K-CREW QUIZ! This month the K-Crew reveal which Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope planet they want to explore! EDITOR Angela Lee ART DIRECTOR Johnny Phillips FEATURES WRITER/SUB-EDITOR/ DIGITAL EDITOR Aideen Weingarth VIDEOGRAPHER/SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Isabela Gonzalez CONTRIBUTORS Elmer Damaso, Nathan Lawrence, Louise Meers, Sophie Cuthel Logue ADVERTISING CLIENT PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Donna Mcilwaine Ph. 02 9901 6384 [email protected] ADVERTISING DIRECTOR – KIDS Anabel Tweedale Ph. 02 9901 6371 [email protected] ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Georgia Sutton [email protected] MARKETING MARKETING EXECUTIVE Vera Cheung PRIZE ENQUIRIES [email protected] PRODUCTION PRODUCTION AND DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Jonathan Bishop PUBLISHING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – KIDS Daniel Findlay GM CONSUMER PUBLISHING Carole Jones MANAGING DIRECTOR Arek Widawski SUBSCRIPTIONS www.mymagazines.com.au 1300 361 146 or +61 2 9901 6111 Locked Bag 3355, St Leonards NSW 1590 Cammeraygal Country, Level 8, 205 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 [email protected] 02 9901 6100 | nextmedia.com.au K-Zone acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this product was made. We acknowledge the contributions of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the continued traditions of storytelling across Australia. We pay our respects to Elders: past, present and emerging. K-Zone is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, Level 8, 205 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 © 2023. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed in Australia by IVE, distributed in Australia and NZ by Are Direct. ISSN 1839-0536. The publisher will not accept responsibility or any liability for the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All material submitted is at the owner’s risk and, while every care will be taken nextmedia does not accept liability for loss or damage. Privacy Policy: We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of K-Zone, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590. Cover images: Ubisoft/Nintendo, Nintendo, Getty, iStock, Microsoft/Mojang, Walt Disney Pictures Love the mag? Want more? Watch full eps of K-Zone TV at 3 K-Zone rocks! – Isaac IZZY JOHNNY AIDEEN ANGE Beacon Beach, for parties as long as the sun stays out! Terra Flora! it has one of the biggest maps and the Spring theme makes it feel fresh! The volcano quest is fun too! Palette Prime! the autumnal theme makes the Darkmess effects on the planet look extra spooky! Pristine Peaks! IT WOULD be fun to explore icy caves and see the penguins from Super Mario! I hope I don’t get caught in a blizzard! ANGE AND THE 3 PSST, DOn’t Forget to find me in the mag! EMAIL THE K-ZONE TEAM AT [email protected] Leap into wild worlds with our current faves, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet! Celebrate the BBL and Australian Open with facts and stats, peep our Strange World survival guide, and score 10 activity pages. Find over $6,421 in prizes, and two Sonic Prime posters for your collection!
Images: © 2023 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Getty, iStock, Microsoft/Mojang, Nintendo, Red Bull Content Pool, Ubisoft/Nintendo, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures EVEN MORE RAD READS TO CHECK OUT… Go exploring with a NASA planet hunter on PAGE 14 Compare Lyle the crocodile with a wild crocodile on PAGE 21 Level up with the GG Spawn Squad host interview on PAGE 24 Uncover 24 new games coming your way this year on PAGE 32 Go behind the scenes of Aussie film, Blueback, on PAGE 47 POKÉMON SCARLET AND VIOLET MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKS OF HOPE 18 PUSS IN BOOTS BIG BASH LEAGUE PRO SLACKLINER STRANGE WORLD 26 BUMPER CHEATS 20 42 EPIC ACTIVITY 64 SPECIAL 22 52 ALL THE PRIZES 48 16 4 Can I be in K-Zone? – Leon
5 Wanna be in K-Zone? Submit your entries over at SHARE YOUR AWESOME ART! SEND IN PHOTOS OF YOUR RAD COLLECTION! SHOW OFF YOUR DIGITAL CREATIONS! RECOMMEND A BOOK, GAME, MOVIE OR TV SHOW! K-Zone is the best! – Benjamin BE IN YOU RATE IT!
OH AND... 13th March issue of K-Zone out in Australia (March 13 in New Zealand) CONTINUE HEADING INTO THE QUANTUM REALM NOT PLAYING TENNIS QUIT! 1st Back to school in WA, and parts of NT 3rd Back to school in parts of NSW 8th Back to school in Tas SCHOOL Images: iStock, Walt Disney Pictures/Marvel Studios 9th Tom Hiddleston, AKA Loki 14th Alaqua Cox, AKA Maya Lopez 14th Danai Gurira, AKA Okoye 16th Elizabeth Olsen, AKA Scarlet Witch 21st Kumail Nanjiani, AKA Kingo HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALKING THE DOG 6 Hi K-Zone! – Brennan FEBRUARY GET INTO 7th Send a Card to a Friend Day 8th Kite Flying Day 10th Umbrella Day 11th Make a Friend Day 16th Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in cinemas 17th Random Acts of Kindness Day 20th Love Your Pet Day 22nd International World Thinking Day 22nd Walking The Dog Day 23rd Play Tennis Day 26th Tell a Fairy Tale Day 27th Polar Bear Day 27th No Brainer Day
TRAILER CELEB INTERVIEWS UNBOXINGS SNEAK PEEKS tutorialS 7 I love your videos! – Phillip WATCH Watch all the videos at ON You can also explore all the cool K-Zone TV videos on YouTube! Don’t miss the newest content – subscribe to the K-Zone YouTube channel!
Benjamin, Gairdner, WA Julian, Locksley, Vic Dear K-Zone, Your magazines are awesome! I can’t wait until the next issue of K-Zone comes out. You have the best magazines! Arjun K-ZONE: HEY ARJUN! WE HAVE THE BEST TIME MAKING MAGS AND ALL THE FUN AT WWW.KZONE.COM.AU! ENJOY THE EXTRA ACTIVITIES THIS ISSUE! TOO GOOD! GOOD! BEST OF THE BEST! 8 Shout out to K-Zone for awesome content! – Kate
Hugh, Marybank, NZ Byron, Tamborine Mountain, Qld SO SWEET! SO SWEET! THANKS FOR ALL THE MAIL AND STUFF! NOW ON UH, YEP! WE ASKED: WHICH NEW POKÉMON FROM SCARLET AND VIOLET IS YOUR FAVE? YOU SAID: LECHONK 31% PAWMI 56% SMOLIV 13% Hit up to have your say! WE ASKED: WHICH MOVIE ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR? YOU SAID: THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE 57% GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL.3 43% 9 I love games! – Gabe
Jaydan, Tenterfield, NSW Quinn, Chifley, ACT Lewis, Ivanhoe, Vic Lily, Griffith, NSW YEAH YA DID! YEAH YA DID! NO WAY! NO WAY! THIS RULES! THIS RULES! TOO GOOD! GOOD! 10 Shout out to my friend Travis and Batman! – William
Kody, Drouin, Vic Kyan, Menai, NSW To be in Your Space, send a drawing to: Your Space K-Zone Cammeraygal Country Locked Bag 5555 St Leonards NSW 1590 Congrats to this month’s Your Space artists! You’ve scored Colour With Chris Humphrey’s Coolest Creepy Crawlies! BE IN YOUR SPACE! WOOHOO! Or hit up kzone.com.au and click on ‘Be in K-Zone’! SO SWEET! SO SWEET! OUTTA CONTROL! OUTTA CONTROL! WE ASKED: DID YOU WATCH THE FIFA WORLD CUP? YOU SAID: YES 53% NO 47% WE ASKED: WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU HANG OUT WITH? YOU SAID: QUOKKA 60% GIRAFFE 30% DOLPHIN 10% 11 Hi K-Zone! We’re really big fans! – Lenny NOW ON
We Want YOU! Have you made something AMAZING on your computer, console, tablet or phone? To be in ScreenSpace, visit www.kzone.com.au and click on ‘Be in K-Zone’! Go to ‘ScreenSpace’ to submit your epic gaming screenshot, coding creation and digital artwork. YOUR GAMING SCREENSHOTS, CODING CREATIONS AND DIGITAL ART! GET YOUR BUILD ON THIS PAGE! I built a Diamond mansion with a pool, bedroom, spider colony, study/dining room, battle room, roller coaster to the beacons, and a roller coaster to my brother’s Emerald mansion. I made it in an hour in Minecraft! I made a Nintendo Switch that says K-Zone in Minecraft. It took 15-20 minutes. I chose a Switch because I have one! Bethany, Qld 100% MADE My friend and I built a Minecraft world for over a week. It has a zoo with buildings, a kids area, and a lunch room. Reuben, Vic Meadow, Vic I made a Lion King scene in Minecraft. Ocelots are lions, Ravagers are elephants, Skeleton Horses are zebra, and Horses are antelope. The Black Cat is Scar, Parrot is Zazu, Hoglin is Pumbaa, and Rabbit is Timon. It took two hours. Benjamin, NSW 12 Remember K-Zoners, it’s all about protecting your identity. Be a safe gamer and don’t talk to anyone online who you don’t know for real. Shout out to everyone who reads about games in K-Zone! – Christopher Congrats to this month’s ScreenSpace artists! You have scored your own copy of A Girl Called Corpse!
Tell us how rad you are at WANNA BE IN HEROES? SANTIAGO LEGENDARY K-ZONERS DOING LEGENDARY THINGS. 13 HANDBALL CHAMPION Name: Santiago Heroic feat: Winning the ACT championship in the Camp Australia Handball Championship 2022! Over 20,000 contestants from around Australia competed, with only 350 kids making it to the regional finals. Santiago was one of the 10 winners! Hi to everyone who reads K-Zone as well! – Aaron FAST SIX WITH SANTIAGO : Hi Santiago! How did you enter the Handball Championship? S: My Dad received an email from Camp Australia saying that I had made it to the Handball Regional Championships. I entered because I love playing handball, and my friends had encouraged me to compete with other kids from different schools. : How did you feel on the day? S: Happy and nervous. I was glad my parents were with me, and I felt confident when my friends came to watch before the first round. I didn't expect to win since some contestants were good and competitive, but when I heard my name I was overjoyed. : Any plans for your awesome prize? S: I received a sportsmanship certificate plus $500, and I am currently saving it for my next trip overseas. : What was the highlight of the day? S: Making new friends – I think this is what makes it more exciting. Of course, having my parents and friends supporting me on that day too. : Why do you think K-Zoners should check out Camp Australia? S: Every kid is welcome in Camp Australia. You learn fun things other than those you learn in class. : Any advice for K-Zoners who aren’t sure whether to enter the Handball Championship? S: Just join and have fun. Do your best and do not pressure yourself. It's normal to feel nervous. The important thing is that you tried!
14 I love K-Zone! – Ronan : Hi Dr Jessie! Can you tell us what you do as an astrophysicist, and at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute? J: Our Sun is a star, and our galaxy contains billions of stars. Our Sun has eight planets, and my job is to search around the other stars to see if they have planets too! Turns out, they do – we think that most stars have planets around them, although not all of them look like the planets of our solar system. I am the lead scientist on the NASA Exoplanet Archive, which is a big database of all the planets we’ve found outside our solar system and everything we know about them. My team keeps track of all the papers that get published in astronomy journals about planets; we extract the data and update our database. We think of new ways to show the data, and new tools for astronomers to work with the data. : What experience did you have before working at NASA? J: I did eight years of university study in Australia, before moving to the USA. I started at NASA 12 years ago on the Kepler mission, which is a space-based telescope that hunts for planets. I was awarded the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal in 2018 for my work on Kepler! In 2022 I was selected as a TED Fellow and got to give a TED talk in Vancouver! Meet Dr Jessie Christiansen, a planet hunter for NASA who grew up in Queensland, and now lives in Los Angeles, USA! SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATHS! : What inspired you to study astronomy and astrophysics? J: I was definitely the kid who was always asking, ‘Why, why, why?’ I loved the sky, exploring, and finding answers to my questions. When I found astronomy let me combine all three, I was incredibly excited. I love working at NASA; being in big teams and working on big questions in astronomy. : Any career highlights so far? J: Sometimes science can take a long time to get to the right answer. I searched for planets for years before I found one, including all four years of my PhD. The first planet I announced was a big excitement to me – and my family! : Are you working on any projects? J: I’m trying to work out how common planets like the Earth are – rocky planets with the right temperature for liquid water on the surface. So far, Earth is the only place we know with life! If there are Earth-like planets out there, maybe life could be common throughout the Galaxy! : Any advice for K-Zoners who want to work in a similar role? J: Stay curious! Keep exploring! Read everything you can get your hands on. Try experiments! Find different ways to answer a question. Images: Bret Hartman/TED, Max S. Gerber, NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt DR JESSIE K2-138 F PLANET SOLAR ECLIPSE IN 2017
16 Shout out all the gamers! – Chris PLANET HOP YOUR WAY AROUND MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKS OF HOPE! BEACON BEACH Pack your swimmers and prepare to feel sand between your toes! First stop is Beacon Beach, a sunny place famous for beach parties and being lots of fun. With Darkmess taking hold, a big storm has brewed, so you might want to bring an umbrella... WARDEN: Augie LANDMARKS: Beacon Town, Sunrise Temple BOSSES: Giant Wildclaw, Darkmess Eyes, Giant Goomba EASTER EGG: Stop to read murals in Sunrise Temple to learn about Augie’s past. PRISTINE PEAKS Brrr… We hope you have a jacket, because this is a winter wonderland with icy caves to explore! Pristine Peaks was always chilly, but it was easy to warm up with a hot chocolate or two. These days, Darkmess is causing a blizzard, making parts of the mountains inaccessible. WARDEN: Capt. Orion LANDMARKS: The Winter Palace BOSSES: Stone Masks, Midnite, Giant Squashette TRAVEL TIP: Watch for Super Mario penguins! PALETTE PRIME Next stop is a little cosier. On Palette Prime, you will find a charming village and forest decked out in autumn colours and pumpkins. There’s so much to see and do on Palette Prime… Or at least there was, until Darkmess blocked most of the paths! WARDEN: T.S. Woodrow LANDMARKS: Paletteville, Spellbound Woods BOSSES: Bedrock EASTER EGG: Check murals in the village homes and piece together why Woodrow is always so sad. WEATHER WARNING Darkmess is affecting travel! Produced by Cursa, it’s a dark matter that has spread across the galaxy, causing wild weather on all the planets.
17Images: iStock, Ubisoft/Nintendo I can’t wait for the Mario movie! – Robert TERRA FLORA It’s all about spring on Terra Flora, which is known for flowers, sparkling mineral springs, and the Everblossom Tree. We would tell you to grab a camera, but Darkmess has plunged this planet into drought. WARDEN: Bea LANDMARKS: Clandestine Cliffs, Mt. Spout, Everblossom Tree BOSSES: Giant Wiggler TIP: See a giant cheeseball (looks like Saturn)? Go over to learn about a Rabbids sport event. BARRENDALE MESA Fifth and final stop is a desert wasteland! On Barrendale Mesa, you get a working holiday – there’s a windmill to fix. Don’t worry, you also have time to suss out hidden paths and awesome side quests. WARDEN: Momma LANDMARKS: The Windmill, The Garage BOSSES: Daphne EASTER EGG: Read the billboards on the path to fix the windmill. WATCH OUT FOR… Three Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope DLC packs for the Nintendo Switch game coming your way this year! DLC 1 (AKA ‘The Tower of Doooom’) adds a new combat mode to the game. DLC 2 has a mysterious foe to confront and a new planet to explore. DLC 3 will see Rayman team up with Rabbid Mario and Rabbid Peach for an epic adventure. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope out now on Switch! is
18 Pokémon rules! – Xavier SHINY SECRETS Shiny Pokémon are differently-coloured versions with a 1 in 4096 chance of appearing. Here are a few methods for Shiny Pokémon! SHINY CHARM: This increases the chances of finding Shiny Pokémon. Players get a Shiny Charm after completing the Pokédex. Woo! Once it’s in your bag, your odds naturally raise to 2 in 4096. OUTBREAKS: Increase your odds from your 30th encounter with outbreaks. From Encounter 3059, you have a 1 in 2048 chance, and over 60 Encounters, a 1 in 1366 chance. If you have a Shiny Charm, the odds will be 1 in 1024, then 1 in 820. If you grab Sparkling Power with Sandwich recipes, your odds get even better, especially if you have a Shiny Charm and Sparkling Power! SHINY HUNTING: The Picnic function helps your Pokémon to leave eggs if you have compatible species in your party. Shiny Pokémon hatching are a 1 in 4096 chance, or 1 in 2048 with a Shiny Charm! JUMPED INTO POKÉMON SCARLET AND VIOLET, OR ABOUT TO DIVE IN? THIS GUIDE IS FOR YOU! LOCKED A ‘Shiny-locked’ Pokémon can’t be Shiny. In Scarlet and Violet, this includes Galarian Meowth, Gengar, Johtonian Wooper, Chest Form Gimmighoul, Snom, the three starters, the mascot Legendary Pokémon, all Titans, and the four Treasures of Ruin. LOCK THE MAP There’s a lot to see on the map! To lock the big map, press ‘R’ and make north always at the top. LEGENDARY In previous games, you couldn’t jump. Capture Koraidon (Scarlet) and Miraidon (Violet) early, and you’ll find the Legendary Pokémon help you jump up cliffs and ledges! Try jumping to reach items – if you can’t, you probs need to feed your mount special sandwiches containing Herba Mystica. SHINY TIP Using Masuda Method, you hav a 1 in 683 chanc e with an egg, or e 1 in 512 while also possessing Shiny Charm!
19 I love all the new games you have! – Will Images: iStock, Nintendo INTO POKÉMON SCARLET AND VIOLET, OR ABOUT TO DIVE IN? THIS GUIDE IS FOR YOU! LET’S GO We like throwing our Pokémon out of their ball (use ‘R’) so they auto battle! Battles give free EXP and crafting items, and your Pokémon can pick up items as they move. Your Poképal will be fine if they have a type-advantage; if not, they take damage or run back to you. SCHOOL Revisit school and take classes! Chat to the receptionist at the front desk to start. Classes give easy rewards, and you get EXP Candy when you complete midterms and finals. Passing midterms gets you five EXP. Candy S (boosts your Pokémon’s experience), and finals get you five EXP. Candy M! Finish all classes for EXP. Candy L. Each teacher gives different rewards, so chat to ‘em all! WILD LEVELS When you reach a new area, battle a wild Pokémon before trainer and gym battles to see what the range of levels is for that area. You can run from the battle if you need to, and know what to expect from gyms! Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is out now on Switch! WATCH OUT Spot a big tower? Climb up the ladder! Watchtowers will be fast travel points you can return to. Chest Form Gimmighoul can also be found at the top. 1. Gym Leader Battle Theme (Terastal Form) 2. Area Zero 3. Tera Raid Battle Theme 4. Levincia 5. Team Star Boss Battle Theme 6. Title Theme 7. Cassiopeia Battle Theme 8. Team Star Grunt Battle Theme 9. Making A Sandwich 10. Nemona Theme 11. Wild Battle ~ Area Zero K-ZONE PLAYLIST Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Our favourite tunes from the Original Soundtrack (OST)! ADD YOUR TRACKS HERE
Shout out to all the K-Zoners out there, reading the mag or on the website! – Franky 20 Images: iStock, Universal Pictures Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is in cinemas now! SWASHBUCKLING STAR In Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, the daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers his passion for peril has burned through eight of his nine lives. To restore those lives, he will journey into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star, with help from his former partner, Kitty Softpaws, and the chatty mutt, Perrito! The trio must avoid Goldi and the Three Bears Crime Family, who also want the Star. GOLDI This orphan girl's years with the smash-and-grab gang have made her fierce, secretive, and wily (with a bear's temper). With the Wishing Star, she intends to make everything ‘just right’. PAPA BEAR The old bear that started the Crime Family is happy to go along with Goldi’s plans, but his dream is to return to the old days of eating, hibernating, eating, and common crime. BABY BEAR Baby is huge and incredibly strong, but he isn’t smart. He’s sure he could plan a better heist than his sis, Goldi. Baby’s gift is his sense of smell! MOMMA BEAR Momma Bear’s loved Goldi since she met her, and the devoted mother is the glue holding the clan together. Watch out for her savage bear mode! ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE THREE BEARS… PUSS IN BOOTS KITTY SOFTPAWS PERRITO
21 Hi K-Zone! I love your mags! – Miles Lyle is a saltwater croc, but loves freshwater showers and baths! He can often be found in the Primm’s brownstone home in New York. You can see Lyle in Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile in cinemas now! Crocodiles are found in Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Americas! Crocs can live in water and on land. Freshwater crocodiles live in wetland areas like rivers or lakes, while saltwater crocs are found in lagoons, mangrove swamps, or estuaries. There are 14 species of crocodile. Four are endangered; the Cuban, Orinoco, Philippine, and Siamese. The American and Dwarf species are vulnerable. Crocs can live up to 75 years old, weigh 18-1200kg, and reach 1.5-7 metres long! Their jaws can apply 3700 pounds per square inch (strongest bite of any animal)! Crocodiles can swim up to 35km/h, and hold their breath underwater for over an hour! On land, they can ‘belly run’ up to 17km/h for short distances. Lyle can’t speak, but he is a rare singing crocodile that sounds like popstar Shawn Mendes – because he is voiced by Shawn! The movie’s animators also based Lyle on footage of Shawn, so the croc looks similar to the singer. FUN FACTS ABOUT CROCS! LYLE THE CROCODILE WILD CROCODILE Lyle’s existence is threatened by Mr. Grumps (neighbour to the Primm family), and the local zoo, who believe it would be best for Lyle to live in an enclosure instead of roaming the city. The talented croc hunts for food in the dumpsters of the best restaurants in New York. He loves caviar, and ice cream. Lyle also enjoys listening to a music player given to him by his adoptive human father, Hector P. Valenti. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is in cinemas now! Freshwater crocs are only found in Australia! Images: © 2022 CTMG. All Rights Reserved., iStock
K-Zone for the win! – Owen 22 Images: Walt Disney Pictures Strange World is streaming now on Disney+! GRAB A FEW TIPS FROM STRANGE WORLD BEFORE YOUR NEXT QUEST! SKILLS Great teams include a variety of people (and animals), so it's fine if everyone isn’t a legendary explorer like Jaeger Clade. You need a team member with a knack for leading and strategising. As president of Avalonia, Callisto Mal has those skills. Having an understanding of plants and animals can be a good starting point. A talented farmer like Searcher would deffo be useful. Your cool vehicle of choice will need an incred pilot, driver, or captain, so try to keep that in mind when you are recruiting. Maybe you’ll find a pilot as skilled as Meridian Clade! GEAR In a world where the cliffs are alive, and water dissolves flesh off bones, even cute creatures can be dangerous! To journey into unknown wilds, intrepid explorers need an awesome ship, like the Venture. For areas that can’t be travelled with a vehicle, grab a flamethrower and go on foot. Just ask Jaeger; he loves to throw flames at monsters. In Strange World, there's a lot of bioluminescence, but torches are a good idea. Always be prepared! TEAMWORK Any research mission would be incomplete without genuine curiosity, but passion can be dangerous in the wrong circumstances. Ethan Clade tests the limits of those dangers! If you don’t have an enthusiastic dog like Legend, find a friendly addition to your team who can help reduce tensions. Don’t be afraid to welcome newcomers; a local guide (like Splat) could be just what you need to survive!
23 How is K-Zone so cool! You rule! – Jake Images: iStock, Walt Disney Pictures/Marvel Studios REALM RETURN After Avengers: Endgame, Scott Lang, AKA Ant-Man, has written a famous book about saving the universe. Hope, AKA The Wasp, also fought in the Battle of Earth, after returning from the five-year Blip. She returned to her life and was able to spend time with her parents, Hank and Janet. Scott’s daughter, Cassie, wants to help people too, but one of her gadgets drags her, Scott, Hope, Hank, and Janet to the Quantum Realm. SUPER SECRETS Janet van Dyne was the original Wasp, and worked with Hank Pym (as Ant-Man) for S.H.I.E.L.D. While stopping a missile in 1987, she disappeared into the Quantum Realm and was unable to return to Hank and her daughter, Hope. In Ant-Man and The Wasp, Janet was saved. Time moves differently in the Quantum Realm, and Janet gained strange powers while she was there. When Janet learns Cassie is sending a quantum signal, she tells her to stop – but it’s too late. Could Janet know more about dangers trapped in the Quantum Realm? QUANTUM KANG If you’ve seen the Loki series, you may think this is ‘He Who Remains’, but this is a different version of Kang. He’s a warrior and strategist, with the scars to prove it. The time-travelling multiversal adversary will have us all shaking in our boots, and he thinks he’s met Ant-Man before. After moving through the multiverse for so long, his villainous memories may be blending together. Will Kang be the only enemy our miniature heroes need to face? Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania hits cinemas February 16! GO SUBATOMIC AND ENTER THE QUANTUM REALM! IT’S LIKE A SATELLITE FOR DEEP SPACE, BUT… QUANTUM! THERE’S SOMETHING I NEVER TOLD YOU… I CAN GET YOU HOME AND GIVE YOU MORE TIME, IF YOU HELP ME.
I love reading K-Zone and watching your videos! – Reggie 24 Images: ABC, iStock : Hello Gem! In GG Spawn Squad, a viewer joins you in the Den of Gaming for an epic gaming sesh! What do you love about making the show? G: There’s so much to love about getting the spawnlings involved! It sounds corny, but I think my favourite part is interacting with the kids on a level I don’t often get to as a TV presenter. It’s awesome to meet so many amazing gamers! : Any new favourite games? G: I’ve been pretty familiar with all the games we have played on Spawn Squad so far, but playing Animal Crossing on Luca’s incredible island really kicked my AC obsession back into high gear! : What is a useful trick or strategy that a spawnling has shown you? G: A trick that was helpful to learn (even though I know I’ll never pull it off) was Milo teaching me how to cross the tightrope in Rider’s Republic! : Any great teamwork moments in an episode, or epic betrayal? G: Lucy claims both! Figuring out puzzles in Human Fall Flat was awesome, but leaving me in the dust cracks my top 10 gaming betrayals of all time. I shall forgive, but I shan’t forget! GEM’S GG SPAWN SQUAD PROFILE GAME STRENGTHS: Expert character creator. GAME WEAKNESSES: Bad at puzzles. NOOB CONFESSION: Can only name four Pokémon off the top of my head. TOP GAMING TIP: There’s no shame in playing on easy mode! : If you could join GG Spawn Squad as a guest gamer, which game would Guest Gem want to show Host Gem? G: I streamed Undertale for the show a few years ago and feel like I know it back to front! Want the secrets to the ‘true ending’? I’ve got you sorted! : How can K-Zoners go on the show? G: If you’re passionate about a game and can show us a thing or two, take a look at our site and submit an audition! You never know until you try! Catch GG Spawn Squad Fridays at 5:15pm on ABC ME and ABC iview! WE ASK GEM THE BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT NEW SHOW, GG SPAWN SQUAD!
25 CARLOS ALCARAZ GARFIA From: Spain Current ranking: No. 1 Rad record: Carlos became the youngest ever men’s world No. 1 after winning the 2022 US Open! NICK KYRGIOS From: Australia Current ranking: No. 22 Fun fact: He’s the third player (after Dominik Hrbatý and Lleyton Hewitt) to beat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic (The Big Three) the first time playing them. NOVAK DJOKOVIC From: Serbia Current ranking: No. 5 Australian Open appearances: 18 – with nine wins! I love tennis! – Peter Images: Getty, iStock Catch the Australian Open in Melbourne, or watch on Nine from January 16-29! HOLGER RUNE From: Denmark Current ranking: No. 11 Impressive win: Beat World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz Garfia at the Paris Masters (France) in November 2022. EPIC PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN! HEATH DAVIDSON From: Australia Current ranking: No. 7 Seeing double: Heath is a four-time Australian Open doubles champion. His doubles partner? The legendary Dylan Alcott! IGA SWIATEK From: Poland Current ranking: No. 1 Major legend: Iga is a three-time major singles champion! She won the French Open in 2020 and 2022, and the US Open in 2022. AJLA TOMLJANOVIC From: Australia Current ranking: No. 33 Big win: Ajla defeated the 23-time Grand Slam champ Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open – Serena's last match before retirement.
MOST MATCHES Dan Christian of the Sydney Sixers had played 121 BBL matches before the start of this season. In 2021, Dan became the first Aussie to hit five sixes in a single over of a T20 international match. 26 CHANGING IT UP This season, bowler Usman Khawaja has switched from Sydney Thunder to Brisbane Heat, while the Melbourne Renegades scored Martin Guptill, New Zealand’s leading run-scorer. I always read your mags! – Mitch FUN FACTS ABOUT BBL AND THE LEGENDS WHO PLAY IT! WINNER WINNER With 11 seasons behind us, who has taken home the BBL title more than any other team? It’s a tie between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers – both teams have won four times! HIGH SCORE HERO Melbourne Stars' Glenn Maxwell smashed his way into record books back in January 2022 by nabbing the highest score in BBL – 154 runs off 64 balls. How did he do it? The 22 fours and four sixes helped! Argh! Who farted?
WICKET WIZARD Sean Abbott of the Sydney Sixers has taken the most BBL wickets! Before this season, Sean had 94. In second place is Andrew Tye of the Perth Scorchers with 85. 100% AWESOME Matthew Wade is a wicketkeeper and batter for the Hobart Hurricanes, and has scored four centuries (100 or more runs in an innings) – four in Test Cricket and one in One Day International matches. Maybe he’ll add one to his BBL scorecard by the end of this season! HEAPS UNLUCKY Sydney Thunder have finished last more than any other team, with four wooden spoons. SUPER STRIKERS The WBBL wrapped up in November, with the Adelaide Strikers taking the win against the Sydney Sixers by 10 runs. Deandra Dottin was player of the final – the all-rounder hit 52 runs off 37 balls and also took two wickets. 27 Shout out to Paul and Gabriel! – Luke BBL12 runs until February 4! You can also catch matches live on 7, Foxtel and Kayo! Images: Getty, iStock Want a piggyback?
Nura works hard mining mica to help her mother and feed her siblings, but she also hopes to find the rumoured buried treasure. When the mines collapse, several children are lost, including her best friend, Faisal. Nura digs through the dirt to find him, but discovers the entrance to a strange world. With purple skies and pink seas, this is the realm of jinn (tricksters from her mother’s tales). IN THE HUMAN REALM! BOOKED KWAME ALEXANDER ILLUSTRATED BY DAWUD ANYABWILE MY MUM IS A SPY ANDY MCNAB AND JESS FRENCH ILLUSTRATED BY NATHAN REED NURA AND THE IMMORTAL PALACE M. T. KHAN Twelve-year-old Nick loves soccer, but doesn’t like reading. As Nick learns the power of words, he focuses on soccer, family, and friendship. The challenges Nick must face seem more difficult than scoring a tie-breaking, game-winning goal, but he has his best friend, and a rapping librarian called ‘The Mac’, who gives Nick inspiring books! BEFORE A GAME! SOCCER, SPIES, JINN, GENIUSES, CHAOS, AND THE COSMOS! START 28 Hey K-Zone! – Tig Lucia and her dad are staying with Idris and his mum for a while, and Lucia thinks Idris’ mum is acting strange. Almost as if she’s a spy… Idris was annoyed to have guests for the holidays, but Lucia is not what he expected. She really loves sneaking around, or noting ‘clues’ that she finds. Idris doesn’t believe his mum could be a spy! SNEAKILY! ARE YOU A SPY? FIND THE PATH TO THE SOCCER BALL! READ THIS BOOK! YES NO MAGIC MYSTERY
Justin Chase is really, truly having the worst week ever! Monday was terrible, Tuesday totally blew up, and now Wednesday has arrived. His cat is still missing. Justin is still an unintentional Internet sensation. Now, sharks are circling as he is left stranded in a skin-crawling, jaw-dropping, SOS situation – with his incredibly annoying enemy! WORST WEEK EVER! WEDNESDAY EVA AMORES AND MATT COSGROVE THIS WEEK! ARE YOU HAVING THE WORST WEEK EVER? READ THIS BOOK! Images: iStock YES NO Lily believes nothing exciting ever happens to her. When her family gets a dog, Lily is relieved. The new pup, JJ, is clumsy, but has a smile that makes her happy every time she sees it. Turns out, JJ can talk, and is super smart. He might have the smartest brain in the entire world! AND GET STICKERS! SMARTY PUP FRIENDS FUR-EVER ANH DO ILLUSTRATED BY ANTON EMDIN SPACEBOY DAVID WALLIAMS Ruth is stuck on a farm with her awful aunt, and spends every night gazing at stars. She dreams of adventure, until she suddenly spots a flying saucer shooting across the sky. The spaceship crash-lands in a field nearby, and opens to reveal a mysterious alien. Could all Ruth’s dreams be coming true, or does this visitor from another planet have a huge secret? TO LAUGH! 29 Please put me in K-Zone! – Jesse WHAT DO YOU GET IF YOU CROSS A DOG AND A CALCULATOR? A FRIEND YOU CAN COUNT ON! AMAZING FUNNY DANGER
30 This sci-fi series tells the story of seven different kids at Newton Middle School in the near future! Each episode focuses on a different problem caused by the misuse of tech, and curiosity leads to chaos when the students experience mysterious events. Would you volunteer for medical tests if it made you taller? Does having a clone make life easier? What would happen if you swapped minds with the school principal? Find out in this series! The incredible Ivandoe is the young prince of the forest, who has been sent on a quest by his father, The Mighty Stag. Ivandoe must find the magical Golden Feather of the Eagle King. With his squire, a bird called Bert, Ivandoe will travel through the mysterious forest and meet strange creatures on the way. Don’t miss this sneak peek episode! When Sonic the Hedgehog accidentally destroys the Paradox Prism in a battle with Doctor Eggman, it results in a universe-shattering event that sends Sonic hurtling through the Shatterverse! Sonic will set off on a quest to restore the universes and save his friends, but he’ll find new allies along the way. Our fave blue speedster will also have to prevent ‘The Council’ (an evil group of versions of Eggman) from taking control of Shatterspaces! CIRCUIT BREAKERS STREAMING NOW ON APPLETV+ THE HEROIC QUEST OF THE VALIANT PRINCE IVANDOE JANUARY 21 AT 9:00AM AND 5:45PM, AND JANUARY 22 AT 12:00PM AND 7:00PM ON CARTOON NETWORK SONIC PRIME STREAMING NOW ON NETFLIX Images: AppleTV+, Cartoon Network, iStock, Netflix WATCH OUT FOR: WATCH OUT FOR: WATCH OUT FOR: DETENTION! GNOMES! PIRATES! Thanks for having the best stuff K-Zone! – Zachariah SCI-FI, MAGIC, AND SPEEDSTERS!
31 OFF-TRACK RACERS PAGE 34 DANCE DELIGHTS PAGE 40 THE SNAP PAGE 35 DUNGEONS CHEATS PAGE 45 MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKFUL TIPS PAGE 42 GAMES BY THE NUMBERS 30minifigs can be played when you dive into LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga's Character Collection 2. Play as heroes and villains, plus our fave; Summer Vacation minifigs! 1000sof lines of code go into making games, but you can learn to code in Microsoft MakeCode Arcade. Get cracking now with the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tutorial! Q-36Explosive Space Modulator attacks are set to boom with Marvin the Martian, the new playable fighter for MultiVersus Season 2! You can find stacks of other unlockable Battle Pass swag too! Flip to page 32 for dozens of rad upcoming titles you’ll definitely want to check out this year! 24 2023 HITS PULL OUT MINI MAG
HOTTEST UPCOMING HITS Strap in for a booming breakdown of some of the biggest and best games you can look forward to in 2023! FANTASY FUN Find the fun in these fantasy faves! Make your mark on the wizarding world in Hogwarts Legacy. Pluck a lucky hero out of the pages of an epic story in The Plucky Squire. Lock onto the creepy coolness of Ravenlok. Grind away woes and foes with a drilling arm in Pepper Grinder. FAR, FAR AWAY Hyperspace to places far, far away in these sci-fi games! Teleport to weird and wonderful worlds in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake. Next, buzz into the mech-stuffed space farming in Lightyear Frontier. Try to survive Cal Kestis’ next epic chapter in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Phew. Time to get some space by blasting into Kerbal Space Program 2. WILD WORLDS Wanna be whisked away to wild worlds? Start your journey with Minecraft Legends. Next, tear through The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Detour to a Breath of the Wild-like adventure in ONI: Road to be the Mightiest Oni. Grab a mate and help a fawn/wolf cub co-op combo find their fam together in Blanc! 32
HOTTEST UPCOMING HITS Strap in for a booming breakdown of some of the biggest and best games you can look forward to in 2023! MOVING DAY Make a move on these moving games! Box up another round of co-op hilarity with the fully fun Moving Out 2. Move on to the dreamy delights of Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Shift from reality to fun-filled fantasy with Disney dears and Pixar pals in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Top off the wondrous moves with Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. SUPER SEQUELS Set your sights on these seriously sweet sequels! The web-tastic adventures of Spider-Men (Pete + Miles = smiles) in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The next tasty sequel is a collect-a-thon in Digimon World: Next Order. You can collect a mate (or three) for the peak puzzling of Puzzle Bobble Everybubble, and pique peak interest in the returning pint-sized pals of Pikmin 4. ACCELER-GREAT Fun is even more fun when it’s fast! Keep pace in the ace race space of full-throttle Forza Motorsport. Test the tracks of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown to pursue racing crowns. Shift gears with the battle party racing (and explosions) found in Super Bomberman R 2. You can race into making the fast theme park rides of your gravity-less dreams with Park Beyond. 33
34 PEDAL MEET METAL Riff into four racers that have plenty of speed, but also stack unique stuff inside in order to separate 'em from the pack! PAINT JOB Splash Cars is basically Splatoon on wheels. Your speedy role is to give a much needed paint job to this boring grey world. Where your wheels touch, colour will splash out! Paint roads, buildings, and even trees as you speed by. Just remember to dodge the drab cops that get in your way! HOON HOLIDAY Wreckreation combines building, racing and stunts in one wild ride. MixWorld is a massive place waiting for you to tear it up. Build the best track. We're talking turns, loops, and epic jumps (natch). Otherwise, mix all three. Race your rad creations alone or motor past your mates! RACE RHYTHM Revving road trips are best with roaring tunes, and Music Racer: Ultimate perfectly splices those two things together. This title is rhythm game meets racer. Tear up trippy neon tracks at your perf pace. The slower music is more chill, but the faster tracks really increase the speed. You can even add your own music! I-SPY STUNTS Agent Intercept is like racing through epic movie chases. Your ride is so transformable, it would make Bumblebee jelly! Rip up the roads in car mode. Drift into ramps and roll over powerful Mario Kart-like pick-ups. Why not splash out, and splash into sick speedboat mode? You can also get proper air in aircraft mode!
MARVEL SNAP Oh, snap, it’s a digital collectable card game with decks of cool customisable cards! This Marvel game makes Thanos’ snap look puny! Avengers: Infinity War snapped away some of our fave heroes, and Avengers: Endgame snapped 'em back. Take the heroes, add some villains, and snap, that’s Marvel Snap! There are over 140 cards to collect. Your cool cards start to stack after the tutorial. Play more games to nab more cards. Upgrade cards to score more. Mystery Cards materialise from level 18 onwards. Now, it's time to build a rad digital deck. Slap down your strongest play to win the day, OK? Your deck will be dealt out in random order. In the early rounds, options are limited, but midgame and endgame (with or without Avengers), you can play one powerful card. We love how these epic cards turn loss into victory. There's Iron Man’s epic power buff ability, or Hulk’s overwhelming smash. Matches are fast and fun, and all of the legendary locations mix things up each round. Plus, the epic animations in this game make for some movie-worthy showdowns. Don't miss the card chaos! PRO TIP! Focus on two of the three card locations to win. Spread cards across two locations early. Go for areas that lock out card plays after a certain round to claim an area early. Save a slot for a late play high-energy card, then slap the card down! ON: NOW OUT: PC iOS 35 PSST! Marvel Snap has in-game purchasable items (but you can play without them). Always ask an adult before any transactions!
36 A LITTLE TO THE LEFT Solve all your problems and fix all the puzzles by simply shifting a little to the left – oh, just a little more... No, no, your left, not our left! When you’re shifting stuff around, you might say, ‘A little to the left’. It can happen when you’re finding the perfect placement of an epic LEGO build, or trying to align a poster on the wall. A Little to the Left takes that idea and spins the concept into this super chill puzzle game. There are over 75 household puzzles to crack. Things start off easy enough, with a wonky cat painting, or your pet’s toys scattered all over the floor, but then the puzzles start to level up, and you will be scratching your head in no time! It might be colour-matching, or shifting patterns. Stack old-school game cartridges on top of each other, or rearrange utensils in the kitchen draw. We reckon you’ll dig how chill the gameplay is, and the overall vibe. Keep an ear out for the little musical cues to help solve trickier puzzles. Plus, watch out for the unchill cat! Scratching claws and swishing tails can turn epic puzzle solves into fails. PRO TIP! Not on the right path with a brainteaser in A Little to the Left? To pause, tap escape on PC, or plus on Switch. Use ‘Let It Be’ to skip the puzzle, then circle back later. You could also choose ‘Hint’. Erase a little bit of the puzzle solution for a tip, or erase it all! ON: NOW OUT: PC
37 GARFIELD LASAGNA PARTY What’s not to love about playing the tasty, lasagne-stuffed mini-games served up hot and delicious in Garfield Lasagna Party! Lasagne is made with mountains of miniature layers, and Garfield Lasagna Party is made with stacks of tasty mini-games. This game is a lot like Mario Party, except you can play the day away with Garfield and his furry friends instead. You can grab up to four mini-game-loving mates, then choose to chomp as gorging Garfield, oddball Odie, ace Arlene, or nifty Nermal. Nom the cheesy delights of Lasagna Challenge. Roll the dice, and if that roll is nice, you’ll be slipping across the game board like ice. No stress if the roll ain’t rad! Gain ground by making the most of mini-games. There are 32 to choose from. Our faves are yard sprinting and obstacle dodging in Dog Panic, pitching pizzas into ovens in Presto Pizza, and also sprinting away from the alarm-clock clutcher in Tick-Tock. You can drop the board game bit entirely and just go for a massive mini-game rush in Lasagna World Tour! PRO TIP! Cut your teeth in Lasagna Challenge. Lasagna Race offers a great variety of mini-games, but Lasagna Challenge is where you pick the mini-games. Practice all of them to come out on top in Lasagna Race. Now, no matter which mini-games are played during the board game, you’re ready to rock! ON: NOW OUT: PC
POKÉMON SCARLET AND VIOLET
Image: Nintendo
40 JUST DANCE 2023 Grab a mate (or six) and get into the groove, coz it’s time to dance the house down with the hottest hits in Just Dance 2023! Happy New Year! We reckon there’s no better way to ring in 2023 than with Just Dance 2023. You know the dancing drill! Grab that Joy-Con or phone, and spark up the dance floor at home. The dance instructors are back to teach you the best ways to bust moves, and they look brighter than ever. There are stacks of new tracks to move to, and all the tunes feature you and your fast-shuffling feet. You can totes play sitting down if that’s more your speed. The best bopping experience is a full-body shakedown – then back up, to the side, and whichever way your guides can direct you to dance. We can’t stop bopping to the top track list, with recent hit songs like ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ from Encanto, and ‘As It Was’ by Harry Styles. The game also has the new original track, ‘If You Wanna Party’. Of course, there are many more tracks to get you tapping your feet and moving your body! PRO TIP! You earn XP every time you play Just Dance 2023 – even if you don’t nail five-star routines! Dance commanders can check in on the progress page for EZ ways to spin into extra XP. More XP means more sweet rewards. Peep your profile and progression to see how you’re tracking. ON: NOW OUT:
41 LET’S SING 2023 Here’s the thing about having a sing; if you can bring the swing with sting, then you’ll find you can ping to the top and ring in as king in Let’s Sing 2023! Let’s Sing 2023 is all about singing, but busting some moves and getting into dancing mode is definitely still advised! The more you sing along, the more you can unlock. It’s kinda like karaoke, at home, but even more fun. First stop, Legend mode. Start working on your pop star status. Pick from four wild wannabes; Superstar Sandy, groovy Gunther, spontaneous Stevie, and yearning Yolandi. At the end of the day – no matter which character you pick – you’ll be versing foes in epic vocals versus verses. Belt out a few bars of catchy sing-along songs for starters, then work your way up ‘til you reach the soaring highs of full-length fully fun tunes. It’s not all about singing solo! Grab a mate and get your feet moving in Feat. mode. You can have a fun singing party with four players in Classic mode, or even play with up to eight players in two tonally tussling teams in Let’s Party mode! Who can belt the best? PRO TIP! There are many ways to get mic’ed up for Let’s Sing 2023. You can use a gaming headset to belt out tunes, plug in a USB mic with the retail version of the game, or download the Let’s Sing Mic app on a mobile device. Let’s Sing 2023 supports up to eight players, so the more mics, the merrier! ON: NOW OUT:
42 MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKS OF HOPE Follow these pro tips to get the most fun out of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope WAVE HELLO Made it to Pristine Peaks? You have unlocked Wave ability for Beep-O. The game teaches you this is handy for busting anything with the swirl icon, but it also has another function. Use it on any broken wall you find – these smashed walls will open up secrets and hidden paths! TOP TEAM Having trouble building the perf team? Start the party with Mario and Rabbid Peach in your trio. Mario dominates with dual blasters, and he can target two enemies at a time! Rabbid Peach has awesome long-range attacks, and her attacks are great against foes in partial cover. She can also heal! SCAN AHEAD Take a breath before the fighting starts – switch party members if you like – but definitely use Beep-O to scan the entire area! This is perfect for highlighting the different lurking enemies. Plus, you can see their health and the most effective attacks against ’em. Pick your best Spark based on that intel. ON:
43 MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKS OF HOPE Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope! HIDDEN SKINS Did you know secret areas have hidden bonus challenges? First, beat a secret area, then pop back inside. Now, crack that sneaky puzzle before your time limit ends. Got it sorted? You will be able to nab a neat new weapon skin for your skills! EXTRA BRAWLS Battle the Giant Goomba at the Temple Catacombs on Beacon Beach Planet. Brawl the Giant Squashette on Pristine Peaks in the Winter Palace. Biff the Giant Depleter in Spellbound Woods on Palette Prime. Roll the Giant Magikoopa on Terra Flora at Mt Spout. Plus, make sure you smash the Giant Magnafowl at the Barrendale Pipes Area Flag on Barrendale Mesa! EZ SECRETS There are many secret areas tucked away on each planet. Wanna find them the EZ way? Open the map. Hover over Spark mission names. Plus, finish main missions to unlock more side quests, and more secret areas. If you have finished a planet storyline, all of the secret areas should be marked now!
44 CYLOOP-THE-LOOP Cyloop is a neat new Sonic trick unlocked early on. Use it to (literally) run rings around enemies. Lost some rings in a tricky tussle? Pop a Cyloop or two to dig up more coins! Outside of biffs, look out for blue treasure chest markers. Cyloop around ’em for heaps handy progression items. PARRY PARTY Sonic’s speed means he’s ace at hit-and-run tactics. This is useful for the big-bad bosses, but Sonic also knows how to block. Learn a tough foe’s attack patterns from afar, then hold both bumpers to parry attacks. Block and counter success can slow time for EZ hits! FLY FISHING Need a breather? You should drop a line on Big the Cat’s fishing game! You’ll nab coins with each catch. Now, trade catch coins for cool collectables. There are also faster fish to catch. Keep at the fishing mini-game to nab Hermit and Elder scrolls – these will unlock in-Zone fast travel! SONIC FRONTIERS Speed through these pro tips from the Sonic Frontiers devs to buff the Blue Blur and get the most out of the top-gear game world! DEVELOPER APPROVED ON: PC
45 GEARING UP Better gear means better chances of surviving the Tower climb. In some games, it’s handy to wait for better gear drops... but not in Minecraft Dungeons! Grab better gear as soon as it drops. It’ll make you and your pals stronger with every floor you conquer. PARTY SIZE Co-op usually makes things easier, but it’s best to start out co-op Tower conquering with one other player. Why? More players means more mobs. More mobs with more health! Plus, your party shares a pool of lives. You can drop players in and out to tweak the challenge when things get tricky. TOWER LAYOUT Tower layouts change regularly, but they are all a mix of familiar floors. Basement is the starting area; plan strats here. Combat floors are where you’ll be mobbed by mobs, so work together to tackle them! Boss floors are tricky fights – spread out to survive. Merchant floors are another chance for a breather. MINECRAFT DUNGEONS SEASON 3: FAUNA FAIRE Minecraft Dungeons Season 3 brings co-op to the titanic struggle of Towers, so here are three tips to help you come out on top! ON: PC
46 LEFT-FIELD TALES You can find the right path with this trio of top tips for Dragon Ball: The Breakers, LEGO Bricktales, and Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova! BREAK BREAKERS Wanna survive longer in Dragon Ball: The Breakers? Stack dragon balls with one player for protection against raiders. Being chased? Hide in caves. When the raider enters, stun with solar flare, then grappling hook away. The grappling hook is great at max range for staying ahead of the raider out in the open! PUZZLE PAUSE Scratching your noggin on a puzzle in LEGO Bricktales? Hit pause. Check the full LEGO bricky diorama. Spin and zoom to sniff out hidden stuff (plus stacked collectables). Can’t reach ’em? Revisit later with new robo-bud skills to nab what you missed! Swap rewards at the Merchant for customisation options. TRY TRICORDER To 100% Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova, the Tricorder is your bestie for sniffing out hidden pick-ups. Mash it to ping secrets. You can’t nab everything on the first run of a level. Revisit the level with later-level unlocks (and characters) to grab what you missed. ON: PC ON: PC ON: PC DEVELOPER APPROVED
K-Zone is so awesome! Please always make K-Zone! – Charlie 47Images: Adam Haddrick, iStock, Roadshow : Hi Ilsa! What are you excited for K-Zoners to see in Blueback? I: I'm thrilled for K-Zoners to see the beautiful coast of Western Australia, and the creatures that live in it, like the Western Blue Groper. The film looks closely at the life of a young girl who is passionate and determined to save the world’s oceans. Hopefully it inspires young people to feel they can do the same. It’s also about her friendship with Blueback, the Groper. They have a real and honest connection, showing how easy it can be for anyone to become friends with each other, and also other animals. : What was Blueback like? I: Working with Blueback was so cool! He was made so well that he felt and looked like a real fish. Sometimes I forgot he is not because his eyes would look at you and he would almost smile. Also, the way he moved in the water was so natural, as if he was dancing with you. DIVE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE NEW MOVIE, BLUEBACK, WITH ILSA FOGG! : Did you learn any cool skills while filming the movie? I: I learned to free dive, which was an amazing experience! I got to swim and dance with seals, dolphins, and other incredible marine life. I saw the world from a different place. There was one octopus that I saw under a rock in the bay, and I visited him every week of shooting the film. He was so cute, but if you ever see an octopus, be careful. I learned the ocean is a beautiful place, but you have to be careful around sealife. Always have someone nearby, whether that is a parent, or a friend. WOW! The Western Blue Groper is the largest carnivorous bony fish species living on reefs in southern Australia. They can reach up to 1.7m long, and weigh up to 40kg! Read more of our chat with Ilsa at Blueback is in cinemas now! ILSA : Who is the funniest cast member? I: Eddie Baroo (who plays Merv). He is an amazing actor, and a beautiful person inside and out. I love the scene where he gets tackled by the officer at the protest, because it is so real and funny. : Any acting advice for K-Zoners? I: Never doubt yourself, and believe in yourself. Listen to your heart, not your head. Be yourself. Being characters is fun and adventurous, but just know who you are coming back to.
In 2022, slackliner Jaan Roose became the first person to cross the limestone pillars of the Bozzhyra tract in Kazakhstan! The iconic ‘fangs’ are known as the ‘Sugar Castles’, and were formed by the ancient Tethys Ocean millions of years ago. Jaan is 30 years old and has been slacklining for 12 years. The Estonian slackliner is a three-time world champion, and is famous for being the first and only athlete to do a double backflip on a slackline! Jaan navigated a 28 metre line at 80 metres high between two skyscrapers in Sarajevo in 2021, and decided to level up with his Kazakhstan stunt. The Bozzhyra slackline was a 500 metre crossing, at a height of 200 metres. On the day of the challenge, the temperature was 50°C (we’re sweating just thinking about it) and he had to walk against a strong wind! DON’T LOOK DOWN! 48 I love all the cool pages in K-Zone! – Matthew
JAAN ON THE SLACKLINE! 49 Hi Haz and Dylan! – Hunter Images: Red Bull Content Pool
50 Love the magazines K-Zone! – Ryder