Murphy's Multiverse

Category: Features

  • MORTAL KOMBAT 11 is About Reinvent Itself in a Huge Way

    MORTAL KOMBAT 11 is About Reinvent Itself in a Huge Way

    Mortal Kombat is reinventing itself once more. In last week’s Kombat Kast presentation for their upcoming Kombat Pack 3 DLC, Netherrealm Studios confirmed that a bombshell of an update was coming to the Mortal Kombat 11 in a couple of days: Ranked Kustom Kombat. For the uninitiated, you might think this is just another idea that sounds as nonsensical as it is spelled. For the fans, it means an entirely new game unto itself. 

    The tenth game in the series, aptly titled Mortal Kombat X, introduced the idea of unique character variations: predetermined movesets that allowed a specific character to function uniquely. Mortal Kombat’s variation system can be traced back to the franchise’s sixth-generation console games like Deadly Alliance and Deception but didn’t fully materialize until the tenth game. The idea behind the variation system is this: each character had 3 variations meaning you could play Sub-Zero in three different ways. These variations had its own set of special moves that you won’t get access to in another. One variation might require more strategy and defensive playing while one could be more offense-centric with not much leeway. These combinations were determined by the developers as to not make characters too overpowered.

     

     

    It was so well-received that it would’ve been a crime for Netherrealm Studios not to include it in Mortal Kombat 11. The eleventh game in the franchise introduced the next logical step in the progression system but with a catch: you can make your own variation with all kinds of crazy moves but you can only play it in low-stakes-whatever Kasual mode but not in the game’s official Ranked mode. 

    This catch drew mixed reactions for a few reasons. For one, Mortal Kombat 11 was in many ways, the antithesis to its two predecessors. The ninth and tenth installments were absolutely rush down, unforgiving, fast-paced fighting games; a well-executed combo would leave you helplessly watching half your lifebar drain in a span of seconds. Moves were over-the-top and characters were practically broken. Mortal Kombat 11 made it a point to change all of that and made a slowed-down, more accessible fighting game for players of all levels. That meant cutting down on some of the craziness and brokenness which is an understandable fix given the studio’s desire for more player inclusion but in the face of the game’s two predecessors, some saw this change as a step-down. You’d often read on message boards, “Mortal Kombat 11 is okay to play but really boring to watch.”

    Another reason why the restrictive kustom variations in Mortal Kombat 11 drew mixed reactions was because it handicapped certain characters that did not have the most viable variations. Balance issues aren’t a novel thing in the fighting game industry but the variation system shed light on some of these imbalances in an unflattering way. Some variations were laughably unusable in an online setting while some were just too good not to use, so much so that you’d end up fighting the same characters with the same variations fifty times a day. Top 8 tournament characters would always end up playing the same: Liu Kang’s Luohan Quan, Jacqui Briggs’ Upgraded, Johnny Cage Outtake. The restrictive variation system, ironically, took out the variety in the game. 

    With a neverending list of variation imbalances and a noob-friendly and, dare I say, scrub-friendly gameplay system, things were starting to slow down for the game in recent months. Fans started to get frustrated about the lack of updates from the developers which led to the trending of #DearNRS on Twitter. While fighting games like Tekken and Street Fighter had clear and concise roadmaps on what was next, Mortal Kombat fans were left to scour the internet for rumors and datamined leaks. The pandemic certainly didn’t help as offline tournaments promoting the game were thrown out the window. The last few months even saw a handful of popular players of Netherrealm Studios games share on Twitter their dissatisfaction with the then-current state of Mortal Kombat 11.

     

     

    Now, it seems like the collective pent-up frustrations have gone away with the additions of fan-favorites Rain and Mileena and more importantly, the announcement of Ranked Kustom Kombat. Described as the Wild Wild West, the customs change will allow fans to build their own version of Scorpion to play him however they want with whatever combination of moves they want and actually play it in an official high-stakes Ranked competitive match. The idea has apparently been on Netherrealm Studios’ horizon for quite some time as Mortal Kombat community figureheads Ketchup and Mustard revealed on one of their most recent streams that during Final Kombat 2020, they and a few professional competitors were asked by the game’s co-creator himself Ed Boon what they thought about Ranked Kustom Kombat.

    Of course, people already have all sorts of things to say about it. In the days since the announcement, fans have already been rabidly debating the pros and cons of such a change. Some are worried, some don’t quite know what to expect and some are already preparing to leave the game. But if there was one constant thing I’ve noticed, it’s that there’s an excitement in the air for the game that hasn’t been seen since its release. Mortal Kombat pundits have already taken to Youtube to give their followers a primer of what to expect. I’ve seen lengthy Twitter threads of fans sharing their desired custom variations and analyzing them. Heck, just today I spent more than 2 hours trying to figure out how to optimize my Raiden and Shang Tsung while catering to my specific playstyle. 

     

     

    With this change inevitably comes all kinds of brokenness to an already imbalanced game but Netherrealm Studios already seems prepared to deal with it. In the aforementioned Kombat Kast,  Senior Quality Analyst Stephanie Brownback alluded that some moves deemed too crazy even for the Wild Wild West that is Kustom Kombat were getting prohibited. Add to that their plans to fix some of the balance issues and their plans to scale down some of the defensive mechanics such as the delayed wake-up options, it sounds like the new meta of the game will have the best of both worlds: some over-the-top craziness with some safety mechanics to anchor it. I gotta admit, dialing the brokenness to 11 wasn’t the fix I imagined when thinking about how to balance the game, but hey, it’s hard to deny how bold and exciting the prospect is. What do you do when a handful of characters are too powerful? In Mortal Kombat 11’s case, you make everyone else powerful as fuck.

    Mortal Kombat 11 has always been a blast to play. I’ve been playing it every single day since the new year started and I’ve clocked it about 300 hours so far, the most time I’ve spent ever playing any video game. I missed out on playing the two games before it so the Wild Wild West is something I have yet to experience. There’s an anxiousness I’m feeling. A worry that the game might leave me behind as I’ve become too accustomed to the status quo of a slowed down, noob-friendly game. But there’s also the anticipation of playing a completely new game once the update arrives. This update is such a brilliant move on Netherrealm Studios’ part as it will finally allow players to explore each character’s depth to their full potential and overall just make the game more exciting. It’s the perfect transitional move to breathe new life into the game as we enter the next-generation of console gaming. 

     

     

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10: The Conflict Escalation Theory

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10: The Conflict Escalation Theory

    One of the hallmarks of The Mandalorian so far has been the fact that it has managed to keep, for the most part, its disputes with somewhat lower stakes than your usual live-action Star Wars project. Unlike the movies, here we don’t have any planet-killing weapons or galaxy-wide conflicts. This is partially due to the fact that we are now dealing with a TV show, which doesn’t have the budget to compete with the likings of a theatrical blockbuster. At the same time, it also feels like a conscious decision to keep the storyline a bit more compact, with a scope that’s easier to grasp for newcomers. But with one season already behind us, we’ve now gotten a few hints that season 2 seems to be taking steps towards what could be perceived as the natural progression in the show’s narrative, upgrading its storytelling (and military) resources.

    Season 1 has already hinted at this, even if at a sluggish pace which helped to make it a bit less obvious. Not only did we see Mando facing increasingly powerful foes, from criminals to stormtroopers, from mercenaries to an AT-ST, from Death Troopers to a TIE fighter, we also got Din himself constantly upgrading his own armor. Firstly getting his hands on some beskar pauldrons, then a full cuirass, eventually getting equipped with a jetpack. Season 2 should continue with this constant escalation, and there are a few indications that help to figure out what the path could be for that to happen if you focus on how the overarching story is being told.

    We’re only two episodes into Season 2 but one thing that’s becoming increasingly clear is that even the most overlooked plot points from some season 1 episodes are due to be paying off, at some level, in future installments. We already got the confirmation that Boba Fett was the mysterious figure at the end of Chapter 5 (possibly making the events of that episode matter a bit more down the line) and also Chapter 6’s events (an episode that seemed the be pretty much a self-contained story) were essential to the way Din Djarin managed to, not so much escape the New Republic patrol they came across, but begin to establish a good rapport with said patrol members in this last episode. So being, it’s fair to say that taking all of this into consideration (the way that enemies leveling-up are met by Mando’s own upgrades, and that small details tend to payoff a few episodes down the line) we are due for some incredible showdowns that’ll feature a few of the characters and factions we’ve already met.

    We’ve already established that the New Republic isn’t exactly treating Mando as a genuine criminal, having proof that he risked his life to try and save a New Republic officer in Chapter 6. We also know that Moff Gideon (with Mandalore’s Darksaber in his possession) has access to aircraft that belonged to the Empire, and is actively looking for The Child. If the show indeed continues on this path of not repeating its fights/battles, raising the stakes as we go along, what we should now be expecting to happen is that Moff Gideon keeps aggressively approaching the capture of Baby Yoda with his personal army and Din Djarin, being no match for such forces, will succeed in getting the New Republic to help level the odds with their military might, making for some great X-Wing vs Tie-Fighter action. Mando could either bring the fight to a sector under New Republic jurisdiction, so they can’t help but be involved, or manage to get them to full-on attack Gideon’s forces wherever they may be. This way, and while still essentially focusing on the more personal side of the fight (this is still a show focused on Din and The Child), we can get something new out of the show, and yet another connection to the greater galactic conflict that has been present throughout Star Wars history.

    Also, since the show is probably getting an appearance by a former Jedi Rebel Alliance spymaster, the chance she could be helping Mando navigate through all of this, connecting the dots and devising a strategy to ultimately keep Baby Yoda safe, is probably not off the table. It probably won’t take long until we find out.

     

     

  • ‘Spider-Man’: The Story So Far

    ‘Spider-Man’: The Story So Far

    Spider-Man took the world by storm back in 2018. Now, two years later, we finally get a continuation with the launch of the next-generation of PlayStation. Spider-Man: Miles Morales will continue where the original ended, as Miles grows into his new role and moves to Harlem. So, to celebrate the upcoming release, let us once again revisit the first game’s story to catch up. We meet this version of Peter, who already has a few years on his back as the titular character. Finally, the day has come that he can take down the Kingpin Wilson Fisk. After an intense battle, it is finally over, and Peter tries to catch up with his personal life. He meets Aunt May at the FEAST center, which is run by Martin Li. Peter also had to rush back to his job at Octavius Industries, where he and Doctor Otto Octavius try to create an artificial limb. His life seems to have calmed down, and he has time to spend it with the people he loved. He even gets a chance to rekindle his lost love with Mary Jane Watson.

    Well, it doesn’t last long as the power vacuum left behind is being filled by a strange group called the Demons, who seem to have supernatural abilities. MJ’s work as a reporter also helps her stumble upon some information regarding a project titled Devil’s Breath. It revealed a connection between Mayor Norman Osborn and Fisk. While Spidey was investigating the case, he ends up working alongside police officer Jefferson Davis, who turns out to be Miles Morales’ father. After Peter suspected Li of having ties to the Demons, he ends up leading an attack during a hero award ceremony, which ends up in Davis’ sacrificing his life to save the mayor. As a consequence, Osborn hires a private military company Sable International led by Silver Sablinova.

    It turns out the before-mentioned Devil’s Breath was a virulent bioweapon. Just in the nick of time, Spidey managed to secure it from Li, who has now taken on the Mr. Negative moniker and send him to the Raft. It doesn’t take long for the prisoners to escape with some of his classic rogues. There, he gets confronted by his former mentor. Throughout the story, Octavius revealed he was suffering from a neuromuscular disease which was slowly pushing him to the brink of desperation. It led to the evolution of their limb project into an attachment that finalized his transformation into Doctor Octopus. He was also the mastermind behind the breakout, which sent Rhino, Scorpion, Vulture, Rhino, and Mr. Negative back into the streets. Not only that, Doc Ock releases the virus on Time Square.

    Peter is at his limit while taking them down, who are trying to take over the city. They learn that there is an antidote and that Devil’s Breath got developed to heal their friend Harry Osborn. They believed he was in Europe, but it turns out he was dying and keeping it a secret. He tracks it down and defeats Li but gets brutalized by Doc Ock. Not just that, we find out Aunt May has also been affected by the virus and doesn’t have much time. He realizes the only way to defeat him is to match his technology, so he creates a suit for a final confrontation. In an emotional beatdown, Peter can defeat his former mentor at a heavy toll. He saves some of the antidotes but does not have enough to develop more and Aunt May in time. Peter made the difficult decision even if it was the last push beyond his breaking point. With her dying breath, she reveals that she always knew he was Spider-Man, and how proud she was of him.

    Months later, we find out that Harry is still alive. He is in a tank surrounded by strange black goo. Miles also reveals that he got bitten by a spider and has the same abilities as Peter. He also gets a visit from Black Cat, who got involved with the criminal Hammerhead. It ends up in another gang war between the different NYC families which leads to Hammerhead stealing Sable tech. He even replaces his body with armor, as he ends up in a final battle with Spidey and Silver Sable. With that, we are all caught up before Miles’ story takes center stage on November 12th.

  • The Biggest Stories of Year One

    The Biggest Stories of Year One

    If there’s one thing I’ve proven myself capable of over and over again, it’s the ability to never have a clue what’s going to be a big story. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve told Charles V. how excited I was to run something only to find out that pretty much me and two guys in Jersey actually cared about it. The top 10 most viewed articles of the first year of Murphy’s Multiverse make one thing very clear: most people don’t care too much about Marvel Studios’ scoops. If you had asked me a year ago, I’d never guess that only 1 of the top ten would be associated with a Marvel Studios project but that’s exactly what we have here in the Top 10 Biggest Stories of Year 1!

     

    1. ‘MARVEL’S AVENGERS’ LEAK OFFERS FIRST LOOK AT ‘AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.’S JEMMA SIMMONS

    When I started Murphy’s Multiverse, it never crossed my mind to cover gaming. It had been years since I felt like a part of the gaming community and knew I was out of touch with modern gamers. Thankfully Charles and Joseph are part of the team and found a way to connect with gamers because the results are clear: gaming needs to be a big part of the future of the site. This one made its way to the top in just over 3 days, forcing me to reshuffle the top 10. The combination of Marvel Avengers with Jemma Simmons, star of the beloved Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series proved to be of great interest to readers as Year 1 came to a close.

     

    2. FIRST GLIMPSE AT ‘MARVEL’S AVENGERS’ BLACK PANTHER LEAKED

    Marvel’s Avengers game has brought a lot of new readers to the site and Joseph has worked hard to find any and all new information on the game. Fans are so hungry for info on the game that 7 of the top 10 most-read pieces of the year are about it, including this one which gave fans their first look at Black Panther.

     

    3. EXCLUSIVE: ELISABETH SHUE TO APPEAR IN ‘COBRA KAI’ SEASON 3

    As mentioned in the top scoops post, this one was essentially ignored when I wrote it a year ago but once Cobra Kai hit Netflix, the flood gates opened. Shue’s role on Amazon’s The Boys certainly represents a departure from her Ali Mills persona, so it’ll be interesting to see the actress occupy two very different prominent pop culture roles at the same time. Cobra Kai’s enormous popularity got fans searching for more info on Shue’s return and there was only one place to find it: right here at Murphy’s Multiverse.

     

  • Stories We’re Looking Forward to Writing in Year 2 of Murphy’s Multiverse

    Stories We’re Looking Forward to Writing in Year 2 of Murphy’s Multiverse

    It is amazing to think a full year has already passed for Murphy’s Multiverse. The team has grown substantially over the year, as we started tackling various new topics in the world of pop culture. Now, we are looking to the future, as we are hoping for many more news stories, leaks, and scoops our team can cover. To celebrate our first anniversary, it was the perfect time for the team to come together and share what they hope to see in Year Two and what they hope to be their next big scoop.

     

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    It’s crazy to me to think that as much time as I spend chasing Marvel Studios stories, they really aren’t the heart and soul of the site. Over the past year, we’ve grown so much, been blessed with a growing team of talented and passionate writers who continue to amaze me with the work they do and it’s that work that has become the heart and soul of Murphy’s Multiverse. However, I still love chasing stories, and looking ahead into Year 2, I can tell you the biggest ones I’ll be anticipating won’t always be Marvel related. I’m really enjoying what I see as a renaissance period for Star Wars, so I would love to learn more about the projects they are developing, but none interest me more than the potential Boba Fett spinoff. On the Marvel Studios side of things, I’ll be continuing to chase, as I have for a while now, what’s “up next” for the studio but I’ll have my sights set on Fantastic Four. Of course, there will be things I’d never know to look for that will fall into my lap and I’ll graciously take them, but if I could nail Boba Fett and Fantastic Four in Year 2, I’d be thrilled. – Charles Murphy

     

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    I’d be remiss if I didn’t give my favorite comic character Matthew Michael Murdock some props for this answer. The live-action rights of the character are reverting back to the Marvel Studios homecourt this month so it’s only logical to expect some semblance of Daredevil news anytime next year. My feelings on whether they should reboot or reuse the Netflix cast has been documented on this site but at this point, I think I’ll be happy to hear any movement on a potential Daredevil project from Marvel Studios.  – Charles Villanueva

     

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    If I had to say what I’m looking forward to next year, mine would probably be to see how Marvel Studios decides to tackle the Multiverse akin to the “Marvel Cinematic Multiverse” theory I made a while back for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Just the idea that Marvel Studios could find a way to acknowledge most, if not all, of the films pre-MCU is exciting to me. Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider, Ben Affleck’s Daredevil, Fox’s X-Men, the 2000’s Fantastic Four, the possibilities are endless. Similar worlds all bridged apart by the fabric of the Multiverse and then all of them being acknowledged in 1 scene sounds fantastic. And with WandaVision and Doctor Strange 2 delving into the concept of the Multiverse and with the rumors that Spider-Man 3 might incorporate the “Spider-Verse” with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, it might be the best time to do it. – Edward Rose

     

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    When I was asked to write about what news story I’m looking forward to next year, right away my mind went to the sort of things that would give fans of the MCU the most happiness, hope, and positivity for the future. This led me to think about the heartbreaking loss of Chadwick Boseman and the question of how the Black Panther films continue without its iconic leading man. On a personal note, Chadwick‘s death was right smack in between two very painful losses for me, and thinking about it now, this still feels quite raw and painful. I’m sure that many, many MCU, Black Panther, T’Challa, and Chadwick Boseman fans are still grieving his loss too. Between Chadwick and my own personal losses, somehow “scooping” doesn’t seem so important to me at this time, but finding something to hang onto that gives hope to myself and others do. This whole agonizing question of what to do now, with T’Challa in the MCU and the Black Panther franchise, has been a very painful thing to think or talk about, but at some point Disney and Marvel will have to decide what to do.

    My hope is that they come up with a solution that is the best, most positive, most appropriately handled way that they could possibly come up with. Ideally, that would also be something that honors Chadwick’s memory, of course. I know many feel T’Challa should never be recast, many others feel that the character and the film’s impact on society is far too important to just let him fade away into the sunset. I don’t pretend to know Chadwick or his thoughts personally about any of this. But my feeling about who Chadwick was, how he carried himself, the kind, gracious, thoughtful human being he appears to have been, and how he understood T’Challa’s importance and impact particularly on young Black children, I don’t believe he would want T’Challa to never be seen on the big screen again. Not at all. I believe he would want T’Challa to continue to inspire children, touch people’s lives, and both challenge and uplift people’s ideas about what it means to be a person and a superhero of color. So I hope in the coming year we learn what the future is for Black Panther and it’s the best possible solution, that gives fans hope and excitement for the future again. What that might be, I’m not sure. It is still a very painful thing to think about, but if the best possible replacement for Chadwick is announced, someone who would honor Chadwick‘s memory in his performance, as well as his off-screen life, I would consider that a very good thing. I would also consider it a good thing if Shuri were given a storyline and a spotlight in the MCU as the next Black Panther. Perhaps it could be left open somehow for T’Challa to come back at a later time when the idea of replacing a seemingly irreplaceable actor is less raw and painful than it is right now. – Lizzie Hill

     

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    I’d organize the stories I’d love Murphy’s Multiverse to cover this following year in three levels. 1) Street-level, some that could actually come out by the end of 2021: We get some details from Rian Johnson‘s and from Kevin Feige‘s Star Wars projects. Both the Era they will be set in and what MCU actor is Feige bringing into the Star Wars universe (just as he discussed a while ago). 2) Super-hero level, one that might be a bit of a stretch: Alex Garland gets confirmed to direct a Fantastic Four trilogy for Marvel Studios (with Dev Patel playing Reed Richards) as well as oversee/produce a Future Foundation spin-off limited series on Disney+ 3) Cosmic level, one that’s wayyyy out there: We get confirmation that Marvel is developing an “Avengers 1000000 BC” project that’ll shed new light on how and why Earth is a super-hero hotbed since the beginning of time. – João Pinto

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    I haven’t been part of the team for that long, but it has already been so much fun covering so many different topics. Somehow, a lot of my coverage has been dominated by Marvel’s Avengers game, as I covered reveals and various leaks. It has been a great deep dive into the gaming market, but I certainly won’t just be covering that aspect of the multiverse this site has to offer. I hope to expand and learn, as well as use my day job’s insight to find new perspectives on things. I cannot wait to discuss and potentially uncover what Marvel and DC-related news might be heading our way soon. Of course, I hope to find out more about what the Avengers game is in store for us, what characters we might see in Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad Kills The Justice League, or WB Montréal’s Gotham Knights. I’d even be happy as a fan of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to see if I can get my hands on information on the rumored Nick Fury-focused show or Secret Warriors. Trying to piece together the multiverse one story at a time sounds like a fun prospect for the second year. The biggest thing for Year 2 will be something I’ve been cooking up for some time now, so I hope to have that grow and expand in the next year. – Joseph Aberl

     

    There you have our expectations for Murphy’s Multiverse’s second year. We cannot wait for you to join us on this journey as we continue to grow and see what the future holds. Here is to many more years to come and plenty of scoops to find.

  • The Biggest Scoops of Year One

    The Biggest Scoops of Year One

    They grow up so fast! Somehow we blinked and the site that I started on a whim one afternoon in 2019 has turned 1! When I launched last year the only real “business plan” I had was to start a site for me to share (mostly) Marvel Studios rumors and my thoughts about the MCU. It’s certainly become MUCH more than that and I’ve somehow been blessed with the hardest working and most supportive team I could ever imagine. While we certainly struggled through the beginning of the pandemic, we bounced back and grew and are incredibly grateful for the support from you all and hope to keep making this site a part of the ever-growing fan community.

    While I’ve always loved chasing the big scoops associated with Marvel Studios, one thing I’ve learned in the past year is that our fans’ interests are incredibly diverse as evidenced by the scoops that they’ve read. Below are the Top 6 biggest (most viewed) scoops of Year One!

    EXCLUSIVE: ELISABETH SHUE TO APPEAR IN ‘COBRA KAI’ SEASON 3

    Elisabeth Shue’s return to the world of the Karate Kid wears the crown and took the victory by an impressive margin. Interestingly enough, thought the story was written last November, it wasn’t until Cobra Kai hit Netflix that this scoop got hot. With Season 3 set to stream on January 8th, we don’t have long before we’ll find out if Ali Mills will reunite with Johnny and Daniel or if this one will end up in the Biggest Poops pile down the road.

    EXCLUSIVE: EVAN PETERS PLAYING MYSTERY ROLE IN ‘WANDAVISION’

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10 Explores the Wildlife of a Galaxy Far, Far Away

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10 Explores the Wildlife of a Galaxy Far, Far Away

    Once again, The Mandalorian is back with a brand new episode. Funny enough, as Charles reported quite some time ago, this episode is directed by Ant-Man and the Wasp‘s Peyton Reed. The story of Din and the Child continues as they continue their search for others of his kind. Last week, he helped out a little town fight a rather unusual foe on Tatooine. Now, the episode continues where we left off. It leads him on a journey to an unknown planet that may have some unlikely dangers waiting for him. The first two episodes also have a rather curious connection that highlights one important aspect that makes the Star Wars universe feel alive, the creatures we meet along the way.

     

    Here is your spoiler warning. I will be talking about some aspects of the story, so if you haven’t watched the episode continue at your own risk. 

     

    After losing the trail of other Mandalorians, he took on an escort mission. It didn’t go as planned, as they ended up in a chase sequence by the New Republic. At first, they were able to get away but crashed into an icy cave. Din’s new companion wanders off only for her to find a hot spring. Everything seems cozy until the Child ends up finding an egg that acts as his new lunch. The camera pans out and reveals Xenomorph-like eggs in the cave. After a quick snack, the other eggs start to hatch spider-like creatures, as their mother appears to snack on whatever may have entered their domain.

     

    It is a great way to switch up the episode structure, as this felt like a small tribute to classic creature features. As I mentioned, the eggs alone were a tribute to the original Alien franchise. The selling point of this spider is also its deep cut from the Star Wars franchise. It is known as Krykna and first appeared in Star Wars Rebels. It almost had its debut many years earlier, as he was a design by Ralph McQuarrie that was going to be in The Empire Strikes Back on Dagobah. The Krayt Dragon from the last episode had a cameo in A New Hope as a skeleton. The Mandalorian uses some deep connections to establish the deep ties that exist between the various Star Wars franchises in creative ways. It interweaves these elements with the overall narrative by building upon classic storytelling arcs, such as Seven Samurai, Clint Eastwood Western films, and now Alien. The scene of them trying to stay safe in the cockpit was a personal highlight of the episode.

     

     

    We have seen these connections weaved throughout the series and other franchises. Last season introduced the first live-action rendition of the Blurrg that made their debut in The Clone Wars. Every time we visit Tatooine, we see the Bantha make their appearance, especially accompanied by Tusken Raiders. Hell, the Mud Horn plays a key role in the discovery of the Child’s abilities and becomes Mando’s signit. These animals and their worlds highlight that these are living ecosystems. I believe we will see many more in the upcoming episodes, as the initial two had a strong focus on Mando facing the forces of nature. Hopefully, this means we will see a Mythosaur, which was even mentioned in the first episode, and Star Wars Rebels‘ Purrgil. Now, who wouldn’t want to see a whale floating in space?

    Source: EW

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10 Fights Instant Gratification

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10 Fights Instant Gratification

    We all live in an increasingly fast-paced society where most things that take time are almost immediately rejected in favor of quicker paths. Sometimes we struggle just by trying to slow down, but it’s often by doing so that we find what’s really worthwhile. In the past few years TV, and more specifically streaming services, has massified the concept of binge-watching TV shows which, combined with the growing use of social media, have somehow forced us to consume these products promptly in fear of having the experience spoiled if we are just a couple of days late. Disney+, and a few others, have tried to go against this way of approaching their streaming media (for financial reasons, obviously), and not only does that work in The Mandalorian‘s favor, the show itself doubles-down on making itself take its time through their storytelling approach.

    By focusing on Din Djarain and The Child (notice there are hardly any side-plots that take the focus away from where they are and what they are doing and experiencing) the pace of the show has always been more on the slow side. We often go from point A to point B in such a manner that we allow for character growth just by witnessing the small and apparently innocuous day-to-day interactions between characters that, over time, become meaningful traits. And the same can be said when considering the over-arching storyline: Delivering The Child to his own.

    In Season One there were a few episodes that ended up making people feel a bit underwhelmed since they seemed to add little to the story, apparently not getting the characters any closer to where they were meant to be headed. Chapters 4 through 6 weren’t so much about The Child as they were about the world surrounding Mando, the people he met, the places he visited, the events that occurred. The importance behind all of these things wasn’t really apparent at the time, which lead to the complaints, but just two episodes into season two, and we now realize that the payoffs were there to be had. It just took them a bit longer than people might have expected, and dare I say that they were probably all the better for it. In hindsight, the appreciation for those episodes should increase, showing that sometimes people should just step back, and enjoy what they are given instead of complaining about that they didn’t get.

    With season two underway, we are probably getting that same approach from Favreau and his team. Chapter 9 brought us Boba Fett, after being teased way back in Chapter 5, and now, even though Chapter 10 might seem like a bit of a filler episode since it did little to advance the overall plot, we got some interesting season one references that probably should grow into something more in the future. Along with a few concepts, locations, and creatures that may very well deliver in spades in upcoming episodes. This way of doing things is sure to make for much more fulfilling moments down the line, making the audience feel like the wait was worth it, and the payoffs were earned. For instance, there is no doubt in my mind that not addressing Boba Fett’s return right after confirming it is the right decision, and it will only make that moment that much sweeter when it does occur. The bottom line is we just need to be patient and, while doing so, pay more attention to what we do get with each episode. The Mandalorian wants us not only to reach the destination but to enjoy the ride. We’ll eventually get to where we’re supposed to be, and the little things along the way are what could make it all the more special.

     

     

  • Black Panther 3

    Black Panther 3

    Premiere: TBD

    Following the premier of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, franchise star Letitia Wright indicated that a third film was “in the works at Marvel Studios. Nearly two years later, in November 2024, Denzel Washington revealed that a role had been written into the film for him, though the studio has yet to confirm the project was in the works.

    On December 17, 2024, the project was officially confirmed to be in development by Marvel Studios Chief Creative Office and President, Kevin Feige, Black Panther 3 will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler.

    Cast

    • Letitia Wright as Shuri
    • Denzel Washington in an unknown role
  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Journal: Ideas for Future Raid Missions

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Journal: Ideas for Future Raid Missions

    It has been a while since I last made a new entry in the ongoing journal for my journey with Marvel’s Avengers. The last time I discussed the importance of taking breaks. Well, I have been playing more infrequent, but I have been hitting an urge to see more of the game. In the State of the Game blog, they talked about the addition of Omega Level-Threats that will add something new to the game’s core concept. We are still highly anticipating the AIM Cloning Labs that will give us our first spoonful of how this concept will evolve. We also had the leak that Wakanda will have a unique raid-event that takes place in the mines against classic Black Panther villain Klaue. So, let us go through some ideas that could be a great way to expand the game.

    Helicarrier Under Attack

    One of my favorite missions in the Reassemble campaign was the attack on the Helicarrier. We switched between Avengers to keep it from crashing into New York City. It was the only time we get to explore beyond the Outpost area. We also already have assets from the campaign, so they only have to add a few new places to showcase the different rooms that keep this flying fortress afloat. Plus, it can also include various villains with each playthrough. Each time you could be in a unique event that changes depending on what villain is attacking. Taskmaster is more focused on a tactical takedown, so he attacks many vital areas throughout the Helicarrier. So, you need to coordinate with your team, so they don’t hack your systems or destroy the engine room.

    It doesn’t always have to be a fight either. The Avengers may be hiding some powerful items in their vault. It opens up the possibility for a character like Ghost to infiltrate the place, which forces you to retrace her steps as she uses the environment to hinder you from catching up. Your main base of operation has a lot to offer, and it could also give you a reason to explore it more in the future. If you know it like the back of your hand, the better you are at keeping everyone safe aboard. It also could tie into my old idea of developing the Helicarrier and its staff. You have to invest some credits to keep it flying, or you are back in its original hiding spot. It also continues the tradition of SHIELD’s Helicarriers always going down in flames.

    NYC in Flames

    We still don’t know how big of an update Spider-Man will be. The character will be a PlayStation exclusive. As such, he could be without any story elements or unique missions. Still, I would love to see the addition of Green Goblin, as we desperately need some more villains in this game. His glider gives him the ability to fly around the map. So, why not create a raid built around his mobility that keeps the ongoing conflict going. You will need to patrol the streets that are on fire from his attacks and his minions. You’ll have various time-sensitive missions, such as taking out the fires by helping firefighters or bringing civilians to safety. The city is on the collapse, so you will have to be strategic about how you approach each situation. Sometimes you’ll need to work as a group, or you can split up to cover more ground. It’ll require much more teamwork to make sure you can make it within the time limit.

    Throughout the map, Goblin would show up and add to the problems. So, you aren’t facing him in one single boss fight but scattered at random times throughout the city. He gets more aggressive the better you perform, so if you are trying to go for a faster time, you will be facing a tough fight to take him down. It wouldn’t be the most complex concept to add to the game, but it could add some heroic moments that some in the community would like to see. This raid will also switch-up the rescue missions of SHIELD agents and Inhumans. 

    Attack on Attilan

    Speaking of Inhumans, it would make perfect sense for the Royal Family to make their appearance at some point. The Inhuman race was the main focus of the campaign, and Kamala has a fun relationship with giant bulldog Lockjaw. I believe that they should slowly introduce them as a way to help out the Inhuman Resistance to find a home. The Kree will also have a role in the future, so we can start introducing Black Bolt and the rest now as potential allies. Lockjaw actually can serve as the teleporter to bring you to the new Attilan Outpost. There you help them adapt to their new home as part of a brand new mission chain. You could also support the Royal Family by recovering the stolen Terrigen crystals by AIM.

    Suddenly, Attilan gets attacked. It turns out, the Kree are already here and started their assault on earth. Now, you have to defend the city and its citizens from the invasion. The Kree have started coming down with their warships, so you will need to take out their mothership to force them to flee for now. The Avengers start fighting their way through the city before highjacking one of their ships. After fighting the crew, you crashland in your objective, where you will end up facing a small army that is led by Ronan the Accuser. It ends up in a massive brawl as you fight your way through waves of enemies while dodging Ronan’s attacks. Can you imagine if that is just the beginning?

    Source: Square-Enix