD Ryzen™ 9 7945HX processor and up to an NVIDIA ® GeForce RTX™ 4080 Laptop GPU.

16-inch WQXGA QHD 240Hz with 3ms response time, 16:10 main display.

Enjoy multi-monitor flexibility with a second 14.1” and 4K resolution touchscreen display, full stylus support, and an intuitive UI design.

Six speakers with dual force-canceling woofers enable Dolby Atmos surround sound, while a 3 mic array captures clear audio in any scenario.

Easier to play

GAMING FEATURE

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has been developed exclusively for current-gen hardware. We asked Arazi what that afforded them as a studio… “For a start, the ability to offload some of the narrative into the play in more successful ways to keep the game more engaging. Obviously, pushing the graphical content and making the cinematic feel that much more visceral. Every time, as developers, we get new tech we do our very best to max it out.”

a sense of no, it’s more a sense of ‘Let’s keep Star Wars, Star Wars’.

Even after a short playthrough, we’ve noticed that Cal is a more mature character now, more worldly.Where do we find ourselves in his journey? So, we’re five years after Fallen Order , Cal’s been taking his best swings to fight the Empire, and he’s grown into a fully-fledged Jedi. The crucible of combat has brought him to that place, and the Empire itself has also matured to be a serious force to be reckoned with. When we catch up with Cal, he’s battle-worn – it’s not been an easy five years for him. He’s gruffer, he’s tougher, he’s more powerful, he’s more centred, he’s more focused – and we join him essentially on a journey to find his allies to face this threat. What we like about Jedi: Fallen Order and from what we’ve seen of Jedi: Survivor is that you perfectly combine enough of the established popular StarWars content with new unknown content – how do you keep that balance? Is it a conscious decision? Absolutely. And again, that’s in collaboration with our narrative team, and Lucasfilm, and our joint ideas. We want to keep the story propelling forward. We want to keep the characters growing. The story has to engage both, so we have to stay true to where we came from and keep that interest and jazz going, but we also have to keep it fresh. That’s where the new content comes in. Do you feel the pressure of fan expectation working on a StarWars game? Yeah, it’s a bit of pressure. It’s a pressure that drives you to excel and be true to something. We want to make an amazing Star Wars experience, and we want to make it a Star Wars experience, not just a game that has a Star Wars element to it. So, there’s a lot of pressure there because it’s a very unique recipe, the dish has to taste just right.

One of the biggest game releases this year is StarWars Jedi: Survivor . Before it launched, we went hunting details on the mega-release in Los Angeles, playing the game and catching up with cinematic director Dori Arazi of Respawn Entertainment. Words Paul Jones

It’s not always easy to convey emotion between characters and players in a video game, but we can sense already with Jedi: Survivor that you guys have nailed that. What’s the secret sauce? We rejigged the cinematic style we did, and we’ve leaned on some new technologies to switch out the narrative beyond just cutscenes, so the game itself keeps you emotionally engaged with the narrative content while you’re enjoying the game mechanics. Beyond that, we’ve changed the way we shoot content. So, we’ve gone past the traditional motion capture, then we shot the entire story content handheld. It gives it that found footage, in the present, very gritty and very grounded feel, so it helps this fantastic content feel like you’re a part of it. And that combination of factors helps pull the player emotionally into a more grounded emotional space. Where do you start the planning in terms of the narrative?Was Jedi: Survivor already conceived, or did you only begin work on it once Jedi: Fallen Order was finished? That’s usually how things are, we focus on the game at hand. The same is true for this one. The story actually evolved as we were working on Jedi: Survivor and also as we were looking for

certain evolutions in our characters as well. So that’s how we landed on the timeline and the character growth. Are Lucasfilm strict in terms of what can or can’t be done? Is there a lot of going back and forth? It’s not even a back-and-forth, really. We’re all kind of working on it together. We have thoughts that we give to them, and then we discuss them. After a while, when you work in the Star Wars universe, you understand why there are certain things you can do and certain things you can’t. Well,

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is out now

it’s not even that you can’t, it’s just kind of you shouldn’t. Because you want the universe to feel a certain way, you know, and some things will just break that illusion. So, it’s never

14 MAY 2023

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REVIEWS GAMING

OUT NOW at

RESIDENT EVIL 4

SURVIVAL HORROR MULTIPLAYER

OUT NOW

Over the past 20 years we've been treated to some fantastic remakes of classic Resident Evil outings. Now what many consider to be one of the greatest entries in the series returns with Resident Evil 4 , remade for new-gen consoles. Taking place roughly six years after

the events of Raccoon City, we step back into the shoes of Leon Kennedy, one of the main playable characters from Resident Evil 2 , who finds

sewers, but it’s the enemies in Resident Evil 4 that provide the game’s most unsettling aspects. Rather than T-Virus reanimated corpses, or traditional zombies, RE4 gives us zombie-like infected villagers. Instead of rotting flesh and shuffling towards you, the villagers here look somewhat normal, and use weapons. There's also a sense of dread and helplessness when enemies continue to spawn. During one early sequence we arrive at a small hamlet, and we're introduced to the special enemy variant, Nemesis. This section plays out quite similarly to the fight or flight scenarios in Dead Space – which actually sourced a lot of its inspiration from the Resident Evil series. For those who’ve never experienced it, Resident Evil 4 is nothing short of fascinating, with familiar yet faster gameplay. Meanwhile, it provides a fresh, modern-day update that’s more than enough of a reason to return for a second helping. AD

YOU’RE SO VEIN! Just like anything Capcom have released recently, Resident Evil 4 runs on the RE Engine, which was first used for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard . The graphics are incredible, with great attention to detail such as imperfections and age in Leon’s iconic coat, and the pulsing veins of the villagers.

himself in a small village in Spain. Leon is looking for a missing person and, well... being a Resident Evil game it was never going to be a simple job, was it? We've been in poorly lit police stations, sewers, and such previously, but as RE4 is based in a small Spanish town, there are moments where we're outside while the sun is out, moving through open areas. That’s not to say that there aren’t still horrifying places such as caves and

HOGWARTS LEGACY

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER

OUT NOW

Hogwarts Legacy is a wonderful step into a truly magical universe for an experience that lives up to the hype of theWizardingWorld books and the movies.

Players can explore Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and its expansive surrounding areas, at whatever pace that

that require specific solutions, otherwise there are no wrong answers. You can use whatever set of spells, or even naughty unforgiveable curses, that tickle your fancy. Combat comes down to a cunning combination of crafty spell casting. Some enemies will cast shields that require specific spell types to counter, and will even taunt you for using a weak spell against them. The flurry of wisping curses, whirring spells, and whizzing counters is incredibly exciting. Importantly, right from the beginning, where you attend the sorting ceremony, everything is fun. The Room of Requirement acts as your homebase. It’s a space that you can personalise by adding new furniture and add helpful equipment to aid you on your journey. This is the kind of game that you can get lost in for hours, and you’ll be happier for it. Many fans of the Wizarding World have waited years for a game that matches their expectations, and Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t disappoint. DN

they choose, finding wonders and losing themselves along the way. Your character starts their first

POTTER GOLD Whether it’s attending a Defence Against the Dark Arts class, strolling across the grounds to

semester at Hogwarts at the fifth-year level. It’s something that’s not normally done, and feeds heavily into the events to come. After a brief, but harrowing, induction, your character embarks on a spectacular journey, truly worthy of what we’ve come to experience within the Potterverse. Skipping over the junior years to get into more advanced magic is a distinct bonus. By mid-game, you’ll already be overwhelmed by the sheer number of spells at your disposal. While there are some puzzle scenarios

the quidditch pitch, or sampling snacks at Honeydukes in

Hogsmeade, the world of Hogwarts Legacy is packed

with more memorable pieces than you could shake a Boggart at.

15

GAMING PREVIEWS

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MAY

REDFALL Get ready to vamp things up with the latest feast from Arkane, who previously gave us Prey , the Dishonored games, and Deathloop . Welcome to Redfall, Massachusetts, which is under siege by a legion of vampires who’ve blocked out the sun and cut the citizens off from the outside world.

AFL 23 The first footy game to grace the latest generation of consoles, we’re promised “the most authentic video game football experience to date”, and it’s set to be stacked with options. Both AFL and AFLW feature, including the entire player rosters from across all 18 teams. Up to four players will

This shooter blast is set to offer up a seamless blend of single and multiplayer options, with the player able to face the darkness alone if brave enough, or in a squad of up to four players in co-op.

be able to get into the action locally or online, too. If you’re more of a behind the scenes person, then the Management Career mode might be your thing, overseeing drafting, player development, and more.

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SPORTS

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AFTERIMAGE Be stunned by the gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and captivated by the fast-paced combat and non-linear levels of this all-new adventure treat. Set in the ruins of a fantasy world, an amnesiac girl awakens years after a cataclysm called “The Razing”. To recover her lost memories, she

LEGO 2K DRIVE The latest LEGO game is set to have us racing all over the open world of Bricklandia in a massive driving adventure. A wealth of freedom is promised - race anywhere, play with anyone, build dream rides, and defeat a cast of wild racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy. Your transforming

embarks upon a journey to rescue her mentor, setting in motion a series of events that will determine the fate of the new world. This Deluxe Edition Includes a digital artbook, digital soundtrack, and more.

vehicle allows access to everything from racetracks to offroad terrain and open waters and, if that’s not cool enough, the game comes with a real-world LEGO set of your three-in-one racer!

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RACING

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THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM Possibly the most anticipated game in the history of Nintendo’s Switch console, this epic sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is expanding Link’s adventuring to include the skies above the vast lands of Hyrule. Utilise Link’s fresh abilities and shiny new weapons, encounter mysterious vehicles and more

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: GOLLUM It's time to get precious and dive into the incredible world of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings in this new adventure. Driven by the desire to again hold what he lost, we get to explore the story of Gollum in more detail than ever before, ranging from his time as a slave below the Dark Tower

to his stay with the Elves of Mirkwood. Use stealth, agility and cunning to survive, with decisions that you make having a direct influence on Gollum’s struggle between his two distinct personalities.

as you explore like never before, choosing your own path through the sprawling land as you aim to fight back against malevolent forces that threaten the kingdom.

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TRINITY TRIGGER Classic action RPGs of the 1990s meet modern sensibilities in this shiny new adventure with a who’s-who of JRPG legends behind the scenes. Step into the boots of Cyan, Warrior of Chaos, with the goal of defying fate and saving Trinitia. Strange creatures called Triggers, which can

HOGWARTS LEGACY It’s time for all of you PS4 and Xbox One players to enter the incredible 1800s-set open wizarding world where the likes of Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and the Forbidden Forest are yours to explore. As a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart, encounter

transform into eight types of weapons, help, while players can switch freely between three party members to harness the best powers for each situation. Plus, there’s up to three-player local co-op.

fantastic beasts, customise your character, craft potions, master the art of spell casting, upgrade your talents, and become the wizard that you want to be.

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ACTION RPG

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16 MAY 2023

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PUSH YOUR GAME STYLE BEYOND PERFORMANCE.

Dell G15 Gaming Laptop powered by the latest 13th Gen Intel ® Core ™ processor.

Game on a retro-inspired gaming laptop with Intel ® processors enhanced overclocking for everyday gaming.

Hyrule Edition

GAMING FEATURE

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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 in a special Hyrule edition to celebrate the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom . ACCESSORISE NOW!

ONE CASE TO HYRULE THEM ALL Nintendo Switch Carrying Case The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition + Screen Protector If you’re feeling protective of your Nintendo Switch then you’re a savvy gamer, and will likely find this official case and screen protector combo from Nintendo just the ticket for peace of mind. Designed to fit your pride and joy like a glove, this unique new Zelda design also looks an absolute treat. As well as housing any Switch model, it also comes with a handy screen protector.

PRO IS THE WAY TO GO! Nintendo Switch Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition We’ve had some gorgeous limited edition Switch Pro controllers from Nintendo, and now Zelda fans have one to look forward to. For many, the Pro really is the only way to go, and this one, featuring a unique Tears of the Kingdom design, will look great in any collection – as well as bringing features such as motion control, HD rumble and amiibo functionality.

NUDGE, NUDGE, LINK, LINK! Nintendo amiibo: Link - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Since launching back in 2014, Nintendo’s amiibo line of

STAND UP FOR ZELDA PowerA Premium Zelda Stand for Nintendo Switch Officially licensed by Nintendo, this striking golden adjustable stand, that features the Royal Crest insignia, will really look the part when you’re wading deep into Tears of the

smart figurines has given us many top-notch ornaments for our gaming collections, while also coming in handy in-game by supplying various bonuses. Now we can welcome a new Link to our collections, with this Tears of the Kingdom design that will allow players to score

Kingdom . Compact, foldable and made of aluminium alloy, it’s certainly built to last, and is designed to hold your Nintendo Switch so that you can both play and charge, either at home or while on-the-go.

weapons and materials, plus a special fabric for Link’s paraglider.

Are you up to answering all eight of this month’s game related posers? 1 What was the name of the 2002 debut game from Redfall developers Arkane Studios? 2 What portmanteau is used to describe games in the style of Metroid and Castlevania ? 3 Which then AFL coach lent his name to 2001’s AFL Coach 2002 game? 4 Which Disney take on a classic literary character served as inspiration for The Legend of Zelda ’s Link? 5 Which classic 1993 Super Nintendo JRPG was composer Hiroki Kikuta’s video game scoring debut? 6 What was the name of the 1999 LEGO racing game by High Voltage Software? 7 What was the name of the first official video game, made in Australia, that was based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien? 8 Which “toys-to-life” series did Hogwarts Legacy makers Avalanche Software develop?

GAME EXAM

!

ANSWERS ON COMPETITION PAGE

18 MAY 2023

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GAMING FEATURE

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WHAT’S COMING IN JUNE?

Creative director on Cult of the Lamb at Massive Monster. JULIAN WILTON

STREET FIGHTER 6 Can you believe that it’s been seven years since Street Fighter V ? Anyway, that’s old news as we’re about to get into the latest and greatest as Street Fighter 6 hits our screens. Kicking the Roman numerals to the kerb isn’t all that’s new, with Capcom’s RE Engine at play behind the scenes, and three distinct foundational fighting modes to take on. Plus, we’ll get 18 launch characters (some old, some new), in-game commentary, classic controls or either of two new schemes, and more.

DIABLO IV The world of Diablo goes new-gen with the arrival of this epic fourth outing packing everything that a fan could want. Endless evil to slaughter? Check! Countless abilities to master? Yep! Nightmarish dungeons? Absolutely! Legendary loot? Well, of course! Playable solo or with friends, the campaign sees the return of Daughter of hatred Lilith in stunning dark settings with a captivating story, or we’ll be able explore an expansive end game and shared world, complete with PVP zones.

1 What’s the first game that you remember playing? Sonic the

Hedgehog on SEGA! Such good memories of that one.

2 What was the last game that you finished? I just recently finished playing Inscryption and it was absolutely incredible! The game has such a unique and creepy vibe, but in the best way possible. I was completely hooked from start to finish. 3 What’s your favourite video game/ series of all time? Hmm, that’s a tough question. But if I had to pick one, I’d say my favourite game of all time is probably Oxygen Not Included by Klei. I’ve sunk so many hours into that game, and it just never gets old. I love the challenge of managing a colony and trying to keep everyone alive in that harsh environment. underrated game of all time? Definitely Boomerang Fu ! It’s a game that I worked on with Paul Kopetko, and it’s seriously the best party game out there. It’s like a cross between Fruit Ninja and Towerfall , and it’s just so much fun to play with friends. More people need to know about this gem! 5 What’s the game that you most wish you’d worked on? Oh man, that would have to be Poinpy ! It’s from the creator of Downwell , and it’s just such a brilliantly designed game. I don’t know what it is 4 What do you think is the most about it, but I absolutely love it. It has these cute little characters, and the gameplay is so tight and satisfying. I wish I could have been a part of making that magic happen!

FIGHTING MULTIPLAYER?

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER?

2/6/23

6/6/23

ALIENS: DARK DESCENT A new Aliens game always brings high

FINAL FANTASY XVI The epic series continues with this PS5 exclusive plunging us into a dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them. Our hero is Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix. Prepare for titanic clashes, full-on action, and deep narrative – and look out for the Deluxe Edition with a steelbook case and cloth map of Valisthea.

expectations, and this one’s looking just as claustrophobic and creepy as you’d hope. It’s a single-player, real-time squad-based action experience that brings an original new story into the Aliens universe. Players will command a squad of hardened marines in combat “against the deadliest creature mankind has ever faced,” – including Facehuggers and Alien Queens - in a bid to uncover the sinister secret that the planet Lethe holds.

STRATEGY MULTIPLAYER?

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER?

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After really establishing themselves in the console market with the Xbox 360, May of 2013 saw Microsoft revealing their next machine. Known internally as Project

Y 10

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Durango, it was launched as the Xbox One, and was designed to cover all entertainment bases.

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ISSUE 223 MAY ’23

MOVIES & TV

YOUR MONTHLY MOVIES & TV GUIDE TO WHAT’S

IN-STORE AT

hot

W I N N E R GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD ® B E S T A C T R E S S DRAMA CAT E BL ANCHE T T W I N N E R BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARD B E S T A C T R E S S CAT E BL ANCHE T T

HHHHH “Cate Blanchett has delivered the performance of a lifetime” – Empire HHHHH – The Observer HHHHH – The Telegraph HHHHH – Evening Standard HHHHH – The Guardian HHHHH – Financial Times

Mature themes, coarse language and brief nudity

© 2022 Focus Features LLC. All Rights Reserved.

NEW TO DVD AT

MAY 3

WHILE STOCKS LAST

LILY JAMES

SHAZAD LATIF

SHABANA AZMI

EMMA THOMPSON AND

FROM WORKING TITLE FILMS, THE PRODUCERS OF BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY AND LOVE ACTUALLY

Coarse language and sexual references

© 2022 StudioCanal SAS. All Rights Reserved.

NEW TO BLU-RAY ™ & DVD AT

MAY 3

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Strong blood and gore, animal attacks, violence and drug use

© 2023 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

NEW TO BLU-RAY ™ &DVD AT

MAY 24

WHILE STOCKS LAST

Violence, sustained threat and coarse language

© 2023 Universal Studi WITH OVER 40 MINUTES OF BONUS CONTENT

os. All Rights Reserved.

NEW TO BLU-RAY ™ &DVD AT

MAY 24

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BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in APRIL 2023

MOVIES & TV MAY What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? I would have to say The

1 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish 2 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season 1 3 M3GAN (Unrated Edition) 4 Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham 5 A Man Called Otto 6 Babylon 7 The Boys: Season 3 8 Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 9 Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile 10 Black Adam

The Evil Dead (1981)

Evil Dead . I enjoyed the film so much it inspired me to

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

become a special effects makeup artist. The budget was small but with the genius of Sam Raimi and the sacrifices of cast and crew, it continues to be a cult classic today. What’s one of your all-time favourite movies, and why? The Lord of the Rings (all of them) – I can’t choose just one, they’re really a set. It’s the greatest trilogy ever made and they have the awards to prove it. They’re a great blend of amazing storytelling, cinematography, casting, special and practical effects. What’s one of your all-time favouriteTV series, and why? The Office . It’s a comfort show for me. The writing and character development keeps getting better and better as the show goes on and the relationships within the show are wholesome. I’ve really been enjoying Resident Alien . I’ve loved Alan Tudyk since I watched Firefly as a kid and his comedic skills have transferred beautifully to this story. I haven’t seen season two yet but I’m about to get my copy and binge it on a day off. What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend?

DVD BEST-SELLERS in APRIL 2023

1 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish 2 Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile 3 A Man Called Otto 4 I Wanna Dance With Somebody 5 M3GAN (Unrated Edition) 6 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season 1 7 Black Adam 8 Happy Valley: Season 3 9 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 10 Babylon

STEF RISTROM @ JB Forest Hill, VIC

What’s the best thing about working at JB? Being encouraged and able to be our authentic selves. We celebrate our differences and recognise how different perspectives can improve our workplace for the better. It feels like JB really cares about us.

NEW TO DVD AT

NEW TO DVD AT

MAY 3

MAY 3

XX MAY 2023 Mature themes and violence

High impact blood and gore

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WHILE STOCKS LAST

WHILE STOCKS LAST

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© 2022 Universal Content Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved.