Issue 69 of MyM magazine is out now, featuring Lost Sphear, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Scotland Loves Anime, Black Site and Dark Beacon!

Hiya!

Horrific. That’s our travel bill this month, and it also describes a large portion of what caused such an expense. If we weren’t jetting off to Jersey (we were, see page 56) to see supernatural horror Dark Beacon being shot in a lighthouse, we were watching our extremities drop off in an enormous former nuclear bunker in Kidderminster, as we witnessed Black Site’s cast expel ancient gods from our world (page 60).

Not too far away from that subterranean icebox, it was time for MCM Comic Con to rock Birmingham for the second time this year (see pages 10-12). And as those cosplay shots prove, rock it we did. Meanwhile, Manchester went Japan crazy thanks to the Doki Doki festival (page 14), filling one day with so much merch, gaming and culture that we almost can’t believe we have to wait 12 months to visit again. And north of the border also got a look in during our travels, thanks to its love of Japanese animation, which it cleverly hides using the cryptic festival name Scotland Loves Anime (page 26).

You also won’t have failed to notice there’s a distinct game slant to our coverage this month, as we have so much good stuff to show you we’ve had to create a second cover! First up, Lost Sphear (page 32) takes everything you love about JRPGs and puts it into a modern video game. Then Dissidia Final Fantasy NT (page 82) takes everything you love about that particular JRPG franchise and turns it into a fighter!

But bringing both of those worlds together is actor and producer Toby Osmond, who appears in both of the horror movies we focus on this issue. Having found out he’s a huge fan of Magic: The Gathering, we decided to complete our My Media interview (page 18) and then challenge him to a game. The Prodigal Sorcerer deck he produced certainly hit the game spot. Sadly, it was also horrific. We’re still suffering from the nightmares caused by our defeats…

Matt Chapman, Editor-in-chief 

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ISSUE 69 FULL CONTENTS

LOST SPHEAR
Back during gaming’s formative years, there was nothing quite like the escapism of a Japanese RPG. James Pickard talks to game director Atsushi Hashimoto about creating a traditional experience for a modern audience.

SCOTLAND LOVES ANIME
Lu Over the Wall, Fireworks and Eureka Seven Hi-Evolution were among the titles hitting the big screen at the annual film festival. Tom Arden sorts the Christmas crackers from the total turkeys.

SET VISIT: DARK BEACON
Director Coz Greenop’s supernatural horror is so frightening it spooked the tourists. MyM jets into Jersey to see them get a shock.

SET VISIT: BLACK SITE
Editor-in-chief Matt Chapman experiences his own moments of dread as he heads deep underground to visit Tom Paton’s multi-genre horror flick.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
Mark Hamill chats about his iconic role as Luke Skywalker, as he returns to a galaxy far, far away.

DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT
As the long-awaited console port of the arcade fighter approaches, producer Ichiro Hazama reveals what newcomers and fans can expect from this huge departure for the series.

REGULARS

NEWS
Including the best cosplay from MCM Birmingham Comic Con.

COSPLAY & FASHION
Katharine Byrne chats with Van Wolf and Little Vamp about their adamantium-clawed cosplay duo, Emily Valentine hits the seaside to chat with ShinkuRose, the indie lolita fashion label that’s keeping it in the family, and we showcase four cool costumes from the EuroCosplay Championship.

TOP 10 STAR WARS FACTS
Scott Snowden counts down the fine details even the most diehard fans get wrong.

MY MEDIA: TOBY OSMOND
The stage actor, horror movie star and producer picks his favourite movies.

COMICS & MANGA REVIEWS
Andy Shaw comes face-to-face with The Dark Judges, fights in The Forever War, takes a trip down memory lane with Freeway Fighter and encounters humour and horror with a hellish twist. After a fanservice-filled frolic with To Love-Ru, Ian Wolf also tangles with the demonic thanks to Devilman: Grimoire, while Tom Arden checks out wide-ranging Asian comics guide Mangasia.

FILM & TV REVIEWS
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Beyond Skyline and Justice League all bring the action, while Downsizing and Kaufman’s Game offer more thoughtful fare. A slew of Asian output also catches our eye, including In Between Seasons, Shock Wave Tunnel, Big Fish and Begonia, Noise, V.I.P. and The Outlaws.

VIDEO GAME PREVIEWS
This month offers options no matter which scale of battles you enjoy, as we go hands-on with 3v3 brawler Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, take on entire armies in button-masher Dynasty Warriors 9 and test our skills in Code Vein’s tense vampiric duels. We also pick a side in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth and try to restore a post-apocalyptic realm in My Time At Portia.

ANIME REVIEWS
This month our anime reviewers go on the lam with AJIN Demi-Human, turn sleuth in Hyouka and find out whether Sakamoto is as perfect as he’s cracked up to be. We also take a look at the first four Dragon Ball Z films, the third instalment of Digimon Adventure Tri, the second half of Eureka 7 and the latest volume from a resurgent Fairy Tail.

PLANET JAPAN
Fashion icon Capsule Bunny falls in love with Sailor Moon all over again.

TABLETOP
Dave Axbey flags down a passing longship and goes raiding for Viking treasures.

MY GOODIES
The month’s best merch, including PS4 Gaming Glasses and a Tentacle Kitty Colouring Book.