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“Eternals”: What You Need To Know Before You Watch

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Marvel season is back, after fans of the franchise have eagerly waited for new content following the end of the Infinity Saga. Since Marvel made its comeback, it has come out with short series WandaVision, Falcon & The Winter Soldier, and Loki. More recently, Marvel has come out with films Black Widow and Shang Chi, as well as a short animated series called What If. As far as the franchise is concerned, they’ve come back pretty strong with more to come too. Among the projects to come is Eternals, arguably one of Marvel’s lesser known properties (unless you’re a super fan of the comics that is). In that vein, you might be wondering what on Earth the Eternals even are. We’ll get you up to speed on what you need to know for the upcoming movie.

Uh…What Are The Eternals?

As in all things MCU related, we’ll be going back to the comics to answer this question. The Eternals got their own comic run in 1976. The Eternals themselves are beings that were created to be “immune to time and death” and are a smaller sub-population of humans (CinemaBlend, 2021). They’re, in essence, humans that were bred to be godlike beings. 

Who Made Them And Why Do They Exist?

You’ll notice that the word “bred” was used not too long ago. Well, that’s because the Eternals answer to overlords of their own. Recall in the first Guardians of the Galaxy, there was a scene where The Collector was explaining the nature of The Orb (which turned out to be the Power Stone, which is one of the Infinity Stones). In his explanation, we can see a large, rather peculiar looking giant using the stone. That was our first glimpse at a Celestial. The Celestials are cosmic beings that are a head above the Eternals, as they are the ones who created/bred them. You can think of them as the Titans to your Olympians (in this case, the Eternals) if you’re well versed in Greek mythology. 

The Celestials didn’t just create the Eternals however, they’re responsible for creating or “perfecting” modern day humans and a race of beings known as the Deviants. If the Eternals were considered perfect, the Deviants are the complete antithesis. As a result of their monstrous nature, the Eternals take it upon themselves to defend the humans from the Deviants, making it their mission. 

Some Interesting Trivia

The trailers that have come out for Eternals are interesting to say the least, as they are loaded with some pretty important questions and answers. For one, why didn’t they do anything when Thanos snapped away half the universe? Well…it wasn’t their place to intervene. As a call back to their comic origins, it’s stated that they were instructed by the Celestials not to intervene in conflicts aside from the ever looming threat presented by the Deviants, who had only been dormant until the “reverse snap” (I guess you can call it that?) took place. 

One of the bigger fun facts is that Thanos is a relative (cousin to be specific) to one of the Eternals. This is also from the comics, as well as the notion that Thanos is actually an Eternal/Deviant hybrid. His Deviant nature is actually why he looks the way he does, as well as why he’s so mighty a foe even without the Infinity Stones. 

Final Thoughts

It’ll be interesting to see how Eternals fare in theaters since, like Guardians Of The Galaxy used to be, it is one of the more fringe comic titles in Marvel’s repertoire. Though that might not be as much of a factor now since Marvel seems to have grown considerably in popularity. The film will be a test drive of sorts in multiple respects too, as it will not only feature a hero that is openly gay, but according to the director, it will also be the first Marvel movie that features a sex scene. In short, this movie looks like it is going to be juggling quite a bit, hopefully in a way that is successful. Eternals releases on November 5th, 2021.

The Many Saints of Newark, The Prequel You Probably Didn’t See Coming

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Many many moons ago, HBO put itself on the map by running a show by the name of The Sopranos, created by David Chase. It’s been 14 years since the show ended, but now, eager fans of the series have hope. Chase is back at it again with the new prequel film The Many Saints Of Newark. To better appreciate this surprising comeback, we’ll get you up to speed on what you need to know for the upcoming film.

Who Were The Sopranos?

In case you’ve never heard of or seen The Sopranos to begin with, that’s okay, we’ll go over that too (and not spoil too much either). The show follows Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss who deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state,  resulting in him seeking professional psychiatric counseling to cope with the stresses he faces. The series ran 6 seasons long, with 13 episodes a season, with the exception of  Season 6 which got 21 episodes. When last the iconic series aired, the DiMeo crime family (run by Tony) were in a tight spot as the New York and New Jersey crime families were warring with one another. Its ending was ambiguous, and is held in high regard as one of the greatest series endings of all time. 

https://youtu.be/u9qpFgAa52U

Resurrecting An Iconic Story

The Many Saints of Newark will be turning back the clock, visiting Tony Soprano in his younger days. The film takes place during the long hot summer of 1967, a time of considerable “political and civil unrest”. Amongst the turmoil the setting presents, the DiMeo crime family’s hold over the city is being challenged by rival gangsters as they begin to rise up against them. The film will focus on young Tony’s relationship with his uncle, Dickie Moltisanti, who also struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities much like Tony will in The Sopranos later on. The movie will ultimately bear witness to the experiences that shape Tony into the mob boss fans are familiar with.

Final Thoughts

Without a doubt, The Sopranos is considered a time honored classic when it comes to drama. For those who might be less eager, there is a compelling discussion that seems to be hidden under the surface of all this good news. One of the things the article by Collider expresses, is something of a cautionary hesitance in its initial remarks about the film. Especially when talking about it being “a huge undertaking”, speaking to the notion that audiences would need to “trust a return to this world so long after the finale”. These remarks are interesting, very much so when one considers that most praise The Sopranos to be one of the best shows out there, in addition to having what is widely regarded as one of the greatest endings a series can get. It begs the question, did we really need this prequel?

To have achieved such a masterful ending, one would have had to create a distinct air of finality. Although a prequel, would this film in some sense be violating that sense of finality? It does, after all, seek to continue a story that has been finished for 14 years. To be fair though, it isn’t like the property is being brought back into existence by some stranger, David Chase himself is coming back to tell this story. If there’s any one who has the inherent right to exercise revisiting the world of the Sopranos, it is the creator of the series. On top of that, without spoiling the ending, there were many questions concerning how the show ended, so it isn’t like there wasn’t any desire whatsoever to revisit the story. The Many Saints of Newark, starring NYFA Alumni Michael Gandolfini (playing Tony Soprano) and Gabriella Piazza (playing mob wife Joanne Moltisanti), is screening in theaters.

“Last Night In Soho,” The Wonders of Allstar Casting

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It may seem like a very simple premise, but it is often an important one to keep in mind when it comes to filmmaking. Last Night in Soho, a film that’s been garnering an increasing amount of interest, is one such example of the wonders of having a cast that hits the sweet spot so to speak. It seems like there’s a lot to unpack when it comes to why this film has gathered this much traction (aside from an interesting premise and striking visuals), but as stated earlier, it’s really quite simple as it all lies in the casting. 

So Who Handles This Whole Casting Business?

To answer that question, let’s start with the basics. Casting is a fundamental part of filmmaking. In a production project, there’s an entire subdivision dedicated to it. Typically, the directors and the producers of a project will see fit to hire a casting director, who will then often hire a team to help them facilitate the administrative and organizational aspects of the process. The casting director’s sole focus is to seek the talent the project needs and present the directors and producers with choices. Boiled down, the process of casting includes auditions, screen tests, and callbacks.

Casting director checklist

Okay, But Why Is This So Important?

There are a couple of different factors at play here. One important notion that the actor needs to have is a “believable performance”. If the audience can’t take the actor seriously in the role that they play, it could end up being detrimental to the film. Of course, some actors’ roles are determined by how well they’ve handled similar roles in the past too.

Another factor is the might of “star power”. There are some people within an audience who go to see movies just because an actor they like is part of the cast. Take Anna Taylor Joy for instance. She’s been part of a number of recent thrillers, a few of which include Split (2016), Thoroughbreds (2017), and New Mutants (2020). The actress is without question part of the star power of Last Night In Soho, doubly so as it’s a thriller of sorts too. The same can be said of Matt Smith, who is most widely known for playing The 11th Doctor in Doctor Who. Sure, the demographic won’t comprise the majority of Doctor Who fans, but his presence in the project is sure to attract some from the Doctor Who camp to this new film’s way. 

Final Thoughts

Casting matters not only to the survival of a film but also how well it is able to initially cultivate its audience. Last Night In Soho is now available through streaming platforms and theaters.

“Dune,” A Video Game Adaptation Done Right?

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Dune is one of those franchises in the sci-fi community that is a time-honored classic. Over the years, there have been attempts to adapt it to long-form media. Unfortunately, they haven’t always been successful or even well-received by fans. The newest iteration of Dune looks to be the antithesis of this trend, as excitement for this film has gone through the roof. So what is Dune? And why is this film such a big deal? Join us as we unpack and answer those two very essential questions. 

 

What on Earth is Dune?

Let’s roll back the tape a bit here. Dune is actually a little more than just a video game. In its inception, Dune was a book authored by Frank Herbert. The story follows Paul Atreides, the heir to one of a few noble Houses that hold dominion over other planets. His story begins when “[Paul] and his family relocate to the planet Arrakis, the universe’s only source of the spice melange” (IndieWire, 2020). The franchise would first make its debut in theaters in 1984, the film was titled Dune and it was directed by David Lynch. Unfortunately, critics of the time such as Roger Ebert wouldn’t receive the movie very well, calling it “a real mess” as it had “one of the most confusing screenplays of all time” (Roger Ebert Reviews, 1984). According to IndieWire, the film would become something of a “cult classic” but suffice to say, it isn’t the best adaptation of the franchise… and that’s coming from fans and critics alike. It would later become a game developed by Cyro Interactive in 1992. There would be more games after this, not all by the same developers, but the gem of this roster is Dune II. This game alone would revolutionize strategy gaming as well as PC gaming in general. For more on this topic, we invite you to check out IGN’s review of the gaming classic. All in all, it is without question that the Dune franchise is near and dear to gamers and readers alike, which is why the new adaptation is so important. 

A still from the movie Dune (1984)
A still from the 1984 David Lynch adaption of “Dune”

Hiccups in Adaptation

As history has shown, adapting various kinds of media to the big screen, especially video games, doesn’t always have the best track record. Take Mortal Kombat for example. The Netherrealm classic is without a doubt more than ten games strong and a pretty popular title. When it comes to the movies… not so much. Like Dune (1984), Mortal Kombat has its own slew of not very well received movies, turned cult classics, these being Mortal Kombat (1995) and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997). To speak plainly, they’re the kind of movies that invoke an odd degree of nostalgia yet are fun enough to enjoy laughing at every now and again. This is a trend that one often sees with video game-to-film adaptations, and sometimes, depending on the property, some book-to-film adaptations. In Dune’s case, this has been an issue plaguing fans of the franchise for a couple of decades now. Granted, you had the pretty well-received Dune shows on Syfy in the early 2000s, but aside from that, no one has been able to crack the code for translating Dune’s complex story to the big screen. The stakes are especially high here since Dune is not only successful as a book but as a video game too. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way from the 1990s, and video game adaptations are starting to deviate from the campiness they were once associated with. But that begs the question… 

Where Does This Leave Us With Dune?

Well, if you like spoilers or being informed about what you’re getting into, the title for the New York Times review of the film reads, “The Man Who Finally Made A Dune Fans Will Love”, that man being Denis Villeneuve who directed the film (NYT, 2021). If that’s any indication of how good it is, it seems like there’s been a step in the right direction in terms of adapting the material. In addition to that nugget, it appears that the new film is being accompanied by a brand new TV show set to come out on HBO Max. According to Variety, Dune: Sisterhood has a showrunner and still appears to be a work in progress. The new Dune is now in theaters and on HBO Max. 

Dear Evan Hansen: The Pros And Cons Of Adapting Broadway Material To The Big Screen

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A well-known Broadway production, Dear Evan Hansen now has its own film adaptation. The show turned movie tells the story of a high school senior struggling with social anxiety disorder, who following the tragic suicide of a fellow classmate, goes on a journey of acceptance and self-discovery. As critically acclaimed as the film’s source material is, there lies an interesting conversation beneath the film’s potential success. This isn’t the first time a Broadway show has been adapted to the big screen, as it’s been done for shows like West Side Story (1961) and Phantom of the Opera (2005). Today, we’ll briefly weigh the pros and cons of stage production to film adaptations.

Pro: Reaching Larger Audiences 

The great thing about movies is that, as a visual medium, it is much more readily accessible to the public. For the most part, the moviegoing experience is cheaper than grabbing a couple of Broadway tickets. It also gives people who aren’t as inclined to see the stage production version a chance to engage with the material through a medium they’re more familiar with (or quite possibly, open their minds to giving the stage production version a chance). 

Con: The Translation Conundrum Betwixt Visual Mediums

One of the potential downsides of transitioning to a film adaptation is that of vision. When it comes to movies, there is always a chance that a certain aspect of the broadway show could get lost in interpretation when exchanging mediums. Screen Rant’s 5 best & 5 worst Film Adaptations Of Hit Broadway Musicals attests to this problem, explaining that there’s a certain “magic” about stage productions that oftentimes filmmakers just aren’t able to replicate. It is why movies like Cats (2019) and A Chorus Line (1985) weren’t welcomed by the best reviews (Screen Rant, 2021). It could be the way a certain scene is shot or the dialogue between two characters. A minute change, no matter how seemingly small and inconsequential, could change the way audiences view and perceive the story, resulting in a “translation conundrum”. 

Pro: Employing Digital Capture

An article by Rolling Stone offers a solution to the translation conundrum. One of the ways directors can bring a Broadway show to movie theaters without making any real changes is by doing what’s called a Digital Capture. Simply put, a Digital Capture is a “film or video recording of a stage production”. Instead of lining up an all-new cast and tweaking the narrative, Digital Capture allows viewers to partake of the Broadway experience without the translation conundrum. 

 

Con: Undercutting Stage Productions

While making a film adaptation has the potential to increase a stage production’s exposure, there’s something of a catch-22. If the show’s movie adaptation does well in theaters, that could attract viewers to the source material on stage, promoting it. The issue here is what if the film adaptation does its job too well? That instead of attracting viewers to the stage production the film is based on, the film does the opposite and becomes the medium of preference among viewers? Such a thing could then be damaging to stage productions at that point, as the production is now, in a way, more “convenient” in terms of viewer consumption. Undercutting stage productions should be the last thing anyone wants, as it is the means by which we as viewers are getting these amazing stories to begin with.

Final Thoughts

Despite the ups and downs of this process, there may be hope for Dear Evan Hansen yet. An interesting tidbit about this movie is that some of the cast is composed of the same Broadway actors that portray their characters in the stage production itself (see Collider’s article for more on who is who). A typical flaw of film adaptations, this film will not be suffering from this issue thankfully, which could lend to how good it can be. To further bolster the film’s “street cred” so to speak, the writer for the film is none other than Adam Levenson, who is the playwright that wrote the show on Broadway as well. In short, Dear Evan Hansen’s film adaptation looks like it will be blending the best of both worlds in order to do justice to the original stage production, all while expanding its audience. Dear Evan Hansen is now in theaters.  

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali: A Brief Rundown Of The Bond Between Two Cultural Icons

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Recently released is a story most people are familiar with. For those that aren’t, a documentary focused on civil rights activist Malcolm X and one of the most famous heavyweight boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali’s, friendship is coming to Netflix. Here’s what you need to know about Netflix’s upcoming documentary.

Their Story

The documentary is based on a book of the same name, Blood Brothers, and is set to delve into the beginning of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali’s friendship, right up until it began to fracture. The book was written by “Georgia Tech associate history Professor Johnny Smith and his former academic advisor Purdue University history professor Randy Roberts.” According to an article by Collider, the movie uses “historical footage and interviews with family and friends” some of which include “Malcolm X’s daughter Ilyasah Shabazz, and Ali’s brother Rahman and daughters Maryum and Hana.” The trailer begins by showing what brought these two great individuals together. Both found shared ground in their faith in Islam. Likewise they were both outspoken intellectuals, advocating for civil rights during the era of segregation. Through these commonalities, they became brothers. The trailer for the documentary goes on to cite anecdotes by the aforementioned interviewees, attesting to their powerful friendship. Divisions in ideology would be what caused their bond to unravel, how and why it got to this point is something the documentary seeks to answer. 

NYFA recently had the honor to host the director of the documentary, Marcus A. Clarke. He explained that he was struck by the absence of any real record of their friendship and aimed to bring about awareness of the subjects’ relationship.

Overall, the documentary appears to promise an enriching as well as introspective look at both men, their beliefs, and how these beliefs evolved as time progressed. Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali released on Netflix September 9th, 2021 and is available now to steam. 

Blue Bayou, Shining A Light On What It Means To Be An “Immigrant”

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In a few days, a film by the name of Blue Bayou will be getting its theatrical release in the United States. Blue Bayou was one of a couple of films that received awards at the 2021 Deauville Film Festival, and before that, the Cannes Film Festival in July. Directed by Justin Chon, the story follows Antonio LeBlanc (also played by Chon), whose past comes back to haunt him when the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) comes knocking on his door. Here’s what you need to know about the award winning film, and why it’ll be worth the watch.

Why Blue?

There’s a reason why “blue” should stand out, but before we get into that, some context is in order. Antonio LeBlanc was born in Korea and migrated from there to the U.S. through the adoption process. To quote Variety, “he’s as American as the tattooed eagle spreading its wings defiantly across his throat, down to his lived-in Southern drawl acquired over more than three decades.” He’s a family man, who is married to the love of his life and loves a daughter that isn’t his own, with one more on the way that is. Unfortunately, LeBlanc is not a man of means, mostly due to his criminal record holding him back. It is this same sore spot in his history that prompts ICE to begin looking into him. Pair that with LeBlanc’s “faulty paperwork” which was a result of his adopted parents not having him properly processed, the government agency works on trying to deport him once he shows up on their radar. The movie doesn’t just work to unpack the challenges immigrants face in the United States, the director also made sure to lean into other important discussions such as “highlight[ing] the prejudice[s] that [are] endemic to the Asian-American experience” (Variety, 2021). So why is the bayou blue? Well, even though the film doesn’t technically fall under this category, one can argue that it is at its heart a tragedy.

A Close Look At Harsh Truths

Blue Bayou doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the issues it addresses, mainly ICE and immigration. The role ICE plays is an interesting one, as the film tries to illustrate the institution’s potential for being punishing towards immigrants rather than the protector homeland security and public safety. The film aims to bring to light how the “American Dream” can be at times, undermined by the system that can punish people under the misguided notion that they don’t belong here. It’s a concept that runs contradictory to what the United States stands for, yet can find a way to persist nonetheless in institutions like ICE. Chon’s movie looks to tackle these themes head on to strike a chord with audiences, and will endeavor to do so through Antonio LeBlanc’s trials and tribulations. Blue Bayou released in theaters on September 17th, 2021.

Far Cry 6: Why Character Enrichment Is Worth It 

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Far Cry is one of those games where you don’t need to necessarily focus on the story in order to enjoy it. In a sense it’s like Grand Theft Auto, you can find the perfect weapon, steal a car, and go on your merry way causing mischief and mayhem. Where some might see that as a flaw, the Far Cry games have always proven fun and engaging. As a way of spicing things up,   appears to be adopting a new tactic to make the game more compelling. In addition to some new mechanics and acting talent Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame, the game will be giving its new lead, Dani Rojas, an in-depth backstory.

Why Is This A Big Deal And Why Now?

Right now, you might be wondering why this decision is so important for the Far Cry series. As an article from Game Rant points out, the series’ mains are for the most part presented as blank slates, “having very little in the way of backstory or character depth.” Take Jason Brody from Far Cry 3 for example. In that game, his entire reason for being on Rook Island is because his vacation took a wrong turn. It isn’t the worst backstory, but it certainly isn’t the best either. For the main character of the game, one would expect something deeper in the way of a story. On the other hand, Far Cry 3 wasn’t terrible either. For one, the game had a breakout star in the villain, Vaas, who by and large was more intriguing than Brody as you got to know why he is the way he is. There’s a reason why this perceived disparity exists, and it’s thought that for all the work that is put into the gameplay of a Far Cry game, “[not] a lot of room is left for the narrative and the characters to shine” (Game Rant, 2021). 

That’s why the new main character, Dani Rojas, is revolutionary in more ways than one. One of the things that makes this character special is that players can choose whether or not Dani will be male or female. Already, players are given more agency than prior games (with the exception of Far Cry 5 which also gave players this option), serving to strengthen the storytelling of the new game. On top of that, Dani Rojas backstory isn’t nearly as superficial as being a tourist who took a wrong turn. The main character of Far Cry 6 will be a native resident of the island nation Yara, which is where the story takes place. It’s a simple detail, but it changes a lot as the themes of revolt and revolution supplant the series’ traditional one of survival which gives the story a new, compelling element. 

The best part about having a compelling main protagonist, is that you now have someone for the main antagonist to bounce off of. Giancarlo Esposito’s Anton Castillo already had the internet in an uproar when Far Cry 6 was first announced. It would have been criminal to have such great talent pitted against yet another blank slate protagonist the series is infamous for. With Dani being as fleshed out as she appears to be, the story is sure to have more soul and richness to it. Each represents the polar end of a binary, Castillo, who represents the “pros” authoritarianism brings on a structural level, and on the other end Dani, who will (likely) come to embody the “cons” of a revolutionary upheaval. The binary is being framed here like this because, as far as the trailer is concerned, both sides make it clear they’re willing to do anything to achieve what each perceives as “paradise”. Meaning, according to both, the ends will justify the means, which could lead to darker roads regardless of intention. Already, you have the makings of an interesting story, but it only works because both the antagonist and the protagonist can both effectively and meaningfully push back against one another. A storyteller wouldn’t be able to achieve this if one of the characters, protagonist or antagonist, were blank slates.

The Moral Of The Story?

Deeper main characters beget deeper, better stories, plain and simple. When crafting the story you want to tell, all aspects of the characters, especially the main character, should be considered. How your main protagonist relates to the other characters they meet and interact with is part of what will make your story a page turner so to speak. It’s why details are key when it comes to character depth. The only way Jason Brody of Far Cry 3 could relate to Vaas meaningfully was that he murdered his brother. It was instrumental in that it was Brody’s driving force, but beyond that, it was an arguably superficial relationship that they had. In effect, Vaas did all the “legwork” while Brody simply reacted to whatever he did, bringing nothing else to the table in terms of depth. Thus, since Brody’s backstory wasn’t fleshed out enough to make him interesting, the story ultimately suffered for it.

On the other side of the aisle, one can make the case that by making the main character a blank slate, it can be more immersive for the viewer/player/reader experience. It is true in some cases too when planned and executed well. For instance, Skyrim is an open world game like Far Cry, but it is a role playing game (RPG) at its core. The blank slate main works better because the character is well and truly an open canvas. They have no solid backstory save for whatever the player decides or even imagines. The reason why it doesn’t quite work for Far Cry is because the groundwork for the character is already set, so the only agency players really have is the choices they make. Essentially, their main character exhibits traits reminiscent of RPG games, meanwhile the game doesn’t inherently revolve around the RPG experience. It creates an oddly disparate experience that doesn’t do the game justice. That’s not to say these games aren’t enjoyable, but this is why their storytelling can feel flat at times. Luckily for fans of Far Cry, this is all going to be turned around with this newest installment in the series. Far Cry 6 will be available on multiple platforms including Playstation, Xbox, PC, and more, and releases on October 7th, 2021.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and What’s Keeping The Hit Playstation Game Fresh

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For a couple of months now, Ghost of Tsushima has been all the rage on the Playstation side of console gaming. In a blogpost direct from Playstation’s website, it was announced in early July that the breakout game was set to receive an expansion dubbed the Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut. An odd choice for a name given it is a game, but aptly named nonetheless if one is familiar with the game’s remarkable story and visuals. The new edition of the Ghost of Tsushima features a new chapter in the main character, Jin Sakai’s, story as well as “some new updates that are a direct response to some of the community’s most-requested features” (Playstation, 2021). For a quick and digestible overview of what the Director’s Cut entails, we’ll be referencing articles from Gamespot, IGN, and The Verge to get you up to speed.

What’s Different About the Director’s Cut?

As previously mentioned, Ghosts of Tsushima: Director’s Cut does more than simply add a new chapter of the story to the game. The new chapter adds a new area to explore, Iki Island, and updates and features fans have requested of Sucker Punch, the developer of the game. For one, Jason Connell, the creative and art director for the game, has stated that Jin Sakai will be getting more abilities in addition to the plethora he already possesses, as per Gamespot’s coverage of the topic. Additionally, according to comments made in the same article, Connell explains that the PS5 version of the game boasts a more immersive experience. The game takes full advantage of the PS5’s features, including utilizing the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers “to create a greater ‘spatial feeling’ in the environments around the player” (Gamespot, 2021). Essentially, the 3D audio coming from the controller will be able to simulate pretty believable sound effects that add to the experience.

Where the story is concerned, Jin Sakai will be pitted against the remaining Mongol forces on Iki Island, “gathered under the banner of the shaman Ankhsar Khatun” (Gamespot, 2021). The new villain is particularly interesting, as Khatun is not only a female antagonist, but may very well be impactful in different ways. According to an IGN article which details an interview with Jason Connell and the game’s Senior Writer Patrick Downs, Khatun’s goals may be different, as well as “‘her style of leadership [and] what she’s trying to accomplish…’” Patrick Downs also raises an equally interesting question, which asks whether or not this new style will “affect Jin in ways that maybe he hasn’t been challenged [in] before…’” (IGN, 2021). Jin looks like he’s going to be in for a tough time on Iki Island suffice it to say. 

The expansion will also include the addition of horse armor as well as a brand new horse skill, which allows the horse to charge ahead as a battering ram of sorts to tackle and disperse nearby enemies. In their blog, Playstation also mentions that there will be new techniques, new enemy types, new mini-games, lip-sync for the japanese dub of the game, game save transfers from the Playstation 4 (PS4) to the Playstation 5 (PS5), and other utility updates such as alternate controller layouts. Finally, an article by The Verge tells of a kind of “petting” expansion. Where players could only pet foxes, then dogs a few months after the game first released, the new expansion will allow players to also pet cats, deer, and monkeys (The Verge, 2021). Ghosts of Tsushima: Director’s Cut releases for the PS4 and the PS5 on August 20th, 2021.