Sometimes it’s just nice to get a reminder that celebrities are just the same as us and sometimes they suck at things – Leonardo DiCaprio failing at returning a volleyball is one such occasion.
We can relate and if anything, seeing poor Leo get biffed in the face by the ball is a pretty perfect representation of how we’re trying to get through life. We’re trying our best, but sometimes it just hits us right in the mug.
But, much like lively Leo, the throwdowns don’t stop us from getting back up and trying again.
The Titanic star was hanging out with Robin Thicke and the singer’s partner April Love Geary in Malibu on Tuesday when he took to the square for the animated game, wearing his trademark blue cap, sunshades and a white tee.
Action shots ahoy, Leo was seen lining up a winning return shot sprinting towards the ball at one stage, around the time it hit him in the kisser.
Leo wasn’t about to take things lying down, though…oh, wait, no he was when he was then seen lying on the sand (that stuff is going to be everywhere for the next month, Leo) after taking another shot (we don’t know if he aced that shot or missed it. But he gave it a go and that’s what matters).
Still, he had a giant smile plastered across his face as he apparently loved the social run around the beach.
Leonardo has spent many a time on a sandy shore, after starring in The Beach, however it seemed he still couldn’t quite grasp the fine art of volleyball.
And we can’t get enough, both loving his zesty spirit while also feeling a little sorry for the lad having it all captured for posterity.
The official account for the USA volleyball association even joined in on the fun as it wrote that Leo’s manoeuvre was an example of classic ‘beach volleyball problems’ and we have to say in the UK a lot of us can’t really relate but we sure can try.
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Love Island has finally given us our first glimpse of this year’s Casa Amor and it looks like there’ll be trouble ahead.
Relationships have already been put through their paces with the infamously savage tweet challenge making a grand return, but the ITV2 reality show won’t be holding back as a blink and you’d miss it clip teased the second villa.
Eagle-eyed fans also spotted what they believe is the compound during an ad break and wasted no time in sharing their findings on Twitter, writing: ‘Anyone else notice the little zoom in on Casa Amor at the end of that challenge?’
Echoing a similar sentiment, another added: ‘Was that a sneaky lil’ zoom in on the new Casa Amor at the end of the game?’
Casa Amor was first introduced as part of the series back in 2017 with the intention of testing the current islanders by introducing them to a whole new bunch of potential suitors.
The compound has been home to much drama over the past two years too, with Kem Cetinay cosying up to Chyna Ellis despite being with Amber Davies.
Last year, a postcard from the villa caused Dani Dyer to break down believing that Jack Fincham had cheated – sparking over 2000 Ofcom complaints.
Love Island airs weekdays at 9pm on ITV2.
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Former Dancing On Ice contestant James Jordan has blasted Love Island’s Jordan Hames for breaking ‘man code’ by revealing what went down in yesterday’s lads chat to Anna Vakili.
The 24-year-old model called Anna over to the lounges and began: ‘I had a conversation with Tom last night and he said that… Obviously this has got to stay between me and you…
‘But he said that he feels that Maura isn’t his usual type and sometimes she says stuff in the group and makes him cringe which puts him off.’
Jordan continued: ‘He said that it’s still a bit of a problem and he wants a girl that’s into fitness, so I feel if another girl came in he’d definitely be open to speaking to new people.
‘They’re both completely different personalities. Tom’s quite introverted and she’s quite extroverted, but Tom doesn’t really like the big personality and stuff so.
‘I can’t seem them lasting.’
Jordan’s move angered Celebrity Big Brother star James, who didn’t hold back in calling him out on Twitter as he scorned: ‘Jordan has gone down in my estimations by telling Anna about Tom’s conversation.
‘She’s a snake so will use that as some point He just broke the man code…’
Celebrities have been busy weighing in on Love Island scenes over the past few days.
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The couples are all up for nomination with viewers being asked to vote online for their favourite pair; the couple with the least votes is then at risk of elimination.
This is the first time viewers have been asked to vote for couples and put them up for a potential exit this season and it will take place as relationships have been put through their paces with the infamously savage tweet challenge making a grand return.
Show bosses confirmed the dumping on Wednesday’s episode, revealing that it will take place during Thursday’s episode ahead of the return of Casa Amor.
Casa Amor was first introduced as part of the series back in 2017 with the intention of testing the current islanders by introducing them to a whole new bunch of potential suitors.
The compound has been home to much drama over the past two years too, with Kem Cetinay cosying up to Chyna Ellis despite being with Amber Davies.
Last year, a postcard from the villa caused Dani Dyer to break down believing that Jack Fincham had cheated – sparking over 2000 Ofcom complaints.
Love Island returns 9pm on ITV2.
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Maisie Williams has arrived back from a romantic holiday in the Seychelles with boyfriend Reuben Selby, ahead of BFF Sophie Turner’s wedding in France.
The Game Of Thrones actress took a break from her career for a holiday at the £3500-a-night Hilton Seychelles with Reuben, 22, and his brothers, all of whom are chefs.
She took to Instagram to share her journey on the London Underground on Wednesday afternoon.
Sophie told Entertainment Tonight at the season eight premiere of Game Of Thrones in New York that Maisie would be her maid of honour: ‘I don’t know why she’s thinking about [what she’s wearing to my wedding].
‘I’m giving her the bridesmaid dress. She’s my maid of honour! One of two.’
The couple have so far been pictured enjoying a boozy boat ride on the Seine with their family and friends… and of course a whole load of champagne on board, too.
Joe’s bro Nick has been spotted out and about in the city of love, along with his wife Priyanka Chopra, although eagle-eyed fans will notice that the eldest JoBro, Kevin, hasn’t joined the family in France yet.
Maybe he and Maisie are heading in on the same flight?
Sophie and Joe began dating in November 2016 and tied the knot in an impromptu Las Vegas wedding earlier this year.
In a video shared on Diplo’s Instagram story, the Game Of Thrones actress was seen heading into a chapel with the Jonas Brothers singer, where they become husband and wife in front of an Elvis impersonator.
The 23-year-old actress wore a flowing white suit and a veil, carrying a bouquet of flowers while Sophie’s groom, 29, was suited and booted at the front of the venue alongside brothers Nick and Kevin, while Dan + Shay performed an acoustic version of their song, Speechless, in the background.
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What is thought to be Daniel Radcliffe’s first autograph as Harry Potter has just gone under the hammer for £2,600.
Which is a lot for something a pre-teen scrawled, eh?
The star had been cast as the boy who lived all the way back in the early naughts and someone presented to him a copy of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone to sign back in 2000.
Obliging, the young kid, then aged 11, wrote his signature in the front cover of the hardback that was owned by one of the extras on the set of the first film of the franchise.
He then apparently told her she was the first person to ask him for his signature.
Would an 11-year-old Daniel Radcliffe lie? We hardly doubt it!
Now the rare book has been sold at auction for £2,600 – five times its estimate price – after Verity Collins gathered the grand total of 13 signatures from the cast of the film while shooting in Goathland, North Yorkshire, almost 19 years ago.
The book was also signed by Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) however there is no confirmation they hadn’t been signing every book and his dog around town.
In it his scrawling can clearly be seen as he wrote: ‘To Verity, best wishes Daniel Radcliffe.’
His note was joined by Hagrid actor Robbie Coltrane’s and director Chris Columbus’, who was very on brand as he wrote: ‘Believe in magic.’
The priceless (wait, no, not priceless, worth nearly three grand) pages were auctioned off by Teesside-based Vectis who got the low down from Verity on how she got the autograph.
According to her, she approached the young actor as he sat alone in a marquee on what was believed to have been the first day of filming.
We’re just a little curious as to why Daniel was left alone on his first day of filming ever of Harry Potter…like, anyone want to make sure the poor kid wasn’t nervous or anything?
Anyway, back to the book – it was only expected to fetch around £500 so jokes on the estimation.
Kathy Taylor, from Vectis, said: ‘It’s such a lovely story. It’s always difficult to gauge the price when something is unique.
‘The seller, who now lives in the south, has great memories of her time on the film and the way the cast treated her during a difficult time while she was ill [she was being treated for leukaemia] but her mum said recently it had been sitting in a drawer.
‘It became apparent when we promoted the sale on social media it was likely to have been signed on the first day of filming on what was the first Harry Potter film, with actor Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley, confirming he had signed the book as well.’
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Strictly Come Dancing contestant Danny John-Jules has insisted he was nothing but ‘professional’ during his time on the BBC One show in 2018.
Danny was voted off the show after eight weeks and later accused of ‘bullying’ his dance partner Amy Dowden.
It was also claimed he was ‘arrogant’ backstage but now the 58-year-old actor has broken his silence on the allegations against him, as he says he did ‘everything truthfully and honestly’ whilst on the show.
‘With me and Amy, it was always professional. I came in professional and I left professional,’ he said.
‘As many times as I had Amy dripping off me and I was dripping off her, at no point did we ever have a conversation that wasn’t about dance.
‘I didn’t have to broadcast what happened. I didn’t want to wash anybody’s dirty laundry in public. I did everything truthfully and honestly and I wouldn’t do anything differently.’
Speaking to The Sun’s Big Interview, he continued: ‘I was expecting [the backlash] because people always talk c**p about me. But I did exactly what I was hired to do and what I promised to do, which was to dance my a**e off.’
The Red Dwarf star also said he felt that he ‘excelled beyond and above the call of duty’ during his time on the show, and insists he has ‘no regrets’.
Despite the claims surrounding his time on Strictly, Danny hasn’t let it hold him back, as appearing on the show has helped to reignite his passion for live performance, which he has now put into a new one-man show entitled I’ve Gotta Be Me.
The actor is set to head on an 11-date UK tour of the show – which is all about Rat Pack legend Sammy Davis Junior – and even took the name from the song he waltzed to Strictly Come Dancing.
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With Glastonbury’s gates officially opening today, it begs the question how much lucky punters who scored a ticket to the iconic event are going to fork out for the privilege.
As thousands of keen fans flock to Worthy Farm over the coming days to take in the sounds of Kylie, The Cure, Stormzy, The Killers, and Janet Jackson, some hacks have figured out the cost of checking out the festival.
Analysis from VoucherCodes.co.uk compares the cost of each festival ticket for the big hitters of the music lover’s calendar and the iconic Glasto comes in at number five in value for money.
So, er, sorry to all those who are slogging it out to Pilton right now – there are four better.
According to the numbers crunchers, Parklife takes the flower crown as the best value music festival in the UK, with punters saving £234.74 compared to forking out to see the headliners individually on tour.
To be fair, if you’re going to spend on each individual ticket, which sometimes go into the hundreds of pounds, for the likes of Glastonbury headliners, you’re gonna have a bad time. So perhaps forking out the £253 needed for a Glasto ticket is worth it?
When it comes to this weekend’s festival, lucky attendees will be saving £182.41 (as well as enjoying a drop of 2% since 2017 tickets). Look, nearly two hundred quid? That’s nothing to sneeze at.
The bad news is (there’s always bad news, isn’t there?) that it’s still costing those a whole lot more to just be there, with another round of research done by Freesat finding fans are, on average, going to be spending £399 for the week of indulgence and enjoyment and portaloos.
Lucky on so many levels.
The numbers experts who tallied up this figure took into account most festival-goers are going to be spending around £30 on food and drink (some less, some more, some way, way more, we suppose) which takes the grand total up to near £400 for the week.
Which, yes, that’s the cost of a holiday to some – but on the other side of the Pyramid stage, many see Glastonbury as a holiday.
Albeit a very sweaty, muddy, sleep-deprived one.
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Love Island fans have sparked a new conversation about the age-old question of whether men and women can ever be just friends after Lucie Donlan became upset when Tommy Fury told her they needed ‘boundaries’ as his romance blossoms with Molly-Mae Hague.
Tommy and Molly-Mae have been coupled up since the beginning and have come through several dramas (see: Maura Higgins) only to join the Do Bits Society.
After the infamously savage tweet challenge made a grand return in Wednesday night’s episode it seems Molly has decided to put her foot down on their friendship.
‘I do feel she turns to you a lot, and tries to get to close to you,’ she told Tommy.
‘I do sometimes think there needs to be, not boundaries, but she gets cuddly and it’s cool you being friends but there’s a line.’
Tommy agreed and later spoke to Lucie to tell her that ‘Molly doesn’t have a problem with us hanging out but there are boundaries, there is a line, the cuddling has to be nipped in the bud’.
But Lucie was not happy and in the Beach Hut complained about the ‘rules’ she was now being asked to follow: ‘I know I can tell him anything and he can tell me anything but I don’t feel like a friend would really put boundaries on a friendship.
‘I am not sure if it’s come from Molly or Tommy, and now I am like, oh, there are rules in there about things, and I think that’s annoying.’
Her behaviour though has led to Love Island fans questioning her own motives, with many suggesting that Joe Garratt – who was coupled up with Lucie and later evicted from the villa – was right to be concerned about their friendship.
‘Lucie saying that she ends up dating her boy mates is why Joe was suspicious but you lot called him controlling #LoveIsland’ suggested one viewer with another adding: ‘Lucie saying “never say never” when talking about Tommy just shows that Joe had every right in being worried about how close they were #loveisland.’
‘Lucie doesn’t see the need for boundaries and doesn’t want to respect them? Yuck,’ shared one irate viewer.
‘In my opinion every relationship needs to have that conversation about boundaries with friends. It prevents unneeded jealousy that can build,’ another more level-headed viewer wrote.
The pair shared a flirtation but she chose to couple with Joe, however their friendship caused problems between the pair with Joe telling Lucie that he wanted her to spend less time with the boys – Tommy in particular – and more time with the girls.
Women’s Aid later spoke out to praise Love Island fans for noticing the possessive behavior exhibited by Joe, with the Co-Chief Executive saying: ‘Controlling behaviour is never acceptable, and with Love Island viewers complaining to Ofcom in record numbers about Joe’s possessive behaviour towards Lucie, more people are becoming aware of this and want to challenge it.
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Zendaya may be hard at work while she’s in New York, but she makes it look like werk.
The fashion-savvy actress was fire as she arrived to film The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, giving us all outfit envy in a tangerine ensemble.
Style fans had to take note of a real summer sizzler of an outfit as she continued her promotional tour of Spider-Man: Far From Home, Stateside.
Zendaya wore a Carolina Herrera strapless dress, which fitted her like a glove.
And, making her approach to the studios catwalk-worthy, the 22-year-old added towering white heels.
Not only is Zendaya currently touring the late night circuit with her new superhero film, Spider-Man, but the superstar is also promoting her new HBO show, Eurphoria.
Executive produced by Drake the drama focuses on a group of teenagers has they navigate issues of drugs, sex, and violence, with the first episode showing the attempted overdose of Zendaya’s character Rue Bennett.
Meanwhile, her part in Spider-Man is much more family-friendly.
Zendaya returns as Peter Parker’s high school friend and suspected love interest, Michelle Jones.
In the new film, which sees Peter and his friends go on a school trip to Europe, Zendaya already seems to have Peter’s superhero alias sussed.
And, now that she’s asking everyone to call her MJ, the fans are already thinking Michelle will morph into her origin character, Mary Jane, just like Kirsten Dunst did before her.
Fans will have to watch Spider-Man: Far From Home to find out.
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I’m going to praise Microsoft and Game Pass again. Having not been sold on Metro Exodus when it was initially released I’m really loving it now it’s ‘free’ on Game Pass.
In my opinion this is the future. Recent games I or my kids have enjoyed, but would never have actually bought, include Supermarket Shriek, Resident Evil Revelations, Absolver, Below, Batman: Arkham Knight, etc., etc. To me it represents good value and I’m happy to pay it. Neil
Making do
So… World War Z, eh? Not a bad little game at all. Much harder than I expected on normal difficulty too. I’ll happily take this as a Left 4 Dead interim until Valve get their act together.
Also, Metro Exodus. What a game. Currently addicted, the systems and lone wolf feel are great. The freedom is great, the graphics are stunning. Game Pass has truly been special so far this year. I have 500-odd games on the Xbox alone and struggle to make a dent when titles of this quality drop so frequently. PugMartin
GC: If nothing else we’re glad people are getting a chance to appreciate Metro Exodus, it already feels like it’s being unfairly overlooked in terms of this year’s best games.
Not so Keen
Been meaning to write this for a while, since E3 really. I was first shocked (in surprise) and then shocked (in horror) by the reveal of the new Commander Keen game. When I was little, long before I ever had a console, I played Episode 4 (Secret Of The Oracle) for hours and hours. Keen was literally born out of the developer wanting to port Super Mario Bros. over to the PC and to my nine-year-old self this was my Mario.
So to see the new Keen in action stirred some, let’s say, strong feelings. Why oh why did they make this a mobile game – and it’s not even a platform game! I’ve kind of taken to the art style – it really brings to mind Saturday morning cartoons – but just cannot believe they used it in anything other than a platformer. While always for a younger audience, Keen was never so juvenile (the intro line from the reveal trailer ‘get Uranus to Mars’ made me wince) and Keen’s character was more of a brave nerd than some little punk kid with ‘tude.
This can be explained away by the fact that that it’s actually the original Keen’s child(ren) rather than the OG one but it’s still poor characterisation. Perhaps this is all due to the non-involvement of the original creator Tom Hall, who has publicly distanced himself from this new one. The fact that he has been trying to get another game made for decades now without success (he doesn’t hold the rights to his own creation) and they’ve passed him over to do their own thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
I’m still not happy with the direction they’ve gone but I’m at least hopeful that if the characters prove to be popular it may lead to a new game somewhere down the line – one that respects and does justice to the original. Major_Kahonas
PS: The only other thing that I was peeved at was the redesign of the cult icon the Dopefish. If the Dopefish is supposed to be the second dumbest creature in the universe then whoever OK’d that redesign must be the first.
If you are getting the game then I would definitely head over to the Mario Maker subreddit.
This is the best place to find great levels to your own tastes and get help with designing.
The first game took about a year or so before many people began to create some truly amazing levels. The sequel has a massive head start however, as many people have a few years of experience now.
The Level Of The Week contest is returning in a couple of weeks and whether you wish to compete or not it is a regular source of great levels of all kinds.
Also check out the Discord, many friendly people hang out there, including myself!
It’s almost certain that the majority of levels you will find by only using the games search feature or endless mode will be hot garbage. Use Reddit, seriously! If you want to play traditional Mario levels, Metroidvanias, or Kaizo speedruns, it doesn’t matter, you will find them there. FatysHenrys
So good I played it twice
Forgotten Anne sure has done a fine job of etching its measured goodness into my memories.
Its Studio Ghibli esque art style and graceful animations are sumptuous to behold; the story and characters are captivating and beyond charming; the platforming gameplay channels the rigid, deliberate precision of the original Prince Of Persia, Flashback, and Another World; and the puzzle solving, which primarily focuses on the extraction, insertion and diverting of energy to operate machinery, is often stimulating in my opinion.
I’ve already finished this enchanting fairy tale-like adventure but I’ve decided to dive straight back in to get the other ending. Can’t recommended this indie gem enough! Galvanized Gamer
GC: It is one of the best hidden gems of recent years.
Secret annoucement
What an underwhelming announcement for the PC Engine Mini! For me this is the most exciting news out of this year’s E3. I am genuinely excited about this.
When the PC Engine was originally released they were very much out of my reach financially and indeed most people my age.
Interesting that Konami own the rights for this as they have a good catalogue of games on the system. It will be interesting to see what makes it onto the games list and how many games we will get. It’s possible it’s going to be a little shoot ‘em-up heavy but I hope they don’t mess this up like Sony did with their PlayStation mini. BADMAFiA1972
GC: Konami bought developer Hudson Soft back in 2012, so they own all their games and the PC Engine hardware and brand. Although Bomberman is the only one they’ve used recently.
Encouraging more
Are there any indications of how many copies Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night has sold?
I’m hoping it sold well not only to warrant another game from Koji Igarashi, but to show Konami that an old school Castlevania is still wanted by fans. LoRd SiNn
GC: That’s very difficult to say with a crowd-funded game. It didn’t have much impact on the physical sales charts but most of its sales would’ve been digital and it’s essentially already been paid for. If Konami are doing a new Contra a new Castlevania game has got to be inevitable at some point. The last rumour we heard was that it was for PlayStation 5/Project Scarlett.
I think the problem for me with lack of enthusiasm for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order isn’t just EA’s track record but the fact that it’s been 5 years and we barely have any decent Star Wars games in comparison to the wealth of titles which existed prior to the Disney buyout of the franchise.
We’ve experienced two generations of consoles in that time (not including the PlayStation VR) and neither has brought us more advanced artificial intellegence, more immersive interaction, or gameplay innovation.
EA could’ve released so many titles spanning multiple genres, like point ‘n’ click Thimbleweed Park story-based, X-Wing, motion-controlled lightsabre combat within a new Jedi training game, a smuggler simulator, a full VR starfighter game, or even a retro-themed 2D Uniracers/Super Mario World/Lost Vikings style BB-8 droid platformer. We haven’t even had a VR update of Pod Racer! Imagine how visceral that would be.
I mean, a completely immersive yet passive game in the PlayStation VR Ocean Descent or Panzer Dragoon vein influenced by Star Tours would be amazing, and not too difficult to produce. I’d settle for a Millennium Falcon game where you can walk freely around the inside of the ship and play co-op with friends in VR, like Star Trek Bridge Crew; fighting attacking TIEs off in the gunner positions, fixing the hyperdrive, flying through asteroid fields, practicing with a lightsabre with the remote target, and picking up/dropping off cargo and hiding under the flooring from boarding Stormtroopers as mini-tasks.
Fallen Order just looks generic and derivative. Where’s all the imagination? Demonscythe Synthwave
Inbox also-rans
The Last Day Of June game is free on PC on Epic Games Store from today. Andrew J.
Just completed: Walking Dead Season 4 and Life Is Strange 2: Episode 3 (PS4)
I didn’t follow E3 that closely but I completely missed the announcement about the mini PC Engine. Is there any likelihood it will be released in the UK? Inbox magic do your thing. Mattpat
GC: It is, or at least the basic model is. There are some cosmetic variants that probably won’t.
This week’s Hot Topic
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Tully and asks what would you make the launch title for the PlayStation 5 and/or Project Scarlett?
Despite E3 having just taken place we still have no clear idea about what’s happening with the next gen formats, even though they’re due to launch next year. But if you were in charge what game or games would you ensure were available on the new consoles from day one?
Would it be part of an established franchise or something brand new? If it is new, what kind of game would it be and how would it take advantage of the more powerful hardware? Are there particular types of game that either company are currently missing? And if Nintendo announces a new format soon what would you advise for them?
The small print New Inbox updates appear twice daily, every weekday morning and afternoon. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word 4Player viewer features at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
Although everyone has heard of PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox, whether they have any interest in video games or not, you have to be a fairly committed gamer to know who SNK are. Even back in their heyday of the 90s their Neo Geo consoles and games were prohibitively expensive, the sort of thing cash-strapped teens would dream of but never actually own. And that creates a very different kind of nostalgia for the brand, particularly in Europe where they were especially difficult to get hold of.
If you’ve heard of SNK recently it’s probably through their numerous retro re-releases and compilations. Although best known for one-on-one fighters like Final Fury, The King Of Fighters, and The Last Blade they also produced everything from shooters such as Ikari Warriors and Metal Slug to sports games Super Sidekicks and Neo Turf Masters.
Although many of those games are still eminently playable today they can be difficult for modern gamers to properly appreciate, given a large part of the appeal at the time was the state-of-the-art visuals. That in turn makes updating any of their games for current formats extremely difficult on any kind of reasonable budget. But the best SNK games played just as good as they looked and that’s something that this new Samurai Shodown helps to prove, by being one of the best fighting games for several years.
SNK has been through many incarnations over the decades but a few years ago it began a renewed effort to return to its former glories, starting with The King Of Fighters XIV – which although not a major sales success was a very creditable effort. Samurai Shodown works along similar lines and also shares many of the same problems, in terms of the low-tech visuals and limited single-player content. On the positive side it not only plays extremely well but also keeps surprisingly close to the tenets of the original games.
Samurai Shodown, as you might guess, is set in 18th century Japan. We hesitate to call it realistic, because in many instances it is not, but some of the characters are loosely based on historical or mythological figures and there’s a definite effort to evoke at least an idealised version of the real historical setting. (By the way, we don’t think there’s any accepted explanation for the misspelt name, as ironically the franchise is named Samurai Spirits in Japan.)
That same sense of fake realism is evident in the style of combat, which is based around the use of weapons, rather than fisticuffs, and is notably slower paced than most fighters. And that’s because even relatively glancing blows can cause a lot of damage, as you would expect when you’re waving a giant sword about. It’s not realistic in the literal sense but the cautious posturing and sudden bouts of extreme violence certainly conjure up memories of countless samurai movies, rather than making the game feel like just a random beat ‘em-up with interchangeable characters.
This unique fighting rhythm has several side benefits, not least of which is the fact that it feels genuinely different to anything else around at the moment – including fellow weapons-based fighter SoulCalibur. But it’s also a surprisingly accessible game, with relatively simple controls and familiar Street Fighter style special moves.
Some actions are unique to Samurai Shodown though, most obviously the ability to knock a weapon out of someone’s hand, which is great not only because it feels more realistic but because you can still win a bout if you manage to counter the inevitable attack that follows.
Samurai Shodown almost feels as if it has as many defensive moves as it does attacking ones, as you jockey for position; rolling, dodging, and parrying to ensure it’s only you that’s dishing out the decisive health bar-halving attacks. At the same time there’s very few abstract complications added on top, in terms of esoteric power gauges or abilities, ensuring your mind is kept on the fighting and not a shopping list of special rules and get-outs.
There’s a weight and power to the attacks that feels just right, and while on a technical level this is a fairly basic-looking game (even though it’s made with Unreal Engine 4) the distinctive art style still manages to impress, with very solid-looking characters that never go too overboard in terms of the absurdity of their designs.
Where there is a problem though is in the disappointingly small roster of fighters and the limited single-player campaign. It’s barely more than an Arcade mode, with only very simple cut scenes and a typically unfair final boss. Other modes are equally unengaging, with some uninspired time attack and survival modes and not much else. As long as the online play stands up to the rigours of the real world then that’s still not necessarily a problem, but this is not a game overflowing with additional content.
What it does have though is an entirely unique style of play that is both very familiar from the original games but also pleasingly unique in the modern era. We’ve enjoyed it more than Mortal Kombat 11 and hope that it will do well enough for the developers to iterate on and expand it, as well as work on other of their classic franchises. Technically they never went away but with Samurai Shodown SNK are back on the map as one of the premier fighting game developers in the world.
Samurai Shodown
In Short: More than just a successful reboot of a forgotten franchise, this is one of the most unique and entertaining new fighting games of recent years.
Pros: Weapon-based combat feels completely different from other fighters, in terms of both tactics and pacing. Distinctive characters and art style, with surprisingly accessible controls.
Cons: Very limited single-player options, with a weak story campaign and little in the way of other modes. Small rosters of fighters. Typically awful final boss.
Score: 8/10
Formats: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Stadia Price: £49.99 Publisher: SNK Developer: SNK Release Date: 25th June 2019 (Switch & PC TBA) Age Rating: 16
Now, her family – who gathered around her at her bedside in the intensive care unit of Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, before her death – have sent their thanks for the continued support.
In a statement, a family spokesperson said: ‘Duane and the Chapman Ohana [family] send their love and a sincere mahalo [thank you] to everyone who prayed for Beth throughout this journey.’
Expressing their condolences, the broadcaster said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic news that Beth Chapman lost her battle with cancer today.
‘She was an exceptional woman, fiercely loyal and passionate about her family and she was a true joy to work with. All of us at WGN America will miss her tremendously.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Duane, her family, loved ones and millions of fans.’
Dog revealed the tragic news of Beth’s passing on Twitter on Wednesday.
He wrote: ‘It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain. Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side.’
Alf star Max Wright has lost his long fight against cancer at the age of 75.
The veteran actor passed away at his Hermosa Beach, California home on Wednesday, TMZ reports.
He was first diagnosed with Lymphoma in 1995 but it’s understood that he was in remission for a long time.
News of his death comes two years after his wife Linda Ybarrondo died from breast cancer.
Max is still best known for playing Willie Tanner in puppet-led sitcom Alf, which centres on the arrival of a small, wise-cracking alien from the planet Melmac, who crashes family life.
From its launch in 1986 until the final episode Consider Me Gone in 1990, Max played the long-suffering patriarch in a suburban family, with a wife (Anne Shedeen), two children (Andrea Elson, Benji Gregory) and suddenly, an alien.
Working alongside a puppet wasn’t exactly plain-sailing, Max would later admit, saying he couldn’t wait for the sitcom to be over by the end.
He told People in 2000: ‘It was hard work and very grim. By the end of the series’ four-year hitch, I was hugely eager to have it over with.’
Billy Drago, known as one of the movie world’s great ‘bad guys’, has died at the age of 73.
The actor passed away in Los Angeles on Monday following complications from a stroke, Variety reports.
Famous for playing villains and gangsters, some of his most memorable parts were in TV shows like Charmed and The Untouchables.
Drago – his mother’s maiden name – was a stage name for William Burrows, who began acting in the 1970s and went on to star in over 100 films.
One of the most famous was 1987 crime thriller The Untouchables, a film with Sean Connery and Kevin Costner, in which he portrayed real-life gangster Frank Nitti.
The popular film was about the Prohibition era in the United States as Costner’s character Federal Agent Eliot Ness set out to stop ruthless Chicago gangster Al Capone, whose henchmen included gritty Nitti.
Other famous films include Mad Dog Time and The Hills Have Eyes.
Aside from a 40-year career in movies, Drago regularly popped up in TV series Charmed playing Barbas, and even appeared in one of Michael Jackson’s music videos, You Rock My World.
He went on to marry fellow actress Silvana Gallardo, who died in 2012.
Rest easy, we know where we’re going to be seeing Shadowhunters’s Dominic Sherwood pop up next.
The Jace Herondale actor has signed on for the sequel to Penny Dreadful, Deadline reports, starring alongside Game of Thrones’s Natalie Dormer.
Dominic is one of six new actors to join the cast in a recurring role, including Adam Rodriguez (CSI: Miami), Thomas Kretschmann (Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Ethan Peck (Star Trek: Discovery).
Mad Men’s Michael Gladis and Once Upon A Time’s Lorenza Izzo are also expected to take on lead roles.
However, in a departure from Victorian-era London, this series will be set in 1930s Los Angeles.
It’s ‘a time and place deeply infused with Mexican-American folklore and social tension,’ The Hollywood Reporter says.
The story will focus on the conflict between characters connected to Santa Muerte, a death deity, and those allied with the devil.
Original creator and executive producer John Logan will return for the new series, as well Michael Aguilar.
The original series starred Eva Green as a spiritual medium and the Devil’s unwilling consort Vanessa Ives, and starred Billie Piper and Josh Hartnett as they explored famous dreadful literary characters, including Dorian Gray and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Actor Dominic previously admitted that saying goodbye to his character was ’emotional’ but from the looks of it, there are even bigger things ahead.
Production on Penny Dreadful: City of Angels was set to commence this year but a premiere date has not yet been set.
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According to TMZ, the lawsuit takes issues with Instagram posts accusing of Jamie, who’s still Britney’s sole conservator (legal guardian), and her team of acting against her ‘human rights’.
All of this, they argue, was based on a ‘gut feeling’ while they say they have evidence, like pictures of Britney driving her car, directly the contradicting the claims.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the makers of Absolute Britney, as well as representatives for Britney Spears.
Lana Del Rey and Ariana’s friendship also goes way back, with Summertime Sadness singer previously talking about how much she loves Ariana’s music.
The trailer for the reboot will follow on Thursday and no doubt give us a first listen to the 2019 soundtrack.
Elizabeth Banks’ Charlie’s Angels’s stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska as the new-era Angels.
Director Elizabeth will also play a gender-flipped Bosley in the movie, taking over the role previously played by David Doyle, Ramon Rodriguez and Bill Murray.
The film will honour the legacy of Charles Townsend and his agency while introducing a new era of modern and global Angels, Elizabeth says.
Twilight star Kristen will star as ‘hard-partying, highly skilled wild card Sabina Wilson, while Ella will play ‘the ex-MI6 muscle of the group and Aladdin’s Naomi is Elena Houghlin, the MIT-trained scientist who serves as ‘the heart of the movie’.
Charlie’s Angels arrives in cinemas November 15, 2019.
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In a heartfelt tweet, he said: ‘It’s 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain. Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side.’
A family spokesperson added in a statement: ‘Duane and the Chapman Ohana [family] send their love and a sincere mahalo [thank you] to everyone who prayed for Beth throughout this journey.’
Beth was also remembered by WGN America, the network which aired the couple’s reality series Dog’s Most Wanted, saying: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic news that Beth Chapman lost her battle with cancer today.
‘She was an exceptional woman, fiercely loyal and passionate about her family and she was a true joy to work with. All of us at WGN America will miss her tremendously.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Duane, her family, loved ones and millions of fans.’
In 2017, the TV star announced that she had stage two cancer, before A&E aired a two-hour special called Dog and Beth: Fight Of Their Lives, which documented her health scare.
Details on Beth’s funeral are yet to be announced.
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Madonna has received heavy backlash for her God Control music video, with a victim of the Pulse nightclub shooting saying it has left her ‘traumatised’.
*** WARNING: Music video contains graphic scenes of violence ***
God Control opens with a warning, which states: ‘The story you are about to see is very disturbing. It shows graphic scenes of gun violence.
‘But it’s happening everyday. And it has to stop.’
Opening scenes show club-goers lying dead on the dancefloor and on top of the bar after a gunman opens fire.
Clips are then shown of a choir singing at a funeral with caskets lining up the eyes.
Interspersed with the harrowing visuals, are scenes of Madonna sitting at a typewriter looking frustrated with her head in her hands.
The 70s disco-themed video also sees the 60-year-old popstar leading a large dance troupe in the middle of the dancefloor, having fun before the horrific shooting unfolds.
Patience Carter, who witnessed and survived the Pulse nightclub shooting, told TMZ that the eight-minute video reminded her of the tragic events.
She explained: ‘As a survivor of gun violence it was really hard to watch.
‘I get that she was trying to bring awareness to gun control but I don’t think that was the right way to go about doing it.’
‘For someone like me who actually saw these images, lived through these images, to see them again, dramatised for views, I feel it was really insensitive.
She later added: ‘It was grossly accurate to what I witnessed that night.’
Lyrics on Gun Control include: ‘Get the kids ready, take them to school/ Everybody knows they don’t have a chance/ To get a decent job, to have a normal life.
‘When they talk reforms, it makes me laugh/ They pretend to help, it makes me laugh/ I think I understand why people get a gun.’
In an interview with People, Madonna explained her intentions with the God Control music video and said: ‘I made this video because I want to draw attention to a crisis that needs to be addressed.
‘To me, this is the biggest problem in America right now… I cannot take it anymore.’
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