- Culture
What’s Your Favorite Terrible Game?
Sometimes even the worst games can bring us great joy. Over the past two decades audiences have become enamored with the ever growing list of movies so bad they’re good. Standouts like The Room and Miami Connection have led the charge with cult followings and a resurgence of late night showings decades after their initial…
By Ben Bertoli Published January 1, 2018 - Uncategorized
EarthBound Finally Gets The Bizarre Cookbook It Deserves
Who’s hungry for some Magic Cake or a Mach Pizza? EarthBound, released as Mother 2 in Japan, is a Super Nintendo RPG well-known for its silly enemies and quirky take on American culture. As main character Ness and his crew of unlikely friends make their way through cities, deserts, and dungeons they fend off baddies…
By Ben Bertoli Published January 1, 2018 -
UncategorizedThe Deadly Decisions of Persona 3
High school is tough and Persona 3 did a masterful job capturing the complexities of student life. Easily one of the best JRPGs I’ve played, the game gave players an extremely difficult choice near its end that still haunts me. With the New Year here, I thought it’d be interesting to revisit that choice and…
By Peter Tieryas Published January 1, 2018 - Uncategorized
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 - Uncategorized
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
The Week In Games: That Face Says It All
2018 is here! A year set to bring us long awaited AAA titles and beautiful indie gems. Though… not this week. Winter is a notoriously harsh time for the world of gaming, and January is usually the low point of this chilly lull. But fear not! This January is giving us some exciting entries in…
By Ben Bertoli Published January 1, 2018 -
UncategorizedThe Brilliant Use Of Speed In Mega Man 2’s Quick Man Stage
One of the most extraordinary facts about Mega Man 2 is that it almost didn’t happen. Sales of the first Mega Man were low, and it was only with the special permission of Capcom’s vice president that development was allowed to proceed. But there was a catch. The staff had to work on it concurrently…
By Peter Tieryas 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 - Uncategorized
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 - Esports
League of Legends Player Hits Level 300 After Days Of Crushing Bots
Since Riot Games reworked accounts to level infinitely in League of Legends, there has been something of a race as players climb higher and higher. The leader just passed level 300 today. His method? Destroying dozens of bots. Playing under the name “Nolife Raphael,” he was locked in a race for the first to level…
By Eric Van Allen Published December 31, 2017 -
UncategorizedThe 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 - Esports
Rocket League Player Argues With Tournament Over Plane Ticket To Scotland
The upcoming Twelve Titans Rocket League tournament will pit 12 players against each other in a winner-take-all one-on-one brawl. Isaiah Sharrieff was set to be one of those players who would play in the tournament in Scotland—until he revealed on Twitter that he had already played his first round and won’t fly to Scotland. In…
By Eric Van Allen Published December 31, 2017 - Uncategorized
Purple Coins Are Super Mario Odyssey‘s Best Collectible
By balancing scarcity and value, Mario’s newest platforming hit finally brings second-tier collectibles into the limelight. There are plenty of classic gaming icons associated with everyone’s favorite pudgy plumber. Mushrooms, stars, turtle shells, and more come to mind when picturing Mario and the magical world he inhabits. And though many different Mario items and collectibles…
By Ben Bertoli Published December 31, 2017 -
UncategorizedThe Sublime Battles Of The Last Story
I never thought my favorite part of a Hironobu Sakaguchi game would be the battle system, especially since Final Fantasy and Lost Odyssey are renown for their compelling stories and dramatic character arcs. But in The Last Story, the combat was not just the best part of the game. It represented a refreshing evolution of…
By Peter Tieryas Published December 31, 2017 - Uncategorized
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 - Esports
Turbo Mode Makes A Game Of Dota 2 Less Of A Commitment
I have something of a Dota 2 habit. Every week, I find time to play at least a few hours of the game—frequently, if not a game a day. But part of my frustration with Dota 2 has always been the time commitment it requires, as games can take upwards of 40 to 50 minutes…
By Eric Van Allen Published December 31, 2017 - Uncategorized
Who’s Your Favorite Game Character Of 2017?
There were so many great games in 2017 with fantastic stories and equally great characters. Persona 5’s entire ensemble added something to the gripping narrative and I found myself sympathizing with all of their plights. Nier: Automata had an amazing cast of robots who were memorable and fascinating, even if most of them ended up…
By Peter Tieryas Published December 30, 2017 - Uncategorized
The Tragic Sidequests From Nier Automata’s Machine Village
Nier Automata is cruel to its characters. An action role-playing game from Square Enix, very few games have made me react as strongly to the story as Automata. While Yoko Taro’s games have always been disturbingly provocative as they dig at deep existential questions, the optional sidequests from the Machine Village exemplify what makes Automata…
By Peter Tieryas Published December 30, 2017 - Uncategorized
These Food-Based Pokémon Concepts Are Simply Delectable
Developer and illustrator PaperBeatsScissors has prepared an entire menu of tasty Pokémon creations over the past few weeks. The Pokémon series is well known for turning anything and everything into a collectible monster. Keys? Yep. Chandelier? Absolutely. Steaming pile of garbage? You better believe it. But despite there being over 700 Pokémon in the current…
By Ben Bertoli Published December 30, 2017