THE MAGIC RAIN is back again with our We’re Obsessed With… column, where our writers share their current obsessions; from movies and TV shows, to books and video games. When it comes to the things you love, there’s only one rule: No holds barred.
If you’re interested in more content like this, feel free to read our previous columns here!
Tower of Fantasy (Mobile/PC)
Tower of Fantasy originally released in China on the 16th of December in 2021, but on the 10th of August, 2022, global players were finally given access to the game. Developed by the China-based Hotta Studio and published by Level Infinite, the game is set in a dystopian future where mankind is looking to the stars to obtain an energy source known as Omnium.
Despite many early comparisons to Genshin Impact, Tower of Fantasy offers players a different experience with its MMORPG mechanics. Players can customize their main characters to suit whichever style they want, including using presets created by other players. In terms of combat, while you can only play as a single character at a time, you can switch between three weapons in fights, which results in some really crazy and fun combos!
At the time of writing, I do think that Tower of Fantasy has the potential to be as popular as Genshin Impact, which it’s frequently compared to. As for whether or not I’ll still be playing this next month, the answer lies in how engaging the game gets as the story progresses. Since the combat is pretty fun, there is a high chance I would still be playing it! — Aliff
Cookie Run: Kingdom Disney Collaboration (Mobile)
I’ve been playing Cookie Run: Kingdom (CRK) since late October 2021, and so far it has brought a lot to the table. Be it in terms of gameplay, in-game story/lore, or just character design, CRK has definitely pleased me throughout my 10 months of playing so far.
Here’s a short introduction for those who have not heard of CRK — Cookie Run: Kingdom is the sixth game released by Devsisters in the Cookie Run franchise, and is an action role-play based gacha game. The game itself has many features, from customised layout decorating, story mode, player-vs-player, to an in-game guild system. Nearing the end of July 2022, Devsisters teased that a Disney collaboration would be coming to CRK, with select Disney characters being brought into the CRK world as guest cookies.
Not only that, but a new character, Cream Unicorn Cookie was also released in conjunction with this collaboration. Don’t be fooled by this elegant and colourful cookie, Cream Unicorn Cookie actually goes by ‘he’.
For me, what makes the game stand out among the other gacha games is the generosity of its in-game currency, which satisfies my personal gacha addiction. Of course, not forgetting the variety of languages that you can play the game in, and yes, I’m referring to the excellent dub voices!
With the addition of the Disney collab, I’m currently enjoying collecting the different Disney cookies, as well as seeing them interact with their signature decorations. It’s a bit disappointing that players are not able to include the Disney cookies in battles, but with the introduction of the ‘guest cookie’ title, it opens up many doors to potential future collaborations. I can’t wait to see what the game has in store in the future! — Dionne
The Sandman (Netflix)
Continuing the theme of cosmic horror from last month, The Sandman, written by legendary writer Neil Gaiman caught my attention almost immediately when the trailers went up. Phenomenal writing and impeccable casting are the keywords to this elegantly faithful representation of the original source material that serves to enhance the ever thought-provoking storytelling present throughout this series.
Having the cult status among fans as one of the best comic books ever written, this series has been in development hell for close to 30 years, changing shape from film to ongoing series to limited series. Despite that hell, this series is definitely in the top 3 series I have watched this year as it presents profound social commentary on human insignificance, the duality of human nature and of course, the power of dreams.
The interpretation of dreams showcased here is one that is ethereal and slightly weird, which what dreams really are, and it connects to the larger arching storyline that is told incredibly well. Watch this even if it kills you. — CM Char
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (PC)
It’s been about a month and half since Sunbreak released, but with the launch of the expansion comes even more content to fill up even more of our time and hone our skills further against the beasts of Kamura and Elgado.
With the new arrivals of Seething Bazelguese, Gold Rathalos, Silver Rathian, and the ever invisible Lucent Nargacuga, Sunbreak continues to elevate the Monster Hunter experience. With one of the tightest control schemes and combat of any Monster Hunter game, what Rise lacks in detail and atmosphere, it more than makes up for it with gameplay.
With a content roadmap lasting all the way until next year, I’m probably going to be stuck in Elgado every night for a good long while. — Damon
Never Have I Ever (Netflix)
Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever dropped its third season on Netflix a few weeks ago and I am obsessed. It’s one thing for a show to appeal to my nostalgia for a simpler time, but it’s another thing entirely if the show also has thoughtful character development and meaningful Asian representation, while remaining wholesomely funny throughout.
Its plot follows Devi Vishwakumar, your not-so-typical first-generation Indian-American protagonist, who tries to raise her social status at school after a traumatic year. Mindy Kaling manages to capture the manic, unhinged phase that every high school girl goes through with stunning accuracy. Even as the show speaks in Gen Z slang and cracks jokes about TikTok, the heart of its story is intensely relatable for girls of all ages.
Having followed Never Have I Ever since the beginning, Season 3 feels like a victory lap. We‘ve come to know and love these characters throughout the last two seasons, and Season 3 takes the chance to close some character arcs and make big steps in others. Its finale seems to be setting up for an explosive final season, although at this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if Season 4 still has a few shockers in store. Either way, I can’t wait. — Nathalie
Bonus Mention – Arkham Horror: The Living Card Game (Board game)
This month will be seeing the release of some of this year’s most awaited JRPGs, namely Digimon Survive and Xenoblade Chronicles 3, but instead of grinding time away with those games, I was totally engrossed with Arkham Horror: The Living Card Game.
While the game’s name has the inclusion of the term “Card Game”, it plays exactly like a board game, but with additional content that you can purchase to spice up the base game. What makes this game truly superior from its existing counterparts is its campaign mode that weaves an exceptionally well told story into the cooperative gameplay system.
The game itself is no walk in the park as you will need all your moves to calculate with clever strategy, unless you are a glutton for punishment who enjoys the brutal beatdown this game delivers. Utilizing the theme of bold investigators braving the paranormal events that have been rapidly occurring around them, the game takes you through a myriad of obstacles before you reach your objective. The mechanics are simple enough for anyone to learn and it evolves slowly over time, giving you additional options to upgrade your character decks and delve deeper into the archetype of your investigator. Replayability is also high since the game features 5 different types of investigators, namely guardian, seeker, survivor, rogue and mystic, plus a plethora of sub deck types to experiment with that truly never gets old.
Get a group of friends and try Arkham Horror anytime and you will see its one of the best board games out there today. — CM Char
What are you obsessed with this month? Drop it in the comments below and we’ll check it out!
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