Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 14 July 2022 11:03
(A review of
The Ren & Stimpy Show)
I love the Ren and Stimpy Show. While quite crude and vulgar, like Rocko's Modern Life, it is also very funny and entertaining. And I do consider it one of my favourite Nickelodean shows along with Rocko's Modern Life and The Angry Beavers.
Why do I like Ren and Stimpy? Well the animation is great for starters, quite unique ins style, but it is colourful with interesting character designs. The music is memorable too, especially the theme tune which is one of one of the best in my opinion for any Nickelodean show. The writing is clever and funny if crude, you decide for yourself whether it is your taste or not, while the stories are interesting. I love the characters, I find them very likable and endearing, and the voice acting is top notch.
Overall, a great favourite of mine. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 13 July 2022 02:42
(A review of
Assassin's Creed)
Warning: SpoilersAs soon as I started playing, I liked it. The game starts out slow and you'll get lost at first but I pushed on and was glad to. Once you get to go to cities you have fun. I was a little confused with the games concept though. You play a man named Desmond in the present who is an assassin captured by a corporation who needs to use his memories t track his ancestor to find something.(Saying what would be a spoiler.) They put you in a machine called an Animus and then your Altair, a assassin who apparently invented free running. The controls are simply and you'll love hopping all over ancient cities, killing archers as you go. You'll have to do a lot of work before you get to kill your target. But it's satisfying once you get to kill. In the end you'll get to kill all nine targets assigned. I read that the ending was a total let down and left *too much* room for a sequel. Garbage. Your quest with Altair has a satisfying ending. The complete end is with Desmond though, and it's a neat one. After the credits, you'll get to explore the laboratory and learn as much as you can before you call it quits. Despite how it sounds, I've revealed nothing to ruin the ending. Buy it and enjoy it. I did. Takes a looooooooooong time though.
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Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 13 July 2022 02:37
(A review of
The Quarry)
In 2015 Supermassive Games released Until Dawn and brought a new level of interactive horror to gamers. With the release of The Quarry, the company has taken the genre to a new level thanks in large part to the power of the new generation of gaming systems and graphic cards.
Unlike Until Dawn which was a PS4 exclusive, The Quarry is available on multiple platforms.
Using the same motion capture and a star-laden cast of Until Dawn, players are introduced to a group of councilors who have just seen their campers head home at the end of the summer.
Eager to get home and on with their college plans and lives, things take an unexpected turn when Jacob (Zach Tinker) decides to disable their van in the hopes that by staying an extra night he can convince Emma (Halston Sage), to not end their relationship which she viewed as a summer fling and with four states between them for school, something that cannot be maintained.
Despite the warnings of camp owner Chris (David Arquette) to stay inside with the doors locked, the kids decide to hold one more party and this is when things start to unravel. Players will take control of various players at random points of the story and this enables players to explore, gather clues, interact with objects and use weapons in rare instances.
The story is told over 10 chapters mainly set in one evening and the dangers that lurk are brutal and graphic when they arrive which means that stumbling around in the dark as the game often requires can have deadly results.
Players will have the option to make choices at several points during their gameplay and they can range from the tone used to answer a question or if they wish to run or hide from danger. There are other options as well as the intensity rises which all will change how the story unfolds as the game is based on branching storylines where who lives and who dies can change with each time through the story.
While there were elements where it seemed that I was stumbling in the dark trying to find where I was supposed to go and that large segments at times left me with little to do but watch the action and only occasionally pick a response when I had to move and make some rapid choices on directions and hotkeys, the game really drew me in.
The cast is strong and features Ariel Winter, Ted Raimi, Miles Robbins, Brenda Song, and Lance Henriksen amongst others and aside from one character who delivered his lines in an annoying monotone which sounded like they were delivered through a clenched jaw with a head cold, the voice acting is solid and above what one might expect in a game of this sort.
Graphically the game shined on a PS5 and being able to really enjoy the character animations helped me immerse myself in the story.
Since death is a part of the game, players are given three lives which will allow them to rewind the game and try to save the character. While it usually goes just before their passing, one did back me up a full chapter which I had to replay in order to get back to the next which also had to be replayed only to have the same fate befall the character.
In the end, The Quarry is a triumph of interactive storytelling and is an engaging and compelling tale with a strong cast. It will be interesting to see what Supermassive will do next but The Quarry is a game well worth your time.
4 stars out of 5.
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Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 13 July 2022 02:23
(A review of
Celeste)
I don't like being a reactionist, or overpraising something too soon, but Celeste is one of the best, if not the actual best, 2D platformer I've ever played. I'll break down my review into individual segments:
Controls: 10/10 Very tight, extremely simple controls. Move with Left control stick. Jump with B. Dash with Y. Climb walls with RT. End of tutorial. But the sheer amount of mileage these developers get out of such a simple base is staggering
Gameplay: 10/10 While the controls are deceptively simple, every single chapter introduces a few new mechanics that you will have to master in order to progress. Whether they be platforms that disintegrate underneath you, platforms that move in sync with your dashing, walls you can dash through that have a unique effect. gemstones that replenish your dash midair, bubbles that shoot you far off into certain directions, and the list goes on and on, each new mechanic requires you to use them with near perfect precision and timing. The challenge can be occasionally frustrating, and you may find yourself dying several hundred times in any given chapter (I'm not exaggerating, you will die a lot), but it's the good kind of frustration that invites you to persist, not the kind that will cause you to rage quit. And none of your deaths feel out of your control. It doesn't require you to memorize every obstacle coming next, because there's never anything popping up that you didn't expect. Every obstacle is laid out in front of you, clear for you to see, which makes the challenge more inviting than frustrating. But I don't want to scare off potential players who are not so keen on the sound of timing and precision based gameplay, since that doesn't sound particularly fun by description alone, but this is a joy to play and an innumerable amount of sequences had me smiling and feeling accomplished by their end.
Difficulty Level: 8/10 I know 8 seems fairly low considering how much time I've already spent re-emphasizing the demand for precision, and how often you're going to die, and I'm sure you've already seen many other reviews that describe it to be tough as nails, and it is, but (thankfully) the game doesn't punish you for dying over and over and over and over. I had more than 800 deaths in a single chapter once (and that was just in the mainline chapters, don't even get me started on the B and C tracks). But this game doesn't kick you in the balls the way Cuphead does every time you die, you always re-spawn in the same frame that you died in, and it takes roughly half a second to re-spawn. The sheer amount of precision the game demands in and of itself would be enough to make it a 10, but the forgiving nature of the game makes the challenge much more manageable, so you can throw yourself at the same obstacle over and over and over and over again until you get it right, which is a godsend, because I would have honestly never bothered finishing the game if I had to deal with a lives system, or if it sent me back to the beginning of each level, or something like that.
Story: 7/10 I'm actually not as enamored with the story as many other people seem to be. I think it's great to see more and more video games experiment in dealing with heavy thematic matter such as anxiety, panic, apathy, depression, emotional distance, etc, and I think Celeste does a good job of it, and I can imagine many people out there being touched by it, because it handles delicate topics with sensitivity, earnestness, and a touch of humor. I like the characters a lot (and I love that they actually created an Instagram account for the character who is always taking selfies and writing posts throughout the game), but I don't think it's quite perfect yet. I really hope the developers keep experimenting with this kind of subject matter, because Celeste has made me eager for whatever the dish up next.
Artwork/Design: 8/10 I used to refer to this segment as "graphics," because graphical power used to be important when reviewing games, but we've reached an era of gaming when gamers and reviewers are less concerned about graphical horsepower and more interested in artwork, with absolutely beautiful looking games such as Cuphead and Journey, which are both stunning games due to their artwork, even though they're not going to max out the system you run them on by any means. Celeste is in that category, and it is a brilliantly designed game.
Music: 9/10 It is impressive in and of itself that these indie developers composed more than two hours of music for a relatively short game (around 10hrs max to complete all of the main bits, 20 if you're a completionist that is going to collect all the strawberries and complete all the "B side" challenges), and it pays off, because the soundtrack is just beautiful.
Overall: 10/10 While I think the story is good, even though I wasn't as deeply impressed with it as many other reviewers were, the controls, gameplay, and design are every bit as good as you've heard and Celeste is a game that deserves to be experienced by anybody who can spare twenty bucks to try it out
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Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 13 July 2022 02:18
(A review of
Shadow of the Tomb Raider)
Just who are the critics underrating this game? The Metacritic ratio is a joke. Don't believe it. This game is epic. The ending really had me hold my breathe. The visuals are stunning, and, yes, I think this is the best Tomb Raider, but having said that, there's no way I'm downgrading the previous 2 games. Each one of them is a masterpiece, but this one sort of exceeded my expectations. 2 sleepless long nights devoted to one of the best games I have ever played. I would seriously buy the second copy just to support the developers. At the end I was very sad though. Loved it so much I wish the main campaign could last for at least 2 months, so needless to say I will revisit Shadow of the Tomb Raider tomorrow already. Watching this sweet girl is always a pleasure. I'm very happy I got this game on the very first day. To everybody involved in this project! 'Thank you guys, I love your team for this wonderful time. I'm writing this review listening to the wonderful soundtrack as the end credits roll, absolutely overwhelmed but still sad I have finished the game. So please, give us some great dlcs too. And I'll be looking forward to the next game in a couple of years. We need more and more and more and more of Lara'. As for the rest, go and get this game!
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Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 13 July 2022 02:18
(A review of
Shadow of the Tomb Raider)
Just who are the critics underrating this game? The Metacritic ratio is a joke. Don't believe it. This game is epic. The ending really had me hold my breathe. The visuals are stunning, and, yes, I think this is the best Tomb Raider, but having said that, there's no way I'm downgrading the previous 2 games. Each one of them is a masterpiece, but this one sort of exceeded my expectations. 2 sleepless long nights devoted to one of the best games I have ever played. I would seriously buy the second copy just to support the developers. At the end I was very sad though. Loved it so much I wish the main campaign could last for at least 2 months, so needless to say I will revisit Shadow of the Tomb Raider tomorrow already. Watching this sweet girl is always a pleasure. I'm very happy I got this game on the very first day. To everybody involved in this project! 'Thank you guys, I love your team for this wonderful time. I'm writing this review listening to the wonderful soundtrack as the end credits roll, absolutely overwhelmed but still sad I have finished the game. So please, give us some great dlcs too. And I'll be looking forward to the next game in a couple of years. We need more and more and more and more of Lara'. As for the rest, go and get this game!
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Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 13 July 2022 02:03
(A review of
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec)
This is the best of the series. The only thing different from the other games are; better graphics, different car selection (I won't say more cars, because GT2 has the biggest selection), and some different tracks. The cars have taken on a life of their own. All the cars have realistic feels to them. GT1 and 2 did, but did they look this good? I don't think so. The only complaint I have is that they took out Motor Sports Land. Even though that was a slow and small track, it was at a challenging enough to like. But all the other tracks make up for it. I also like that now you can upgrade the racing cars, but not that you can't make your own. I also like that your car now has oil. It makes more sense. But, unlike GT2, their isn't any damage. Well, what's the plot, besides racing and suping up your car? Nothing. There's no reason for one. Just race. I also like the soundtrack. Some songs aren't the best, but the title song ("Are You Gonna Go My Way? (Gran Turismo Remix) is great. I also like "99 Red Balloons". Oh, and unlike GT1 and like GT2, in GT3, you can use your customized cars in arcade mode. And even though it doesn't look like it from the car select menu, if you go into the Settings option, look at the bottom of the screen. It'll say the horsepower of the car.I like to whip the computer's butt. Most of the time, you can beat 'em, if you have a strong enough car (strong as in HP).It's rewarding to race for hours, looking to win a new car, and on the final strip on the last lap, about 50m from the finish line, with no one in your mirror (because you're to far ahead, duh), than go to the left side of the track, hit the handbrake, and spin right across the finish line. SWEEEEEEETTTTTT!
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Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 10 July 2022 11:58
(A review of
Sanjuro)
I do love Akira Kurasawa's movies, especially Seven Samurai, Ran, Ikiru, Rashomon, Yojimbo, The Hidden Fortress and Throne of Blood. Sanjuro(sequel to Yojimbo) is not quite on the same level, but it is a fine film regardless and perhaps alongside The Hidden Fortress Kurasawa's most accessible film. It is very well made, with beautiful and sometimes epic scenery and superb camera work. Kurasawa directs with his usual flair, not as delicate as Ikiru, haunting as Yojimbo or as ambitious as Ran, but still highly impressive. The score is lively, the story is engaging, crisply-paced and always fun and the script is witty and tongue-in-cheek yet with a subtle edge. The characters are somewhat one-dimensional and not quite as identifiable as the titular character in Ikiru but still likable nonetheless, and Toshiro Mifune's lead performance is a very subtly fun one indeed. Overall, a great film but not my favourite from Kurasawa. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 8 July 2022 08:09
(A review of
Urara Shiraishi)
Anime: Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches
I love how Urara looks — there’s an instant appeal to her.
It could be her pinkish, red-ish eyes and her timid expressions. Or her heartwarming smile.
She’s the type of classmate you’d easily have a crush on.
Beyond her looks, Urara offers a solid show of character development.
Granted this is due to the kiss between her and Ryuu, which is also the basic premise of the show.
But it’s wonderful seeing her open up a little more to others, slowly but surely recovering from painful past experiences. And Urara is just so cute, okay?
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Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 8 July 2022 08:08
(A review of
Sena Kashiwazaki)
Anime: Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends
I don’t remember much about Haganai. But that’s to be expected from a typical ecchi and harem series.
But what I do distinctly recall is Sena, complete with her blue butterfly hairpin and petite appearance.
Of course, viewers of Haganai may also remember something else about Sena, given its ecchi elements.
And even without that, Sena is appealing.
I’d even argue that the series wouldn’t be the same without her and her highly driven (and perhaps perfectionist) nature.
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