st240

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 240 Oct ’24

STACK Issue 240 OCTOBER 2024 “If you’re referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved.” PERKS see page 7 for details WIN! WIN

INSIDE: YOUR GUIDE TO HEALTH AND FITNESS TECH TWISTERS , A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE, AND LONGLEGS

THE ULTIMATE SONY CONTENT CREATION CAMERA & ACCESSORIES!

CONTENTS

ISSUE 240 OCT 2024

GAMING 4 Take 5/Chart/Q5

8 Dragon Age: The Veilguard Q&A 10 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Q&A 12 Silent Hill 2 Q&A

WELCOME

14 Super Mario Party Jamboree preview 16 Sonic X Shadow Generations Q&A 18 Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero preview 20 Logitech G PRO Racing 24-25 Out this month/Fast Forward/Wham, bam, game exam! MOVIES & TV 26 Intro/Take 5/Filmmaker’s Signature/On the Radar/In Development/BJ’s Film Buff’s Bafflers 27 In a Violent Nature : Interview with director 28 Twisters : Let’s twist again 30 Longlegs : Interview with director and star 32 A Quiet Place: Day One - Shhh, zip It! 34 New from Imprint Films 36 New to 4k 38 Out this month/Board games MUSIC 42 My first album/ STACK exchange 43 New music from Amyl and the Sniffers and Kasey Chambers 44 Triple-A acts Coldplay and The Offspring return with new records 46 Thelma Plum and Dean Lewis release new albums 50-51 New albums coming to JB this month 54 Vital Vinyl hits up the noughties with five must have releases 55 Rock ‘n' roll stories with Stuart Coupe TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 3 Tech tips and editor's pick 4 Your guide to health and fitness tech 8-9 Smartwatches and fitness trackers 10 Heart rate monitors 12 Blood pressure monitors 14 Sleep tracking and its benefits 16 Healthy ecosystems and device syncing 18-22 Tech for sports and exercise recovery 36 Logitech's new MX Creative Console 38 The latest Copilot+ PC-ready laptops 40 Qi2 charging and why you need it 42 Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT turntable review 44 What's new in tech this month 24-30 Action cameras and drones 32-34 What's new in the kitchen

Throughout our long history of attending E3 shows in Los Angeles, there were a handful of games that would send the crowd into a frenzy. The mere mention of anything Final Fantasy related, or the announcement of practically any Bethesda title, led to scenes of hysteria. It wasn’t uncommon to see grown men in floods of tears. Another game that would elicit screams of joy was Dragon Age, whether by announcing a fresh entry in the series or simply just a new trailer. It began in 2008 when Dragon Age was rebadged as Dragon Age: Origins ahead of its release a year later. The announcement of Dragon Age II met with the same reaction in 2010, followed by Dragon Age: Inquisition in 2014. It’s now been ten years since Inquisition , and that same level of Dragon Age: The Veilguard

enthusiasm still exists as we prepare to head into Thedas once again in Dragon Age: The Veilguard . And while E3 and the excitement within the halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center have fallen silent, we can be assured that triple-A developer BioWare is about to lead us on another unforgettable adventure. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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

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

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone, Stuart Coupe, Trista McConville, Chris Mobbs, Michael Caverzan, James O’Connor

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

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by 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, 2024 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.

For all the latest in TECH , MOVIES , TV , GAMING and MUSIC

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What’s your earliest video gaming memory?

Getting a Super Nintendo for Xmas in 1992. It came with Super Mario World and the Super Scope 6. I grew up with my Nan and Pop who were in the army, and it’s the first and only time I’ve seen my Nan play video games as she was used to firing the Steyr.

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SEPTEMBER 2024

1 EA SPORTS FC 25

What’s your all-time favourite game or game series?

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . Looking back, it felt like such a big world when it came out and I played it as a kid. Just the magic of exploring, the puzzle solving of the dungeons and swapping between the two worlds. I still replay it every two or three years and it’s still one of the greatest games of all time.

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’ s ROVING REPORTER

3 NBA 2K25

4 WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2

What have you been playing most lately?

BUDDY WATSON @ JB Oxley, QLD

Helldivers 2 ! What a pleasant surprise. Online games can be hit or miss, but the way it encourages teamwork and everyone working together in missions and its overworld objectives is excellent. Even my non multiplayer mates have been playing.

5 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: ECHOES OF WISDOM

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

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

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Games are what I love outside of work, so it’s great to be able to talk, help, or educate people about them. I love seeing kids come in and the excitement of getting their first console.

I want to say SNES for the nostalgia and library, or the N64 for some of the all-time classics, but if it’s one console only from any era it’s the PS5. The number of games that exist now and the variation and types of games are unmatched. Plus, there’s the online and social aspect of playing online with friends.

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In October of 2009, we were let loose on the planet of Pandora in search of the fabled Vault, and its apparent untold riches. Yes, Borderlands was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world, bringing a deft combination of looter shooter action with great characters and a fun way with humour.

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the game that came with the 8-bit Nintendo console, Super Mario Bros . 3 What’s your favourite video game/ series of all time? Not to sound like a Homer, but my favourite video game series of all-time is the SmackDown/SmackDown vs. RAW/ WWE 2K series. This isn’t me trying to further promote WWE 2K24 , it’s the genuine truth. I absolutely love this series, and my love of the franchise speaks to how long I’ve been working on it. As a fan of pro wrestling and WWE, to me, there’s nothing better. 4 What do you think is the most underrated video game of all time? Kill Switch . Developed by Namco USA and

released in 2003. I don’t know if it was the first cover-based third person shooter, but it was the first that I played. More folks should know about it. 5 What’s the game that you most wish you’d worked on? Due to my love of the franchise, I wish I could have worked on WWE 2K22 . The game was a great success on its own due to the amazing folks that I’m blessed to work with on a daily basis, but I wish I could have been a part of the development process from the jump. I rejoined the team post-release and helped on WWE 2K22 DLC, so this answer might be considered a slight cheat.

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

remember playing is the original Super Mario Bros . It’s my first memory of Mario (and Luigi, can’t forget about him) and I enjoyed it a great deal. By the time I played it, I was probably five, maybe six years old, but I remember it fondly. 2 What was the first game that you finished? The first game

Gameplay producer on WWE 2K24 at 2K. BRYAN WILLIAMS

that I finished was the original The Legend of Zelda on the 8-bit

Nintendo console. I remember the day that I beat it - I felt like I’d achieved the impossible! When I think back on having beat it, I’m always reminded of the fact that I’ve yet to beat

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Battery life based on manufacturer testing and can vary significantly based on factors such as usage, network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings and other factors.

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Please, can you give us a brief outline of where the story picks up? So, the story of Dragon Age: The Veilguard picks up around ten years since the end of Dragon Age: Inquisition , and around nine years from the end of the Trespasser DLC for that game. Varric Tethras and Lace Harding have been searching for Solas – who you now know is the elven god Fen’Harel – and trying to stop him from ending the world. You play as Rook, who’s joined the team a little more recently, and the game starts with you hot on Solas’ trail. One of the reasons we structured the story this way is to really pull players in media res – having the first mission of this game feel like the finale of a different game and set both the stakes and the scale of the conflict in the first hour, while onboarding players who may be new to the franchise. What would you say is the biggest new feature in The Veilguard ? Our game director, Corinne, likes to talk about the importance of feeling grounded in the world. And I think the combat helps with that feeling. You have the moment-to-moment combat, which feels very fluid, and where a lot of focus has been put on responsive and

Arriving this month is the long-awaited continuation of BioWare’s epic fantasy adventure series in Dragon Age: The Veilguard .We had the pleasure of chatting with John Epler, creative director on the series, to learn some more about what to expect. Words Amy Flower

• Dragon Age: The Veilguard is out Oct 31

intuitive controls. And with a story that places a premium on quick decisions and being intelligently reactive, the gameplay starts to feel like a real extension of that.

I know Matt does, as I know everyone in leadership does – to do right by the team. And part of that is because so many of the people on the game are fans of the games. They joined BioWare after falling in love with Thedas, and you want to make sure that they can feel proud and satisfied with the game they’re working on. Plus, on a personal level, I want to tell more stories in this world. I owe Dragon Age so much.

It’s been 15 years since we were first introduced to the amazing Dragon Age universe, but ten years since the last entry, Inquisition . Why the long wait for this fourth main entry? Game development is rarely a straight line. We tried a number of different ideas and while there are things in those early versions of the game that I’m incredibly proud of – and I hope we get to revisit someday – they never really coalesced into a game we felt was the right fit as the sequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition . But there was a moment a few years ago when the pieces started falling into place for The Veilguard . We were playing an early version of the Siege of Weisshaupt, and it was still a lot of temp art and assets. But you could feel the game coalescing in that moment into something bigger. And then it just kind of snowballed from there. What sort of pressure do you feel when working on a sequel entry in such a popular franchise? Oh, there’s a tremendous amount of pressure. Both externally – our fans are lovely, but they are, rightfully, hungry for a sequel – but also internally. I don’t even mean studio pressure or publisher pressure, though obviously they want you to make a good game. But personally, I feel a tremendous responsibility – as I know Corinne does, as

How has now developing for the latest generation of consoles aided in adding to the rich world ofThedas and Dragon Age? Our art director Matt Rhodes has a saying about this – ‘Technology has finally caught up to our ambitions’. The newest generation of consoles has let us do some truly incredible things. I don’t think we could’ve done Minrathous, for example, on the last generation, and the same is true for our big set piece moments. Dragon Age – Thedas – is a big, spectacular fantasy world, but it’s one where we could never really get away from ‘tell, don’t show’, simply because we couldn’t always show. And, finally, we can! Not to mention, you can actually play through those big set pieces moments, instead of showing a giant flashy cutscene and then saying, ‘But that’s not where you are, you’re over here, because that’s all that the console can handle’.

SO, WHAT IS A “VEILGUARD”?

We had to ask, and John explains: “They’re a group of people who saw the end of the world coming and decided to do something about it. They’re your allies and, if you want them to be, your found family that has your back as you stand against the greatest threat Thedas has ever faced.”

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In early promotion for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 , Activision created a website called The Truth Lies, which included vision of defaced landmarks such as Mount Rushmore amongst fictionalised news clips. It has since been rechristened The Truth Dies, at thetruthdies.com, teasing the Zombies component of the game. THE TRUTH…

This year Call of Duty celebrates its 21st with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 .We had a quick chat with Miles Leslie, associate creative director on the game at developer Treyarch, to learn a little more about what’s in store. Words Amy Flower

well beyond day one. While I can’t reveal too much, I can say that we have some amazing content including new weapons, maps, characters, and events to engage with. Stay tuned for some fun surprises! What would be your personal top tip for any aspiring Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 multiplayer stars?

Happy 21st birthday to Call of Duty! How do you go about keeping the franchise – and the FPS genre generally – fresh every year? The team enjoys the challenge of maintaining Call of Duty’s best-in-class gameplay and constantly innovating with our weapons, movement, and flow of combat. We ensure these core elements remain intact, while finding creative ways to add new features. For example, omnimovement in Black Ops 6 enhances the core experience by offering players new ways to express their style and skill. Additionally, each game is set in a unique era with distinct stories and characters. While we maintain certain connections, we strive to bring something fresh with each new setting, era, and overall game story. Looking forward to many more years! With the single player campaign set during the early 1990s, Black Ops 6 once again melds fact with fiction. What sort of challenges do you face when including real world people and events? We aim to create a fun, entertaining experience for our fans, not to replicate real life. Black Ops has always blended fact and fiction to ground our game world and make it feel plausible, adding credibility and immersion. The challenge we face each time is ensuring we’re sensitive to the real world while delivering an enjoyable experience. We never set out to make a game that purposely touches on sensitive real-world topics. You’ve changed up the super-popular Zombies this year as the Dark Aether story continues.What’s new as we take on the undead? We’re always looking to push the envelope in Zombies while staying true to the core formula that players have loved since 2008. In Black Ops 6 , we’re delivering plenty of new features and quality-of-life upgrades for the first time in Black

After unlocking all your content through normal progression to Level 55, take the time to really assess your playstyle – how do you have fun playing? Are you a rusher, a slayer, or do you focus on objectives? Black Ops 6 has many ways to build your loadout to match your unique playstyle, from the new Perk

Black Ops 6 has undergone the longest development cycle of any Call of Duty game, taking four years. DYK?

Ops Zombies , including the ability to save and quit in solo matches, apply multiple HUD presets, play in third person perspective, create Zombies

specific weapon builds, share the cost of unlocking doors with teammates, and see new game over outros based on the type of zombie that took you down. We’re also very excited about the debut of Directed Mode, which is something new we’re building to grow the community. Later in the season after a map’s launch, this mode will offer a guided experience through the steps of the main quest, with rounds capped to certain steps and all other Easter eggs disabled. It’s a great way for newcomers to experience the epic story of Zombies and encourage their friends to try the mode for the first time. What surprises do you have in-store for multiplayer fans this year? The team has been working hard to ensure we deliver the biggest possible launch for the return of Black Ops and to keep players excited

Combat Specialty system to new weapons, attachments, Scorestreaks, and even the HUD presets. Explore them all to craft loadouts that enhance how you approach each match and mode. Additionally, I’d recommend spending time learning how to best use omnimovement to fit your playstyle. There are lots of awesome ways to use it to navigate the maps and outsmart enemies, and not all of it has to be diving around every corner (which you can absolutely do if you want!). You can go to the training course to practice if you’re struggling with mastering omnimovement, and try out the new intelligent movement settings to tailor the controls for automatically sprinting, crouching, and mantling to your liking.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is out Oct 25

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DYK?

One of the defining features of Silent Hill

games – fog - was originally introduced to hide technical

limitations of the first PlayStation console.

Renowned as one of the greatest and most atmospheric survival horror outings of all time, Silent Hill 2 returns this month in newly updated form. Mateusz Lenart, creative director and lead designer at Polish developer BlooberTeam, tells us more. Words Bec Summer A QUIET PLACE?

The big leap in technology has allowed us to be even closer to how Team Silent would have desired their game to be back in 2001. Thanks to state-of-the-art motion capture sessions, we can deliver the best facial expressions in the series’ history and show a wide range of emotions even before a character speaks a single word. With the possibilities of the Unreal Engine 5, we’re bringing the foggy, sinister town to life in ways that were impossible up to this point. The game will delight PlayStation 5 players visually, auditorily, and sensorily. What about the characters, James and Maria? How has current tech helped improve their stories? Their emotional arcs have been preserved, but with great care being given to showcasing their emotions with motion capture technology. This allows us to employ ‘show, don’t tell’ techniques more often, which is why some of the dialogue has been slightly altered to add an extra layer of nuance to the character dynamics. Have you kept the original game’s intriguing puzzles intact? The puzzles in the game have been slightly altered to present a new spin on their original designs, but still maintain their eerie connection to the game’s overall theme and narrative. We’ve taken great care to build upon the memory of the original Silent Hill 2 by sometimes twisting and confounding player’s expectations with regards to certain puzzle solutions, in a kind of a tribute to the inventiveness and playfulness of the original game. We believe that this approach, alongside the numerous and often surprising references to the original present in the game, will bring joy to fans of the classic Silent Hill 2 , while at the same time offering them something new and interesting to solve. We like to think of it as our way of expressing love for the original game – by enriching the experience, while still being mindful of preserving its essence.

How did you set about recreating and updating this genuine video game classic? We’ve approached working on the remake with such great care and respect for the original game. One of our primary goals is to preserve the atmosphere that made Silent Hill 2 so exceptional, while also modernising many aspects of the game’s overall gameplay. We’ve worked closely with the original creators,

including Akira Yamaoka and Masahiro Ito, to ensure we’re keeping that unique Silent Hill feel intact.

can see, we could find new ways to keep the player on edge.

• Silent Hill 2 is out Oct 8

How closely have you adhered to the original story? Silent Hill 2 is known for its gripping and multilayered storytelling, and that’s something we wanted to preserve in the remake. The setting of some events may change, but their impact on the story will remain the same. Even when new locations are introduced, we’ve sought to refer to the original whenever possible so that returning players will feel right at home when they venture out into the foggy streets of Silent Hill again. How has updated technology helped in realising your take on Silent Hill 2 , 23 years after the original?

The player’s view has changed from first person to third person, over the shoulder. What was the thinking behind this? With that change we want to immerse players even deeper into the game, make them feel like they’re a part of this unreal world, and deliver them a more visceral experience across the board. Overall, we want players to feel more in control of James, while maintaining the pervasive feeling of dread that characterises the original. One change often brings another. With the new perspective, we’ve rebuilt the combat system and certain set pieces, among other things. Now that you see basically what James

CASTING JAMES British/Canadian actor Luke Roberts steps into the shoes of Silent Hill 2 ’s main protagonist, James Sunderland. You may have seen him in such TV series as Black Sails and Ransom . He also played Thomas Wayne in 2022’s The Batman .

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BOWZILLA!

One very cool new mode is Bowser Kaboom Squad. This involves up to eight players taking on a giant, kaiju-like Bowser impersonator stomping about a cityscape through several rounds, by playing minigames, and sourcing bombs from crates to hurl at this spiky impostor.

With all of that rescuing and sports participation, not to mention his regular tradie gig, it’s good to know that Mario still finds time to party. He’s at it again this month with Super Mario Party Jamboree , billed as the biggest Mario Party to date, so let’s take a look at some of what to expect from it, shall we? Words Amy Flower Mario Party? If you’re new to the party, welcome! To PARTY ANIMALS! • Super Mario Party Jamboree is out Oct 17

back in Super Mario Bros.2 , and Mario’s ex, the original Donkey Kong’s Pauline.

Lagoon, Rainbow Galleria, King Bowser’s Keep, Roll ’em Raceway, and Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party. Minigames We’ve been promised big, and how’s this? There’ll be at least 112 minigames to

summarise it quickly, where the Mario Party games shine is that they bring classic board game-like play, with all of the many advantages – and yes, sometimes disadvantages, especially if you get an unlucky roll – that being a video game can deliver, such as changing paths around for added fun. In the main competitive mode you play on a board with areas that you reach by rolling a dice and moving the same amount of spaces. Sounds familiar? Yep, classic board game! It can be great friend and family fun, and it’s easy to pick up, even by those who aren’t particularly video game savvy.

Multiplayer As well as classic four-player party action, a new mode – Koopathlon – will let 20 human players go at it online. If you played Mario Party: Star Rush on 3DS, then it’s reminiscent of that game’s Coinathlon mode, whereby Plus, great news if you don’t have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to let you play is that Super Mario Party Jamboree comes with a seven-day trial code. PARTY ON, MARIO! We first got to party with Mario and friends in Mario Party , which released in Australia back in 1999 on the Nintendo 64. It established the board game and minigame formula that has continued to this day. Two more Mario Party games hit the Nintendo 64, before a further four were released for the GameCube. After a quick break of two years, the series continued with two Wii iterations, then one on the Wii U. Including Super Mario Party Jamboree , we’ve now you race around a track playing a series of minigames in quick succession.

get busy with. These will include outings that use standard controls, while others will take advantage of the Switch’s motion abilities.

So far, the Mario Party series has given us more than 750 different minigames. DYK?

Who’s invited? All up, 21 characters are ready to play in Jamboree . These include those who haven’t missed a party yet in Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi, plus fairly regular guests Daisy, Toad, Toadette, Wario, and Waluigi.

Boards Get ready to take on seven different game boards in Jamboree . Past

Less frequent guests include Boo, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Koopa Troopa, and Rosalina, while Birdo, Bowser Jr., Goomba, Monty Mole, Shy Guy, and Spike are also back in favour. Receiving their first ever invites this time are Ninji, an enemy that first appeared

favourites Mario’s Rainbow Castle (from Mario Party ) and Western Land ( Mario Party 2 ) make a return in updated form, alongside five all-new settings, which are Goomba

The Mario Party franchise holds the record for the longest running minigame series ever. DYK?

had three outings on the Switch, while other portable versions over the years included one on Game Boy Advance, one for Nintendo DS, and three on 3DS.

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Generations , reminiscent of Sonic Frontiers . What is the reasoning behind this different approach for Shadow? The response to the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontier s was fantastic. We saw a positive reaction to this brand-new type of Sonic gameplay that we were eager to expand on in more 3D Sonic games. The world is designed to let players explore the space with Shadow’s new powers and offers an interactive experience to play through challenges, find collectibles, and discover different secrets throughout. Both games feature level worlds that we’ve encountered in previous Sonic games. How do you go about deciding which of these should and shouldn't be revisited? We always put a lot of thought into making sure the balance feels right. On one hand, we know players enjoy returning to levels they know and love. On the other, we want to surprise them with stages they weren’t expecting and deserve more attention. The stages selected for both campaigns are meant to reflect both Sonic’s and Shadow’s pasts in meaningful ways. Personally, you’ve been involved with Sonic since his quite early days. How has it felt watching the character – and his many friends and foes – develop over the years into such an enduring pop culture phenomenon? It is an honour to have been here throughout Sonic’s journey, and I am so happy to see the joy and excitement he continues to bring to fans across the world, through games and other forms of media. Players that grew up with Sonic now have families of their own, and we see new players who are discovering Sonic for the very first time from the films, TV shows, and other means.

Sonic the Hedgehog is back this month, but he’s not alone! He’s joined by his frenemy Shadow, who’s off on his own parallel adventure.We learned more about Sonic X Shadow Generations from SonicTeam headTakashi Iizuka. Words Amy Flower

With Sonic X Shadow Generations , we’re being treated to two Sonic games in one great value package – a remaster of 2011’s Sonic Generations , and the new Shadow Generations . First, on Sonic Generations ,

beyond graphics, have you taken this opportunity to add or tweak any elements? We remastered Sonic Generations to modernise the game for current generation gaming platforms and mirror

DYK?

Keanu Reeves gives voice to Shadow in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie.

Would you please tell us about

its mechanics to the most recent 3D Sonic gameplay from the past few years. In addition to upgraded visuals, players can look forward to

some of the Shadow-specific abilities that we will encounter as he takes on the dastardly Black Doom in Shadow Generations ? As players progress through Shadow’s adventure, he’ll unlock his new Doom Powers,

reworked cinematics, the addition of Drop Dash to Classic Sonic’s gameplay, hidden Chao waiting to be rescued on each level, and more additions. Between Shadow Generations and the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, It is very much theYear of Shadow.What prompted SonicTeam to honour the much loved antihero with such exposure? With the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie coming out this year, we wanted to give people who plan the watch the film the chance to learn more about Shadow, including his in-game backstory and legacy moments. He is a well loved character in the Sonic universe, so we felt it was important to revisit his past with Shadow Generations and the Year of Shadow campaign so viewers could be introduced to him ahead of the movie’s release.

The franchise wouldn’t be where it is today without all of their passion and support. Sonic has a lasting appeal that we know will endure across generations to come.

which are abilities that draw energy from Black Doom. They offer new ways of traversing through levels, defeating opponents, dodging obstacles, and much more. Some powers include letting Shadow surf on water, glide, and completely transform to navigate different challenges. The Doom Powers were important to differentiate Shadow’s gameplay from Sonic’s since they can be so similar, while showing how cool Shadow’s power can be.

• Sonic X Shadow Generations is out Oct 25

We’re promised a new style of open hub world in Shadow

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• Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is out Oct 11

Fighting on and on and on and on… Elsewhere, there have been quite a few variations on the different games and styles throughout the history of Dragon Ball in gaming. The original Budokai series is a 2D fighter akin to Mortal Kombat , there’s the Butoden series of fighters on Nintendo’s DS and 3DS, the Raging Blast series on the PS3/360, and a multitude

Given that there have been nearly 50 different Dragon Ball games, it might get a little confusing when it comes to first getting into the franchise. So, here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest entries to date, as well as a brief look at the latest release, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero , which hits this month. Words Michael Caverzan

of standalone games as well – not to mention the countless appearances of Dragon Ball characters in many crossover games, such as Jump Force and J-Stars Victory VS+ , to name just two. Sparking! Zero: What’s happening? This brings us up to the release this month of Sparking! Zero , which is part of the Budokai Tenkaichi series. ‘Sparking!’ is the Japanese name for the franchise, and this release marks the first time that the series has adopted its original name in markets outside of Japan. It’s a 3D, arena-based fighter that has an absolutely overloaded number of playable characters, so you’re guaranteed to have your favourite in there. Sparking! Zero will also feature content and cutscenes from Super , as well as the upcoming series Daima , which sees Goku and company shrunken down to child size. Another exciting feature is a reactionary environment – as your battles go on, the arena will change according to the destruction that’s been

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot: The story so far The most recent, and perhaps most memorable, outing is Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot . It’s easily the biggest game that the series has seen, covering mainstay hero Goku (he’s been fighting bad guys since the first series in 1984!), and his companions' journeys throughout the story of the Dragon Ball Z anime. It’s a long and winding road that encapsulates what is best loved about the series in the heart and charm of the characters, alongside thrilling and epic battles with ever-growing power levels. DLC rounds out the game with storylines taken from the more popular films and even some of the Dragon Ball Super saga, which takes place after the story of Dragon Ball Z and raises the stakes even further – seeing Goku do battle with gods and legends alike.

FighterZ also delivers a completely original story that has several links to Super , meaning this is a fully rounded out package and one of the best fighting games, period. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 - Multiverse of madness! Then there’s Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 . A dark power is fracturing the universe that we know and love, destabilising the timeline and rewriting history. Here, you play as a custom character that fights alongside the heroes of Dragon Ball.

wrought. Characters are capable of incredible feats of speed and strength that stay true to the anime, including blink-and-you’ll miss-them kicks and punches, beam attacks, and planet-razing ultimate attacks. Given all of this, it’s clear

Over 66 million Dragon Ball video games have been sold to date worldwide. DYK?

Dragon Ball FighterZ: You’re pretty strong!

There’s an insane amount of customisation here as well, and each race that you play as has different abilities and quests unique to them. You can even play as the super-powerful race of Saiyans, from which both Goku and his rival Vegeta descend, and claim their transformation abilities as your own. This game is huge in single player alone, but also features a robust online component that includes PvP and raid modes.

that Sparking! Zero is really shaping up to be a fantastic entry into the gaming canon of the Dragon Ball franchise, capturing the aesthetics, thrills, narrative, and sense of scale that the

Another recent, but no less important, entry in the various franchises is Dragon Ball FighterZ , developed by Arc System Works, true veterans of the fighting game genre. Possibly the best looking Dragon Ball game, FighterZ delivers the intense battles that the developers are known for, alongside the expansive roster and top-tier graphics.

series is known for. If you grew up alongside the PlayStation 2 era of games, chances are you’ll be familiar with the Budokai Tenkaichi series, so Sparking! Zero is absolutely one to look out for.

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GAMING FEATURE

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WHAT IS TRUEFORCE?

TRUEFORCE is Logitech’s proprietary next-generation, high definition take on force feedback. When you’re out driving for real, you’ll feel road conditions through your steering wheel, from the everyday such as bumps and potholes through to more extreme things such as drifting and donuts (under controlled conditions, of course!). Classic force feedback is old technology that has a limited range for approximating car sensations, whereas TRUEFORCE has expanded bandwidth with which to create more accurate feedback conditions in real time, with its technology derived from surgical force feedback systems.

winning moves as a handbrake/accelerator grid launch. There’s further customisation available, too. Different racing games often have different settings, so you can store five different racing profiles within your PRO Racing Wheel. As for setting up, a newly redesigned clamping system allows you to quickly and easily attach/detach from a desk, if you don’t have the space to house a dedicated racing rig. Drive like a pro For any driver, in real life or simulated, setting things up so that they’re just right is key, and Logitech bring the options with the PRO Racing Wheel. The layout of buttons was arrived at after collaboration with both pro racers and enthusiasts from all around the world, with an aim for total control. Whether you opt for PlayStation, Xbox or PC, all the dedicated buttons that you’ll need are a mere thumb sweep away.

If you’re looking for an upgrade to your existing home sim racing setup, or want to enter the fray in true style, then Logitech G’s new PRO Racing Wheel and PRO Racing Pedals just may be the way to go to put you in pole position. Words Amy Flower

When you make the leap from controller to steering wheel, don’t expect to master it straight away. Years of driving via stick ‘n’ buttons takes time to retrain, but once you click with the added realism of a wheel and pedals setup, you’ll find those lap time records of yours will start tumbling. STEPPING UP TO STEERING

Drive it like it’s real While most of us have adapted well to

Direct drive The result harnesses cutting edge technology that combines Logitech’s TRUEFORCE feedback with direct drive technology, to deliver the most precise connection to the race that’s possible. Forget latency, this is like taking the wheel of the real thing. Speaking technically, the PRO Racing Wheel brings 11Nm of force which, combined with the TRUEFORCE feedback, means a more realistic delivery of in-game physics such as road conditions, and motor vibrations. The gear shift paddles use contactless magnets for a more true-to-life feel, and with them being fully programmable you can pull off such race

controlling our speedy onscreen machines with left and right control pad wiggles and trigger twitches, it’s nothing like clutching a steering wheel in your hands and stabbing at pedals with your feet. A big name in the competitive world of steering wheel and pedal packages for PlayStation and Xbox is Logitech, and their latest release ticks all the boxes for those who are seriously serious about it all. Available in dedicated flavours to suit PlayStation PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with one set of pedals to match them all, with the PRO Racing Wheel and PRO Racing Pedals Logitech set out to craft their greatest racing peripherals yet. To this end, they consulted with pro sim drivers to see what they demanded from a top tier wheel and pedals combo, and then set to work.

The PRO Racing Pedals module, meanwhile, brings customisation even further to the fore. Each of the three analogue pedals – accelerator, brake, and clutch – is modular, allowing you to space them however best suits your driving style. Even the pedal feel is able to be adjusted easily, via included swappable springs. Firmer, or softer? It’s your call.

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GAMING PREVIEWS

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OCTOBER

DRAGON BALL: SPARKING! ZERO It’s time for the fourth instalment in the Dragon Ball Sparking! action battle game series, which we previously knew in the west as Budokai Tenkaichi. We’ll once again battle legendary characters – both new and returning – as we relive epic battle moments from throughout the much-loved series, or create our own custom clashes and share them with the world online. UNTIL DAWN A bunch of teenagers, and a cabin in the woods. What could possibly go wrong? As any horror buff will tell you, lots, for on their remote mountain getaway, twin sisters apparently die at the hand of a mysterious figure. Yes, the classic, star-studded – Rami Malek, Hayden Panettiere, Peter Stormare, and more - PS4 horror-meets-mystery has been rebuilt, harnessing all of the PS5’s many powers. MULTIPLAYER 4/10/24

METAPHOR: REFANTAZIO A whole new role-playing IP from revered Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series director Katsura Hashino, prepare to be let loose in a medieval fantasy realm that mirrors the real world. The king has been assassinated, and chaos now rules the land. The throne’s successor will be decided via a tournament, which is where our protagonist, also on their own journey, comes into play. SILENT HILL 2 The latest in the Silent Hill saga, this is an update of 2001’s epic Silent Hill 2 , which is widely regarded as the highlight of the series. A single player, third-person survival horror experience, protagonist James receives a letter from his deceased wife, and heads to where they shared many memories, hoping to see her one more time. Here he encounters a woman who is strangely similar to her... MULTIPLAYER

UNDISPUTED It’s been a while between bouts when it comes to state-of-the-art boxing games, but Undisputed is here to change that. Its epic action brings us true-to-life visuals, over 60 punches, and an unrivalled roster of more than 70 real-world licensed boxers from different governing bodies. Play from amateur right up to champion in the career mode, or battle it out with others locally or online. FINAL FANTASY I-VI COLLECTION ANNIVERSARY EDITION Final Fantasy is one of the longest running RPG series around, dating back to 1987, and now the first six games have been remastered for this neat physical package. All six of them hit our screens with updated 2D pixel graphics, as well as an option for a rearranged soundtrack. All benefit from modernised user interfaces, and many extras, while a pixel character sticker sheet is also included in the box. MULTIPLAYER 8/10/24

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WHAT’S COMING IN

ASSASSIN’S CREED SHADOWS Prepare for the next instalment in the storied series to take us to 16th century Japan, during the Azuchi Momoyama era. We’ll step into the footwear of two distinct characters whose stories intertwine - one is a Japanese shinobi named Naoe, while the second is a real-life historical samurai, Yasuke. They’ll set out discover their common destiny, while ushering in a whole new era for Japan.

MARIO & LUIGI: BROTHERSHIP The brothers are set to return in a cool, all-new episode of their classic turn-based RPG adventures. The pair set sail on Shipshape Island - aka "the Brothership" - to the vast world of Concordia and explore various islands, ranging from tropical rainforests to bustling cities. They’ll meet new friends to help on their journey and encounter familiar Mushroom Kingdom faces such as Peach and Bowser.

FARMING SIMULATOR 25 It’ll be time to get your tractor running and head out to the fields once again with the latest instalment of this runaway hit simulation. This year’s model will pack more machinery than ever from over 150 international farming brands, as you build your farming empire alone or cooperatively. From Asia to North America

to Europe, there’ll be plenty of scope for different crops, livestock, and a lot more.

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PREVIEWS GAMING

JUST DANCE 2025 It’s time to bust all sorts of moves in our lounge rooms once again, as this year’s model of Just Dance brings a bunch of new tunes – some 40 of them - and fun new features. Whether it’s Espresso or Lunch , you and your Poker Face will be Unstoppable as you dance alone or with friends – locally or online. Or, head into the workout mode for a whole lot of fun while you burn those calories.

SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE It’s time to party with the Mushroom Kingdom crew once again, in a gigantic new entry in the long-running board game-styled series that’s billed as the biggest Mario Party yet. We’ll explore five new game boards, while two from previous series outings will be making a return, too. There’ll also be over 110 minigames, and up to 20 players will be able to go head-to-head in online play.

SONIC X SHADOWS GENERATIONS It’s a cavalcade of classic Sonic action, as 2011’s time-travelling 2D and 3D outing Sonic Generations is brought bang up to date, upgraded visually and with a host of extra content. Chief amongst this is an entire separate campaign to play as Shadow the Hedgehog, complete with hidden secrets, and special abilities for taking on Black Doom that only the Ultimate Life Form could possess! TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANTS UNLEASHED The heroes in a half shell return to our screens in a whole new adventure. Hit the streets of New York City, where human-mutant chaos reigns – as does pizza, of course! Our fearsome foursome is tasked with restoring the peace, using their various brawling skills to take out assailants that mutate as the game progresses. Luckily, as you advance, so do your turtle-y awesome skills! MULTIPLAYER 18/10/24

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UNKNOWN 9: AWAKENING Get ready to meet Haroona, the dimension-hopping star of this new action-adventure show. She has the ability to venture into the Fold, which is a mysterious dimension that overlaps our own. Her power leads to her becoming a target of the Ascendants, a splinter faction of a secret organisation that wants to use the Fold in order to meddle with events in human history.

DRAGON AGE: THE VEILGUARD The long gestating fourth main game in BioWare’s revered action RPG series finally makes its way to us, complete with a name change. But the core remains, and that’s a whole new sequel to 2014’s Dragon Age: Inquisition . The land of Thedas needs a new leader, and guess what? That’s you! Create a brave fellowship as you bring a team together to ensure the future of your vibrant land. CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 6 Set in the early 1990s, this year’s model involves us in a Gulf War era drama that deftly blends fact and fiction. Campaign wise, prepare for memories of previous Black Ops titles with both returning and new characters, and ’90s-themed weapons. Multiplayer will launch with 16 brand-new maps, while the fan favourite Zombies makes a welcome return, complete with two shiny new maps. MULTIPLAYER 25/10/24

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LIFE IS STRANGE: DOUBLE EXPOSURE This next episode in the much-loved narrative adventure franchise is set to involve us in a wholly new supernatural murder mystery. It will revolve around our old pal Max Caulfield, a photographer at Caledon University, who discovers her friend dead in the snow. In order to save her, Max tries using her time rewinding power, but instead she opens up a parallel timeline. Oops…

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NOVEMBER?

1. What was the name of the

player’s character in the original Silent Hill ?

2. On which Nintendo console did the Mario Party series start out? 3. During which real-world war was the original Call of Duty: Black Ops set? 4. What was the name of the Dreamcast game in which Shadow the Hedgehog made his debut? 5. What was the full name of the first Dragon Age game? 6. Who sang the 2008 pop hit that the Just Dance series is named after? 7. Which actor, who went on to play a James Bond villain, starred as Josh in Until Dawn ? 8. In what year did the original Final Fantasy release in Japan?

GAME EXAM

MYSIMS: COZY BUNDLE Originally a spinoff of The Sims for Nintendo’s Wii and DS, now two MySims games – the original and its sequel, MySims Kingdom – have been given a loving Switch update for this fabulous double pack. Set about making

!

3. Cold War 4. Sonic Adventure 2 5. Dragon Age: Origins 6. Lady Gaga 7. Rami Malek 8. 1987

Are you up to answering all eight of this month’s game related posers?

adorable new friends and discovering creative adventures, using your imagination and style to solve puzzles and help in both rebuilding a town and improving a magical kingdom.

Answers: 1. Harry Mason 2. Nintendo 64

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