Hiya!

2024 is finally here and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, I’m pretty sad to see 2023 end. Considering all of the stuff that’s happened a couple of years backs, 2023 was simply better by comparison. Sure, there were (and still are) a ton of ugly events last year, with all the wars and stuff swirling around. It still feels like we’re slowing going to be destroying the world with all the stupid crap we insist on doing to the planet and each other. However, considering we’re not all locked in our homes, that’s someone still an improvement.

Anyway, it would be so easy to be altruistic and wish for 2024 to be the year when the world is finally at peace and everyone gets along with each other. That’s what we all wish for, right? Well, I’m still going to be hoping that’ll come true. I mean, I’ve been wishing for that to happen in 2021, 2022 and 2023! Let’s just say that’s a given then. So, this time, for 2024, my list of hopes and dreams will be a little more, shall we say, personal.

#1 The PlayStation 5 “slim” becomes available in the Philippines… so I can get a cheap “fat” version

Is it too much to ask to give us a little more love here in the Philippines, Sony? A while back, you guys announced the “slim” version of the PlayStation 5. Because of this, I was finally willing to open my wallet and get your new console. Sure, I officially made my choice to get the older “fat” version but I’m still getting one, right? Yes, the “slim” looks cool and all but I’m aiming for cheaper, which is what I’m assuming the “fat” ones will be when the “slim” model becomes available in the Philippines.

That does lead to the sad fact that the “slim” version of the PlayStation 5 is still not available in the Philippines, at least from a couple of weeks ago. I was planning to finally get Sony’s new console as my Christmas gift to myself but all they had was the original “fat” version and it was still priced the same! No sale. No price drop or anything!

So, hopefully, in the coming month or so, I wish Sony will finally send over some “slim” versions of their PlayStation 5 so the older “fat” versions of the console gets on sale and I can finally get one! I’m eagerly awaiting my chance to play Spider-Man 2, God of War 2 and, most importantly, the upcoming Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth when it’s released at the end of February, which would be the start of March here in the Philippines. Speaking of which…

#2: Square Enix can nail Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth’s story

Of all of the games I want to get when I do get a PlayStation 5, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is hands down my most anticipated. It’s going to come on 2 discs, meaning the game is going to be humongous, packed with side quests, cut scenes and, well, just a ton of stuff I probably can’t think of! I know I’m not the only one here looking forward to this game!

For some reason, however, I have a nagging feeling Square Enix will botch the story. There are just going to be a lot of moving parts to it, with things like the presumed Zack timeline and Sephiroth messing up the timeline, leading to possible changes they might make to the original story. Some of these changes might be too impactful and maybe even too controversial which alters the course of the original story too much.

I’m not saying the writers will do something crazy with the story but I can’t shake this weird feeling that they might. Maybe it’s the pessimist in me which doesn’t like nice things and I certainly hope this is the case here. I guess we’ll see in a few months.

#3 Capcom adds Metro City characters in Street Fighter 6

We’re almost at the end of Season 1 of Street Fighter 6. We already got Rashid and AKI for a few months. Now, we’re just waiting for Ed and Akuma to be released and, after that, we have to wait for the Season 2 character DLC announcement.

I’m assuming the official announcement, assuming we don’t get any leaks, will happen at the Capcom Cup tournament. I’m going to assume it’ll be 4 characters as well, but I’m hoping the characters will be more focused on Metro City. This means I wish Capcom adds Sodom, Cody and Poison to the roster. The last DLC character may be a totally new person or someone like Sagat.

I do have a logical reason why I’m picking Metro City characters as, if you really think about it, the Season 1 DLC characters have a theme revolving around them: they’re from Street Fighter V’s storyline. Rashid was heavily involved with A Shadow Falls. AKI is FANG’s disciple, who was one of the Four Heavenly Kings replacing Sagat. Ed appears to be the new chosen one to lead Neo Shadaloo as he is one of Bison’s clones. So, since most of them have a theme, why not have Season 2 characters follow suit? On the topic of Street Fighter 6…

#4 Getting to a Master rank in Street Fighter 6

I still think Street Fighter 6 is one of the best and most balanced fighting games I’ve ever played. I’ve actually been playing it for at least a couple of hours everyday ever since it was released. I’ve tried out all of the characters and, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I’ve settled on using Guile for better or worse. I’ve actually stopped playing Ranked matches and just been going to the Battle Hub to get my online match fix as I found playing Ranked matches super stressful. Makes me wonder how pros can do it without breaking a sweat, with all characters, no less.

During my travels through the Battle Hub matches, I have tried facing off against fighters with various ranks and I’ve found I can hold my own against Diamond and even a couple of Master ranked players. I will still lose to the majority of them but beating the few of them that I could has given me some confidence that I could actually rank up from my current Gold ranking to even making Master rank!

This is probably more wishful thinking than anything as there are still a lot of things going against me. One being that I don’t think I’m actually that good. Once again, that could be the pessimist in me talking. There’s also the problem of my Internet connection. I’m still using WiFi, unfortunately, as it’s impossible to rewire the house to get a direct line to my room on the 3rd floor all the way to the ground floor living room where the Internet router is. This does mean I don’t get that many Ranked matches as most people will quit once they see that WiFi icon. Still, it’s free to dream, right?

#5 Disney+ Philippines gets more WWE programming

If this wish sounds familiar, that’s because it is! I was ecstatic when Disney+ was launched in the Philippines and I was even more ecstatic when it was mentioned it was including WWE programming. Well, Disney+ did arrive in the Philippines, bring along some WWE programming… but not all WWE programming! We do get the pay-per-view, which is a good thing. Unfortunately, that’s not enough as these only show possibly the ends to the storylines which were being told in their weekly programs, RAW and Smackdown.

Because of this, the WWE programming on Disney+ Philippines just feels incomplete. Having the pay-per-views is great but it’s like only being able to watch the finale of a mini-series that’s been airing weekly for a month. You get a quick recap before the finale and then you see how it all ends. Well, it’s hard to get invested in a match with just that. I still have to rely on less reputable online video services to go watch RAW and Smackdown, which just feels insane!

So, here’s the deal, Disney+ Philippines. You don’t even have to show the entire RAW or Smackdown. You can do what the WWE used to do with shows like Sunday Night Heat and just give us a recap show! I’d be fine with that. Of course, the actual complete show would be better but I’ll take my suggestion over having to go to some unscrupulous website just to catch up on my wrestling fix.

BONUS: World Peace

Okay, what the heck. I’ll go wish for world peace as well. It’s free to dream, right?

Byee!

What are your hopes and dreams for 2024? Let me know in the comments below!