After a couple of missed editions due to COVID-19, FACTS, the Belgian Comic Con finally returned! We’ve been going to this epic convention since the very start of our website so we couldn’t miss the magical return this weekend. Was it worth it? Let’s find out!
The Geek Market
Perhaps the epicenter of the FACTS convention, the Geek Market is there to quench your thirst for geeky items. After the missed editions, it was nice to see some familiar booths returning to Belgium’s largest comic con. From fake weapons to Japanese candy and even extremely rare collector’s items, FACTS has it all so you better prepare to spend some money. This edition really found the right balance when it came to the Geek Market. There were tons of great items up for sale so if you were there for movie memorability, manga/anime, gaming, or fantasy items, I’m pretty sure you’ll find the item of your dreams in no time. For me personally, I loved the amount of Pokémon Trading Card Game booths which enabled me to grab some missing Pokémon Celebrations boxes and boosters. Besides that I also grabbed some adorable ‘Spirited Away’ merch I simply couldn’t resist.
Gaming Corner
As a gaming website, we always go to FACTS to check out some upcoming games or new releases. This edition was a bit different since a lot of big gaming companies aren’t present at bigger conventions. This also means that this edition had a smaller gaming corner. Where last editions had a huge Nintendo, Ubisoft, and even PlayStation booth, this one focussed on smaller games, which was actually rather nice. You could invite your friends to play some classic games together or you could check out some Belgian indie games to keep you entertained. The gaming corner was located in the back of the hall but was pretty crowded throughout the day. People had a lot of fun playing indie and VR games with friends and although it was all a bit smaller compared to other years, it still offered a lot of fun nevertheless. I’m pretty sure the gaming corner will return to its full potential once the world has gone back to its normal state but for now, it’s great to see that the organization still loves to offer some fun games to its visitors.
The Colossus 4.0
The hall usually dedicated to gaming publishers was transformed into the lair of “The Colossus”, a 234-meter inflatable obstacle course. Old-time visitors of FACTS will surely recognize this beast 4.0 as it is one of the largest inflatable obstacle courses in the world and a 2018’s Guinness World Record holder. We took off our shoes, fastened our belts, and went head-on into the menacing yet colorful serpent. We underestimated this ferocious monstrosity with its vast array of obstacles to slow us down in an increasingly higher difficulty level. We felt like a bunch of “Fall Guys” jumping, somersaulting, and falling into crocodiles and spikes. It was a testament to our overall fitness level and it showed that there is a way to feel 9 years old again! It was exhausting but a great experience and unique to FACTS!
Cosplay
Since its earlier editions, the heart of FACTS is made up of several layers of fandom. At the very center are the many cosplayers who have a crucial role in FACTS’ success every year. Parents with kids get to take pictures with characters from their favorite movies, games, or anime. Cosplayers bring color to the magical forest that is FACTS and this ecosystem is supported by the platform FACTS offers the magical cosplayers in return. From the enormous cosplay hall with the main stage to the smaller catwalk both organized by the many cosplay organizations, there’s a platform for the beginning cosplayer and for the veteran.
FACTS started with a new format on Saturday; a catwalk where you could showcase your cosplay without having a real “act”. There was more focus on the costume and how it was built. On Sunday we saw the return of the classic acting format with more focus on the overall performance. Both formats featured an equal amount of prizes to win and it shows that some beginning cosplayers can get a lot of tips from the pros and don’t need an elaborate act to get prizes. The crowd was very loud in cheering so it’ll certainly motivate cosplayers to continue their hard work.
This year we’ve seen a massive jump in quality from both FACTS and cosplayers. Both had more time to put effort and detail into their work due to forced quarantine and many cosplayers saw this as an ideal opportunity to invest more time and resources into their costumes. FACTS did the same by adding more organic and magical eye-catchers around the halls. We would like to see this further expanded upon with the great lighting, darkness, and magical trees and objects around the many halls.
