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‘Death’s Gambit’: Combines Permadeath With Classic ‘Castlevania’

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Gambit

Adult Swim Games has gone into the permadeath RPG bizz, and the results are pretty freaking satisfying. Death’s Gambit, is the latest from the game studio and it takes a beholden approach to the classic elements of RPG’s of yesteryear while throwing in that permadeath sub-genre that is all the rage right now.

Right from the start menu, you are introduced to your character who has been mortally wounded in battle and is being drug to a massive pyre consisting of what is assumedly your fallen comrades.  Just before being tossed in you are “saved” by Death. Nice guy that he is, he offers you a chance to come back to life in order to get revenge. After the formalities of a blood contract, Death Vito Corleones you and informs you that in return, you will owe him a favor one day.

From there you enter the world of Siradon, freshly dubbed as an agent of Death, where you take on an intensely challenging, RPG experience.

The world of Siradon, is vast and dynamic. Each of the new locales is paired with an assortment of enemies that are ever-adaptive to playstyles, and have a nice mix of mini-bosses thrown into the mix to keep things interesting along the way.

I couldn’t go any further without saying Dark Souls. So here it goes. Death’s Gambit is a side-scroller that is heavily inspired by the permadeath nature of the Souls games, which in my opinion, if done right, is never a bad thing.

Character design is legit as heck in both pixelated and classically illustrated form. Each character within Death Gambit’s world is extremely cool, and have well-done voice work to match. The art is very rooted in the classic Final Fantasy and Vagrant Story realm. These detailed art representations are displayed when exchanging dialogue. Outside of that, the world takes on a vintage pixelated look, closer to what you see in Castlevania games with the controls and action to match.

From the get-go, you are able to create your own class of character, along with a specialized item type. I went with a Wizard class, that focused on ranged spell attacks. Throughout the play through, enemies are constantly dropping random items that range from armor and weapon types to consumables. The randomness of these items makes for unique play-through opportunities.

The Rashomon-rooted, non-linear story structure is where the game shines its brightest. These slowly reveal what occurred hours before your character began their quest and even does a really cool limbo thing that has you revisiting your childhood home as a special type of hell. The narrative keeps things interesting till the very end by offering up surprises neck and neck with the surreal.

From the very beginning and your initial deal with Death, you are given a blood signed contract. This allows you to be resurrected after being slaughtered by baddies. Much like fires in Dark Souls, you are respawned at the last site where you rested. From those rest stops, you can do upgrades to your abilities and stats along with reclaiming “feather plums” that you can also use to heal in battle.

Everything done with its own voice is refreshing, even if it is taking place in a familiar arena. Death’s Gambit structures itself on the Souls cornerstone, but its narrative, art design and approach to combat is rad and refreshing. The 10-12 hour play through is challenging, gorgeous and something I think, Death himself and Souls would be proud of.

Death’s Gambit is out now on Playstation 4 and PC for $19.99.

 

 

 

 

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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