The confusing, violent, and cataclysmic events we know today as the Bronze Age Collapse shook the Mediterranean 3200 years ago, which is roughly how long it feels like it’s been since we last had a main series historical Total War game. But much as Ramesses III led Egypt out of this dark era, Creative Assembly’s Sofia studio (which most recently released the semi-mythological A Total War Saga: Troy) brings us Total War: Pharaoh. The mysterious Sea Peoples are coming, and as a variety of competing leaders from the Egyptian, Hittite, and Canaanite cultures, it will be up to us to weather the storm.
While we haven’t gotten to see the campaign map yet, I was able to get a few details on it. We’ll fight over the Nile Valley as far South as Nubia and Kush – modern-day Sudan, basically. Heading North, we’ll get to explore Canaan, the region we usually refer to today as the Levant. Opposite Egypt, across the sea, we’ll also get to battle for Anatolia, the peninsula today which makes up most of modern Turkey.
We won’t be going as far East as Mesopotamia, so don’t expect to be tangling with any Assyrians or Babylonians. But the developers were quick to point out that this is a “full-fledged,” main series Total War game, though, and not a Saga. So we should expect sandbox gameplay and a scope similar to Rome II or Three Kingdoms.
Born To Be Kings
While the marketing for Pharaoh centers on Egypt, there is no faction called “Egypt” to begin with. Similar to Three Kingdoms and Troy, each faction is organized around a specific historical or semi-historical figure who is in a position to potentially unite their culture under one rule. For the Egyptians, this obviously represents the ambition to become Pharaoh, including the historical winner, Ramesses III. The Hittities in Anatolia have an equivalent office called the Great King. And the Canaanites are kind of stuck in the middle of it all, just trying to survive.
Similar to Three Kingdoms and Troy, each faction is organized around a specific historical or semi-historical figure who is in a position to potentially unite their culture under one rule.
There’s quite a bit more variety than just those three cultures in terms of the available units, too. Egypt, by itself, has four different regions with their own local, “native” units to recruit, in addition to a base roster tied to your starting character which is always available. You have Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Nubia and Kush in the far South, and the Western Desert on the outskirts where the most rugged and hardy warriors are available. The Hittites will be able to recruit from other Anatolian people like the Phrygians, and the Canaanites have two subcultures with unique units that represent the more settled city-state dwellers closer to the sea, and the pastoral hill folk of the East.
Wrath of the Gods
As this campaign focuses on the Bronze Age Collapse, the world will grow darker and more dangerous as the turns tick by, partly based on how well you’re doing at holding everything together. One of the main ways this manifests in battle is a dynamic weather system, in which you might start a fight under a baking desert sun only to be caught in a raging downpour moments later. This can change the terrain mid-battle, with large areas of ground turning into mud that slows down chariots and heavy infantry. Likewise, this marshy muck can dry up if the sun grows too brutal.
Each culture is equipped to handle their native lands better than others. Egyptians are typically lightly armored, which makes them nimble and very capable at fighting in extreme heat. The Hittites are much more heavily-clad in bronze, shrugging off the cold and the rain and able to endure quite a bit more damage, but they will be more susceptible to the relentless desert sun.
Terror From the Deep
Then we come to the enigmatic Sea Peoples, who seemingly overran many ancient and powerful cities during this time. We know very few concrete facts about them, so their depiction in Total War: Pharaoh is assembled from fragments of art and written accounts, along with some historical “best guesses,” but their main role is to serve as a major endgame challenge like the Huns in Total War: Attila.
The Sea Peoples’ main role is to serve as a major endgame challenge like the Huns in Total War: Attila.
They’re ruthless raiders and obviously quite talented seafarers, visually realized as a multi-ethnic coalition with eclectic combat gear that suggests they have gathered warriors from all over the ancient Mediterranean. Some of their troops are clearly riffs on Total War: Troy’s Mycenaens. They have multiple units with “Aegean” in their names. Others borrow from ancient depictions of Corsican, Sardinian, or Cretan islanders. They won’t be playable at launch, though the DLC roadmap promising multiple “Faction Packs” makes me think that’s likely to change.
War Never Changes
Back on the battle side, the siege AI seems remarkably competent for once, though the city defense I played saw the entire opposing army retreating almost the second their general died despite making it past the walls and still outnumbering us. Total War: Pharaoh is promising more granular customizable difficulty settings for campaign and battles than ever before, though.
Another addition is the ability to damage enemy armor over the course of a melee, with units like clubmen being particularly good at this. We’re still living in an era without battlefield cavalry, like in Troy, so chariots are your fastest and smashiest units. We’re also getting some new “stances” that cut down on micromanagement for infantry a bit, including one where you can tell them to simply advance until they run into the enemy and then attack.
Sea of Sand
From what I’ve gotten my hands on so far, Total War: Pharaoh doesn’t feel like a revolutionary step forward for the series. Not yet, anyway. I really look forward to seeing more of the campaign. This is an era I find especially fascinating, and the fact that we know so little about what actually happened is both a challenge and an opportunity for Creative Assembly. The path ahead lies clear for us to claim the title of Pharaoh this October.
As someone who really loved the narrative-focused Telltale games of yesteryear, playing another opening episode in their instantly recognizable style reminded me just how much I’ve missed them. Good ol’ zombie Telltale picks up right where the original incarnation left off, as the studio’s newest licensed project, The Expanse, is full of drama, tough decisions that leave lives hanging in the balance, and NPCs who will certainly remember your choices. Though there are many notable improvements to the look and feel of the expected Telltale system, The Expanse largely follows in the footsteps of earlier projects, at least going by the first episode, and that comes with advantages and disadvantages in equal measure.
In case you didn’t know, The Expanse is a wildly successful television show based on novels written by James S. A. Corey, and its DNA has all the makings of a series ripe for a Telltale game. There’s deeply troubling political turmoil, war, uneasy alliances, betrayals, and just about everything else you’d want players to worry about as they make their next dramatic decision. Much like The Walking Dead before it, the setting mostly serves as a depressing playground for the developer to pile on high-stakes tension and imminent tragedy. But the science fiction flavor affords for some interesting new moments, like scavenging for scrap in the vacuum of space, or shooting your fellow crewmate out of an airlock for doing you dirty.
Aside from the theatrical new setting, not much has changed from the familiar episodic formula. You’ll walk around exploring the world (or in this case, spaceship) and solve small puzzles in between the real meat of the episode – building up or irreparably ruining relationships with your comrades as you careen towards impossible decisions with far-reaching consequences. In the first episode, I had the opportunity to choose how to deal with a disloyal crewmate and was forced to pick between procuring valuable supplies by dismembering a friend, or losing those supplies but keeping 20% more of said friend. Per usual, making choices and watching the story unfold are an absolute joy. I didn’t realize just how much I missed these bite-sized episodes every couple of weeks.
There are some minor but noticeable upgrades too, like the fact that The Expanse looks and sounds better than any Telltale game before it. It’s not a mindblowing leap forward or anything, but there’s a very tangible jump in quality that’s certainly welcome. In the gameplay department though, the improvements are somewhat heftier, as the episode I played had me floating through space and magnetizing to the sides of a derelict ship in search of scraps. It’s by no means enough to excite those who aren’t drawn in by the story that’s clearly still the main attraction, but they’ve definitely come a long way from the janky tank controls of The Walking Dead Season One.
“The Expanse is more likely to be a moderate upgrade than anything revolutionary.”
The only concern I’ve got is that, after going dark for so long, recreating the Telltale magic without changing up the formula too much might not be enough to recapture people’s interest. It certainly felt good to be playing high quality, narrative-focused adventure games again, but without any major surprises to shake up the Telltale recipe, it mostly felt like business as usual. If you were expecting Telltale’s return to blow you away with amazingly improved gameplay and graphics, The Expanse is more likely to be a moderate upgrade than anything revolutionary. For me, that’s fine – I loved Telltale games to begin with and am happy to see them keep the party going, but I don’t see it winning over a ton of new players who weren’t already convinced.
The first episode was only an hour long and only gave me a small taste of the characters and drama that surely lie ahead, but I’m already committed to seeing the series through to the end and basking in Telltale’s glorious revival. Besides, I gotta see how my crew reacts when they find out I straight-up murdered one of their friends.
Diablo Franchise General Manager and old friend of Unlocked Rod Fergusson joins the show this week to celebrate the launch of Diablo 4. Rod talks about the challenges of joining Blizzard mere days before the COVID-19 pandemic, why he left Gears of War behind after 15 years, which Diablo 4 class he’ll be playing first, and much more!
Subscribe on any of your favorite podcast feeds, to our YouTube channel, or grab an MP3 of this week’s episode. For more awesome content, check out our interview with Todd Howard, who answered all of our Starfield questions after the big reveal at the Xbox Showcase:
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
The second half of 2023 continues the slow but steady increase of new content in the Netflix library. After months of delay, the feature length movie, Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King, arrives on platform June 16th, 2023. The other major anime release of June is the anime adaptation of Fumi Yoshinaga’s award-winning manga Ōoku: The Inner Chambers.
It’s always tricky balancing new entries into the Best on Netflix list because sometimes it takes a few seasons for a series to shake out the kicks. This month, two series hit the list. One is, new sci-fi anime series Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune which premiered in May. The second is Vinland Saga that just keeps making its case for being considered one of the best anime series, period.
Note: As this is a list of anime series to watch, no anime movies were considered for this feature. This list applies to U.S. Netflix subscribers. Some titles may not currently be available on international platforms (yet). This list will also be periodically amended to remove series no longer available on Netflix, as well as add anime shows now available for streaming on the service.
Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune
Based on Carlo Zen’s sci-novel The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune follows a group of five soldiers mired in an intergalactic war. This military sci-fi offers highly detailed character design, action-driven, thematically rich story of youths recruited by the into the inner circle of the Pan-Star System Trade Federation Security Council in order to help in the fight against the Barkans, a race of intelligent mice who have grown tired of the Trade Federation’s presence and resistant to their command. It’s a do-or-die story about expendable soldiers full of battlefield drama entwined with the complicated dynamics of politics of war. It’s a six-episode Orwellian space opera that is absolutely a must-watch if this is your brand of sci-fi.
Vinland Saga
Everyone has their personal favorites when it comes to shonen anime. The field is jam-packed with a myriad of coming of age stories. Vinland Saga follows Thorfinn on his journey of growth and in search of revenge after witnessing the murder of his father at a young (six) age. It’s vividly drawn and exquisitely detailed. Set in the Middle Ages, Vinland is a balancing act between a cautionary tale about the perils of war and rich worldbuilding about growing up amidst rampant warfare. There’s violence, gorge, moral lessons and righteous vengeance. If you’re not watching, then you’re missing out.
Ajin: Demi-Human
Directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, this series follows Kei Nagai, a pre-med student who resurrects after a car accident. He’s Ajin, an immortal demi-human, now on the run from government experiments and searching for other beings like himself. Despite its relatively standard entry point for a seinen anime intent on exploring how humans behave; Ajin perfectly capitalizes on the violence and cat-and-mouse elements of the maga and pairs it with creepy, and atmospheric 3D animation. So, if evading capture, not knowing friend from foe and uncovering secret organizations with agendas of their own is your bag this is the quick-paced, visually rich, thrill ride for you.
Monster
Set in Germany, Monster follows brain surgeon Kenzo Tenma as his complicated work life unravels after he makes the fateful decision to operate on a young boy instead of the mayor. That choice sets in motion a chain of events that see Tenam ostracized, with his career derailed, and him accused of murder. Using a blend of relationship drama, social climbing, and professional betrayals, Monster weaves in heavy moral and ethical dilemmas into the storyline in ways that maximize tension and keep the pace pushing from episode to episode.
By the time the big reveals and twists come, you’ll be fully invested. And if horror is what raises the stakes for you, this adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s 1994 manga definitely leverages unsettling – even horrific – encounters between its main characters to a wicked character study of a serial killer and murder mystery. If you’re looking for an engrossing, complex psychological thriller where a great historical timeline, hefty philosophical themes, compelling characters and a damn good cat-and-mouse game come together into an exceptional series then this globetrotting classic is just what you need.
Vampire in the Garden
In Vampire in the Garden the fate of the world hangs in the balance when a vampire queen and human join forces in an effort to find Paradise. Paradise isn’t just a euphemism for a way to end the warring between the factions, but an action place where the two species lived harmoniously. The double entendre holds true for all of this beautifully drawn five episode fantasy anime series. Despite the story of young Momo and her fateful meeting with vampire queen Fine feeling occasionally rushed (the pitfalls of an extremely limited series) this story of a duo intent on finding a way for humans and vampires to live peacefully once again is a compelling little romance from Wit Studios.
High-Rise Invasion
High-Rise Invasion centers Yuri Honjo. A high schooler who finds herself in a twisted world of interconnected buildings known as “abnormal space.” Pulled into a wicked situation she chooses to fight back against her attackers. This is a blood-soaked dark story full of sadistic figures hellbent on mayhem. It’s got thrills, screams and a slaughterhouse of insanity.
Oni: Thunder God’s Tale
If you like the trend of incorporating new animation techniques, like say a 3D stop-motion hybrid, into anime visual effects, then Oni: Thunder God’s Tale may be just the thing for you. Based on Onari’s Lullaby by Emi Tsutsumi, Oni follows free-spirited Onari on her quest to become like the heroes from (Japanese) folklore. In her quest to unlock her inherent powers, Onari undergoes transformations – that offer lessons on empathy and connection with a light touch.
The pacing is slow, but with 45 minute episodes it covers a lot of ground with fun, action and plenty of emotion pay off to balance the occasional drag. So despite being a fantasy children’s story brought to such life and flair that even the crabbiest of diehards will find themselves rooting for Onair and laughing at the hijinx of the odd-ball gods and monsters she encounters along the way. A warm, family friendly story anchored by the consistently stunning animation is the perfect mini-series palette cleanser.
exception
exception takes a walk on the post-apocalyptic horror side with a story about a mission to terraform a planet that goes horribly awry. To escape AI control, humans have taken to space in search of a new home. The crew of humanoid entities created (from the DNA of living people) in a biological 3D printer called The Womb make up the advance party. Just as they arrive to start the work of making a new habitable planet, a misprint turns one crew member into a monster. Soon their ship becomes a hunting ground.
exception is a visual stunner with a unique way of bringing humor, mayhem and action. The story balances complicated questions about what makes someone human with an action-driven, unsettling sci-fi drama. Directed by Yuzo Sato, exception brings to life an original story by Hirotaka Adachi also known as Otsuichi (Goth: Love of Death) with non-traditional animation and character design that may not be everyone’s cup of tea but its original story and immersive pacing makes this a space horror a do not miss.
Tekken: Bloodline
A surprisingly straightforward adaptation of the Tekken 3 storyline, Tekken: Bloodline follows fifteen-year old Jin Kazama (Kaiji Tang) on his quest to avenge his mother. You don’t have to be a lover of the video game to find this six episode arc worthwhile. It showcases character design and story structure that’s reminiscent of the source’s gameplay but the real lure is in the slow burning reveal of Jin’s family history and his struggle to honor his mother and fight to control his destiny. There’s mystery, intrigue, and just enough fighting to keep things very interesting.
Kotaro Lives Alone
Kotaro Satо̄, a 4-year old boy living on his own, moves next door to Shin Karino, a manga artist. Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Mami Tsumura, Kotaro Lives Alone is the inverse odd couple you didn’t know you were missing in your life. It’s witty, self-aware, and relies on an animation style that only adds to the vibrancy of this adorably engaging ten episode slice of life series.
Little Witch Academia
Little Witch Academia is an underrated gem in the streamer’s library. This anime series directed by Yoh Yoshinari is a pastel drenched delight. Atsuko Kagari longs to be a world-class witch like her idol. There’s only one problem, she’s got a decidedly non-magical background. But the enthusiastic youth finesses her way into Luna Nova Magical Academy, her fav’s alma mater to train. What follows is a blend of lighthearted and hijinx as she attempts to navigate school. The animation is masterful and the characters joyfully entertaining. It’s a feel good watch with just enough depth to intrigue.
Spriggan
Based on the manga by Hiroshi Takashige and Ryōji Minagawa, Spriggan enters the list after only a six-episode debut jam-packed with action, slick character design, and a premise interesting to overcome an uneven start. Spriggan follows Yu Ominae, a 16-year-old super soldier tasked with finding and securing powerful artifacts.
With various military and private groups vying for control of what they see as potential weapons, Yu must defend against all comers if he hopes to comply with his employer’s mandate to safeguard the artifacts. Sticking close to the source, this anime series capitalizes on open-ended storytelling, charismatic characters, humor, necessary violence, and bombastic action sequences. This globetrotting adventure is all about world-building and setting up for adventures to come but still makes the most of its character arcs to be off to a fantastic start both newcomers and fans of the manga and previous movie.
Eden
The world feels like it’s a bit of a constant dumpster fire. So, it can’t hurt to have a bit of wholesomeness in your end-of-the-world adventure. It’s been a thousand years since humans have been on Earth. AI robots inhabit a city called Eden 3. Their overlords are long gone, but the robots continue to farm the land. Two maintenance robots accidentally wake up a human baby girl from stasis. Her appearance calls into question all their beliefs. The two robots decide to raise the little girl in a safe haven outside the city. Eden has engaging character design brought to life with great voice acting. The story’s simple and sweet. There isn’t much trope subversion but sometimes, sweet is exactly what the post-apocalyptic story needs.
Komi Can’t Communicate
Directed by Ayumu Wantanbe and based on the popular manga series written and illustrated by Tomohito Oda, Komi Can’t Communicate follows Shouko Komi, an extremely popular girl, and socially average Hitohito Tadano. Komi comes off as poised to others at school but in fact suffers from severe social anxiety that makes it difficult for her to interact with others. When Hitohito discover’s beautiful classmate’s secret, he vows to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends at their prestigious prep school.
Komi Can’t Communicate is a stellar example of a slice-of-life anime. It explores touchy themes with a light-hearted, humorous edge. The characters’ personalities are engaging, the various situations they find themselves in at turns ridiculous, humorous or relatively serious but alway relatable. Brought to life with near flawless animation color scheme and impressive character design this series is a well balanced delight. If you’re into slice-of-life anime series, not necessarily into waiting. The full first season Komi Can’t Communicate is now in the anime library.
Death Note
Death Note follows Light Yagami, a teen who comes into possession of a magical notebook that allows him to kill anyone he wants just by writing their name inside. What comes after is a captivating cat-and-mouse game between him and the investigator intent on discovering who’s behind the deaths. This classic from director Tetsurō Araki is an engrossing exploration of morality, justice, loyalty, honor, and friendship. With illustrations and character design that never go out of style, Death Note is an absolute classic. The world seems intent on being a never-ending dumpster fire. So you can never go wrong with a classic anime series that isn’t afraid to dig into the dark side even as it reminds you that life’s direction is always a choice.
High Score Girl
High Score Girl follows Haruo Yaguchi, a sixth grader gamer, as he encounters a true challenger to his supremacy at the local arcades. Classmate Akira Oono who appears to be practically perfect on every level, best his favorite game, Street Fighter 2. From there this unlikely duo bond over vintage video games that allow them to decompress and avoid the anxieties of their everyday lives. Yaguchi slow learns that Oono’s life isn’t as idyllic as it seems and that he has a lot to learn about himself and life. High Score Girl’s full of funny misadventures, sly life lessons, and acts of ego. Sometimes, you need a coming-of-age story with a side of nostalgia and irony. If you’re a gamer, and have a chaotic internal monologue hyping you up, then High Score Girl may be just the ticket.
One Piece
One Piece is a long-running shonen anime about Monkey D. Luffy sails with his globetrotting crew of Straw Hat Pirates on their hunt for the treasure One Piece and quest to become the new king of the pirates. Based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga the anime adaptation is full of high action and laughs. With an ensemble made up of an eclectic group of male and female characters, there’s a camaraderie and sense of adventure that keeps the series engaging season after season. This series houses some of the greatest anime characters of all time.
The Orbital Children
Set in 2045 The Orbital Children, also known as Extra-terrestrial Boys and Girls, follows two children born on the moon and three from Earth. The story takes place in outer space (where internet and artificial intelligence are widespread) on a Japanese commercial space station. A massive accident leaves this group of kids stranded with little hope of rescue. They must rely on their wits, limited communications, and what’s available to try and avert further disaster…and possible death.
Written and directed by Mitsuo Iso (Ghost in the Shell, Rurouni Kenshin and Blade Runner: Black Lotus) this two part science fiction series not only takes anime to space, it stares directly into the distance and asks, are humans necessary? Iso takes direct aim at the ticking clock on Earth’s ability to adequately sustain human life. Then it ponders whether humans are capable of doing what’s necessary to save themselves. Although this philosophical schism should come as no surprise given it is Mitsuo Iso, The Orbital Children blends smooth animation, a striking color palette, relatable character design – that puts its excellent voice cast to great use – turning this into a coming of age story and full blown existential (and literal) crisis that shouldn’t be missed.
Record of Ragnarok
If you’re a fan of The Seven Deadly Sins, list mate JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure or the just idea of the gods giving humanity one last chance to prove itself tournament-style appeals, then get into the twelve episode first season of Record of Ragnarok. The pace is binge-perfect, the animation traditional, and the battles over the top (it’s a race to seven victories out of thirteen rounds). If we must contemplate our own humanity and face the end, let it be watching 13 champions fight their way through the pantheon of gods.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
After a demon attack leaves most of his family slaughtered and his sister turned, Tanjirou Kamado swears to save her and avenge his family. He joins a mysterious group calling themselves the Demon Slayer Corps intent on doing anything to exact revenge. If you’ve finished all the few remaining seasons of Attack on Titan the streamer has in its library but still want your fight scenes crisp then give Demon Slayer a go. You won’t be disappointed.
You’re minding your business, living your life. Then between one thing and the next, the world ends; leaving you behind. What would you do? Those left behind are confronted with giant bugs and flooded cities being reclaimed by nature. What a time to realize you weren’t ready for the apocalypse.
Aggretsuko
December 2021 meant a fourth season for Aggretsuko fans. This slice of life anime is full of subtle lessons about not letting life’s challenges get the best of you. Turns out, ten more episodes following 25 year-old Retsukothe as she deals with the highs and lows of her crap job as a police accountant, lackluster dating life, and life’s frustrations with heavy metal (and her werewolf-esque transformations) as her main outlet surprisingly still isn’t too much of a good thing. The simple art style is a perfect foil for the wry, witty writing and fully-loaded soundtrack. This is one series possibly destined tolist staple as long as it remains in the Netflix library.
Super Crooks
Based on the four-issue comic series by Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu, Super Crooks debuted on the platform in December. This prequel to the comic series follows Johnny Bolt and his band of crooks as they attempt to pull off the ultimate heist. This world of super-powered people offers a slick opening, simple, yet action-packed story full of quips, quirks, interesting characters, and crisp (Studio Bones) visuals. Although it won’t be to everyone’s taste (if redemption arcs and character growth are your bag then you’ll be left wanting), this 13-episode was definitely a 2021 surprise.
B: The Beginning
The vigilante “Killer B”’s turning the island of Cremona into their personal hunting ground. To catch this escalating killer, the Royal Investigation Service calls its ace – if eccentric – detective Keith Flick back into active duty. But the kills aren’t what they seem and Flick will need to unravel dangerous secrets in order to solve these crimes. If you’re in the mood for a cat-and-mouse detective story – with more than a few science fiction twists – then look no further than B: The Beginning. This visually stunning story offers a blend of mystery and horror for fans who like their anime to take ambitious risks (even if it doesn’t always stick the landing).
Code Geass
Sent to Japan as a hostage, Lelouch, a prince of Britannia, escapes after an encounter leaves him with the power to control anyone. Lelouch becomes the masked rebel known as Zero and begins to mercilessly exact vengeance against Britannia. Code Geass is a genre blend with action, charisma, and just the right amount of bombasticness to carry the story from episode to episode. This alternate history full of mechs and magic is a wild ride.
Dorohedoro
Set in a grim world, Dorohedoro is a quixotic and disorderly series about a big crocodile man who loves gyoza. It’s almost equal parts comedy and carnage. It’s a bizarre, gory, sci-fi world full of surprisingly compelling characters. With bold color and a brisk pace, Dorohedoro makes the most of its strange world to confuse and entertain.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Based on the wildly popular manga series, this multigenerational story follows the adventures of a Joestar family member – each with the same titular nickname and endowed with immense psychic strength – as they battle against rivals (and evil) down through the ages. With each new protagonist comes an independent story that expands the universe and keeps the narrative fresh and engaging. It’s sly wit and frequent hattips to popular Western trends add just the right amount of hilarity to this adventure-driven fantasy. With five quality seasons (Stone Ocean being the latest installment) now available on Netflix as of December 1st, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s addition to the best of list may just be a bit overdue.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop’s set in a world where a hyperspace gateway accident’s left Earth inhabitable. What remains of humanity colonized the rocky planets and moons in the solar system. Fifty years of rising crime prompts the Inter Solar System Police to legal bounty hunting and authorized hunters, known as Cowboys, to track and capture criminals across the system in order to bring them to justice. The series follows the crew of spacecraft Bebop as they hunt down criminals in 2071. This Japanese sci-fi noir and it’s now iconic soundtrack and vintage (but still solidly stylish) animation style offers up the space (mis)adventures of former syndicate member and hitman Spike, his former ISSP officer partner Jet Black along with a con artist with memory gaps, a wacky hacker and Ein a too-cute- for its own good genetically engineered Welsh Corgi with human-like intelligence.
The twenty-six episode series offers a genre-blending narrative, visually kinetic action, and audacious good fun for long-time fans and is a great place to start for those new to the anime space. Only time will tell if dropping the entire anime run just ahead of the live-action Cowboy Bebop November 19, 2021 premiere helped or hurt the movie franchise. Be sure to check out how IGN thinks film adaptation stacks up against the source material.
Beastars
If you prefer your shounen occasionally NSFW and built on a narrative designed to explore themes like prejudice, choice, introspection then Beastars may be the slice of life fantasy series for you. This drama-heavy mystery series digs into the lives of anthropomorphic animals; where carnivores and herbivores are trying to coexist peacefully. If Zootopia-eques that dig into slice-of-life stories and self-discovery are what grab and hold your interest then Beastars is definitely an anime series for you.
Violet Evergarden
Based on a light novel series this thirteen episode show brings to life a story of post-war reintegration into civilian life through the lens of fourteen-year-old Violet Evergarden. This fantasy coming-of-age story tells the tale of the young orphan’s attempt to find purpose beyond soldiering. It’s an introspective and touching narrative with a phenomenal score. This series is why phrases like “visually stunning” won’t soon go out of use. It is simply one of the most beautifully animated series around.
Now’s an excellent time to revisit this show then pick up with Violet Evergarden: The Movie added to the streamer on October 13, 2021.
Erased
Follow 29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma as he discovers an ability to time travel and ends up in the past trying to solve a murder mystery. This powerful ability he calls “Revival” permits him to jump back to the recent past (a few minutes) to change events and save lives. But after being accused of a murder himself, however, Satoru wakes up, as his younger self, eighteen years in the past. Soon realizing the crime he’s accused of is connected to an abduction and death of a classmate, Sartoru strikes out to unravel the mystery, prevent his classmate’s death, and ultimately clear his (future) name. Erased is a gripping adaptation of Kei Sanbe’s full manga run. The story is dynamic and brought to life through gritty and immersive animation. Set aside time, because it’s a binge-worthy series.
Hunter x Hunter
It’s pronounced Hunter, Hunter (the x really is silent). Young Gon sets out to find his missing father. Along the way, he makes new friends, enters a martial arts tournament, and comes face to face with creatures – on his quest to become a Hunter – that any horror prop master would kill to get their hands on. Gon’s enemies have zero chill so between the action sequences and well-crafted story Hunter x Hunter is some of the best shonen anime has to offer, ever. Come for the familiar premise, stay for the character depth, darker tone, and its engrossing and increasingly complex story arc.
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
All-powerful psychic Kusuo Saiki attempts to fly under the radar are continually thwarted and result in a high comedy. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. follows Saiki as he tries to navigate school drama free despite his magnetic ability to attract people. It’s quirky, full of lovable characters, and hijinks. Despite its lighter tone, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. offers a quality crowd-pleasing story.
Great Pretender
Makoto Edamura’s a con man on the run. But don’t think that’ll stop him from falling head-first into new schemes instead of laying low. The Great Pretender is colorful, quick-step, offering all the elements of a perfectly designed heist film. If you like your anime stylish and your character’s too-slick for words, then this Netflix exclusive is tailor-made for you.
New Anime Series on Netflix
Although there’s still no word on when subscribers can expect the Black Clover anime to arrive, Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King debuts on June 16, 2023. Shortly thereafter, the first season of Netflix Original, Skull Island, launches on June 22nd, 2023. Pokemon: Ultimate Journeys reuters with Part 3 on June 23rd, 2023. The month closes out with a long-awaited adaptation, Ōoku: The Inner Chambers on June 29th, 2023.
How We Choose the Best Anime Series on Netflix
The goal is to have a list of great anime series that span many subgenres. We’ve included a mix of popular classics like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, along with relatively more obscure titles like The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Whether you’re a complete anime newbie or a hardcore otaku, there’s something for everyone here.
The PlayStation Plus Game Lineup for June 2023 has been revealed, with NBA 2K23, Trek to Yomi, and Jurassic World Evolution 2 joining the subscription service early next month.
All three games will be available to download on both PS4 and PS5 consoles from June 6 up until July 3 at no extra charge for individuals with PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra or Premium subscriptions.
NBA 2K23
NBA 2K23’s released back in September 2022, bringing with it a slew of online and single player game modes, including the reintroduction of the Jordan Challenge, which tasks fans with recreating 15 moments from the iconic player’s illustrious career. PlayStation Plus subscribers also get access to “exclusive monthly MyTEAM packs”, according to the PlayStation blog post detailing the new additions.
In IGN’s 6/10 review we said that the game’s on-court improvements “ should’ve led it to an easy layup, but the ever-present nuisance of pay-to-win microtransactions make it much harder to enjoy”.
Trek to Yomi
Trek to Yomi meanwhile follows the story of the young samurai Horoki, as he voyages “beyond life and death” to protect his town, and fulfil the vow made to his dying master. In IGN’s 7/10 review we described Trek to Yomi as “a brief but captivating journey that’s like playing through a monochromatic Japanese movie”.
Jurassic World Evolution 2
Frontier Developments’ Jurassic World Evolution 2 rounds out the the June lineup, allowing players to relive the mistakes of the cult movie franchise as they wrangle dinosaurs and manage guest needs across a series of parks. The second entry in the series features four game modes along with an expanded cast of dinosaurs ranging from the noble triceratops to the ever hungry T. rex.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
Brian Holinka, lead combat designer for World of Warcraft, has announced that he is leaving Blizzard to join Greg “Ghostcrawler” Street in forming a new game studio.
The former World of Warcraft developer made the announcement on Twitter yesterday, saying he’s leaving Blizzard on Friday after working with Team 2 for nearly 11 years. This comes over two months after Street, former executive producer of the upcoming League of Legends MMO, stepped down from Riot Games and the game due to personal reasons.
“After nearly 11 years, Friday will be my last day on World of Warcraft and at Blizzard,” Holinka wrote in his Twitter thread. “I’m excited to spend time off with my family this summer, after which, I’ll begin a new adventure with my old friend and mentor, Greg Street.”
After nearly 11 years, Friday will be my last day on World of Warcraft and at Blizzard. I’m excited to spend time off with my family this summer, after which, I’ll begin a new adventure with my old friend and mentor, Greg Street.
He continued, “I will miss the combat team tremendously and my biggest regret is not being there to see them grow, develop and thrive as designers. [Team 2]’s new leadership is very strong and will serve them well. I leave confident that they are in good hands.”
Holinka joined Blizzard in 2012 as lead PvP designer for World of Warcraft, eight years after working on Battlefield 1942 and other first-person shooters for DICE, Trauma Studios, THQ, High Moon Studios, and Kaos Studios. In 2017, he took a break from World of Warcraft to develop an unannounced Blizzard project as a senior designer, and returned to the game to oversee the entire class and combat design team as lead combat designer.
Street nor Holinka haven’t released any details regarding the name of their new independent studio nor the games they will be developing. Even so, we can’t wait to see what projects they’ll be cooking up.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.
Fans think that Microsoft and Xbox are teasing some Fable news at its upcoming Xbox Games showcase next month.
On Xbox’s official Twitter account, a video was posted showing a person’s Xbox controller covered in glitter. Then it’s revealed that the glitter forms a trail that leads to a screen that shows the Xbox Games Showcase logo with the caption, “seems important.”
In the Fable games, a glitter trail guided players to their next destination on a mission. So this trail of glitter implies that the Fable reboot will appear at the Xbox Games Showcase. The game is being developed by Forza Horizon developer Playground Games.
George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He’s been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.
When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey
Metal Gear Solid 3: Remake (officially Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater) will reportedly feature the 2004 game’s original voice acting.
As reported by The Verge, Konami’s head of communications for the Americas Tommy Williams said the remake will feature the original game’s dialogue with no changes despite being released close to two decades ago.
The status of the remake’s voice acting was up in the air due to unclear wording from Konami, who said alongside the announcement last week that it will “star the original voice characters”.
This also means that David Hayter, who voiced Snake in nine different Metal Gear games before being passed over for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, will sort of make his return to the franchise. This will seemingly only be through his original lines recorded for the game, of course, and not through new voice acting.
“That’ll be 60 hours of humiliation that I can’t get to,” he said of playing Metal Gear Solid 5 at the time. “I haven’t played the latest two iterations because it’s just too painful.”
Venture to the Vile clicked with me the first time I switched layers to solve a puzzle. I was trying to get to a lever that would open a door farther in, but there wasn’t a lever in the area I hadn’t pressed, and none of the ones I had opened the door. Then I remembered that one of them had extended a bridge to an area in the background. So I walked back to the bridge, shifted to the layer in the background, worked my way to the lever, and bingo: one open door. I love it when a plan comes together.
Venture to the Vile is a 2D Metroidvania with a twist. It’s set in a 3D world, and you can switch between areas in the foreground and background as long as you find a path to get you there. See something cool? You can probably go there. Developer Studio Cut to Bits wants to emphasize exploration and a sense of surprise in Venture to the Vile, and based on my time with it, I think they’ve nailed it.
Part of the appeal of Venture to the Vile is the world itself. Venture to the Vile takes place in and around the town of Rainybrook, where a mysterious substance called The Vile is corrupting everything, transforming the inhabitants of an otherwise charming and colorful world into horrifying monstrosities. Rainybrook takes cues from the Victorian period, and you can see it in the architecture of the town itself and the masks the characters wear. Speaking of characters, Venture to the Vile’s cast has a lot of personality, from Dr. Crow, who wants to dissect you, to friendly town butcher, or the two shady guys who really don’t want you listening into their conversation. Rainybrook is core to Venture to the Vile: other characters will give you quests, and you’ll be able to visit the town’s many shops to upgrade the abilities you’ll acquire by… ahem, venturing into the vile.
The dynamic weather and time of day will change where characters are, what monsters inhabit an environment, the quests you can pick up and do, the narrative you’ll experience, and the upgrades you’ll find.
Venture to the Vile also features a dynamic weather and day/night cycle and it’s not just for show. The weather and time of day will change where characters are, what monsters inhabit an environment, the quests you can pick up and do, the narrative you’ll experience, and the upgrades you’ll find.
That, of course, is where the actual gameplay comes in. Venture to the Vile’s unnamed, stag-masked hero is looking for his friend Ella, who has disappeared in the Vile. Going into the Vile is dangerous; it corrupts everything it touches: plants, animals, people, you name it. Our stag-masked hero has a few tools up his sleeve to fight back, though. He can attack enemies with the retractable blade coming out of his arm, parry telegraphed enemy attacks, and double-jump. I was early on, so my ability set wasn’t as robust as it would be later, but it felt good and appropriate to the environment I was exploring. You can save at camps to replenish healing items, but it also returns defeated enemies to life, making for interesting risk-reward decisions if you have to backtrack. Naturally, you will have to if you want to see everything Venture to the Vile’s dynamic weather and day/night cycle opens up. I enjoyed Venture to the Vile most when it asked me to do a bit of everything: switch between the different layers of the world to solve puzzles, fight off corrupted Vile-monsters, and mix my basic platforming abilities up with environmental additions like ziplines.
In fact, I was so into it that I didn’t realize I’d walked into a boss fight against the world’s angriest grasshopper until it started. Like the rest of Venture to the Vile, the fight was a mixture of platforming and combat. I spent most of the fight avoiding the grasshopper, who attacked from various angles, spawned Vile on platforms to limit my movement, and did an area-of-effect attack that forced me to dodge, only hitting him when he stopped for a breather after a flurry of attacks. The fight wasn’t complex, but it was enough to keep me on my toes, and I barely prevailed. My reward was a dash ability.
You see, killing enemies in the Vile rewards currency that can be used in Rainybrook, but killing bosses like the grasshopper allows the protagonist to absorb their abilities, as well. Absorbing Vile means becoming more and more like the monsters you’re fighting, adding an intriguing hook to the narrative. I was excited to try the dash for myself, but the playable section of the demo ended there.
Absorbing Vile means becoming more and more like the monsters you’re fighting, adding an intriguing hook to the narrative.
However, I did get to see what Venture to the Vile looked like a little later courtesy of a hands-off showing by Studio Cut to Bits. In it, our stag-masked hero was exploring a windmill overrun with Vile. In addition to the dash I’d unlocked, which can be used in the air as well as on the ground, he also had the time-honored Metroidvania ability to wall jump and a tentacle arm that allowed him to leap to nearby grapple points. The windmill had more layers than the environment I’d seen earlier and was much more vertical. Traversing it meant using those abilities and manipulating the windmill’s internal machinery by riding conveyor belts, hitching a ride on grapple points, and freeing wooden gears from the Vile while navigating environmental obstacles and contending with Vile-infested spiders and rats.
The segment ended with a multi-stage boss fight against a giant tentacle-eye. It’s a complex fight, with players having to deal with the eye’s attacks in addition to stage hazards, a moving conveyor belt that can change directions, and rope-grapple points. I can’t wait to play it for myself.
Honestly, that last sentence sums up how I feel about what I played and saw of Venture to the Vile. Studio Cut to Bits is developing a unique, literally layered Metroidvania with beautiful art and an intriguing world, and I can’t wait to see more of what awaits us – and what our stag-masked protagonist might transform into – in the future.
Will Borger is a Pushcart-nominated fiction writer and an IGN freelancer. His work has also appeared at TechRadar, GameSkinny, DigitiallyDownloaded.net, and Into the Spine. He specializes in covering fighting games, action games, strategy games, and first-person shooters. You can chat with him on Twitter @bywillborger.
As spotted by Games Radar, videos of new new glitch – including this one from YouTuber Kibbles Gaming – began appearing online earlier this week, giving players a new way to infinitely duplicate fused weapons.
With the weapon equipped, players should open the inventory and save the game, then hold the right bumper to prepare a throw, and without letting go, open the map. After this navigate to your adventure log and watch any memory four times in a row. Finally, press the plus button and load the previous save to find the duplicated item lying on the ground.
“I will never understand how anyone has this much time to figure things out like this…but I could never thank then enough either,” replied one viewer. “Honestly, if Nintendo had just removed the degradation system, then all this duplication nonsense wouldn’t even be necessary,” commented another.
According to Kibbles Gaming, the glitch may exist because viewing a memory advances the game by a single frame each time. So watching four memories progresses the game four frames, thus giving Link the time to throw the weapon while tricking the game into thinking that you haven’t.
However, some exploit enthusiasts were less impressed with the newfound glitch. “I shouldn’t have updated my game. The other glitch was way easier,” commented one viewer, echoing the sentiments of other exploit enthusiasts who lamented the golden days of the pre-patch era. Others complained that they couldn’t get the glitch to work for them altogether, or that it wouldn’t work for materials.
Take a look at our Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough and Guide for more tips and tricks to help you make the most of your adventure through Hyrule. In fact, you can start right here:
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
