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One Year Later, Did Sony Keep Its E3 2017 Promises?
Sony spent an hour of its June 12th conference making use of its stage to put on a theatrical performance. Hanging corpses and pyrotechnics dazzled (if you’re into that sort of thing) for a presentation that was light on industry buzzwords, relied heavily on a trailer showcase, and had very few new announcements. Was it…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 6, 2018 -
One Year Later, Did Microsoft Keep Its E3 2017 Promises?
E3 fast approaches, and you know what that means: New game announcements and all the gaming news you can handle are headed our way. It also means it’s time to rewind to 2017, when the three console makers made a plethora of promises during last year’s E3 festivities. Did they keep them? Let’s find out.…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 5, 2018 -
Culture
What’s The Last Game You Abandoned?
I love the rhythmic gameplay of Crypt of the Necrodancer. I was glued to my Switch once it released last February. With laser focus, I danced through its clever design and roguelike dungeons. Then I quit right after getting destroyed by the game’s titular boss. I had spent days and hours learning enemies’ attacks, failing…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published April 29, 2018 -
The Misadventures Of Playing God Of War With My Dad
I played the first few hours of the newest God of War—a game about a father, son, and their host of relationship issues—with my dad. The experience turned out exactly as I anticipated: it involved a series of mishaps, frustrations, and a ton of laughs. Warning: Mild Spoilers to Follow When the latest entry in…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published April 29, 2018 -
The Agony Of The First Minute Of Minit
Before I even really began playing, Minit presented me with a challenge. Unsurprisingly, when I started the bite-sized adventure, my instinct was to explore, explore, explore. I didn’t yet have a 60 second timer looming over me, which is the interesting mechanic the game touts as a major part of its appeal. There’s not much…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published April 29, 2018 -
Say Hello To Ni no Kuni II‘s Biggest Jerk
In Ni no Kuni II there are well over 100 sidequests you can undertake. They’re mostly a collection of sugary mini-stories that helps bring you into its good-natured, colorful, storybook JRPG world. It took a special kind of bastard to undermine the game’s overwhelming positivity. I found him in Hydropolis. Warning: Spoilers to follow Ni…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published April 29, 2018 -
Monster Hunter: World‘s Music Is Fantastic And Sometimes A Little Weird
Monster Hunter: World is chock full of fun given its potential for multiplayer shenanigans. Yes, its battles are epic—hunting down fearsome monsters takes patience and discipline. But you know what else is great? The music which scores its brilliantly strange world, and its collection of crazy monsters’ theme songs. Monster Hunter: World is my latest…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published April 28, 2018 -
Golf Story Is Delightfully Weird And Hilariously Dramatic
There is the kind of drama that has distressing plot reveals and twists. Then there’s Golf Story’s brand of raw drama—delivered through hysterical dialogue, rap battles, and geese. In 2017, who knew an indie title about an underdog’s rise in a pro golf circuit could be so compelling? Golf Story, the Nintendo eShop sports game…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published January 1, 2018 -
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Is Mindless, Frustrating, And Kind Of Fun
A month ago, I proclaimed that Nintendo’s Animal Crossing mobile game lacked heart and soul. Repetitive dialogue, rote gameplay, and the sleazy undertone of it all—Pocket Camp dilutes the series’ charm. But it’s confession time: I’m here today to partially eat my words. Since its late November worldwide release in 2017, Pocket Camp, a new…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published January 1, 2018 -
Culture
What Was Your Favorite Video Game Moment Of 2017?
Which video game moment of 2017 had your heart aflutter? Did it make you cry? Did you scream furiously into the void? Did it leave you thinking about it hours, days, and weeks after you experienced it? Did you laugh so hard, liquids spewed out of your nose? One or all of the above? Cool.…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 31, 2017 -
Nine More Video Games That Left Us Defenseless And Scared
One moment, you’re on top of the world, the next, completely helpless. Weaponless, defenseless, and pretty much helpless. Last time, we talked about nine games that took away all our weapons. This time, we talk about nine more games that stripped us of all resistance. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild One of…
Narelle Ho Sang and Peter Tieryas Published December 31, 2017 -
The Heartbreaking Final Fantasy VII Song That Makes Me Smile
One of Final Fantasy’s most iconic songs doesn’t even make my top 10 favorite list. That said, it’s also one of my most cherished. What makes it special is that it’s tied to one of my fondest memories—but not in as sweet a way as you may think. On this the last day of 2017—which…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 31, 2017 -
Five Video Game Moments That Stressed Me Out In 2017
Video games gave me much comfort in this very trying year. They also stressed me out like you wouldn’t believe. As 2017 is coming to a close, it’s time to let go of all the worries and start anew. Before that, it’s good to reflect and confront those demons as part of a healing process.…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 31, 2017 -
Enter The Gungeon‘s Addictive Gameplay Is Fueled By A Killer Soundtrack
No matter how many times the “You Died” screen pops up, I restart and keep pushing forward. Enter the Gungeon is punishing and hilarious. And its incredibly bad-ass soundtrack is what I love most about it. This year I discovered Doseone. After seeing him perform at Devolver Digital’s E3 parking lot party in June, I…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 30, 2017 -
Star Vs The Forces Of Evil Has Dimensions Worth Exploring
Star Butterfly, the titular character of Star vs The Forces of Evil, is a perfect princess for a show that’s filled with rainbows and magic. Don’t be fooled, however, as this modern heroine is anything but the delicate pushover her name implies. Created by Daron Nefcy and currently airing on Disney XD, Star vs The…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 30, 2017 -
Pyre‘s Composer On The Challenges Of Creating His Most Diverse Game Soundtrack Yet
Bastion and Transistor are complicated games with emotional depth. Supergiant Games’ latest, Pyre, follows its predecessors—this time with a focus on existential questions of freedom, religion anddogs with mustaches. Accompanying the games are equally as complex and gorgeously arranged music by composer Darren Korb. As the audio director and composer for the now eight year…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published September 4, 2017 -
Meet Final Fantasy XII‘s Most Obnoxious Family
Final Fantasy XII’s gorgeous locales are filled with vast deserts that host blinding sandstorms. Its jungles are shrouded in mist and mystery. The game’s ruins are beautiful even when the undead rise from the trap-laden ground. Then there’s that damned family hanging out in the aerodomes. They can die by firaga. After letting Final Fantasy…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published September 4, 2017 -
Last Day of June Is Beautiful, Touching, And Emotionally Draining
2013 was a trying year. That August, two months after losing my job, death took my favorite uncle. Weeks later on Labor day, it came for my mild-mannered orange tabby. I think about mortality often, more so as my parents grow older. Given these thoughts, playing Last Day of June was more difficult than I…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published September 4, 2017 -
The Amazing Music Of The No More Heroes Series
If I could dig my Wii out from wherever it’s hiding to replay No More Heroes and its sequel, I would. Since that’s impossible, I’ll instead ask: What better way to celebrate the return of Travis Touchdown than by listening to some killer tracks from this gem of a series? Last week’s announcement of a…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published September 4, 2017 -
Hotline Miami Cover Artist On His Distinct Visual Style, Music, And Beard
Beneath the Hotline Miami series’ savagely violent mind-trip lies an acutely intelligent narrative—one that questions players’ moralities. But what I really wanted to know was whether the games’ cover artist would also give free pizza and snacks as his in-game character Beard does. So, I asked him. Niklas Åkerblad isn’t just the character Beard in…
By Narelle Ho Sang Published June 4, 2017
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