REVIEW: Struggling on XBOX One

Struggling is one of the more bizarre games I have ever played, instantly memories of the disgusting failed experiment in the original "The Fly" film comes to mind.

You play as "Troy" a deformed monster created from Hector and Achilles, two heroes who were horribly conjoined, so two separate arms connected to a head. That is your character. Each arm is controlled independently, and to move, you throw one arm out and grab on to a surface, and then drag yourself along. This game can be played as a two-player game, but I played it only in one player mode. And to say the controls take some getting used to is an understatement.

Luckily if one arm is torn off, you can grow it back. This is a physics-based platformer, and you really need to learn the method of movement to progress at all in this game, from within the first moments of play you will be screaming at the game, it is incredibly frustrating, it is a huge "Struggle" I guess.

Read full review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/09/review-struggling-on-xbox-one.html

First Look image released from Save The Cinema, a Sky Original

Sky today unveiled a First Look image of Samantha Morton in the Sky Original film Save The Cinema. Inspired by the extraordinary real-life events sparked by tenacious hairdresser Liz Evans (Samantha Morton), Save The Cinema illustrates how the resolve of a small Welsh town, inspired by the magic of cinema, was able to bring Tinseltown to their doorstep.

The sleepy town of Carmarthen in Wales is not exactly the first place to spring to mind when thinking of Hollywood blockbusters. But this changed in 1993 when the town council made the unwelcome announcement that The Lyric Theatre – the town's much-loved but financially stricken cinema – would be demolished so a shopping centre could be built in its place.  

It's down to Liz Evans, hairdresser and linchpin to the local community, to stand up for the ailing cinema and stop the bulldozers. As she and her friends barricade themselves in the theatre, she reaches out to postman turned town councillor Richard (Tom Felton) for help - and they come up with a grand plan.  

To revitalise the cinema and stop the council taking the heart of the community away, a desperate Liz persuades Richard to write to Hollywood to ask for a helping hand. One late night phone call later and one of Hollywood's most legendary filmmakers throws The Lyric a monster-sized lifeline and a premiere Carmarthen will never forget. But will this be enough to save The Lyric?  

Save The Cinema features an all-star cast including Samantha Morton (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them), Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes), Adeel Akhtar (Enola Holmes), Erin Richards (Gotham), Owain Yeoman (Emergence), Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), Colm Meaney (Gangs Of London), Rhod Gilbert (Have I Got News For You) and Keith Allen (Kingsman: The Golden Circle).  The film is directed by Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen) and co-produced by Sky and Future Artists Entertainment in association with Head Gear Films, LipSync and Ffilm Cymru.  

Save The Cinema, a Sky Original will be released on Sky Cinema and in cinemas from 14 January 2022. The film will also be available on streaming service NOW via the Sky Cinema Membership.  

Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Adam Hills & Maya Jama to host a glittering night of live TV as Stand Up To Cancer returns

On Friday 15th October, Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Adam Hills and Maya Jama will host a glittering night of live TV as famous faces from the world of sport, film, music and comedy come together to Stand Up To Cancer.

Joe Lycett will be putting his Maths GCSE to good use, totting up the totaliser throughout the night and explaining how the money raised will be spent on life-saving cancer research.

Leading a rallying cry in the fight against cancer will be Usain Bolt, Olivia Colman, Liam Payne, James Blunt, The Jonas Brothers, Rosie Jones, The Derry Girls, Liam Gallagher, Jack Black, Stephen Mangan, Sigrid, David Oyelowo, Martin Freeman, Peter Crouch, Jamie Oliver, Tom Parker, Roman Kemp and Dermot Kennedy, who will all be making appearances on the show across the evening.

The ever-popular and multi-award winning Gogglebox will also return for a special celebrity episode as some very famous faces join Britain's favourite opinionated viewers to pass judgement on a vast array of TV goodness.

Tributes will also be paid to those we have lost recently, and those still fighting. 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can support the research that will beat it.

Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 that brings the UK together to speed up progress in life-saving cancer research.

REVIEW: Arcade Action Wrestling on Xbox One

Arcade Action Wrestling is an old fashioned, over the top (literally) arcade wrestling game. Think the old Wrestlefest game and you get the idea.

Originally known as Chikara Action Arcade Wrestling, but since Chikara closed down, it is no longer associated with the game.

AAW has all your classic moves, Clotheslines, Piledrivers, Body Slams, Shoot Lasers, Wield Lightsabers, yes, all those classic wrestling moves you are fond of.

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/09/review-arcade-action-wrestling-on-xbox.html

GamesMaster is set to make a return to E4 later this year

It's been off our screens for 23 years, but the iconic series, GamesMaster is set to make a return to E4 later this year, in partnership with Oculus Quest 2 from Facebook

In this new E4 Digital Original Commission co-produced by Barcroft TV, a Future PLC company and Alaska TV, the 3x60' series will premiere on E4's YouTube before a linear TX on E4. It is the first fully cross-platform branded entertainment deal of this type from 4Studio.

The series will see celebrities, gaming stars and super fans all take part in challenges, races and epic fights. Through virtual battles across a range of games, the competitors will try everything in their power to claim a legendary Golden Joystick Trophy. But whilst they play, they'll be watched over by the all-knowing GamesMaster, famously portrayed in the original by Sir Patrick Moore.

To introduce GamesMaster into the modern era of gaming, E4 has partnered with Oculus from Facebook to showcase Oculus Quest 2, a VR headset that will elevate the players experiences and break out of the two dimensional.

GamesMaster, a Future PLC brand, launched in January 1992 and ran for seven series. The series was the first British show dedicated to gaming and across the run, became a cultural phenomenon with names such as Ian Wright and Zoe Ball as celebrity guests and a young Simon Amstell as a hopeful contestant.

Sacha Khari, Head of Digital Commissioning at Channel 4 said: "GamesMaster was a household name back in the 90's and this new revamped version for social and E4 retains the elements that made this show so special, whilst also bringing it bang up to date, improving game quality and bringing in fresh and current names to tackle the trickiest GamesMaster challenges yet. "

All episodes will premiere on E4's YouTube, followed by a linear play on E4. Further information on the casting, including the face of the GamesMaster, will be revealed in due course.

The partnership with GamesMaster and Oculus Quest 2 from Facebook was brokered by 4Sales working with Mindshare Invention and also includes a digital ad campaign for All 4.

Trailer released for A Boy Called Christmas, a Sky Original

Christmas comes early with the launch of the main trailer for Gil Kenan's (Monster House, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) live-action magical adventure A Boy Called Christmas, a Sky Original.

The film boasts an incredible ensemble cast including newcomer Henry Lawfull as protagonist, Nikolas, Toby Jones (Infamous, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Paddington 1 & 2), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids, Wonder Woman 1984), Michiel Huisman (The Haunting of Hill House, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society), Zoe Colletti (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark), Stephen Merchant (Jojo Rabbit, Fighting With My Family, Logan) Jim Broadbent (Paddington 1 & 2, The Iron Lady) and Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, Harry Potter) and Indica Watson (Gold Digger, Radioactive).

In A Boy Called Christmas, an ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comic and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible…

Ol Parker (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Gil Kenan adapted the screenplay from the bestselling book by Matt Haig, the first of 5 books in the acclaimed series, all of which are published by Canongate Books. The film is produced by STUDIOCANAL with Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin of BAFTA and Academy Award® winning Blueprint Pictures.

The film will be released on Sky Cinema, on streaming service NOW and in cinemas on 26 November.

Watch Trailer at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/09/trailer-released-for-boy-called.html

PREVIEW: Fling to the Finish on PC (Steam)

As always let me start by stating this game is Early Access, so it is not finished, so my opinions are based on that, and not any finished article.

Fling to the Finish is a co-op game, whereby you and a friend race through obstacle courses, the gimmick here is that you are connected to each other via a stretchy rope. Use the rope to your advantage and you will zoom through courses, but whereas the rope can be your greatest advantage, it can also be your biggest hinderance.

There are over a dozen characters to choose from that fit your mood, lots of levels to complete.

So, the question is, in its early state, is it any good? Well, the answer to that is yes. Ok there are problems, the graphics can be a bit glitchy at times, the online matchmaking isn't the best, and the single player mode can be tricky to get the hang of. But the general idea is a good one, and hopefully as the game makers further develop the game and fix the bugs, the game can only improve.

Read More at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/09/preview-fling-to-finish-on-pc-steam.html

REVIEW: Orbibot on Xbox One

Recently we seem to have been spoiled with the release of various ball-rolling physics puzzle type games.

The latest to make its way to the mainstream is Orbibot, you control a ball shaped robot, and you have to reach a certain point to complete a level.

Sounds simple right? Wrong! As you play you will have to hit buttons, switch on or off lazers, move barrels or metal balls and open doors to reach the end of the level, which is a teleportation device.

Full review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/09/review-orbibot-on-xbox-one.html

Channel 4 confirms psychological suspense drama, Close To Me, starring Christopher Eccleston, Connie Nielsen, Susan Lynch and Leanne Best will air in the autumn

Close to Me is the 6 x 60' story of Jo Harding (Connie Nielsen), a woman who seems to have it all – a beautiful house in the country, a loving family and Rob, her devoted husband (Christopher Eccleston). But following a fall, an entire year suddenly vanishes from Jo's memory. As she struggles to piece events together, Jo discovers that her life wasn't quite as perfect as she imagined – and that someone will do all they can to keep a terrible secret from her. Close to Me is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by author Amanda Reynolds.

Their children, Finn and Sash, are played by Tom Taylor (Us, Doctor Foster) and Rosy McEwen (The Letter Writer, The Angel of Darkness). Jo's best friend Cathy is played by Susan Lynch (Save Me, Unforgotten), while Leanne Best (Young Wallander, Cold Feet) stars as Rob's co-worker Anna. High-profile Danish actor Henning Jensen (When the Dust Settles, Countdown Copenhagen) features as Jo's father Frederik, while Ellie Haddington (Enola Holmes, Motherland) plays her neighbour Wendy. Ray Fearon (Da Vinci's Demons, His Dark Materials) plays Jo's boss Nick and Nick Blood (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Strike) stars as Sash's boyfriend Thomas. Jamie Flatters (Liar, So Awkward) plays Owen and Lorraine Burroughs (Hard Sun, The Five) stars as Helen.

Julia Davis, Charlie Cooper and David Avery to guest star in season 3 of Channel 4 and Roughcut TV's Stath Lets Flats

Filming has wrapped on Channel 4's critically acclaimed and triple BAFTA-winning comedy Stath Lets Flats, from the award-winning Roughcut TV.  The series is written and created by Jamie Demetriou, who returns in the lead role of Stath. Season three will feature some stellar guest stars, including Julia Davis (Nighty Night) who appears in one episode as Kris, Carole's belittling and snobbish sister; David Avery (We Are Lady Parts) plays Bambos, Stath's flash barber cousin …and Charlie Cooper (This Country) plays Gregory - a lettings agent who is passionately devoted to his wife and runs a rival agency called Live Love Lets.

The returning cast includes Natasia Demetriou (What We Do In The Shadows), Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts), Katy Wix (The Windsors), Ellie White (The Other One), Al Roberts (Feel Good) and Christos Stergioglou (Dogtooth) as Stath's father, Vasos. Season three will also see the following guest cast back; Emmy nominated Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso), David Mumeni (Dead Pixels) and Tom Stourton (Siblings).  The new series will air later this year on Channel 4 and will be available on All 4.

The third series will pick up where the second finished with a shocking cliff-hanger as incompetent letting agent Stath (Demetriou) is faced with rescuing the family business, Michael & Eagle, and his relationship with Katia (White), while expecting his first child by Carole (Wix). Meanwhile his sister, Sophie (Natasia Demetriou), and best friend, Al (Roberts), deal with the fallout of finally declaring their feelings for each other.

Jamie Demetriou commented: "Times are the worst they have been in living memory, but fear not, a sitcom about a lettings agency is back for a third series! All the characters (bar a few who had availability issues) are back and saying stuff aaaall over again! Get ready to hear what they say! Listen closely and you might even hear a thing or 2 from some new celebrated guest stars. Did somebody say…. the whole England football team?? No, it'll be comedy actors!"