Gaming

Forspoken review-in-progress

Best (and worst) of both worlds

Published

January 24, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Most roleplaying games today fall under two categories: Western or Japanese. Though they might not realize a distinction between the two, each player usually has a preference leaning one way or the other. However, on rare occasions, a game can cross over and appeal to both audiences, such as Elden Ring and the Dark Souls series from FromSoftware, a Japanese developer. While these games makes its non-partisan appeal subtle, Forspoken is taking a more blatant approach.

In Forspoken, Alfre Holland (or Frey, for short) is a 20-year-old miscreant, orphaned as a baby and stuck in the wrong circles. Frey’s heart is in the right place, though. Amid all the arrests, her one goal is to save enough money to leave New York and care for her cat, Homer. However, everything changes when she stumbles upon a talking vambrace which transports her to the magically corrupted world of Athia. It’s a fish-out-of-water story inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Once a sprawling paradise, Athia is on the verge of destruction because of a zombie-making infection that Frey calls the Break. Rendered on a PS5, Forspoken makes Athia pop with different biomes across its many regions. Character animations, particularly Frey’s, are also the best we’ve seen in this generation even in simple animations as Frey petting a cat or thumping on her leg during a running sequence.

Western meets Japanese

In contrast to the story, Forspoken’s gameplay is anything but unfamiliar. The game melds the most notorious elements of Western and Japanese RPGs together in a satisfying (but sometimes confusing) blend.

Like a Western game, Forspoken features a sprawling map littered with objectives and markers to cross off a list. Though it’s not as blatant as, say, a Ubisoft collect-a-thon, there’s still a lot to do. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t offer much in between pursuing objectives. Despite the map’s size, Athia is largely empty and devoid of any personality. After a while, even the different map markers blend into the same formula: clear the enemy and claim the treasure.

It’s almost a requirement to go through a good chunk of the optional objectives, too. Following a more Japanese angle, Forspoken features a complex crafting system required to level up Frey and acquire new abilities. Combat is similar, asking players to master a wide selection of spells mid-fight. It also has an annoyingly chatty side character in Cuff, the same talking vambrace (which the game mercifully allows players to minimize chatter from).

If anything, combat and traversal are bright spots in Forspoken, highlighted by the fluid magic parkour system. Except for some areas with hard limits, it’s smooth to move around Athia. Now, to compensate for the fluidity of movement, the game relies on only a limited set of strategies for enemies: packing a hundred of them in a cramped location or making one an absolute bullet sponge.

Obviously, Forspoken is far from a perfect game. Still, it’s a fun addition to the roleplaying genre.

Gaming

Tides of Annihilation opens first public demo at Gamescom 2026

First hands-on

Published

August 6, 2026

Leez

Tides of Annihilation will make its public playable debut at Gamescom 2026.

Developer Eclipse Glow Games announced that attendees can try an extended demo of the upcoming action-adventure game during the event in Cologne, Germany. Players can find the demo at Hall 6, Booth B-050 inside Koelnmesse.

The studio will also reveal a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, before the show floor opens.

Demo offers more exploration and combat

The Gamescom demo gives players a longer look at Tides of Annihilation. It features branching paths that lead to different exploration routes and combat encounters. Players can also explore key locations and experience several of the game’s biggest set pieces.

“Gamescom will be an incredibly important moment for our team since this will be our first global playtest and we’re excited to see how first-time players experience our game,” said Ary Chen, Game Director and Co-CEO of Eclipse Glow Games.

“The team has poured heart, soul, and maybe even a few tears into developing the game over the last few years, and it’s finally our opportunity to share it with players. We’re looking forward to seeing their reaction.”

Members of the press and content creators can also schedule private hands-on sessions with the development team during the event.

Arthurian-inspired adventure

Tides of Annihilation blends fast-paced action with a Neo-Medieval vision of modern London. The story follows Gwendolyn after an Outworld invasion leaves the city in ruins.

Driven by a mission to save her sister, she travels between a shattered London and the mythical realm of Avalon. Along the way, she uncovers the mystery behind her newfound powers. She must also decide the fate of reality itself.

Eclipse Glow Games is developing Tides of Annihilation for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.

Gaming

Street Fighter 6 adds first Filipino fighter Yasmine to its roster

Eskrima fighter joins battle

Published

August 6, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Street Fighter 6 has officially welcomed Yasmine, making history as the first Filipino martial artist to join the franchise’s playable roster. The new character is now available across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 as part of the game’s Year 4 content.

Yasmine practices Eskrima, having learned the Filipino martial art alongside her older brother under their grandfather’s guidance. She wields Karambit knives in battle and embarks on a journey to find her missing brother.

Players can access Yasmine by purchasing the Year 4 Character Pass or Year 4 Ultimate Pass. Her default outfit features traditional Eskrima-inspired combat attire, while a school uniform serves as her second costume. In combat, she specializes in fast, aggressive attacks that build toward an enhanced Bayani Mode.

Yasmine is the first of four Year 4 fighters, followed by Arjun, Tifa from the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, and Bosch. Her release also arrives alongside battle balance adjustments affecting the entire roster.

Onimusha crossover arrives this week

Capcom also announced a limited-time collaboration between Street Fighter 6 and Onimusha. Running from August 7 to August 31, 2026, the event introduces Oni EX character colors, themed Battle Hub decorations, avatar items, and additional rewards for players who log in during the event.

The update also adds new Avatar Arcade courses, additional ending scenes, a Frame Meter option for Avatar Random Match, and refreshed Master ACT rewards.

Philippine launch event set for August 9

Capcom will celebrate Yasmine’s debut with an official Philippine community launch event on Sunday, August 9, at Salud! by Primera Bar & Restaurant in Palanan, Makati. The event runs from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM and features a double-elimination tournament, gameplay showcases, giveaways, and community activities.

Attendees can also receive limited-edition Yasmine merchandise, including event T-shirts, lanyards, and collectible keychains while supplies last. Special guests and cosplayers are also scheduled to appear. Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to venue capacity.

Gaming

Gangstar Mirage City launches on August 20 with SEA localization

Join a faction now for a chance to win rewards

Published

August 5, 2026

GadgetMatch

Gangstar Mirage City is set for a full regional launch on August 20, with localization for the Southeast Asia region.

Published by Level Infinite, the free-to-play multiplayer, urban, open-world action game is available for download on iOS and Android.

The full regional release features an expanded open world, a new PvP Arena mode, and local languages.

In Gangstar Mirage City, players can team up for up to 4-man co-op heists, drive powerful vehicles, customize their arsenal, build an empire, and fight for control of Rooklyn City.

Players can register on gangstarmiragecity.com for in-game rewards.

In Southeast Asia, players can also register as a member of their respective local faction and get an exclusive in-game Avatar to represent their loyalty:

Philippines: Manila Brigade
Indonesia: War Kanda
Malaysia: Taiko Tedung
Thailand: SIAM APEX

Factions will be ranked based on how many players join and support them. The winning faction will enable all members to get 300 Diamonds, sent directly to their accounts.

Meanwhile, all players, including those who already began their journey in Rooklyn City with the soft launch last July, are invited to join the Global Vault Heist.

Reaching the final Registration Milestone will unlock the Full Tilt Vehicle Pack. These are the rewards up for grabs per milestone: