Welcome back my readers and sports fans! The Philippines achieved victories in specific categories during the recent Powerman Malaysia 2023 Duathlon according to a Manila Bulletin sports news report reflecting the official race results published. The Filipino duathlete who won the silver medal in the Elite Men’s race was John Chicano who previously won medals in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin sports article. Some parts in boldface…
Merry Joy Trupa and John Chicano became the best performing Filipino athletes in the elite division of the recent Powerman Malaysia 2023 Duathlon race after clinching the gold and silver medals, respectively, held in Putrajaya.
Trupa ruled the women’s elite by a hairline by clocking 3 hours, 13 minutes and 34 seconds, beating teammate Rhia Stawicki (3:13:35) by one second. Yon Man Yun crossed the finish line six minutes later to grab the bronze in 3:19:16.
Reigning Southeast Asian Games champion Chicano, for his part, continued his strong showing in international tournaments with a silver-medal finish in the men’s side, timing 2:44:00 to settle behind eventual gold medalist Malo Moysan of France.
Moysan, a French Grand Prix and Spain Open Duathlon titlist, lived up to his billing and timed 2:40:45 for the gold medal.
Moysan and Chicano were head-to-head in the first run leg with the Filipino trailing only by mere seconds before the French duathlete gained a comfortable four-minute lead in the bike leg and never slowed down.
It was a 2-3 finish for Team PH after Maynard Pecson clinched the bronze with 2:49:17.
Meanwhile, other Filipino podium finishers include Jena Valdez, who won the gold in short distance female (15-17), and silver winners Aidanreed Mercado (short male 18-29) and Sophia Capistrano (short female 18-39).
There is no denying the fact that abortion is definitely wicked as it is the murder of the unborn child. Very shockingly, a secretive abortion clinic in Parañaque City was uncovered and raided by elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) resulting in seven suspects – almost all were Chinese nationals – arrested for their involvement, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Inquirer news report. Some parts in boldface…
Six Chinese nationals and one Filipino were arrested by police for allegedly conducting abortion procedures and selling abortion drugs in Parañaque City, said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday.
According to the NCRPO’s police report, the seven were arrested in Tambo, Parañaque City, after weeks of surveillance.
NCRPO said the arrest stemmed from an informant alerting the police of the sale of medications used in abortion and their purported performance of abortion procedures.
Arresting officers seized one package of 25 milligrams (mg) of mifepristone tablets, one box of 100 mg cefixime dispersible tablets, and one pack of Golden Throat Lozenge and metronidazole tablets.
The suspects are now in the custody of NCRPO to undergo investigation. They will be charged with the illegal practice of medicine contained in the Republic Act (RA) 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959 and violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act also known as RA 3720.
Meanwhile, GMA Network released their own news video about the same raid which you can watch below…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be even more secretive abortion clinics operating elsewhere within Parañaque City? Did you notice the presence of abortion-related drugs circulating within your local community? Who do you think is the mastermind behind the raided abortion clinic?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 and explore a part of the Marvel 2099 comics universe through a tale of the Spider-Man 2099 franchise.
Specifically speaking, we will examine a thick one-shot comic book about the futuristic Spider-Man simply referred to as a special. Back in those days, Marvel Comics hired the famous Brothers Hildebrandt and among the projects they worked on were varied pieces of captivating art about Marvel’s 2099 universe. In relation to this particular retro comic book review, the Hildebrandt brothers made the cover art for the special comic book which contained three standalone stories.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 Special #1, published in 1995 by Marvel Comics with the main story “The Menace of the Man-Spider” written by Jon Peterson and drawn by Joe St. Pierre.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins at 1:45 AM inside the high-tech laboratory of Synthia when the Man-Spider (a human in a monstrous form of a huge spider) causes havoc and tries to hurt the personnel inside in response to their interference of his work. One of the troubled personnel manages to call for help as the Man-Spider tries to get them.
Just as the two workers get hit by the Man-Spider’s organic green web, armored elements of the security force arrived in response to the call and one of them fires a hot at the beast’s right arm causing a serious wound. Suddenly, the Man-Spider violently jumps away smashing through a large window going into the city. The Man-Spider escapes leaving behind a mess at the laboratory including a high amount of organic web that disgusts the people back there.
Hours later at another part of the city, Spider-Man got spotted by a floating drone which declares him as under arrest under the authority of the Public Eye. Spider-Man simply kept on swinging away to another destination until he uses his organic web on the drone and hurls it to a wall and explodes into several tiny pieces. Once alone, he changes into civilian clothes as Miguel O’Hara and rushes to Synthia’s facility…
Quality
A huge monster breaks out.
Focusing on the main story (the first story), I find this particular tale of Spider-Man of 2099 rather worthy to read even though there were some flaws here and there. Jon Peterson crafted a story that took place sometime before the 34th issue of the original Spider-Man 2099 monthly series while reflecting what was declared in issue #8 and building up something new with it. The main story was about Spider-Man getting into eventual conflict with the Man-Spider (note: it looks like someone at Marvel decided to copy DC Comics’ Man-Bat and make something new for the Marvel 2099 franchise) who in turn is an antagonist who is deeply troubled and yet not really evil. The Man-Spider is actually a man who does not have super abilities but rather high scientific intelligence and the capabilities to alter genetics using advanced technologies. The Man-Spider is not obsessed with destroying the world or murdering people, but achieving a major breakthrough backed with good intentions.
One of the most notable weaknesses of the script written by Peterson is the emphasis that Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099, Dana and the so-called resident mad scientist Antoine have a history together since their youth. This one felt very forced and ended up being unbelievable.
Still on the world-building aspect of the story, this comic book showed a true link between the company Synthia and the gigantic Alchemax which reflects what was state in issue #8. This link between the two corporations opened up opportunities for the creators to emphasize Alchemax’s moves on securing valuable stuff for the future.
Ultimately, the main story turned out to be a good read even though there were flaws that somewhat took away credibility from its core concept. I should also state that Joe St. Pierre established a rather unique look for the Spider-Man 2099 franchise. His work here is a nice alternative opposite Rick Leonardi’s Spidey 2099 art.
While the 2nd story of this one-shot was not worth reading at all, the final story has a unique concept exploring voyeurism in 2099 which accidentally reminded me about how social media in real life could ruin the public’s perception and people themselves.
Conclusion
Spider-Man 2099, Dana and the Man-Spider in a dangerous situation.
With a good enough main story, one forgetful 2nd story and a satisfactory third story, Spider-Man 2099 Special #1 (1995) is ultimately a mixed bag. You will find variety here as well as unique takes on the futuristic Spider-Man and 2099’s society from the creators, but don’t expect great stuff. I think the most die-hard Spidey 2099 and Marvel 2099 fans will enjoy this the most.
Overall, Spider-Man 2099 Special #1 (1995) is serviceable.
Recently in the city of Las Piñas, eleven scholars of Dr. Filemon C. Aguilar Memorial College Las Piñas (DFCAM-CLP) who passed the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examinations (CPALE) visited City Hall and met with the Mayor and Vice Mayor, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Eleven scholars of Dr. Filemon C. Aguilar Memorial College Las Piñas (DFCAM-CLP) who passed the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examinations (CPALE) paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Imelda Aguilar and Vice Mayor April Aguilar.
The new accountants expressed their appreciation to the city officials for the support and opportunities provided to them by DFCAM-CLP.
During her meeting with the scholars, Aguilar lauded the students for their stellar performance, emphasizing the importance of education and hard work in achieving personal and professional goals.
She assured the scholars of the city’s continuous support in their pursuit of higher education and encouraged them to become catalysts of positive change in their respective communities. The mayor said that the 11 outstanding scholars passed the highly competitive May 2023 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examinations.
Aguilar said the college’s remarkable achievement placed it in the 10th place among the top 20 performing schools nationwide, with an impressive 50% passing rate, surpassing the national passing rate of 30.36%.
She said the students’ outstanding performance further solidified the school’s commitment to providing quality education and producing highly skilled graduates in the field of accounting.
The mayor added that the commendable overall ranking, the college also secured the 9th spot among schools with first-time takers.
Aguilar added that the accomplishment highlights the effectiveness of the institution’s comprehensive curriculum and the scholars’ ability to excel even in their first attempt at the CPA licensure examinations.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you happy that the DFCAM-LP continues to have competitive scholars who excelled in CPALE?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Two house helpers tearfully admitted to the National of Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they are responsible for the slaying of an elderly woman in Parañaque City and even used her ATM card to withdraw her funds, according to a Manila Standard news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Standard news report. Some parts in boldface…
Two domestic helpers have admitted to killing an 86-year-old woman in Paranaque City — the sister of a public relations practitioner — last May 4 and taking her ATM card to get her money, then framing another house helper for the crime.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation filed charges of robbery with homicide against the two suspects, named “Ken” and “Juliet”, after they owned up to the killing of Noemi Dacuycuy.
A month after leaving their employer bloodied and lifeless at her home, the two were caught on CCTV video withdrawing money from a bank using the victim’s ATM card. They later pointed to their fellow helper, a man, as the suspect to the Paranaque police.
But invited for questioning by the NBI after the video was discovered, the suspects admitted tearfully to the slaying, then agreed to reenact the crime for investigators.
Authorities also learned that the two suspects had stolen jewelry and other items from the suspect before, but had forgiven them for it.
The Dacuycuy family also asked the police to free the framed house helper, which the NBI said they would coordinate with the local authorities.
Meanwhile, GMA Network mentioned BF Homes Parañaque as the residence of the victim in their news video which you can watch below…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Does this tragedy and crime news make you worried about domestic helpers in your home turning against you?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 and explore a part of the Marvel Comics universe through one of the many tales of the Amazing Spider-Man comic book series.
In my previous retro review, Spider-Man has been caught by the Jury and gets tried in a makeshift court that is so secretive, getting help from outside is impossible. The trial explored how Spider-Man, who brought the alien costume into their world which later led to the beginning of his murderous mortal enemy, is responsible for the deaths and other tragedies connected to Venom.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #385, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley. This issue marks the final chapter of a 3-part storyline between the iconic webslinger and the Jury.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with a restrained Spider-Man declared guilty and sentenced to death by the so-called court of Orwell Taylor and the Jury. Just as the team members are about to execute the webslinger, their teammate Ramshot intervenes and says that Spider-Man saves lives which is a matter of public record. Disappointed by Ramshot’s behavior, Taylor mentions their secondary mission is to obtain a weapon that might allow them to eliminate their true enemy – Venom.
Taylor then says that if Spider-Man would help them destroy the greater evil, then the court would consider commuting his sentence…
Quality
Something unfortunate happens during the mission involving Spider-Man and the Jury.
Considering all the drama and tension that was built up in the previous two issues, the story here is a letdown. For one thing, all the discussions about Spider-Man being responsible for the killings and violence caused by Venom lead to nowhere as the story took a turn for the bizarre concept of the hero getting spared to work with the very team that went after him. Secondly, the mission that Spidey and the Jury worked on really did not have a justifiable goal. This resulted in a disappointing turn of events. Ironically, in this comic book you will see more of Taylor’s cunning on top of his own distorted view about justice.
If there is anything notable here, it is the fact that Spider-Man’s wife Mary Jane gets a good share of the spotlight as she literally moves towards the edge in relation to the deteriorating marriage. This shows that as Spidey spends more time away to do what is good and push back against the forces of evil, his wife gets lonelier and desperate as life turns for the worse. At the very least, this comic book expresses that the marriage of Peter and Mary Jane could be doomed.
Conclusion
This is how Mary Jane deals with loneliness and the decline in her life.
Considering what was built up and heavily dramatized in issues #383 and #384, Amazing Spider-Man #385 (1994) is a rather weak conclusion. The way Spider-Man and the Jury parted ways felt more like sudden retreat than a real finish to what was started between them. Strangely enough, the focus on Mary Jane’s decline and desperation literally saved this comic book from becoming a creative disaster. The ending does not have much to do between Spider-Man and the Jury, but it was surprising in a crude way.
Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #385 (1994) is serviceable.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 to examine what was back then one of the most unthinkable comic book crossovers to ever happen – Superman vs. Aliens (also referred to as Superman/Aliens).
I remember sometime back in 1994, I bought a new superhero comic book from the local comic book retailer and what caught my attention was the print ad on the back – an Alien chestburster crashing through the iconic Superman S logo. A few of my friends who saw the same print ad chuckled at the concept of having the Man of Steel together with the monsters from the movie franchise that first started in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s Alien. Then came 1995 and eventually the first issue of the Superman vs. Aliens mini-series made it on the shelves of local comic book stores. Its cover easily attracted the attention of many and I saw the image of Superman being smaller to the Xenomorph alien in the background, the concept of the crossover started to intrigue me.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman vs. Aliens #1, published in 1995 by Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics with a story written and drawn by Dan Jurgens with ink work done by Kevin Nowlan.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space when a fast moving object from nowhere heads towards Earth which was detected by a satellite of Lex Luthor’s corporation. Behind the scenes, personnel initiated an alert for a certain Dr. Kimble.
Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois Lane arrive at the headquarters of Lexcorp. It turns out they were suddenly called for by the corporation due to what happened in space. As they ride the elevator heading towards the rooftop, Clark and Lois talk about Lexcorp’s space program and Dr. Kimble who happens to lead the said program.
At the roof, they meet Dr. Cheryl Kimble and immediately ride with her in the helicopter going to a certain destination in anticipation of the probe’s estimated arrival. During the trip, Kimble reveals that they received radio signals from the incoming probe which were garbled almost unintelligible. She then plays an excerpt of the radio signals for Clark and Lois to listen to.
For Clark, he cannot help but feel shocked as he finds the audio sounding like Kryptonian…
Quality
Superman finds a dead Facehugger alien.
Firstly, I can say without any hesitation that the creative team succeeded in making the crossover between Superman and the Aliens believable within this very comic book. For one thing, Dan Jurgens came up with a script and visual design that radically different from what was shown in Superman comic books of the time. The script had this somewhat adulterated tone that made the comic book move away from superhero fantasy and move into the realm of cinematic science fiction. For setting the tone and the look, the creative team scored a home run.
Secondly, the script was properly structured to immerse readers with the tale initially following Superman, Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble which ultimately served as a build-up. The good news here is that readers don’t have to wait too long for the pay-off to be executed. In fact, the pay-off itself (which happens when the Man of Steel finally encounters the Xenomorph for the first time) is huge and immediately the tension and depth of the plot really shifted into high-gear which I enjoyed. Along the way, the expository dialogue or the presentation of details (to help readers understand) was nicely balanced.
Thirdly, I love the way how Dan Jurgens presented Superman as being more troubled and more vulnerable than usual. To see the American icon go into personal obsession over the Kryptonian details was a really unique way to presenting his human side. Also having Superman deep in space far away from any sun or star (the essential source for his powers) really made him truly vulnerable as he actually got weaker even before facing off with a Xenomorph. Being in a vulnerable state, you will see the Man of Steel in real danger which truly goes against type (note: being super strong and invulnerable all the time). As such, the danger of the Aliens against him is believable and intense. What I do find weird, however, is how awkward it is for me to see Superman actually trying to reason with the first Xenomorph he encounters. Of course, he has no previous knowledge about the violent nature of the Aliens but we readers – and millions of people who saw any of the movies – know better than him.
As part of the build-up, Dan Jurgens inserted details and flashbacks that recalled previous tales that were published during the early stage of the post-Crisis era of DC Comics. This not only includes Superman’s arrival on Earth but also his strategic killing of General Zod, Zaora and Quex-Ul using green Kryptonite (as published in Superman #22 of 1988). As such, Superman’s deep regret of taking life away from others serves as a build-up for his avoidance of killing in this crossover. This actually races the stakes for his upcoming encounters with the Aliens.
Even though the story is told through Superman, Dan Jurgens still had enough room to develop Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble. Kimble symbolizes the driven corporate executive who is in-charge of operations that could help her make claims on scientific discoveries and new technologies. Lois Lane here served as the intellectual opposite of Kimble without ever going into the extremes of gaining something for her journalistic career.
Conclusion
Superman with Lois Lane and Dr. Kimble.
Very clearly, Superman vs. Aliens #1 (1995) is indeed a great comic book as well as great opener for its mini-series. Dan Jurgens established a tale that had sufficient build-up and when the pay-off started, the crossover aspect really made the story more compelling to read. Ultimately, this one made the crossover between Superman and the Xenomorphs believable, engaging and intriguing. This comic book is a great start and I am eager to find out what happens next.
Overall, Superman vs. Aliens #1 (1995) is highly recommended!
The bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 are being distributed in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other regions here in the Philippines, according to a news report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Specifically, the patients who are qualified to receive the shots are the elderly, individuals with co-morbidity, and health care workers.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Department of Health (DOH) has begun distributing the 390,000 bivalent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines donated by the Lithuanian government.
“As we speak, I think they have already been redistributed to the different region(al offices) of the Department of Health,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.
Herbosa noted that most of the jabs went to the National Capital Region while the rest were distributed to the other regions.
The elderly, individuals with co-morbidity, and health care workers will be prioritized in the administration of the bivalent vaccines as booster shots.
The prioritized population must be vaccinated immediately as the bivalent doses only have a six-month shelf-life upon delivery.
“So, kapag binili mo iyan (if you buy them) out of the shelf, like this one, this donation, they end on November 23, that’s the expiry date,” he said.
Although the World Health Organization has already declared an end to Covid-19 as a public health emergency, Herbosa emphasized that the public must not be complacent in its fight against the virus and get vaccinated or receive booster shots.
He explained that getting infected could still lead to death, especially among individuals with co-morbidity.
Acknowledging that the donated doses are not enough, he said the DOH is negotiating to acquire more donations and considering procurement of additional jabs.
However, there are “snags and issues,” which may slow down the procurement process, he said.
“So, the issue of the vaccine is in terms of the EUA (emergency use authorization). So, to procure it, kailangan ma-i-rehistro sa ating (they have to be registered with the) FDA (Food and Drug Administration). But, we are trying hard to get all these bivalent (vaccines),” he said.
Earlier, the DOH reported that 1.002 million doses of Pfizer’s bivalent jabs from the COVAX Facility would arrive in March.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you qualified to receive a third booster shot? Has your local government been distributing the bivalent vaccines?
Due to the circulation and unauthorized selling of Friendship Route stickers on online markets, the City Government of Las Piñas issued another warning to the public about the said stickers, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas city government released an advisory, warning the public against the illegal sale of friendship route stickers.
According to Mayor Imelda Aguilar, the local government discovered the unsanctioned circulation of friendship route stickers on popular online platforms, including Lazada and Facebook Market Place.
Aguilar warned the public about the unauthorized sale of friendship route stickers and clarified that the stickers are available for free through the city’s official page.
She also emphasized that the reselling of stickers is illegal and those found engaging in such activities may face severe penalties, including imprisonment.
The mayor explained that friendship route stickers were created for Las Piñas residents’ use when implementing alternative routes to ease and decongest traffic along the main thoroughfares in the city.
Since the recent unauthorized circulation and sale of stickers raised concerns among city officials, Aguilar said the local government is working diligently to identify the individuals involved in the sale.
She added that law enforcement agencies are actively monitoring online platforms and conducting investigations to apprehend those responsible, stressing that individuals who will be caught may face legal consequences.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Have you applied for a Friendship Route sticker before?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
With their combined might, Team Xbox, Bethesda and their strategic partners successfully pulled off a great Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and Starfield Directdouble feature! Great in the sense that they collectively premiered a wide variety of games including several Xbox-exclusive titles (both the announced and the brand new ones) that gamers can look forward to on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC and via cloud gaming. What was shown was clearly a lot of fun to watch and there several bouts of surprises that I experienced along the way.
To be clear, 27 games were showcased. 21 games are coming to Game Pass (Xbox Game Pass and/or PC Game Pass). 13 of the games were from Xbox game studios. There were also several 3rd party games from different publishers including Capcom, SEGA, Atlus and Ubisoft.
1st Party Games from Xbox Game Studios matter a lot – The Xbox Games Showcase 2023 started with the reveal of the new Xbox-exclusive Fable role-playing game (RPG) from Playground Games which utilized in-game graphics for a cinematic style of presentation emphasizing the British approach on fantasy, comedic tone and style of play the game franchise is known for. There were a few moments of action shown but it is hard to determine if those will indeed be implemented in gameplay form. As I anticipated, Fable was shown without a release date nor an estimated year for release. All we can do now is wait for the developers to complete and polish it.
Also shown early during the showcase was the much-needed update on Avowed, the first-person fantasy RPG from RPG specialists Obsidian Entertainment (The Outer Worlds, Fallout: New Vegas). Compared to Fable, Avowed has progressed so much with its development, actual gameplay footage was shown with some storytelling cutscenes included. Set in the world of Eora (the same setting as established in the Pillars of Eternity series), gamers will play the envoy of Aedyr who is tasked to investigate rumors of a spreading plague with a secret that threatens to destroy everything. While it looks inspired by Bethesda’s Skyrim, Avowed clearly has its own flavor and style to its first-person battles and movement. This game is set for release sometime in 2024 exclusively on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC with Xbox Game Pass inclusion. I am really looking forward to this game.
Still in the realm of fantasy but with a different approach on game design, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was shown during the showcase with an appearance by Melina Juergens (Senua) preceding it. Compared to the previous pre-release showing of the game, the newest video focuses more on the aspect of Psychosis and how Senua deals with it. Based on what was shown so far, it seems to me that the game has progressed far enough with its development and the it could be in the polishing stage right now. The Xbox-exclusive Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II handled by Ninja Theory will be released sometime in 2024.
Next are three Xbox-exclusive games that really surprised me during the showcase: Clockwork Revolution from InXile, South of Midnight from Compulsion Games and Towerborne from Stoic Studio. I was surprised in the sense that there were no pre-showcase insider reports and the rumor mills did not have anything to anticipate what the above mentioned games would be.
Clockwork Revolution is time-traveling first-person game with a strong steampunk flavor and game design that emphasizes role-playing reactivity. Its visual style reminds me of BioShock Infinite. South of Midnight is a new third-person action-adventure set in a magic realist version of the American South. Towerborne, the product of the partnership between Team Xbox and developer Stoic Studio, is a new adventure game that promises a brand-new take on action RPGs and it will be released sometime in 2024.
At long last, developer Turn 10 announced that Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released worldwide on October 10, 2023 and it will come with more than 500 cars, 20 completely rebuilt international race tracks with multiple layouts and the promised full dynamic time-of-day with weather, living crowds and interactive tracks. For this year, the car customization and tune-ups of Forza Motorsport (2023) was emphasized more. I will definitely play this upcoming racing game on my Xbox Series X this October.
The juggernaut of all Xbox-exclusive games – Starfield – was so huge and detailed, a standalone showcase of it was efficiently done by Todd Howard and his teammates at Bethesda. I will be writing a separate post for Starfield soon but I want to remind you all that the game will be released on September 6, 2023 and it will have a ton of gameplay features! Check out the latest Starfield trailer below plus those from other Xbox exclusives such as Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
The 3rd party games at the showcase that got my attention – When it comes to games from other game publishers, Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) in the form of Persona 3 Reload (early 2024), Persona 5 Tactica (scheduled for November 17, 2023) and Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024) from Atlus and SEGA made quite a splash during the showcase in relation to the curious absence of the Xbox Game Pass-bound JRPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. It seems to me that Team Xbox made serious efforts to reach out to its Japanese partners to secure more JRPGs which will strengthen the Xbox ecosystem as the premiere place for RPGs. With that being said, Team Xbox pulled off the right moves and the Persona games franchise has a dedicated following worldwide.
While my dream scenario of Capcom unveiling a big-budget remake of Dino Crisis at the showcase did not come true at all, the Japanese publisher actually made it and went on to unveil the game Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. The game has a fantasy setting with strong Japanese aesthetics and action-adventure gameplay. It is will have a Day 1 launch on Xbox Game Pass as well.
Dungeons of Hinterberg looks really fascinating with its game design and play style complete with having a very unique artistic approach for its visuals. It will be released in 2024 with Xbox Game Pass included. Also coming to XGP but within 2023 is Jusant, the new game from French developer Don’t Nod that emphasizes exploration by means of climbing and puzzle solving.
Conclusion – I can say it out loud that the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 – Starfield Direct double feature is not only great on its own but it is also a notable improvement over the previous Xbox showcases of the past two years. The Xbox-exclusives are indeed coming in the 2023-2024 period, and that includes having Starfield and Forza Motorsport (2023) scheduled for release in September-October this year. 2024 at this stage is looking great as well not only with the Xbox-exclusives but also with the 3rd party games. Xbox Game Pass subscribers also have new games to look forward to in the near future.
As game development can be tricky, unpredictable and complicated, delays of game releases are always possible. As such, we gamers can only hope that the game developers won’t encounter anymore problems with their respective games so that they will be completed, polished and get released as planned.
In ending this piece, posted below is the entire Xbox Games Showcase 2023 – Starfield Direct video from the YouTube channel of Xbox. I highly recommend watching it all in 4K. Enjoy!
Author Carlo Carrasco 