The Metroid franchise has been laying low for a couple of years now with Metroid: Samus Returns being the last game to be released on Nintendo 3DS all the way back in 2017. This wasn’t exactly a major entry either since it was primarily a modernised remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus. Now, finally, in 2021 we have a brand new mainline Metroid series title in the form of Metroid Dread. Set directly after the events of one of the best Gameboy Advance titles hands down (Don’t even @ me about this, it is!), Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread seeks to bring the franchise to even greater heights. Does it ultimately succeed at this? Players will once again take on the role of Samus Aran in Metroid Dread. They’ll be treated to a mini story recap right at the start of the game and this gets you up to speed with the events of the previous titles. This recap just scratches the surface of the story told so far over the past few decades but it does a good enough job of onboarding newcomers into the game. Samus receives a mysterious transmission which includes video of an X-parasite floating around on an unknown planet. The transmission was traced back to planet ZDR and the Galactic Federation dispatched a group of seven E.M.M.I robots to the planet to investigate. Unfortunately, all contact with the E.M.M.I robots were lost. Samus then decides that since she’s immune to the X-parasite’s deadly effects, she’ll adventure forth and investigate what’s happening on ZDR. Unfortunately for Samus, things are never as easy as they seem and upon landing she gets attacked by an unknown Chozo warrior. Samus gets grabbed by the warrior, has her powers drained and is left for dead on the ground. Samus wakes up though and this is where you as the player then take over. Metroid Dread’s intro segment is not too long with players being taught the game’s basic mechanics rather fast. Gameplay in Metroid Dread involves moving Samus around, jumping, firing her beam cannon, firing missiles and a lot of puzzle-platforming adventuring. The same level of excellence that we’ve come to expect from the entire franchise is still as prevalent as ever here with Samus’s exploration throughout planet ZDR’s facilities being a joy. Each location in this game is bursting with both background and foreground detail and graphically, the overall aesthetic of Metroid Dread is a visual feast for the eyes. Nintendo have done a fantastic job with the 2.5D look here and the way the game incorporates different camera angles into boss fights and more is fantastic. The same level of excellence that we’ve come to expect from the entire franchise is still as prevalent as ever here... As you adventure through the facilities on ZDR, you’ll eventually start to obtain new abilities. Many of these are series staple abilities such as the iconic Morph Ball and Charge Beam. There’s also quite a few brand new abilities which Samus will be able to use and these are essential to progressing throughout the game. The ability to cloak yourself and go invisible is incredibly useful and definitely necessary to survive encounters with the E.M.M.I robots. Speaking of which, the E.M.M.I robots are the star of the show here in Metroid Dread. Samus first encounters a damaged E.M.M.I robot and the game immediately makes it clear to you that these are not to be trifled with. The E.M.M.I robots are murderous death machines that will relentlessly hunt you down and try to kill you as soon as their sensors detect you. They quite literally put the feeling of dread into Metroid Dread and this is done remarkably well. Samus will encounter the E.M.M.I robots in specific areas of the map. Unfortunately for her, traversing these areas is necessary to explore further and discover new abilities. ...the E.M.M.I robots are the star of the show here in Metroid Dread. This means that when you enter an E.M.M.I designated area, you are immediately put on edge. You’ll need to keep an eye out for the E.M.M.I and do your utmost best to avoid being detected and killed by one. This can become a bit frustrating throughout the game though, especially when you’re still exploring a new area and an E.M.M.I area comes up and you repeatedly die to one of these death robots. One of the key new gameplay mechanics in Metroid Dread involves using a melee counterattack if you press a button at the exact moment a telltale flash is displayed on screen. You can use this to counter normal enemies as well as survive an E.M.M.I attack if they get close enough. However, the chances of countering an E.M.M.I are extremely low and you’ll most likely end up dying. If you’ve played Resident Evil 2, think of the E.M.M.I as Mr. X, hunting you down to end your life but with the terror factor ramped up immensely. Purely because these robots just don’t let up. Without spoiling too much, Samus can defeat E.M.M.I robots and has to in order to gain new abilities and progress further on ZDR. However, getting the pre-requisite ability to do this isn’t always easy and requires a lot of exploring in each area. Exploration in Metroid Dread is largely left up to you as the player. Samus gets the bare minimum direction given to her and it’s rather easy to get lost in the game’s world. Thankfully, there are rooms where you can download an area map and once you have access to this, exploring becomes a lot easier. An additional hint system to direct you towards your next main objective could have been worthwhile here for younger gamers but it’s not a major issue that there isn’t one. The level design in Metroid Dread is extremely well thought out. Each and every single major area is interconnected and there are multiple ways in and out of each area. Some of the pathways are blocked off to you until you obtain the right ability to progress such as the Morph Ball or Charge Beam so there’s an extensive amount of backtracking that goes on in the game. With that said, backtracking through an area doesn’t ever feel like a chore because you end up discovering completely new pathways as well as hidden energy and missile tank upgrades thanks to your newfound abilities. ...backtracking through an area doesn’t ever feel like a chore because you end up discovering completely new pathways... Metroid Dread’s boss battles require player skill and some clever dodging to survive. Once you learn an enemy’s pattern of attack, and after dying multiple times, you’ll most likely end up succeeding in battling them. The feeling of beating a boss or an E.M.M.I is incredibly satisfying and knowing that you’ll be able to explore more and discover new things once you do so keeps you going. The soundtrack of Metroid Dread is excellent with the sounds of the E.M.M.I robot being quite creepy. The clanking of their metal feet and eerie robot beeps adds to the atmosphere and builds tension in the E.M.M.I areas. When you’re detected and the dramatic music kicks in, you know you need to high-tail it out of there otherwise you’re as good as dead. The voice acting in Metroid Dread involves Samus receiving intel from the Adam artificial intelligence in communications rooms. This is well done and so are the rest of the sound effects in the game. Hearing a fresh 2021 version of the Metroid fanfare when obtaining an upgrade sounds so rewarding too. Metroid Dread runs flawlessly on Nintendo Switch in both docked and handheld mode. If you’re lucky enough to own an OLED Nintendo Switch, the game will certainly look ridiculously good on the higher quality screen thanks to the art style and aesthetic of the game. Overall, Metroid Dread is easily one of 2021’s best games. We’ve been starved of Metroid for so long that getting a brand new mainline entry into the franchise is so incredibly welcome. Players who have played any of the previous Metroid titles will immediately get that “Metroid” feeling from this title and it’s pure bliss. The fantastic world and level design makes Metroid Dread a highly recommended title on Nintendo Switch and one that newcomers should consider too. Metroid Dread doesn’t overstay its welcome either, coming in at roughly around 8 to 10 hours (Probably more if you get lost along the way someway) but it’s a blast from start to finish. If you’re a fan of puzzle-platformer 2D games, one of the pioneers of the genre itself is now back and we’re extremely here for it. *Review code provided by Nintendo

Venom is a movie franchise that most of us want to like. It's about an anti-hero that looks unforgettable, is a formidable enemy of Spider-Man (perhaps the most beloved of all Marvel Superheroes) and boasts the concept of an everyday person being positioned to excel through the power of persistence. It’s a love story to all of us who aspire to be better. It's sequel isn’t terrible and I’d suggest that anyone who wants to spend an evening watching a top-class actor apply his trade in a very unusual way look no further than Venom: Let there be Carnage, but overall the sequel simply doesn't deliver as well as it could have. Venom may have many super powers, but perhaps the most notable is his refusal to give in to foes that are more powerful than he is. A subject that was explored considerably in his first film outing against the symbiote Riot, but Carnage is a totally different creature and a threat that requires far more screen time to do the character justice. The film is cut at 90 minutes, but there are clearly references to footage that was removed that would've created a far more complete picture... The first major criticism of this film lies in this regard: there simply isn’t enough time available. The film is cut at 90 minutes, but there are clearly references to footage that was removed that would've created a far more complete picture of the relationships that we are expected to care about in the film. Why does Cletus Kasady hate Eddie Brock? Why does Carnage hate Venom and where does Shriek fit into all this? These answers are mostly addressed with one-liners that the audience is expected to accept on face value, but makes it very hard to appreciate very complex relationships that need to be explored. The film certainly has its highlights and it should come as no surprise that the one big win is the relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom. Venom demonstrates the ability to both be a nuisance and a boon to the life of Eddie Brock. The symbiote is constantly nagging to be fed, for action and for Eddie Brock to achieve greater goals. Unfortunately for Eddie, this amounts to having a parental figure perpetually stuck in his head with access to his every action. Their relationship evolves as they suffer through the hardship that both experience being present in each others lives without reprieve, at times even being compared to a couple, and how that can both negatively and positively affect their personal lives. The back and forth is fun, with both characters showing moments of frustration, compassion and humour with one another and the Venom Symbiote steals the show as he delivers ridiculous commentary throughout the film. The side characters don't quite live up to the protagonist's depth. Carnage and Cletus Kasady are barely exposed as a ‘couple’ nevertheless the relationship with Shriek that creates a bizarre love triangle. Admittedly the over-acting from Naomi Harris as Shriek is painful as she delivers a performance that seems more appropriate in a certain Batman and Robin film than a 2021 blockbuster. Venom needed an R-rating to churn these dark concepts into screen time... Then there is Detective-Who-Cares who also has lines in the film where he says stuff about Eddie Brock and donuts I guess? But at no point in the film would anyone care about him nor his fate... other than being a detective who detectives, we never learn anything about him. Enter other side characters to forget such as Eddie Brock's love interest “something or other blonde lady” and her forgettable doctor fiance “Dr Dan-I-think.” The greatest sin is that, excluding Shriek, the performances of these actors are more than adequate and it would have been easy to get behind them and their motives had the film lasted another 30 minutes. The storyline has great potential as it almost stops to explore the complicated angles of a deranged serial killer, the pain suffered between lost lovers who still care for one another, parental figures and when it’s acceptable to inflict harm or not. Venom needed an R-rating to churn these dark concepts into screen time and every panned camera shot away from a would-be corpse or a fateful intervention to disrupt a tough subject drives the viewer further away from any form of consequences, compromises and sacrifice. Without these stakes, it becomes a bit of a slug fest between two CGI monsters. Another lost opportunity was the sense of scale. Carnage is a special villain and an extraordinarily powerful one, yet the battles between these two alien titans are limited to small environments where they are restricted to punching and stabbing each other. The choreography is lazy and often cartoony. Although the combat is explained for a moment as a battle of nutrition, where the symbiotes will burn through their regenerative resources, the film offers no measure of who is winning until it's over. Adding moments of fatigue, failed regeneration, visible damage and injury would have been an easy fix that was totally overlooked. Carnage is a special villain and an extraordinarily powerful one, yet the battles between these two alien titans are limited to small environments... So what is it all about? Ultimately, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a tale of an angry alien that wants to beat up a friendlier alien and some humans are also involved. It’s a pity that the deeper issues were left unexplored. The nods to the source material were not fleshed out into tangible and relatable stories, because it’s totally possible to have turned this mediocre outing into a special cinematic experience. Even with all the bashing of the above, Venom: Let There Be Carnage also not that bad. I loved some of the artistic choices early on in the film and if you are looking to enjoy a movie without having to over-invest, it’s a fast-paced, action-packed adventure you can turn your brain off to. If you are a fan of Spider-Man and Venom, give it a go but just don’t expect Carnage to be the Loki-style villain no one forgets. *Reviewed by Devin Rigotti

It seems that Sony is working with Apple to bring the company’s music service to the PS5. Users on Reddit have reportedly spotted the Apple Music app on their PS5 consoles but when trying to access the download, it fails. Users claim that the Apple Music app appears underneath the Spotify one on the music menu. However, clicking on the app results in an error message that reads “this app is only playable on PS4”. This is a standard error that the PS5 kicks out when trying to access a download that is not available. READ MORE: Ghost Recon Frontline Test Delayed Indefinitely After Negative Backlash If you think “PS4” is a typo that is not the case. The PS5 error indeed claims that the app is only available on PS4. Even though Apple Music is not available on that console either. Keep in mind that the majority of the PS5 media apps are actually PS4 apps that run in backwards compatibility mode. If Apple and Sony are working on an Apple Music app then PS5 owners will probably get the PS4 app on their console. So is this Apple Music app on PS5 real? I haven’t spotted the app myself on my PS5 but the Reddit images aren’t fake. It seems that Sony and Apple are indeed working on releasing Apple Music on the PS5 and PS4 in the future. It makes sense given that Apple recently rolled out Apple TV+ on the console. It also came with a 6-month free trial service for all users. Apple has also been a lot more open to releasing its services on non-Apple devices over the past few years. Something the company never did. Apple Music on the PS5 would be a welcome addition to the hardware. While having Spotify is great, a lot of iPhone users don’t use the service and would rather stick to Apple’s music library. Apple is hosting an online event on Monday where the company will announce new hardware. Perhaps the Apple Music PS5 announcement will take place then? Source: REDDIT Original article from GLITCHED

EA and DICE showcased the Battlefield 2042 Hazard Mode revealing its PvPvE gameplay and mechanics. In short, the mode follows in the footsteps of games like Hunt: Showdown and Escape From Tarkov. Players infiltrate a large map, steal data drives, kill enemies and try and extract the data drives at the same time. The big twist, however, is that other players are also on the same map doing the same thing you’re trying to do. On paper the Battlefield 2042 Hazard Mode sounds unique and unlike anything we have seen from the studio up to now. This elimination mode lets you team up in a squad of four players and jump into the maps. DICE and EA say that the maps aren’t especially designed for this game mode. In fact, Hazard Mode takes place on the same maps as the main game’s multiplayer. READ MORE: Review: Back 4 Blood The idea of the game mode isn’t to kill as many players as many players as possible but instead gather as many data drives as you can and escape the Hazard Mode alive. The game mode also includes its own marketplace where players can buy new guns and choose specialist classes before jumping into the game. The marketplace uses currency called Dark Market credits which also lets you purchase specific perks that tie into the game mode. The Battlefield 2042 Hazard Mode includes all 10 launch specialists from the main game. However, each team can only pick one of each specialist. EA says that at the end of each match players need to extract out of the map. If you don’t, you lose all your equipment and gear you have purchased during that match and won’t carry it over to the next round. Players will also have to fight each other for vehicles which are limited in number during each match. On PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S, the Battlefield 2042 Hazard Mode boasts 32 players (eight squads) and on PS4 and Xbox One, these maps are limited to only 24 players (six squads). Some of the perks players can purchase include: Free Upgrades - Starting Armor: Start with +20 armor - Negotiated Bounty 1: 50% additional credits for kills on Occupying Forces Purchasable - Squad Reinforcement: Reinforcement uplink that can bring back killed squadmates. Can only be used once! - Quickdraw Holster: Switch weapons +15% faster - Data Storage: Data Drive carry capacity increased by +2 - Loadout Insurance: Should you fall in battle, reimburses 50% of Loadout and Tactical Upgrade costs - Biometric Scanning: Spot enemies for 50% longer - Insider Information: Reveal Data Capsule drop locations 30 seconds before they land - Table Deal: 100% additional credits reward for extracted Data Drives - Faster Healing 1: Heal 20% faster - Faster Healing 2: Heal 50% faster - Ammo Increase 1: Additional +1 magazine for primary weapon - Ammo Increase 2: Additional +2 magazines for primary weapon - Throwable Increase 1: Increase carried throwables by +1 - Throwable Increase 2: Increased carried throwables by +2 There’s still a lot we don’t know about the game mode. We don’t know how important loot is and whether nor not weapons will be upgradable during the game. Hopefully, EA will share more on this Battlefield 2042 Hazard Mode soon. Check out the trailer down below. Battlefield 2042 is set to release on 19 November 2021 for PS5, PS5, Xbox and PC. Source: YouTube Original article from GLITCHED