Games

For the past year, the incredible adventures of Ultimate Spider-Man have been captivating readers, and issue #12 is no exception. Authors Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto craft a touching Christmas tale that resurrects lesser-known Spider-Man characters, giving them fresh identities for the Ultimate Universe – specifically Mary Jane’s mother Madeleine and sister Gayle. Despite the family appearing to be on the road to healing, a phone call from Gwen Stacy abruptly alters the course of the Parker family’s life and leaves the first year of Ultimate Spider-Man ending with a mind-blowing cliffhanger that promises to significantly impact the following year of the comic book series. Spoiler alert!

As a devoted fan, I’ve always admired the Persona series, a legendary JRPG franchise that combines exhilarating combat, deep philosophical discussions, and unrivaled style. The later installments delve into the ordinary life of a Japanese high school student, be it in suburban settings (Persona 3), small towns (Persona 4), or the iconic city of Tokyo (Persona 5). With only one exception, the main characters in these games are typically teenage boys.

For about ten years now, the Christmas horror comedy “Krampus,” directed by Michael Dougherty and released in 2015, has captivated audiences. This film, featuring Toni Collette and Adam Scott, updates the ancient European folklore about Krampus, who is Santa Claus’s opposite – a malevolent figure who punishes un-Christmas-spirited kids and their kin. In this movie, Max Engel and his family face a terrifying Christmas Eve as they are systematically targeted by Krampus and his evil companions. As the strange events unfold, the Engels family finds themselves in a grim yet enigmatic predicament.

As a die-hard fan of sci-fi, horror, and comic book movies, I’m overjoyed to share the news that my favorite films of the year – “Alien: Romulus” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” – have made it onto multiple Oscar shortlists! “Alien: Romulus” is currently up for “Original Score,” “Sound,” and “Visual Effects,” while “Deadpool & Wolverine” has found a place in the “Sound” and “Visual Effects” categories. This exciting development gives us fans reason to hope that these films, along with other genre movies, could receive nominations across various categories when the final list is revealed on January 17, 2025. Could there ever be a more blood-pumping Oscars shortlist than this?

Just recently, Tencent declared that “The Hidden Ones” is set to debut in 2025. This game, developed by its affiliate, Morefun Studios, boasts immersive gameplay, plot, and environments. Given the buzz surrounding this upcoming title, it certainly has high expectations to meet. Interestingly, global pre-alpha testing for the game commences next month, but the Morefun team seems optimistic enough to provide an early hands-on peek. As someone who is not particularly skilled at real-time fighting games, having only recently ventured into non-Nintendo controls and being unfamiliar with “The Hidden Ones”, fear not if you’re in a similar position – there’s no cause for concern!