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I finished Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve earlier today. 20 hours of entertaining plane action. Great balance of difficulty as well so you don't feel like you're constantly hitting a brick wall all the time. I played the game using Expert controls which was a lot of fun.

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And recently we have Makoto Shinkai's 2022 film Suzume (Suzume no Tojimari) on 4K Ultra HD from Crunchyroll UK. Took a while for this to finally make it onto the 4K format in the west. Includes a bonus Blu-ray disc with extras and a couple art cards.

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Next, from Limited Run Games, we have two Edia collections for Nintendo Switch. Earnest Evans includes El Viento (1991 platformer), Earnest Evans (1991 platformer) & Annet Returns (1993 beat em up). Tenshi no Uta: The Angel Verse includes the two JRPGs Tenshi no Uta 1 & 2 from 1991-1993.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 10/10/2026

Recent pickups for this month so far. Starting off with Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve which I've been play for the past week. It's very fun and engaging. Managed to finish Mission 28 without fail (except for diving into the ocean right before Mission Accomplished appeared rofl).

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Today I managed to watch both The Social Reckoning and The Uprising back-to-back at the cinema. Both were entertaining though they each have their own flaws.

NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 06/10/2026

So far I've played the first 8 missions for Ace Combat 8. On Normal difficulty but using Expert controls. Yes I failed more missions flying into the ocean than the actual task at hand but that's just how it goes. It is a very fun game so far, pretty tough in parts.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 01/10/2026

My September pickups haul! Two more ACA Neo Geo Selection volumes, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, A Better Tomorrow Trilogy (in 4K), Satoshi Kon's Paprika (also in 4K), more modern fantasy anime shows on Blu-ray and more.

NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 30/09/2026

I rewatched The Matrix at the cinema, which was part of Cineworld's re-release of various films this month. Still one of my favourite films of all time and holds up really well. The music slaps really well too.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 29/09/2026

Picked up two Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases (had to use up the points I earned from The Game Collection before they started expiring). Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition.

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Watched Na Hong-jin's Hope in the cinema. Very engaging from start to finish, definitely felt like two types of films. First half being more monster suspense and mystery, and then the second half turns into Predator style madness. Ending opens up for a sequel but sure why not.

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And also by distributor Arrow Video is the Wicked Priest Collection on Blu-ray. Five films directed by Kiyoshi Saeki, Takashi Harada and Buichi Saitō. First print edition includes a slipcase and booklet.

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Next we have John Woo & Tsui Hark's A Better Tomorrow Trilogy on 4K Ultra HD from distributor Arrow Video, with artwork done by Tony Stella and the first film retranslated by Dylan Cheung. Limited Edition also includes a rigid box with slipcase, booklet and double-sided poster.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 25/09/2026

New package today from Terracotta Store focusing on Arrow Video & Toy Robot Video! First up, from distributor Toy Robot Video we have Kōsei Saitō's Ninja Wars and Norifumi Suzuki's Roaring Fire on Blu-ray. Each set contains a slipcase (with another card sleeve), and a few cards.

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I watched Avengers: Endgame Encore today in IMAX. First time I watched the original was the midnight launch in April 2019 via regular screening, and then I rewatched the film's IMAX Enhanced version on Disney+ last month, so today was the third watch (second rewatch).

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And arriving yesterday after a weird delay on Amazon's part is Satoshi Kon's Paprika now finally in the UK on 4K Ultra HD. For some reason we had to wait a whole year to get this steelbook. The film is a 15 but the commentary on the Blu-ray disc raised the rating to an 18.

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And also arriving on the same day is Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter for PlayStation 5, which came from The Game Collection. It's a shame that the third game won't be remade in time for a physical PS5 release going by Falcom's comments. Gambling themes are why its rated 18 for Europe.

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I've received my latest Video Games Plus haul, this time we have three Japanese imports for the Nintendo Switch (all have English support). Volumes 9 & 10 for ACA Neo Geo Selection featuring 10 SNK games each. And also the remaster for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 14/09/2026

Really enjoyed Zach Cregger's take on Resident Evil. A fun mix of horror and comedy from start to finish. The final act could have been way crazier with how they went about it but it's still a solid but abrupt way to end the story. Loved Bryan throughout and the usage of the game mechanics.

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I finished Onimusha: Way of the Sword yesterday on Action difficulty. Final boss was challenging but I managed to do it! Playtime overall was 30 hours 20 mins with all side missions also covered. I loved this game and it's my favourite of the year so far. Capcom have been on a roll its crazy.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 11/09/2026

About 70% through Onimusha: Way of the Sword's story so far (14 hours playtime currently). I'm really loving it, definitely my favourite Capcom game this year. Combat's been so rewarding and the boss fights for the most part have been really fun to experience.

NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 05/09/2026

Since it's getting delisted at the end of the month, I played the PSP version of Toy Story 3: The Video Game. It's fine but nice to see how it plays compared to the PS3/360 version that's getting remastered. The alien level near the end of the game was great fun.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 02/09/2026

I watched Leviticus today (UK theatrical screening came later than the US & Australia). A solid horror film that's using the It Follows formula to do its own thing which worked pretty well. Reminded me of Shinya Tsukamoto's Kotoko also. Worth a watch if its available near you.

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NormanicGrav @normanicgrav.co.uk · 02/09/2026

My August pickups haul! More anime featuring Dancouga, Oregairu, Gundam SEED FREEDOM (in 4K) and Mashle amongst others. Plus a couple Marvel games, Radiance's July '26 titles and more Japanese/Hong Kong films from 88 Films, Arrow Video & Third Window Films.

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From Sentai Filmworks we have Loner Life in Another World Season 1 steelbook on Blu-ray. Also includes a booklet (kept inside). Photo here is the other side of the set. The other titles were My Love Story!!, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Seasons 1-3, Queen Millennia & Sorairo Utility.

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From Discotek Media, the complete series for Captain Harlock: Space Pirate and the very OOP release of Dancouga: Super Beast Machine God on Blu-ray. Bloody whiplash seeing that release appear on the MediaOCD store.

From AnimEigo, we have Looking for the Full Moon Volumes 1 & 2, and Sasuke on Blu-ray in HD.

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Also arrived on Monday - 9 more anime series from AnimEigo, Discotek Media and Sentai Filmworks on Blu-ray. #PhysicalMedia #Anime #Bluray

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Got a dozen more anime arrive last Monday - including four Aniplex of America releases with Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace note (& it's Special) as well as both seasons for Mashle: Magic and Muscles, all on Blu-ray.

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And the set is pretty compact which is handy for shelf-space. A bit thinner than the Hardboiled box set.

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Histoire(s) du cinéma and other works just arrived in the post today, this is the Radiance Films limited edition Blu-ray set. Disc 1 covers Histoire(s) du cinéma, Disc 2 covers Scénarios and Disc 3 covers the other works that are in this collection.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom arrived yesterday. Been two years since Anime Limited last released a new Gundam title over here. At least it's on 4K Ultra HD. Includes the Blu-ray version and the English dub is on both formats.

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Arrived on 19th August via CeX are Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 for the PlayStation 3. MUA2 didn't come with a manual unfortunately. Both games did receive PS4 remasters but they were digital only and also delisted due to licensing, so I opted for the PS3 ones.

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Then about two days later (arriving 17th August) another package appears this time three Arrow Video 4K Ultra HD releases from Rarewaves. Took a few weeks but they're here. Joel Schumacher's Falling Down, Dominic Sena's Swordfish and William Friedkin's To Live and Die in L.A.

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Next we have from HMV which arrived on 15th August is Arrow Video's limited edition 4K Ultra HD release for Troy. I figured given the recent hype and attention with The Odyssey that a lot of people were looking at this film so I pre-ordered it in case it sold out asap.

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From Limited Run Games which arrived on 14th August - the Fighting Force Collection for PlayStation 5 which includes both Fighting Force & Fighting Force 2. And for the Nintendo Switch we have Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition, a remaster of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.

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Also from that package were a few more double feature films. From Arrow Video, Sex & Fury and Female Yakuza Tale collection on Blu-ray. And from Third Window Films, Blow the Night and Scars of the Sun collection also on Blu-ray.

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Next is a package filled with July pre-orders from the Terracotta Store that arrived on 13th August. From distributor 88 Films: - Ping Pong on Blu-ray (Japanarchy title) - Shawscope Triple Feature Blu-ray box set (Shaw Brothers title) - Riki-Oh: Story of Ricky on 4K Ultra HD (Category III title).

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From Radiance Films, I received most of the July bundle on 8th August - Shūji Terayama's The Boxer, Romolo Guerrieri's The Double and Wojciech Has' The Hourglass Sanatorium (in 4K also). Jean-Luc Godard's 'Histoire(s) du cinéma and other works' Blu-ray set will be arriving later due to delays.

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And arriving yesterday which honestly I had lost hope considering how messy the customer service has been for various folks - the replacement disc for John Woo's The Killer Extended Cut (Disc 3). For context, the original disc can be played but the functionality wouldn't work.

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Also arrived last Thursday were two new August releases arrived the Terracotta store. From Arrow Video we have John Woo's Once a Thief on 4K Ultra HD and from 88 Films we have David Lai's Operation Scorpio (also known as The Scorpion King) on Blu-ray.

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Next arriving last Thursday - the physical copy for Marvel TOKON: Fighting Souls for the PlayStation 5. I'm still going through inFAMOUS 2 on PS3 at the moment but once that's done (and maybe Festival of Blood) I'll get around to playing this fighting game by the Guilty Gear devs.

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In terms of this month's pickups we have a few! Arriving at the start of the month Naruto Shippuden Set 2 (Volume 6). Haven't grabbed the individual volumes yet since they're just regular sets but figured I'd at least grab the boxes that are with Vol. 1, 6, 11 & 16 in advance & get the rest later.

And from VideoGamesPlus we have Fear Effect 2 for PlayStation 5 (which is a Limited Run Games physical) and the Killzone Trilogy for PlayStation 3 so that I have Killzone HD on the disc (but does require installing onto the console which is perfectly fine).

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As I've been busy with various things I had forgotten to post the final few pickups of July. So here's what I got: 88 Films' deluxe limited edition (with store exclusive slipcase) for Jackie Chan's Armour of God 4K Ultra HD. An unboxing will be coming to my blog later down the line.

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