Geek Culture
Wyrmwood Has a Place Among the Zombie Hordes
Those of you who’ve read my articles before understand that I’m a bit of a zombie fan (the half-sleeve is also a dead giveaway). However, I’m rather particular about what I consider a good zombie film. My selectivity comes from the boundless number of bloated corpses floating in the genre since Shaun of the Dead relaunched the walking corpse legacy in the early 2000s. Following in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s footsteps, every Tonya, Dick, and Jeffe with a spare thousand bucks and a high-end cam decided to slap together an undead flick.
While I applaud their creative effort and independent spirit, the undead subgenre is awash with mediocre fare, for which Hollywood is just as much to blame (*ahem* World War Z. The book was so much better.). For this reason, when I discover a zombie film that actually impresses me, like 2014’s Wyrmwood, I want to shout it from the body-strewn post-apocalyptic rooftops of the future.
Loosely based on an apocalyptic biblical prophecy, Wyrmwood opens as a meteor shower dazzles the Australian outback. Before anyone can quote Paul Hogan or Steve Irwin, a lightning-fast plague spreads through the populace, infecting many with that old familiar incurable cannibalistic eating disease. After being attacked by her assistants in studio, Brooke calls her brother Barry to warn him about the very real threat. Alerting his family, they flee the city in search of safe haven. Unfortunately, after removing their masks, his wife and daughter succumb to the rapidly manifesting plague, forcing Barry to kill them and nearly kill himself–save for missing bullets.
Running out of gas in the wilds, Barry happens upon another band of survivors, including sardonic Benny and dour mechanic Frank, who’s holed up in a remote garage. Quite by serendipity, the ragtag gaggle discovers that while gasoline is no longer flammable, zombie blood is (huh?). They rig up a zombie-powered Mad Max-mobile and burn off in search of Barry’s sister and a better, more-fortified location to fend of the undead multitudes.
One of the latest zombie rompers from Down Under, Wyrmwood is a credit to its small yet austere regional pedigree. The Australian-New Zealand area has been a hotspot for unique and quirky horror–especially zombie flicks–since Peter Jackson turned the film world crimson with Braindead (aka Dead Alive). Since releasing his ultimate gore fest, it seems his efforts inspired several generations of indie splatter-hounds to give it a go. Unusual and amusing efforts of note include 2005’s Undead, 2006’s spastically funny Black Sheep, and 2009’s Last of the Living.
I swear I’m not a zombie. They just made me watch “House of the Dead.”
In several ways, director Kiah Roache-Turner’s debut film is a somewhat refreshing take on the overcooked genre. Wyrmwood endeavors to work a little CPR magic on the zombie film with little touches like flammable walking corpses who only are fast at night, when they’re not incendiary (although Barry still managed to set one ablaze by accident during the night). Another nice touch is his sister Brooke (spoiler alert!). Captured by the ubiquitous creepy army doctor, she’s injected with zombie blood as part of his twisted and seemingly pointless experiments—although we assume his motivation is loosely based on finding a cure for the disease. After several doses, Brooke gains some sort of hive-like awareness with the other prisoners—a sort of zombie sensory perception (or ZSP).
Sure, the film has a few flaws. Nothing’s ever perfect. The rescue of Brooke seems a little Deus ex machina for me, but it’s a thrilling one nonetheless. Also, the creepy doctor isn’t nearly as creepy as he is irksome–no matter how many different ways I’ve seen it done, the Reservoir Dogs dancing-while-doing-something-messed-up homage still feels played out. But aside from a handful of sequences that don’t work as well, the acting is solid for low budget and the movie overcomes most other limitations with sheer Aussie bravado. I especially dug the characterization and portrayal of Benny. His flippant attitude act as a fun counterpoint to the steely determined Barry and the otherwise dismal reality of the film’s environs.
In a crowded and often less-than spectacular-field, though, Wyrmwood is a genuinely enjoyable picture. Comprised of all the right ingredients: a solid plot, a decent cast, and an enjoyable couple of zombie twists—as well as a host of undead film homages—this stomper from Down Under sets itself apart from an often mediocre genre.
Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.
According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.
He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.
Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.
Gaming
The developer of Stellar Blade for the PS5 Expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support amidst a recent controversy surrounding censorship
Shift Up, the Korean developer, seems to be reconsidering its contentious alterations to the Stellar Blade outfit. In a message to fans, they have urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and expressed gratitude for the passionate feedback from players. For those who may not be aware, a petition gained significant attention over the weekend when gamers discovered changes made to a few of the game’s costumes through a day-one patch.
The launch day update includes a fantastic New Game + mode, but some players were disappointed by the changes made to protagonist Eve’s outfit. These alterations sparked debates about censorship. Director Hyung-Tae Kim later clarified that this was the studio’s original vision, but he acknowledged that it may require further persuasion to win over users. Internal discussions were also underway to address any concerns.
Thanks to all our Stellar Blade fans for your passion & feedback. Stay tuned for updates🤍 pic.twitter.com/jCRzM4OQBS
— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 1, 2024
There is no definitive confirmation regarding the reversal of the outfits, but considering the language used in the statement and the widespread controversy surrounding the alterations, it is highly likely that a future patch will restore the original costumes. If you want to get a sneak peek at all of Eve’s different outfits and learn how to unlock them, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide, All Outfits and How to Get Them.
It’s quite possible. Fans all over the world are interested in Shift Up’s highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stellar Blade. With its captivating post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Nier and a compelling protagonist named Eve, it’s no wonder the game has generated such widespread attention.
The game consistently impresses with its stunning visuals and high-octane action, leaving players in awe with each new trailer.
Yet, just like other noteworthy second-party and third-party game releases, fans are pondering: Will Stellar Blade be available on PC?
In this article, we delve into the details to determine the platform availability of the highly anticipated title.
Will Stellar Blade be available on PC? Allow me to provide you with the answer.
Unfortunately, Stellar Blade will not be available on PC, at least not initially. Currently, the game is only available on PlayStation 5 starting on April 26, 2024.
Regrettably, it appears that there is no indication of a potential PC release for Stellar Blade in the future. In most cases, trailers for PlayStation timed-exclusive titles conclude with a disclaimer that specifies the duration of their exclusivity.
In the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch trailer, it is explicitly stated that the game will only be accessible on other platforms starting on May 29, 2024.
Regrettably, when it comes to the stellar blade, there is no indication of such.
It’s important to note that Sony Entertainment Interactive published Stellar Blade, unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This means that the chances of it being released on PC or other platforms in the near future are even slimmer.
However, it is worth noting that there is a chance the game might be released on PC in the future, given PlayStation’s track record of bringing their exclusive titles to the platform. However, it could be a while before this comes to fruition.
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